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Is the OG enough to score a 750?

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Is the OG enough to score a 750?

by Gabriel Ignacio » Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:09 am
Hello to everyone!

I am in the middle of my GMAT preparation. I have three books which I can use to study – OG 11th edition (orange one), Kaplan Premiere program 2009 edition, and Manhattan GMAT math (both study and solution guide). I am thinking of only focusing on the OG. I will be using Kaplan only for the verbal strategies (as there have been many criticisms on its math part) while I will be utilizing Manhattan for the math strategies. I intend to study with quality and “master” the questions in the OG with emphasis on the hard ones (i.e. the last 100 questions in each category). I will be using the tactics from Manhattan and Kaplan to slug with the various questions in the OG. Will this be sufficient to make me score a 750? If not, what other strategies can you suggest? Any help will be greatly appreciated :)

Thank you very much!
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by VP_Jim » Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:36 am
I'm living proof that one can study from the OG and get a very high score. Your strategy is good; I think I answered one of your previous posts and said something along the lines of: "it's not how many questions you do, but how much you learn from each question." If you truly understand all the problems in the OG, you'll get set up for a good score.

Just remember that many of the explanations in the OG are either confusing or flat-out the wrong way to do a problem. Many problems have an "official" way and a "trick" way. It's imperative that you understand ways to do problems other than the explanations provided in the OG. Refer to your prep books and try to align those strategies to the OG problems.

All that said... have you taken a practice test yet? As you know, 750 is 98th percentile, meaning only 2% of test takers score that high. I think 750 is an unreasonable expectation for most people, and will probably just make you frustrated and angry as you study. I've had students score 650 and get into top schools, and the average at Stanford, Harvard, etc., is just over 700.... not 750. So, take a practice test, and try to set a realistic expectation for your improvement - remember that the average improvement of someone who takes a prep course is about 100 points, so if you're self studying, it might be less.

But I hope you do it!
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by mousymouse » Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:21 am
every person is different. if you happen to be brilliant or good in the quantative or verbal section and need some practice then yes you could.

However for most people I would say your expectations are tooo high.

You would need much more than just those 3 books to get that high a score.

At the very least you should be getting i think the other 2 OG and maybe some advanced book. I would also do lots of GMAT CATs to practice and like Jim said its about quality not necessarily quantity.
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by Gabriel Ignacio » Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:18 am
Thank you very much Jim for replying once again and mousymouse.

Regarding taking the practice test, I opt to take the practice test after studying the last 51 questions from PS, SC, CR, RC, and DS in the OG. As suggested by the OG diagnostic, I should have taken my first full-length practice test at the same time as I did my diagnostic exam. However, since the ratings I got from my diagnostic test were “average”, I decided to “master” the hard questions first from the five sections in the OG. I believe this can give me a good score in my first try and a sense of optimism in my 750 goal. I plan to take the full-length practice test this Sunday.

As for setting a high expectation, I set the bar high because of my fears on my employment record which shall be recorded in my resume and in the application website of HBS 2+2. Based on my assessment, the weakness of my application packet is the absence of a “real formal part-time work experience” which hurts my chances at the HBS 2+2 Program. One reason, unfortunately, is that my undergrad school only offers practicum in the master’s level and I am still in my junior year. I have searched for various sources to get a “formal part-time work experience” where I can get a taste of a “real job” but I only managed to be research assistant (for only one research that wasn’t used at all) and a registration adviser without a salary. My first job is pro-bono while the second one gives enrollment benefits instead of a real salary. This makes me think that I have no “formal” work experience which weakens my application packet to some extent. With this, I have thought that raising my GMAT score to 750 and writing excellent application essays are my keys to admission.

I guess having more than three books is a very good strategy. However, due to my summer classes, I am in danger of not even finishing the three books which I have as of the moment.

I am really grateful for both your advices. 750 is really a dream score for me. With some of the constraints I have (undergrad classes and having only 3 books to practice with), the obstacles are even bigger. However, even if only very few people can score it, I will do my very best to make sure I am one of them :)
Do the very best that you can and God will do the rest :)
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by skang357 » Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:15 pm
Bottom line : GMAT has gotten harder in the last two years on the Quant.

No way you can score 750 with OG guide.

You have to realize 99% of all the test prep guides out there on the market, Manhattan, OG Guide, Kaplan, whatever are designed for people who want to get over 600.

Because to the average person that is a good score (the average GMAT score is 530).

So where is all the money at? If most of the people out there taking the test would be happy getting 600 or higher, what economic motivation would companies have by creating prep material that is targeted for people who want to get over 700.

A 700 score represents less than 10% of all test takers. It makes no economic sense for companies to make books for people who want to get this score.

Even GMAT 800 doesn't have 700+ type questions IMO.
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