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GMAT - 8wks left, 570 --> 750

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GMAT - 8wks left, 570 --> 750

by KK9_GMAT » Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:34 am
Hi all,
I gave my GMAT last September and got a 570. I had studied for a couple of months using the following books-
- OG 12th edition (once)
- OG Verbal, Quant books (once)
- Kaplan GMAT PRemier (once)
- MGMAT Sentence Correction
- MGMAT Reading Comprehension

Solved the following papers-
- MGMAT 3 papers (averaged 590, 570, 630)
- GMAT Prep CD (620, 630)

Admittedly, I only used the MGMAT books in the last 3 weeks so basically, i rushed through them and tried to solve as many chapters.

My target was 750 but i got a 570...the same digits , just the wrong way around...

I am trying again, but this time I want the 750. I plan to give the exam in 8 weeks. I work fulltime and I find it difficult to study during the week but I try to do about 1hr everyday.

Looking back, my main weakness was regular study and the strategy...

Any suggestions on what strategy I should use?

Thanks.
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by rabodzey » Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:04 am
Hi!

Eight weeks is not that much time and your target is pretty high.
There is never a perfect strategy that can help despite the limitations: 1 hr a day is a serious limitation.

Here is what I would have done if I were you:

High-level strategy:
1) Practice two full tests every day on Saturday and one full test on Sunday (this is 3 tests a weekend, but you will likely skip some of those weekends)
2) Start with no timing for the first three weeks and make sure to get as many questions right as possible
3) Spend time to understand every question you did not get right (including your guesses)
4) From week 4 start doing timed tests to make sure you pace yourself correctly
5) During your weekdays try to solve as many problems as possible from OG and other sources (not necessarily full timed tests), but always analyze mistakes carefully

Details:
a) Try to analyze your performance and improve areas that are your weaknesses (if your Math is much better than Verbal - work on latter as there is more room for improvement)
b) Buy enough tests to sustain the pace of 3 tests a weeks, buy access to question banks from MGMAT and Kaplan

Frankly, your score likely means that you are solving problems of lower level of complexity and you may need to invest a lot more effort than 1 hr to bring this skill to a new level. Having said that, there is nothing that a determined person cannot do!

Good luck!

Alex
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by money9111 » Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:54 am
I think that 3 tests on the weekend may be overkill. That's essentially 9 hours of testing over the weekend, when you've only been able to devote 1 hour/day during the week?

"3) Spend time to understand every question you did not get right (including your guesses)" - MUY IMPORTANTE

"...and you may need to invest a lot more effort than 1 hr to bring this skill to a new level." - most definitely spend more than an hour. It's definitely going to be tough to find the time, but going from a 570 - 750 will be worth it.

How have you been doing on your CAT exams? and what was your verbal/quant split?
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by KK9_GMAT » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:54 am
Rabodzey and Money9111, thanks for your replies! My score split was Quant 42, Verbal 28. I got a 6 in my essay.

I definitely need to spend more than the 1 hr every weekday. I shall try to put in more time.
My Verbal is definitely the main weakness with SC , CR in particular. I am currently going through MGMAT CR workbook. I have also obtained the Powerscore bible which I will work on.

Finally, Do you think I should reconsider my 8 week study time? Maybe, I should give a CAT this weekend and see what score I get.
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:55 am
KK9_GMAT wrote:Rabodzey and Money9111, thanks for your replies! My score split was Quant 42, Verbal 28. I got a 6 in my essay.

I definitely need to spend more than the 1 hr every weekday. I shall try to put in more time.
My Verbal is definitely the main weakness with SC , CR in particular. I am currently going through MGMAT CR workbook. I have also obtained the Powerscore bible which I will work on.

