GMAT Strategy

Hello Guys,
If anyone is taking GMAT like me at the end of this month please feel free to participate in this thread.
I am starting this thread so that we can help each other and also at times when low in confidence motivate. But remember not to spend too much time here. Only 20-30 mins everyday before you go to bed.
This thread in my view will help us take our preparation a step further.
My recommendation: introduce yourself, your strong areas in GMAT and also your week areas. Something like this:

Nimish Arora
Final Year Electronic Engineering Student
Target Score: 700+
Strong: PS and CR
Moderate: SC(getting better at the moment 60% accurate)
Weak Areas: RC and DS
Currently solving OG 10 (Everday CR-60, SC-70 and RC-75)

I hope you guys respond as I am really looking forward to it.

Best of Luck to Every1 with their preparations!

Hey Nimish,

What's going on.

Yeah, I've scheduled for the end of this month ( March )

If it get a good enough score, I can apply to my schools. Most of them have april deadlines. This is my second take.

Kind of nervous. First time i got a 620.

This time i'm working on my weaknesses, brushing up my strengths and focusing on taking many practice exams under timed conditions.

Last time I only took three tests before the actual exam.

This time probably doing more than 10.

My math and verbal scores were similar.

I think i can raise my score a little, hopefully.

Good luck

stock2007 wrote:Hey Nimish,

What's going on.

Yeah, I've scheduled for the end of this month ( March )

If it get a good enough score, I can apply to my schools. Most of them have april deadlines. This is my second take.

Kind of nervous. First time i got a 620.

This time i'm working on my weaknesses, brushing up my strengths and focusing on taking many practice exams under timed conditions.

Last time I only took three tests before the actual exam.

This time probably doing more than 10.

My math and verbal scores were similar.

I think i can raise my score a little, hopefully.

Good luck

Hey thanks for chipping in your views might be useful to us since you have already faced the exam. I am sure you ll be able to get 700+ this time,1 thing i wanted to know can you elaborate on the mistakes you made during your first exams...like assuming certain things which you shouldn't have and particular advice...like you said you gave only 3 mock exams thats quite useful as I haven't given any as yet just a diagnostic test.
I was advised by someone in 1 of my earlier posts that I should take most of my tests week before the Test day. SO I am planing to take couple of Mocks this week and 1 everyday from next week onwards. My exam in on 31st march. So far(in last week and a half) I have finished Kaplan, Nova(only Quantitative and SC), Manhattan SC and I got ok scores and recorded my mistakes. Now I have started with OG 10 (just a day into it, today is my second) I have to tell you the first few RC's in OG 10 are bombers it was hard to get my head around it. CR was ok types and SC i made some silly mistakes.
When is your exam BTW??

Hi Nimish

Thanks again for posting this.

I don't necessarily have a specific score target in mind, yet if I was pinned down I would probably say 650+. I believe 650 was about the average for the applicants to UCLA's Ph.D. Management program. I'd like to be in the ballpark.

My test is March 24th - woo hoo!

My weaker areas are DS and RC.
My strongest are SC and CR.

Let's do this!! (cue Rocky's theme music)
Mercedes

Hey guys hows the work coming along....has any one of you tried solving 1000RC, 1000SC etc??? DO you think its worth it or not? Also what do you reckon about the VIP membership at scoretop.com is it any good?

nimish_rulz wrote:Hey guys hows the work coming along....has any one of you tried solving 1000RC, 1000SC etc??? DO you think its worth it or not? Also what do you reckon about the VIP membership at scoretop.com is it any good?

I'm not familiar with the 1000RC or 1000SC - are those groups of practice questions? I say the more practice the better, especially if they have good and thorough explanations of the answers.

I'm not familiar with scoretop.com. Sorry I can't be of more help!

Overall in my studies, I've found using the score card that the moderator set up - the grid with "concept error, careless error, slow, not sure, etc." - has been the most helpful. I can go back and see patterns in which types of problems I'm most slow or have the least understanding. It's a great track record and also allows me to easily capture the amount of time I take for each question.

Mercedes

Hi all

As I continue to go through my practice tests and questions, I'm realizing that time really is the primary factor for why I'm tripping up, and I'm wondering if that's the case for anyone else. I did the Princeton Crack the GMAT Math Bin 2 today - 27 questions in 43:50 minutes - and realized I could have spent TEN MORE MINUTES doing the problems. I did really poorly - not because I didn't understand the concepts, but because my fear was shouting at me "GO! GO! GO!" I didn't take the time to really go back and check my answers, or take the time to do some solving and instead got flustered and guessed. And I'm talking Math Bin TWO, and there are two more advanced bins than that.

