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Would like community feedback on my GMAT strategy

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Would like community feedback on my GMAT strategy

by Bens4vcobra » Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:35 am
I plan to begin prepping next week (June 21st) and take the GMAT around the end of August-beginning of Sept. I have been out of school for two years and will most likely need a minimum of 2-3 weeks of reviewing basic skills (particularly math) before I begin test prep. In preparation for test prep, I've read various non-fiction books in order to clear out the cobwebs (Capitalism and Freedom - M. Friedman, The Road to Serfdom - F. Hayek, The Fatal Conceit - F. Hayek and Writings/Essays by John Stuart Mill).

Below are my materials and general battle plan. Let me know if you think this is too little, just right or overkill. I don't have a target score as I'm not applying to any tier 1 schools, but I would like (for my own personal satisfaction) to achieve a score in the 620-650 range.

Materials:

OG GMAT Prep 12th edition
OG Verbal Guide
OG Quant Guide
Manhattan Math review
Manhattan Companion Guide
BTG Flash Cards

General Outline:

Phase 1 - Basic math skills review (Manhattan Math review & BTG Flash Cards)

Phase 2 - Begin test prep (OG 12th ed. and Manhattan Companion)

Phase 3 - Continue prepping with basic guides, but start taking practice CAT's

Phase 4 - OG Quant and Verbal Guides, practice CAT's once a week


Schedule:

Monday thru Friday - Start at 75 minutes per day of study. This will be gradually increased to 120 minutes per day as I progressively increase stamina.

Saturday - Downtime

Sunday - Review day and practice CAT's (once that phase begins)
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by amising6 » Wed Jun 16, 2010 9:53 am
first of all with your preparation plan 650 is possible mark my word.
i have always beleived that this exam is learnable

lets take up issue one by one

first material list:
manhattan maths review is fine (finish basic first)

verbal i guess you first need to work on basic rules and foundation
let say get hold of any good sentence correction(probably manhattan 4 ed its available over net)
then you should go for critical reasoning and reading comprehension from any good book mentioned in gmat book review in this forum
give some more days to phase 1 and cover basic of maths and verbal
once you are done you can give one gmat prep test and see where you stand
in phase2 do as much problem as possible from OG review(let me add one point if you can do 70%problem from this OG and if you are prepared enough to map the question in actual gmat to question you have done from official guide 650+ will be cake walk)
phase 3 onward it seems fine
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by Bens4vcobra » Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:07 am
amising6 wrote:verbal i guess you first need to work on basic rules and foundation
let say get hold of any good sentence correction(probably manhattan 4 ed its available over net)
then you should go for critical reasoning and reading comprehension from any good book mentioned in gmat book review in this forum
give some more days to phase 1 and cover basic of maths and verbal
For verbal, I assumed the OG and OG Verbal Guides would be enough. Do you disagree? I almost pulled the trigger on the CR Power Score Bible (https://www.amazon.com/PowerScore-GMAT-C ... 488&sr=8-5), as I've read on other threads that it was very good for providing a solid foundation. I believe math will be my weakest area, but I'm only basing that on the fact that I am a pretty avid reader. Maybe that's an incorrect assumption?
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by amising6 » Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:18 am
yes i disagree completely
i will tell one of the most known fact
GMAT does play on this little trick that whatever sound good may not be correct there is a specific rules which are tested and i wont hesitate to suggest that you immediately get hold of Manhattan sentence correction book
there are 32 rules and 80 odd page book please do it
then practice your learning while doing OG
being avid reader will definately help you in cr and rc
if you dont want to buy any book just search this forum you will get document for CR do it

but sentence correction basic is must
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by amising6 » Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:19 am
yes i disagree completely
i will tell one of the most known fact
GMAT does play on this little trick that whatever sound good may not be correct there is a specific rules which are tested and i wont hesitate to suggest that you immediately get hold of Manhattan sentence correction book
there are 32 rules and 80 odd page book please do it
then practice your learning while doing OG
being avid reader will definately help you in cr and rc
if you dont want to buy any book just search this forum you will get document for CR do it

but sentence correction basic is must
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by amising6 » Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:22 am
for maths start with basic manhattan maths review and if you get stuvck with any concept or problem dont think twice just shoot it in this forum
and we will help you
lets crack GMAT
start your preparation dont worry about stratey/. strategy will take will take care of itself
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by uwhusky » Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:30 am
Look at it this way, it doesn't hurt to read more books. Unless of course, the books you choose will actually decrease your GMAT score or raise false expectations. There are some books on the GMAT shelf like that...
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by Bens4vcobra » Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:14 am
Just to reiterate, it's being suggested I get another guide specifically for SC? In your opinion, the OG Verbal Guide does not cover this or does so inadequately? If so that's certainly not a problem. I'll probably go Manhattan SC Guide.
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by Bens4vcobra » Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:16 am
uwhusky wrote:Look at it this way, it doesn't hurt to read more books. Unless of course, the books you choose will actually decrease your GMAT score or raise false expectations. There are some books on the GMAT shelf like that...
Hopefully none of the ones that will be on my shelf.

BTW, I see your test date is this month, how is your prep going? When are you scheduled to take the test?
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by uwhusky » Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:26 am
Next Thursday. I think I am ready for it, and have gone through all the materials pretty thoroughly. I'll post a debrief on Thursday afternoon.

Only thing that I am not quite happy about is that I wasn't able to pre-order the iPhone and I can't wait in line for one because of the test.
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by amising6 » Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:27 am
og guide consist of old gmat question with explaination they will cover every type but not in proper order or proper way
so its good decision go just for SC guide
Ideation without execution is delusion
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by Bens4vcobra » Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:31 am
uwhusky wrote:Next Thursday. I think I am ready for it, and have gone through all the materials pretty thoroughly. I'll post a debrief on Thursday afternoon.

Only thing that I am not quite happy about is that I wasn't able to pre-order the iPhone and I can't wait in line for one because of the test.

Great, looking forward to it. As for the iPhone, I'm not sure standing in line would get you an iPhone. I read today where Apple and AT&T are no longer taking pre-orders due to demand (that is, unless you're willing to pay upfront and wait until an estimated shipping date of July 1st from Apple). AT&T has even taken the pre-order option off their website.

Just out of curiosity, what are your practice CAT's looking like?
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by uwhusky » Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:36 am
Heh, the iPhone topic could go on and on; it's best if we stick with GMAT.

Good luck on your journey, but I definitely recommend Manhattan SC guide. Being an avid reader should help you with RC and CR, but you'll be surprised how much the SC guide offers.
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by Bens4vcobra » Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:38 am
uwhusky wrote:Heh, the iPhone topic could go on and on; it's best if we stick with GMAT.

Good luck on your journey, but I definitely recommend Manhattan SC guide. Being an avid reader should help you with RC and CR, but you'll be surprised how much the SC guide offers.

Will do, thanks.
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by Bens4vcobra » Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:09 am
I've been reading in this section lately about the emphasis placed on going through each book in a certain order. Looking at my materials above (and keeping in mind I very well may add MGMAT CR and Powerscore SC books), which order is best and why?
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