GMAT Strategy

Dear all,

I am looking for advises on a general study strategy. I must warn you that I have not had any interference with the GMAT before so please bear with me and provide me with some general guidelines on how to do things, what books to get, etc. I will be sitting the test somewhere around mid-summer and hence, encounter the brand new topic-Integrated Reasoning. I do not know if any of the gurus have experience in coping with it, so I am more than willing to be the lab rat.

Here are the steps that I have undertaken so far in achieving my target GMAT score:

1. Research schools that teach MSc in Financial Economics across the world. Chose 5 of them as my main targets (LSE, LBS, HEC, Said, Sloan). I believe it is redundant to specify that all of them require scores above the 700 barrier.

2. Purchase reading materials:- Kaplan GMAT Premier 2012
- OG Guide 13th edition
- Manhattan GMAT Advanced Quant

3. Register with this website.

I will need help from you guys on what learning materials should I further buy, high scoring strategies and if possible- information about other top business schools that offer degrees in MSc in Financial Economics/Finance. Thank you very much beforehand!

First and foremost you should take a practice exam. YOu need to know how close or far you are from achieving your goal. If you are scoring close to what you want then it is a matter of evaluating your strengths and weaknesses and studying the appropriate topics. If your score is far from where you are you will have to work harder, and may consider a tutor or a course to help keep you focused and moving forward. Know that to achieve a score in the 700's will probably require a daily study habit of at least an hour and that any study system shoul have short term and long term goals as well as a focus on both knowlege and strategy.

If you have any other, more specific questions, please feel free to ask.

Best of Luck

Thanks becky for the feedback!

Where can I find a complete and accurate practice test? Study guides are out of discussion. My books haven't arrived yet, so I can't really find out where I'm standing until next week or so. Thanks!

Register yourself in https://www.mba.com/

You can find the free practice test software in the following link

https://www.mba.com/the-gmat/download-fr ... tware.aspx

You can download once you complete the registration.

I have achieved a score of 570 on one of those practice tests. I am looking to score around 750+ during exam day. What now?


This is very unimpressive. I will require extensive preparation in order to reach the 750+ barrier I am aiming for, I failed miserably in solving simple arithmetical problems or even finishing the Quant section of the test-at one point just because I did not remember all the mathematical rules I was picking random answers. Verbal section did not go much better, at one point I felt that I was picking random answers and I was not paying full attention to what the question was asking me. Any studying suggestions? I guarantee you that the capacity for achieving a high score is there, but I need your help for that!