Finally, Do you think I should reconsider my 8 week study time? Maybe, I should give a CAT this weekend and see what score I get.
You would just be wasting a CAT. The practice scores don't matter, don't take a CAT until you have gone through the material you want to go through, otherwise it is a pointless score.
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by money9111 » Tue Feb 09, 2010 2:24 pm
Taking a CAT now would be like a marathon runner checking his watch every 15 minutes, if they're only allowed to check 4 times a race. (I know I know terrible analogy.. but it's been a long day)... They kind of know how you're doing 15 minutes from the last 15 minutes they checked. The time would be best spent on focusing on their breathing and their stride.

I personally think it's easier to light your Verbal score than your quant score, so at the very least consider yourself in a better position than if the situation was reversed. I think 8 weeks of heavy verbal studying should be enough to at least get to the 600-700 range. I'll give advice on how to get to a 750 when I actually get there! ;-)
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by bhumika.k.shah » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:29 am
I'd suggest u go for basic cconcepts studies for 4-5 weeks and then start giving mocks.

Hope this helps :)
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by shashank.ism » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:50 am
KK9_GMAT wrote:Hi all,
I gave my GMAT last September and got a 570. I had studied for a couple of months using the following books-
- OG 12th edition (once)
- OG Verbal, Quant books (once)
- Kaplan GMAT PRemier (once)
- MGMAT Sentence Correction
- MGMAT Reading Comprehension

Solved the following papers-
- MGMAT 3 papers (averaged 590, 570, 630)
- GMAT Prep CD (620, 630)

Admittedly, I only used the MGMAT books in the last 3 weeks so basically, i rushed through them and tried to solve as many chapters.

My target was 750 but i got a 570...the same digits , just the wrong way around...

I am trying again, but this time I want the 750. I plan to give the exam in 8 weeks. I work fulltime and I find it difficult to study during the week but I try to do about 1hr everyday.

Looking back, my main weakness was regular study and the strategy...

Any suggestions on what strategy I should use?

Thanks.
see you have to take out more time during weekdays and utilize most of the time of weekends....U have to be regular in solving problems both in maths part and english part...
Take more time before next exam I would say go for 12 weeks..prepare properly don't be panic..

See if u have got 570 that means either ur day was bad or ur prep was bad.

If in any case ur prep was not so good...why going for re-exam in such a short notice plan it in 12 weeks ..and give more time to studies.. u will surely get above 700...
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by harsh.champ » Sun Feb 21, 2010 3:09 pm
KK9_GMAT wrote:Hi all,
I gave my GMAT last September and got a 570.

Admittedly, I only used the MGMAT books in the last 3 weeks so basically, i rushed through them and tried to solve as many chapters.

My target was 750 but i got a 570...the same digits , just the wrong way around...

I am trying again, but this time I want the 750. I plan to give the exam in 8 weeks. I work fulltime and I find it difficult to study during the week but I try to do about 1hr everyday.

Looking back, my main weakness was regular study and the strategy...

Any suggestions on what strategy I should use?

Thanks.
Hey I would suggest that you should just take one diagonistic test.
-Analyse the scores.
-Watch out for ur weak areas.
-Consult the guides or in case you have short notes handy,it would suffice.
-For saving time,try adopting shortcut techniques in quant(like plugging numbers)
-Try to increase ur study span upto 3-4 hours per day
** Don't waste ur tests just to practice the questions**-1 diagnostic test is sufficient.
Cherish your tests and use them at the end for speed -practice and building examination temperament (not for checking concepts time to time and practice)


You have written that your weakness is SC.
This maybe the reason why u r scoring less in verbal.
In SC,if you are strong you can attempt 5 ques. in 5 minutes.
If you are weak,those same 5 questions can take you 30 minutes(you re-read again and again for spotting mistakes)
This leads to getting less time on the RC and eventually ending up in incorrect answers in RC due to haste.

Practice with MGMAT SC.Review your weaker sections.
I guess if you improve on SC,you make an overall significant improvement.

HTH.
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by bhumika.k.shah » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:29 pm
Hi,
since uve mentioned ur weak in SC
i'd strongly recommend MGMAT SC guide
for practice u can also give the 3 practice tests by kaplan SC

Start solving from SC forums. twil def help u :-)
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