2 Weeks Left, Need a Game Plan

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:10 pm
Thanked: 1 times

2 Weeks Left, Need a Game Plan

by jakesing » Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:11 am
Hey guys,

First of all, I just want to thank everyone on this board - though I haven't posted much, you all have been very helpful in figuring out the best way to tackle this exam.

I am signed up to take the GMAT in exactly 2 weeks. I've taken 3 practice tests:

1. Princeton Review - 730
2. Kaplan - 660
3. GMATPrep - 760

I'm shooting for a 99th percentile score, so I was pleased with that last practice test. Here's the question: The third test I took was about a week ago. Since then, I haven't had a chance to look at anything. I have two weeks left and am trying to decide between the following two choices. Either I could lay low, try to find the odd practice set and just make sure I stay sharp, and do my one remaining GMATPrep test a day or two before the official one, or I could do one of the 6 MGMAT practice tests I purchased every other day leading up to the real exam, doing the last GMATPrep one last. The reason I'm hesitant to do the second approach is a) it's a lot more work (though, if it's helpful, I'm more than willing to put in work) and b) there seems to be a consensus that the GMATPrep is far and away the best practice out there, so I'm slightly concerned that a MGMAT binge would throw me off.

One more question: I have yet to even look at the essays. How much time should I spend practicing them?

I would really appreciate any advice whatsoever from people who have come before me. Thank you so much.
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1223
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 185 times
Followed by:15 members

by VP_Jim » Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:27 am
If you scored a 760 on GMAT Prep, you're ready to go. I don't think you need to do any additional studying. Will you get a 760 on test day? Maybe not. But it will almost certainly be close, and largely a matter of luck (what questions you get, whether you guess correctly on questions you don't know, etc.).

Since you have two weeks, however, it's probably not a good idea to do NOTHING. So, I like your first option. Do some practice problems, and maybe another GMAT Prep test, to stay sharp. Try to find hard, 99th percentile level, problems. Don't worry if you get lots of them wrong or struggle with them - that's why they are 99th percentile level problems!

As for the essays, I wouldn't spend tons of time on them, but at least look over the question format and some sample essays. Don't go in cold, but do make sure that you've studied enough to get a decent score.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep