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MTlookingforMHA
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:55 pm
08/09/08-
It has been a week and half since I attended my last Kaplan prep class. The Kaplan course started in the first week of June and ended in the last week of July. During the last two months I worked the evening shift and every other weekend so that I could have off one night a week to attend class. I personally think over time this took a toll on me both mentally and physically. Although I have seen improvements during the past two months, I feel that that my true potential has yet to shine.
Here is a list of my CATS over time:
6/4: Kaplan Diagnostic: 470 (29q/28v)
7/2: Kaplan CAT 1: 530 (31q/31v)
7/13: Kaplan CAT 2: 540 (34q/26v)
7/30: Kaplan CAT 3: 590 (38q/30v)
8/7: Kaplan CAT 4: 570(36q/27v)
8/9: Ultimate Practice Test (UPT): 500 (34q/22v)
My first GMAT is less than two weeks away and I am far from my 680 goal, ideally I would like to see a >700 score. I bombed the Ultimate Practice test, which is taking a CAT at an actual GMAT testing center. I am rather concerned with the UPT score, since it is 100 pointes in the wrong direction. The testing experience was rather calm and I did not feel rushed during the Quant or Verbal sections. If I felt that I was not able to answer the question, I took an educated guess and moved onto the next question with out hesitation. I personally feel it is important that I put the UPT behind me and instead focus on actual GMAT, which is about two weeks away.
VERBAL:
Strengths:
Short Passages: I am usually 5/6 or 6/6 on every CAT that I have taken for Short Passages.
Weaknesses:
SC / CR / RC : These are the three topics and the core of the verbal section that I have failed to improve on.
QUANT:
Strengths:
I don’t know if this is considered a strength, but I understand the basics of DS questions.
Weaknesses:
There is no question type that stands out in the quant section as being a true strength. I feel that it is important that I to retain the basic knowledge that I have of the question topics (algebra, arithmetic, geometry, number properties, proportions) and further solidify my knowledge so that I can take my score to the next level. In order of weakest to strongest: proportions, number properties, geometry, algebra, arithmetic.
The next two weeks:
GMAT GOAL: 630-650
I feel that this range is an ideal goal that I can achieve over the next two weeks and that the 700+ is something that I can focus on after August 25th.
-Review SC and RC Kaplan Workshops and implement teachings into problems over the next couple of weeks.
-Complete OG questions: Review all question types
-Attempt 2-4 CATS.
After August 25th:
Although I am sure the idea of this is not going to be liked but I would like to look forward to the idea of a second attempt of the GMAT. My tentative goal is October 14th-25th. Starting the first weekend in September, I will officially be moving to the day shift. Moving to the day shift will allow me to study between 5-10pm, rather than the 12-3am time frame that I was studying the last three months. It will be easier to focus between 5-10pm and I will get the most out of my studies. I will also incorporate free time into my schedule and hopefully attend a couple college football games and get some exercise in.
I would like to keep logs of my preparation, similar to beatthegmat and mayonnai5e.
I like the revised study plan that mayonnai5e offered on the second page of his post in the Beat the GMAT section. I would like to focus on one topic each night of the week. Before moving onto the questions, I will spend time reviewing the lesson topic that I am going to study that night. After completing the questions, I will review each question so that I understand why I got the question right or wrong. This should help me increase my score on my quant section into the 40s.
To increase my verbal score I am going to have to review the basics of CR and SC during the first couple of weeks. For review of CR I was thinking about ordering the CR Reasoning Bible by PowerScore. I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion for guide that will help me with the SC section.
As for the AWA, I will see how my score is from my first GMAT. If I am not satisfied with it, I will order the ARCO book. I will also attempt to brainstorm ideas and complete AWA questions from the mba.com website.
Sorry for the extra long post. I feel that it is important that I post how I am going to achieve my goal over the next couple of weeks, and also how I plan on taking it to the next level after attempting my first GMAT. I will be checking back on a regular basis, hopefully updating my post and looking for suggestions on how I can improve!