In the Princeton Measurement Test - the one that tells you what bin to focus on - I passed to where it was telling me to study Bins 3 & 4. Yet I'm bombing Bin 2 because of time. Hmmmmm. So a new way I've decided to practice these questions is by giving myself a really good, solid understanding of what two minutes feels like. If I've only spent one minute on a question and feel like I need to rush forward, that's really going to be a hindrance for me on the test. Yet if I know what two minutes really feels like, I can slow down a little and give myself the time I need. (I realize there is a timeclock on the test, yet I haven't even wanted to take the time to figure out how much time is left for how many questions...)

Don't know if anyone else is having this same challenge, yet I thought I'd put it out there in case it's helpful. I'll let you know how it goes...

Mercedes

Consider them as additional material.
I'd written an article about 1000SC/CR & their credibility in my blog... check it (sorry i dont haveits link but DO check https://jc-gmat.blocked/2008/01/100 ... s-rip.html this article as well. It has some info you're looking for.

nimish_rulz wrote:Hey guys hows the work coming along....has any one of you tried solving 1000RC, 1000SC etc??? DO you think its worth it or not? Also what do you reckon about the VIP membership at scoretop.com is it any good?

I wont recommend studying with them. reason: You must have checked the thread at announcement section :
https://www.beatthegmat.com/don-t-post-s ... t6312.html

so I

MercedesMW wrote:Hi all

As I continue to go through my practice tests and questions, I'm realizing that time really is the primary factor for why I'm tripping up, and I'm wondering if that's the case for anyone else. I did the Princeton Crack the GMAT Math Bin 2 today - 27 questions in 43:50 minutes - and realized I could have spent TEN MORE MINUTES doing the problems. I did really poorly - not because I didn't understand the concepts, but because my fear was shouting at me "GO! GO! GO!" I didn't take the time to really go back and check my answers, or take the time to do some solving and instead got flustered and guessed. And I'm talking Math Bin TWO, and there are two more advanced bins than that.

In the Princeton Measurement Test - the one that tells you what bin to focus on - I passed to where it was telling me to study Bins 3 & 4. Yet I'm bombing Bin 2 because of time. Hmmmmm. So a new way I've decided to practice these questions is by giving myself a really good, solid understanding of what two minutes feels like. If I've only spent one minute on a question and feel like I need to rush forward, that's really going to be a hindrance for me on the test. Yet if I know what two minutes really feels like, I can slow down a little and give myself the time I need. (I realize there is a timeclock on the test, yet I haven't even wanted to take the time to figure out how much time is left for how many questions...)

Don't know if anyone else is having this same challenge, yet I thought I'd put it out there in case it's helpful. I'll let you know how it goes...

Mercedes

Hey again....I think you should stop looking at the watch or feeling how much time you have spent. I would advice you only to check the time once you have solved 5-6 questions, then another 5-6 and so on. What i would recommend is don't check time after finishing the harder question its gonna make you panic. Once you finish a question according to your estimate in less than 1.5 mins or an easier question, then you can check time as getting a question correct gives you confidence.
Don't do it after finishing a harder question or question in which you have taken much time as it will make you waste another 15-20 seconds just thinking abt it. Try to focus start loving and Enjoying maths take every question as a Mental challange. Use your scratch pad to the fullest try solving question on the pad then doing it in your mind. I would advice you to get some fine tip marker pens and also some transparencies which lectures use with projectors it will give you a fair idea of the real gmat scratch pad. I have been using that for my mock tests(although just given1 so far) but I have been practicing on it.
Try to pay most attention to DS I would say a PS question on an average would take less than a 1.5 mins whereas a DS question should on an average take you around 2.5 mins(if difficult). Again Depends on you.

Let me know if you are having any problems with particular topic, If I am good at it I ll share my notes or material with you.Stop worrying and JUST THINK YOU NEED TO CRACK THE GMAT BIG TIME and these small things like time factor and stuff SHOULDN'T hinder you from concentrating. Also keep a log of your mistakes, your are bound to get a wrong question wrong atleast once again(even after looking at your mistake) than a question you did correctly unless you FOCUS. And DONT PANIC ITS NOT THE FIRST AND LAST, just keep saying to yourself I HAVE TO GIVE THE BEST SHOT Thats it dont worry about the results.

Thanks Nimish. I've done a combination of things in terms of timing, and I know it's definitely important to time myself. I think part of the problem is that I DO love to dig into these problems. You should see my scratch pads!!! (Great suggestion to practice on a wipe-off board!)

