Frow where to start?

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Frow where to start?

by codesnooker » Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:35 am
Hi All,

I was searching for guidance for preparing the GMAT and fortunately got the link of this forum. I hope someone can help me here.

I had done my graduation around 3.5 years back in IT and never thought of entering into management or its related studies. But I don't know fortunately or unfortunately, 1 year back, I entered into management division of IT company.

Somehow, now I feel that to grow further either in same company or any other I should pursue a good management degree. I don't want to do any management course through distance or even regular one from any low grade college.

I heard a lot about GMAT and want to join your group. But I have few doubts as follows:-

a) Since, I left studies 3.5 years back, so is it worth to start now. I mean, I am not confident enough but want to go on this path.
b) I searched a lot and found so many materials and links to study, but I am really confused from where should I start? I mean which book or any particular strategy I should follow?
c) I was good at maths and critical reasoning but too weak in English during my college days. I think, now I have start from scratch in each subject. 3.5 years are too much. So, which subject should I pick first to gain enough boost for studies? I don't want to left this venture in middle at all and want to do it at any cost.
d) How much time should I spend daily on studies and how much on weekdays? Although I am working but I can spend time easily after my work schedule.
e) When should I book my exams dates and how much time it would require to prepare for the exams?

Can you give me advice on this or may can you give me links which can help me in resolving these queries.

Thanks in advance.
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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:41 am
Hi, welcome to Beat the GMAT! There are a lot of good resources here - if you just go up to the top of this web page and click on the "resources" link (to the right of "home"), you'll be taken to another web page that has links to all kinds of resources. There's a lot of stuff, so you will need to take the time to read through and see what works for you.

There isn't a "one size fits all" prescription for studying for this exam, but the average length of study is about 3 months (though, obviously, some people spend more time and some people spend less).

The first thing to do is take a practice test. Most test prep companies offer one free practice test (including my company, ManhattanGMAT - just check out our web site). You'll also hear people talking about GMATPrep practice tests - these are from the people who make the real test and, since there are only two, most people save these for towards the end of their prep time.

Once you've taken a practice test, you need to see how far you are from your desired score. (You might also want to research the median incoming scores for the business schools to which you want to apply so that you get an idea of what your goal score should be.)

Use that data, along with the very specific strengths and weaknesses you diagnose, to determine your study plan. You have two broad options:
study on your own or study with a test-prep company. There are a lot of resources available to people who want to study on their own, so the key thing in making your decision is simply you. Do you think you'll do fine on your own? Or do you think you'll do better in a class or with a private tutor?

Once you get started, keep using this community to help you along the way, especially if you study on your own, but even if you decide to work with a test prep company.

Good luck!
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by codesnooker » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:13 am
Thanks Stacey,

Yesterday, I borrowed Kaplan 2008 software from my friends and today morning I gave the first practice test, just to know my level. I scored only 460 :( I was expecting little high. As usual I scored much in maths (20) as compare to verbal(16). My verbal is really bad and for the most of the time, I just make guess to figure out the answer. In maths, I have forgotten lots of the formulas due to long gap in studies.

CURRENT SITUATION

1. Busy with some IT project at home.
2. Have little exposure of GMAT pattern.
3. Forgotten the math formulas.
4. Weak in verbal.
5. No idea about how to write a good essay.

CURRENT STRATEGY

1. Complete the pending project by 15 Feb 08. (I don' want to dump the project.)

2. Till 15th Feb, during free time in office, collects and read as much as about the GMAT test patterns and collects as much as material I can.

3. MATH From today onwards till 15th Feb, daily spending an hour on practicing the math questions at home. After 15th Feb, 2 hours in weekdays and 6 hours at the weekends [sat-sun]. Why Math Because its my strongest part and can really boost my confidence for further studies.

4. VERBAL One hour on practicing/studies any book [OG/Princeton etc]. Not decided yet, will decide after studying and researching a good source by reading posts/blogs from this website. After 15th Feb. 2 hours on weekdays and 6 hours at the weekend [sat].

5. ESSAY Writing blog at every weekend [SUN]. Right now, I have no more idea, how to improve this area. :(

Target month for the test: June 08 (May be changed on reading further about the GMAT. Means it may either go early or delayed on knowing the best month for giving the GMAT test).


P.S. Well this is my current plan for the GMAT, if anyone like to improve it with his/her experience then I will be grateful to him/her.
Last edited by codesnooker on Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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by Stacey Koprince » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:42 am
Looks good! A couple of things: don't study for more than 2 hours in a row. If you really have time to study 4 hours total on a weekday, that's fine, but if you'll be tired from work, etc, then it's not worth it to study for hours and hours if you're not fully retaining the material.

Also, there isn't an external "best month to take the GMAT" - from the GMAT's point of view, it doesn't matter when you take it. There may be a best month for you based upon your own work and life schedule, though.
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!

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Manhattan GMAT

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