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Need help developing study plan for GMAT/What souces to use?

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Need help developing study plan for GMAT/What souces to use?

by Shaokie » Sat Dec 08, 2012 5:47 pm
OK, so just to give a quick background about myself:

1. I recently graduated from Temple University this year on May 10, 2012. I have a degree in American Studies, with a minor in African-American studies. My final GPA was a 3.1/4.0.

2. I'm currently working for the IRS (It's been a little bit over a month) full-time, seasonal.

3. I've decided that I needed to take at least a year off to figure out what I needed to do. In the interim, because of my job, I've realized that I'm going to need an MBA in order to progress faster in the workplace.

4. I took the GMAT today and I got: 14-Quantitative; 21-Verbal. (These scores are unofficial) My total score was a 350.

5. The schools I applied to are: Temple University, Penn State, Rutgers, UPenn, and Drexel.

So, my questions are:

1. I used the GMAT 12th Edition Review only (I'm kinda broke due to paying off loans, bills, etc., as of late, so bear with me), and I was wondering: what else I could do to get a better score on the exam?

2. Also, how much time would you suggest that I put aside in order to (properly) study for this exam? I have a busy work schedule and I work night shift, so I was wondering: what I could do in order to be better prepared?

3. What was up with that new section? I was unprepared for it since I had the 12th edition (I think it may be outdated, I got it used online) and which edition is the most updated one?

***when I get my official score in 20 days, I'll update it on here somewhere.

Thank you in advance for the help.

Best,
Blaize
(yes, I am a girl and yes, it's my real name. Ha ha! ) :D[/b]
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by David@VeritasPrep » Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:04 am
Did you not take the practice tests at MBA.com? The GMATPrep practice test...That is free to download and it would have offered you the new IR section to practice on. I hope that you did not prepare the "Analysis of an Issue" writing section since as you noticed this is not on the test anymore. Also in that GMATPrep software are various practice questions - including 15 IR questions for you to practice on.

Most updated version is 13th edition. You can get it for $20 at Amazon.

Don't get it used. There is an online section for that Integrated Reasoning section that you mentioned. If someone else has already used the code you can't so you lose those practice questions.

With that said, the 13th edition is only 25% different from the 12th edition. That is still nearly 200 problems that are new, but not all 800.

There are also the Verbal Review 2nd edition and Quant Review 2nd edition which does not overlap with the book you already have. So you could get those books for some new questions. I am sure that there are used versions of those available. That will give you more practice.

BTG is a great resource that is free. You can find experts that you think are helpful and read their posts and articles, you can go to LIBRARY and look for articles on various topics. You can go to the discussion boards and try some of the questions that are there - (you can even try only those questions with expert replies so that you know that an instructor as weighed in on those).

As for the amount of time you need to have to study - you know I am going to say that depends on where you are and where you need to be. If you can put in a couple of hours a day and maybe twice that on the weekends that will go a long way to helping you get that score you need.
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by buzzz85 » Tue Dec 11, 2012 12:31 am
Shaokie wrote:OK, so just to give a quick background about myself:

1. I recently graduated from Temple University this year on May 10, 2012. I have a degree in American Studies, with a minor in African-American studies. My final GPA was a 3.1/4.0.

2. I'm currently working for the IRS (It's been a little bit over a month) full-time, seasonal.

3. I've decided that I needed to take at least a year off to figure out what I needed to do. In the interim, because of my job, I've realized that I'm going to need an MBA in order to progress faster in the workplace.

4. I took the GMAT today and I got: 14-Quantitative; 21-Verbal. (These scores are unofficial) My total score was a 350.

5. The schools I applied to are: Temple University, Penn State, Rutgers, UPenn, and Drexel.

So, my questions are:

1. I used the GMAT 12th Edition Review only (I'm kinda broke due to paying off loans, bills, etc., as of late, so bear with me), and I was wondering: what else I could do to get a better score on the exam?

2. Also, how much time would you suggest that I put aside in order to (properly) study for this exam? I have a busy work schedule and I work night shift, so I was wondering: what I could do in order to be better prepared?

3. What was up with that new section? I was unprepared for it since I had the 12th edition (I think it may be outdated, I got it used online) and which edition is the most updated one?

***when I get my official score in 20 days, I'll update it on here somewhere.

Thank you in advance for the help.

Best,
Blaize
(yes, I am a girl and yes, it's my real name. Ha ha! ) :D[/b]

Here you go:
1. If you can get Manhattan material, that should take care of all the concepts. Once done, there are many free online tests available on net which you should practice thoroughly before giving the next attempt. One week before the GMAT should be completely devoted for full time tests.

2. A detailed, from basics preparation + tests, takes 5 months. But dont worry if you dont have that much time. 2 hours daily is sufficient. If you have planned for a GMAT in 30, 60 days, then first half should be for concept leaning and practice questions while the second half should be for time tests. For 90 or greater days, the last 30 days should be for full time tests and you can do concept learning till that time.

3. The IR section is not difficult and wont really need a new book. There are many tutorials available on the web for this section and 3-4 days should be sufficient for mastering it.

Hope it helps
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by Shaokie » Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:57 am
Updated scores:
350--Total Score
14-Quant
21-Verbal
6.0--Analytical Writing
1-Integrated Reasoning


(I find it funny how my Analytical Writing score is a perfect 6.0, but I bombed the rest of the test. To make matters worse, I didn't really focus on that part. I only focused on Math and Verbal. More so math than anything else. I really need to brush up. SMH)

David@VeritasPrep: I apologize for taking so long to respond back to your response.
To answer your questions: I downloaded the practice software, but I was only able to use it when I had a few minutes of time to practice. (I know that this is really, really bad.) I didn't practice for the 'Analysis of an Issue' writing section, and I don't even remember looking at that in the 12th Edition of the GMAT prep book. I will definitely look into the Verbal and Quant Review 2nd Edition books in order to practice.

buzzz85: I look into the MGMAT material since I've seen a lot of people on this site and others talk so much about it. It looks like it's worth the money. I'll definitely look into your suggestion as well as David's in order to scope out some free tests on the internet in order to practice.

To both of you, thank you so much for the responses. I will look into the sources that you both have suggested and get started ASAP.

Also, 2 quick questions:

1. I've been hearing stuff about Kaplan and how they're supposed to help. I was wondering if you two had any thoughts on that.

2. When I take the GMAT over, would my Analytical Writing score be overwritten if I score lower? I know that my scores in general would be written over if I scored higher, but I was wondering if the lower scores would be factored in as well.

Thanks,
Blaize
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