GMAT Strategy

Hello,

After a few months of deciding whether or not I should get the GMAT's out of the way, I have decided to move forward with it. I only have a year of work experience under my belt, but everyone who has ever mentioned the GMATS has stated that waiting too long to take the exam was their biggest mistake. I figure I can get the test out of the way while I have time and work on gaining solid work experience in the next 2 years.

My plan is to take the exam on September 11th at 12pm since I am not a morning person.

As of right now, I have decided to take a prep course in DC called Griffon Prep, which starts on July 13th. The reviews on the course has been extremely positive and I feel like I can benefit from such a class as I am a poor standardized test taker.


I just purchased the OG12 through Amazon and was wondering if it is better to start studying for the exam prior to my prep course and get 1 month of decent studying in coupled with 2 months of intense studying? or if it makes more sense to wait until the course and just do 2 months of intense studying by using the materials offered in the course along with the OG12 booklet?

I took a gmat practice exam on Knewton. It doesn't seem to be very popular around here and only got a 420 on it. Taking the exam while at work and zipping through the exam probably hindered my score a bit, but I felt really uncomfortable with a large portion of the quant and verbal (particularly the SC and Logic type questions). It was a bit disheartening as many people start off with 550+ scores prior to studying.

I did well in many of my math courses, but haven't taken a math course in about 6 years and it shows with how poorly I had done on the practice exam. My goal is to get a 650+ on the GMAT and i'm not sure how much time or preparation is needed to achieve this goal. Obviously, I have my work cut out, with a score of 420 even with the conditions that I was in.

What would be some advice/strategy you can offer? Anything would be helpful!

Thanks!

If you havent taken a math course in 6years you might want to do the following just to get your math juices flowing

Tables all the way till 20x20
Squares of numbers till 30
Cubes of numbers till 10
Fractional values and their equivalent percentages--1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8 , 1/9, 1/11 all way till (x-1)/X
Multiplying random 2 and 3-digit numbers with 2 and 3digit numbers

Work on your reading speed. Read a diverse range of topics and see if in 3mins of reading, you can lay-out

Main Idea
3 Supporting Statements
Conclusion (if any)
Tone of passage

Once your course begins, they will probably give you a schedule of classes. Prior to each class, prepare for the topic on your own by studying whatever book you have. Then when you do go for class, you will be ready with your doubts. Pay close attention to the way the tutor solves the problems-- is it the same way as you solved it or is it different. If different, whose is better and why? if the tutor's is better, why didnt you think of it. Can you apply that learning to another problem?

You have time which is a luxury in this arena. If you do some of the little things now you're going to destroy the test. Start reading regularly from high quality sources like the Wall Street Journal, Economist, Scientific American. If you do this, then you'll ace reading comprehension.

It seems prudent to start studying as soon as possible. The prep course will make more sense to you and you'll be able to better understand the material.