GMAT Strategy

Hi,

I began my GMAT preparation one month ago.

I've been studying 6-8 hours a week and until now finished these resources:

- All MGMAT guides (finishing CR guide in the next two days);

- OG 12 (except 4 RC passages and many CR questions that i'm doing in the next two days);

- Kaplan Verbal Workbook (2 RC Tests and 3 CR Tests still available);

I haven't started with Verbal and Quant Review 2nd Edition.

I've done 5 CAT's:

- GMATPREP 1: 680 (Q49, V33) - Before i started
- Veritas Free: 650 (Q42, V37)
- MGMAT 1: 680 (Q47, V36)
- MGMAT 2: 740 (Q47, V44)
- MGMAT 3: 680 (Q47, V36)

I still got one moth till my GMAT but except a little improve in verbal, my scores aren't moving (I consider the Q42 and the V44 outliers).

The differences in the 3 MGMAT CAT's were that CR was low on the first and increased significantly and that SC was high and decreased significantly; RC was below 50% on all 3.

What should I do? I'm aiming 700+.

Thanks in advance.

You need to figure out what specifically is causing your weaknesses. Your scores indicate that you probably know most of the material rules fairly well but maybe you know the verbal rules on a more intuitive, instead of explict, level. If verbal is giving you a hard time at your scoring level it is a good idea to systmize your approach, much like you would in math - explicity understand not only the basic rules and how and when to apply them on the GMAT.

If you find knowledge in specific areas is your problem then you need to study those areas, again in a way that will help you to create a system for doing that type of problem.

If instead you are having trouble with "mistakes" - questions in which you understand what is needed to get the right answer but got the wrong answer regardless - you need to figure out what is causing those. Is it lack of consistent focus, rushing, making assumptions on problems you think are going to be easier, not using scratch paper, misreading a problem, mis-calculating in math? Once you figure out what is actually happening you can formulate a plan to increase your score.

Best of Luck.

After reviewing the exam I did today (the last one) I realized that:

- Verbal Section (SC): Careless mistakes;
- Verbal Section (RC): lack of focus + when I have to decide between two, I always choose the wrong one;
- Quant Section (600-700 bracket): careless mistakes
- Quant Section (700-800 bracket): 50% careless mistakes, 50% I understand the concepts tested but can't/take too long to reach the solution.

Any advice? Should I read any book or go for practice and review?

For quantitative section should I do Quant Review 2nd Edition or GMATclub tests and sigs?
And for Verbal?

My advice would be to figure out what is causing your careless mistakes and work towards a solution for that. Would it help to write more down? Would it help the read the problem one step at a time, would it help to re-read the final question before answering? Would it help to close your eyes and take a deep breath after every problem? This is a good place to work with a very experienced tutor to help identify these issues for you and work on behaviors that will lead to fewer careless mistakes.

As far as the material you don't know/can't work quickly on the quant you have just given yourself the topics to study for the next few days/weeks.

Best of Luck