It's working out though. I got a 630 on a Kaplan online today - highest score I've gotten so far - and that felt great. I had a better pace and felt like I could take my time.

How are you doing? Running up against any particular challenges?

MercedesMW wrote:Thanks Nimish. I've done a combination of things in terms of timing, and I know it's definitely important to time myself. I think part of the problem is that I DO love to dig into these problems. You should see my scratch pads!!! (Great suggestion to practice on a wipe-off board!)

It's working out though. I got a 630 on a Kaplan online today - highest score I've gotten so far - and that felt great. I had a better pace and felt like I could take my time.

How are you doing? Running up against any particular challenges?

Thats good man!....630 on Kaplan is brilliant. Hope you keep up the good work...I am still solving OG 10 not yet finished with it. If you dont get carried away and keep practicing u ll defo get a score of 700+ but remember dont press the brake now keep up the good work and also remember not to press the pedal too hard u should leave enough gas for your real gmat exam....Keep updating your progress...I have finished last 170 questions of OG10 in DS and a few in verbal....got stuck with my project meeting and stuff as I am in my final year so need to take care of tht as well. But all is good now as i get into my easter break so will try and put some more work. Have u finished OG and related material are you starting with your mock tests now? And yeah keep using that scratch pad...1 more advice i would say use your scratch pad in a landscape mode(check in print options if in doubt) make 5 columns that will enable you to solve more questions on 1 page atleast thats what I am doing and i solve around 10-15 maths question on 1 page so I finish the whole quant section in just over 2 pages or at max 3. As i read somewhere we get 10 pages(including both sides) i think 7 pages are more than sufficient for verbal. Also you can check gmatter (type in google) its some kind of software for time management I did download but couldn't install as its not compatible with vista. Anyways good luck with your prep and keep giving me the good news like this....its helps in getting confidence up. Over and out for now.

Thanks for the warm and encouraging words, Nimish! I really appreciate it! And thanks a million on the suggestions for the scratch pad. I thought it was a wipe on/wipe off - I didn't realize we only got a limited number of pages. GOOD TO KNOW!!! (for me and anyone else reading this!)

I have done the OG Guide and I'm still working my way through the OG Quant Review. And I still have practice tests on the Kaplan CD - tests broken down by section, not actual practice tests - which will give me a lot more practice.

So how can I support you as you move into your Easter break and really focus in on your studies? Let me know how I can be there for you!

You can get a new scratch pad if you want but again you ll end up wasting time as you have to raise your hand and ask for 1...so i ll say atleast 2 mins. that means 1 question. Well my target is to finish OG 10 and OG 11 + Quant Review and Verbal Review by the end of coming week. I have covered almost half OG 10. DS I am finiding hard especially the last 50 odd questions I got around 20 incorrect. So only 60 % accuracy with the last 50 Q. On the other hand the first 100 odd question I think the accuracy is around 80% and I am really struggling with the Number properties and inequalities gettting better with the Gemoetry. Do you have the Manhattan Number property and Manhattan Inequalities book?

nimish_rulz wrote:You can get a new scratch pad if you want but again you ll end up wasting time as you have to raise your hand and ask for 1...so i ll say atleast 2 mins. that means 1 question. Well my target is to finish OG 10 and OG 11 + Quant Review and Verbal Review by the end of coming week. I have covered almost half OG 10. DS I am finiding hard especially the last 50 odd questions I got around 20 incorrect. So only 60 % accuracy with the last 50 Q. On the other hand the first 100 odd question I think the accuracy is around 80% and I am really struggling with the Number properties and inequalities gettting better with the Gemoetry. Do you have the Manhattan Number property and Manhattan Inequalities book?

Sorry, friend. No Manhattan materials. Way to go on the OG studies - that's great! And okay, so the score has dipped down a bit. You're hanging in there and that's what counts. I know, the number properties are killing me!! I so understand. Toss out a few examples and let's work through them.

x+y+z=150 Given(We will call this as equation 1)
Now according to Statement 1
Ratio of most expensive book (x) to all the books (x+y+z) =2/3(this is my equation 2)
Equation 2 is x: (x+y+z) =2/3
Now using equation 1 in equation 2(replacing x+y+z with 150) as its given in the question, we get:
x/150= 2/3 => x =100 hence sufficient. As question wants the price of most expensive book that’s it.
And since x is the most expensive book you get your answer with the statement 1.
And statement 2 gives the relation between only Most expensive and the least expensive book. But you don't know anything about the medium cost book in statement 2 ratio is 20/3...20/3 of what only x+z so we still need the third variable(y) which isn't present, ratio can also be 3:2:1 so 2 is insufficent
answer is A