Future post will be shorter! I promise!
It has been a week and half since I attended my last Kaplan prep class. The Kaplan course started in the first week of June and ended in the last week of July. During the last two months I worked the evening shift and every other weekend so that I could have off one night a week to attend class. I personally think over time this took a toll on me both mentally and physically. Although I have seen improvements during the past two months, I feel that that my true potential has yet to shine.
Here is a list of my CATS over time:
6/4: Kaplan Diagnostic: 470 (29q/28v)
7/2: Kaplan CAT 1: 530 (31q/31v)
7/13: Kaplan CAT 2: 540 (34q/26v)
7/30: Kaplan CAT 3: 590 (38q/30v)
8/7: Kaplan CAT 4: 570(36q/27v)
8/9: Ultimate Practice Test (UPT): 500 (34q/22v)
My first GMAT is less than two weeks away and I am far from my 680 goal, ideally I would like to see a >700 score. I bombed the Ultimate Practice test, which is taking a CAT at an actual GMAT testing center. I am rather concerned with the UPT score, since it is 100 pointes in the wrong direction. The testing experience was rather calm and I did not feel rushed during the Quant or Verbal sections. If I felt that I was not able to answer the question, I took an educated guess and moved onto the next question with out hesitation. I personally feel it is important that I put the UPT behind me and instead focus on actual GMAT, which is about two weeks away.
VERBAL:
Strengths:
Short Passages: I am usually 5/6 or 6/6 on every CAT that I have taken for Short Passages.
Weaknesses:
SC / CR / RC : These are the three topics and the core of the verbal section that I have failed to improve on.
QUANT:
Strengths:
I don’t know if this is considered a strength, but I understand the basics of DS questions.
Weaknesses:
There is no question type that stands out in the quant section as being a true strength. I feel that it is important that I to retain the basic knowledge that I have of the question topics (algebra, arithmetic, geometry, number properties, proportions) and further solidify my knowledge so that I can take my score to the next level. In order of weakest to strongest: proportions, number properties, geometry, algebra, arithmetic.
The next two weeks:
GMAT GOAL: 630-650
I feel that this range is an ideal goal that I can achieve over the next two weeks and that the 700+ is something that I can focus on after August 25th.
-Review SC and RC Kaplan Workshops and implement teachings into problems over the next couple of weeks.
-Complete OG questions: Review all question types
-Attempt 2-4 CATS.
After August 25th:
Although I am sure the idea of this is not going to be liked but I would like to look forward to the idea of a second attempt of the GMAT. My tentative goal is October 14th-25th. Starting the first weekend in September, I will officially be moving to the day shift. Moving to the day shift will allow me to study between 5-10pm, rather than the 12-3am time frame that I was studying the last three months. It will be easier to focus between 5-10pm and I will get the most out of my studies. I will also incorporate free time into my schedule and hopefully attend a couple college football games and get some exercise in.
I would like to keep logs of my preparation, similar to beatthegmat and mayonnai5e.
I like the revised study plan that mayonnai5e offered on the second page of his post in the Beat the GMAT section. I would like to focus on one topic each night of the week. Before moving onto the questions, I will spend time reviewing the lesson topic that I am going to study that night. After completing the questions, I will review each question so that I understand why I got the question right or wrong. This should help me increase my score on my quant section into the 40s.
To increase my verbal score I am going to have to review the basics of CR and SC during the first couple of weeks. For review of CR I was thinking about ordering the CR Reasoning Bible by PowerScore. I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion for guide that will help me with the SC section.
As for the AWA, I will see how my score is from my first GMAT. If I am not satisfied with it, I will order the ARCO book. I will also attempt to brainstorm ideas and complete AWA questions from the mba.com website.
Sorry for the extra long post. I feel that it is important that I post how I am going to achieve my goal over the next couple of weeks, and also how I plan on taking it to the next level after attempting my first GMAT. I will be checking back on a regular basis, hopefully updating my post and looking for suggestions on how I can improve!
Future post will be shorter! I promise!
