GMAT Strategy

Hi,

I'm taking the GMATs next Saturday, Dec. 20. I jsut received my first target GMAT score with the practice test I took tonight (700). I now need to figure out the best strategy to maximize my score and ensure I receive AT LEAST a 700 on the real thing. Any tips or critique of my strategy would very much appreciated!!

I started studying about 4 weeks ago after I received a 580 on the Kaplan Test (at this point I realized I better start studying, and studying fast!)
So,

I signed up for the GMATS and have studied with practice CATS and random problems:

GMAT Prep #1 - 690 (M45, V38). This score really helped my confidence but I noticed that almost all of my verbal problems were on SC. So, I bought the SC book and then gained access to the 6 CATs. I started studying a chapter a night and doing the subsequent word probelms in the OG 11th edition. I also practiced my math with the 2nd half of the DS and PS problems

1.5 weeks later...
Manhattan Free GMAT Exam 590 (don't remember my breakdown but it wasn't that good) - basically, this was a heartbreaker. I had heard the MGMAT tests could be harder for Math (is this true?) but I was disappointed that my verbal had gone down as well. I thought overall the reading and CR are a lot harder than the GMAT Prep as well. I didn't want to make excuses so I went back over the SC questions and continued to finish the OG 11th edition book. I then decided that my math could be suffereing b/c of timing, so I decided to take a test twice/week


3 days later...
Manhattan GMAT CAT #1 660 (M42, V38). This was better but still not near my 700 score. I focused on reviewing every problem in this test..and knew it was my timing on the Math side (only got to Q27) and my verbal still isn't improving (SC was about 46%)

3 days later...
MGMAT Cat #2 660 (M42, V38). Again, same exact score and same exact problems. On my math, I could only get to Q27 on math and on my verbal my SC was about 52%. I got the purple OG Verbal book and started studying the chapters again from the Manhattan SC and went over the problems....Also, I dled the BEAT THE GMAT flashcards and started studying those randomly. In addition, when reviewing this test I tried to ask myself "what lesson can I learn" from each incorrect problem as suggested by Mayonai5e on beatthegmat.com

3 days later... (Today)
MGMAT Cat #3 700 (M44, V41). Finally, I got my score on a practice test. My Math I was able to get to Q32 and felt much more comfortable on the itming b/c I basically said "wow, this DS or PS question looks confusing...let's spend a minute trying to narrow down the possibilities and move on"...I think this is the only way I can do it..However, I still missed every question from #31 to #37 on the Math. On my verbal, I improved b/c my SC finally went up! I got 11 out of 15 correct. Still would like to get this around 12 or 13 out of 15 correct.

So, I still think my biggest weakness/room for quick improvement is Math Timing and SC. I'm going to finish up all the questions in the purple OG verbal book and continue to review the BEAT THE GMAT Flashcards for both quant and verb. FOr math, I was going to review my test questions and also do the "tough quant" on this website...any other suggestions for math?

OK, so finally, my question is this..what should my strategy be? I feel the practice tests are giving me a lot of good practice for timing which seems to be my weakness. Should I take another MGMAT test on Saturday and then take the GMAT Prep test #2 next Wednesday. Or should I take the GMAT prep test on Saturday and then just focus on individual problems the week leading up to the exam on Sat. Dec. 20? Oh also, I work full time so I'm only able to devote about 2.5 hrs a night to this.

Sorry for the long post..thanks!

Aaron

One point of clarification is that I bought the verbal MGMAT SC book..

Thanks,
Aaron

Wot is ur accuracy on CR and RC like? 12/15 in SC is extremely good!!!

Hey,

Thanks for the interest...As you can see, my CR is the weakest on the verbal. However, it's weird b/c I really feel that the MGMAT Critical Reasoning is infinitely harder than the GMATPrep. On the GMATPrep I missed like 4 CRs...Looking at this breakdown, it's amazing that only 3 more Qs right in a given section can boost your score so much. That's why I'm nervous and don't wanna lose the score I'm getting. I have the MGMAT critical reasoning book, that might be useful....any tips/ideas suggestions to my overall strategy for my last 1.5 weeks?


-Aaron

MGMAT CAT 3 (M44, V41):
RC: 10 of 12
CR: 8 of 14
SC: 11 of 15

DS: 8 of 15
PS: 12 of 22

MGMAT CAT 2 (M42, V38):
RC: 9 of 12
CR: 8 of 14
SC: 8 of 15

DS: 8 of 15
PS: 9 of 22

Hi,

Congrats on your progress so far, and it is certainly promising that you've hit 700 and close to it on practice tests.

It does sound like focusing on math timing and SC are the most important for you, and seems like that is paying off.

Keep in mind with regard to pacing/timing-- because the test is adaptive, basically EVERYONE will get stuck at SOME point, no matter how well you do (because it will keep getting harder!). So it's a different feeling, pyschologically, on the GMAT, from other exams, and you don't need to get a huge % correct to do well. So what that means is yes, when you are looking at a question and you get stuck, you need to remind yourself that you are bound to have to guess on some questions, make this one of them, use some strategies to hopefully narrow down your answer choices, and then save time for a different question that you CAN do. When people run out of time on the 37 q's, it's often not that they are slow across the board, but that they have a few instances where they get stuck and waste tons of time on a handful of questions, throwing off the rest of the test. It's better to give yourself a chance to SEE all of the questions and read over them, rather than get to a point where you are blind guessing at the end.

As for the final days, I'd say yes do at least 1 more CAT, and if you can fit in 2, I'd suggest that. And be sure to really study from those CATs the day after too--as you said, find the learning points in what you missed.

Best of luck, let us know how it goes!

Thanks for the help Jen! I'm just focused on looking over those CATs and reviewing my flashcards

I'll let you know how it goes T - 7 days!