Hi friends
I attempted GMAT last monday and scored an unbelievable 760 ( v44 / Q49 ). My friend suggested that I share my story in this forum so that future test takers may be benefited.
I went through the following study materials to prepare for GMAT in the chronological order:
1. OG12
2. Quant supplement to OG12
3. Verbal supplement to OG12
4. Aristotle SC Grail
5. Manhattan SC
6. Manhattan Critical Reasoning Study guide
7. Kaplan GMAT 800
8. RC 99
9. 1000 SC
10. GMAT Powerprep software
11. GMATPrepr software
12. Manhattan online tests.
I am working in IT and I started preparing for GMAT in mid June. I did a lot of research for study and prep tips. What I came to know were the following:
1. Study for 3 months
2. Study for 2 hours in weekdays and 5 hours in weekends.
However, as I am working in client location. My work schedule was irregular and so I could not spend 2 hours everyday. I tried to study an average of 1 hour every weekday. On weekends, no matter how hard I studies, I could not study more than 4 hours. However, it took me 5 months to prepare for the exam. The point I am trying to make that it is very important for one to understand what kind of study plan suits best to him/her. This is something that one would realize gradually as he/she progresses with the studies.
The most important thing is to understand the nature of study that we need to do for GMAT. GMAT prep involves lot of practice. We need to practice the RC, SC, CR and quant sections and to sharpen our understanding of the concept. As such the preparation may seem to get boring at times and you may feel like dragging yourself. Please stop studying immediately at that time. Take a break, watch a movie or do whatever you want to do to be happy at that point. If you have the focus the urge to study again will come back in a few hours or a day. Also, in the long run, it does not matter how many questions you solved in your studies, what matters is that whatever you studied, you understood that completely. Whenever, you feel like dragging yourself, do not push yourself.
My study mode involved the following steps:
1. Solve a few questions.
2. Check how many you attempted correctly. This will give you an idea of how good you are in solving these questions and also would you in measuring your improvements over a period of time.
3. Go through the answer explanations irrespective of whether your attempt was correct or incorrect. There are different ways in answering a question. And you would want to learn the best way in order to ace the exam.
4. Go through the explanation for the incorrect choices. THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT. Your performance in the exam would depend largely on how you eliminate the wrong choices. And going through the explanation for eliminating the wrong choice will help you in developing this skill.
You can divide your entire prep period in the following stages:
1. Brush up basic. You can go through study materials numbered 1 to 6 in my list.
2. Go through the tougher study materials numbered 7 to 9. Also start giving mock tests numbered 10 -12 every weekend.
3. Continue giving tests and improve your weak areas.
Mock tests:
I attempted the following tests which were very useful.
GMAT Powerprep:
This is an old softeware from GMAC and has lots of practice questions apart from 2 mock tests. Though GMAC has launched a new software GMATPrep, this software is available for download in the internet.
GMATPREP:
This software can be downloaded from mba.com. It has two tests and a few practice questions. GMATPrep and Powerprep are the closest that one can get to the actual GMAT as they are provided by GMAC. Only disadvantage is that these softwares do not provide answer explanations for the test questions. Even so, taking these tests is a must before going for GMAT.
Manhattan GMAT tests:
Manhattan provides 6 mock tests that you have to buy. I believe that the cost is worth. The tests are tougher than GMAT standard and that makes you more focussed and shapes you well for the actual GMAT. So, do not lose heart if you are not scoring well; treat these as practice. GMATPrep and Powerprep are better indicators of how you will score in the actual tests.
Last note: As your exam dates closes on you, try to practice more from the OGs and Powerprep, GMATPrep as these have questions from the GMAC, the GMAT test creators. No other material in the market can provide you better questions suitable for GMAT than the test creator themselves. SO you may like to redo some questions during the last days of preparation. Also keep a cool during the end days and book your dates only when you are confident. Rescheduling the dates is not a big deal, I myslef did it thrice
All the best. Doubts and questions are welcome.
I attempted GMAT last monday and scored an unbelievable 760 ( v44 / Q49 ). My friend suggested that I share my story in this forum so that future test takers may be benefited.
I went through the following study materials to prepare for GMAT in the chronological order:
1. OG12
2. Quant supplement to OG12
3. Verbal supplement to OG12
4. Aristotle SC Grail
5. Manhattan SC
6. Manhattan Critical Reasoning Study guide
7. Kaplan GMAT 800
8. RC 99
9. 1000 SC
10. GMAT Powerprep software
11. GMATPrepr software
12. Manhattan online tests.
I am working in IT and I started preparing for GMAT in mid June. I did a lot of research for study and prep tips. What I came to know were the following:
1. Study for 3 months
2. Study for 2 hours in weekdays and 5 hours in weekends.
However, as I am working in client location. My work schedule was irregular and so I could not spend 2 hours everyday. I tried to study an average of 1 hour every weekday. On weekends, no matter how hard I studies, I could not study more than 4 hours. However, it took me 5 months to prepare for the exam. The point I am trying to make that it is very important for one to understand what kind of study plan suits best to him/her. This is something that one would realize gradually as he/she progresses with the studies.
The most important thing is to understand the nature of study that we need to do for GMAT. GMAT prep involves lot of practice. We need to practice the RC, SC, CR and quant sections and to sharpen our understanding of the concept. As such the preparation may seem to get boring at times and you may feel like dragging yourself. Please stop studying immediately at that time. Take a break, watch a movie or do whatever you want to do to be happy at that point. If you have the focus the urge to study again will come back in a few hours or a day. Also, in the long run, it does not matter how many questions you solved in your studies, what matters is that whatever you studied, you understood that completely. Whenever, you feel like dragging yourself, do not push yourself.
My study mode involved the following steps:
1. Solve a few questions.
2. Check how many you attempted correctly. This will give you an idea of how good you are in solving these questions and also would you in measuring your improvements over a period of time.
3. Go through the answer explanations irrespective of whether your attempt was correct or incorrect. There are different ways in answering a question. And you would want to learn the best way in order to ace the exam.
4. Go through the explanation for the incorrect choices. THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT. Your performance in the exam would depend largely on how you eliminate the wrong choices. And going through the explanation for eliminating the wrong choice will help you in developing this skill.
You can divide your entire prep period in the following stages:
1. Brush up basic. You can go through study materials numbered 1 to 6 in my list.
2. Go through the tougher study materials numbered 7 to 9. Also start giving mock tests numbered 10 -12 every weekend.
3. Continue giving tests and improve your weak areas.
Mock tests:
I attempted the following tests which were very useful.
GMAT Powerprep:
This is an old softeware from GMAC and has lots of practice questions apart from 2 mock tests. Though GMAC has launched a new software GMATPrep, this software is available for download in the internet.
GMATPREP:
This software can be downloaded from mba.com. It has two tests and a few practice questions. GMATPrep and Powerprep are the closest that one can get to the actual GMAT as they are provided by GMAC. Only disadvantage is that these softwares do not provide answer explanations for the test questions. Even so, taking these tests is a must before going for GMAT.
Manhattan GMAT tests:
Manhattan provides 6 mock tests that you have to buy. I believe that the cost is worth. The tests are tougher than GMAT standard and that makes you more focussed and shapes you well for the actual GMAT. So, do not lose heart if you are not scoring well; treat these as practice. GMATPrep and Powerprep are better indicators of how you will score in the actual tests.
Last note: As your exam dates closes on you, try to practice more from the OGs and Powerprep, GMATPrep as these have questions from the GMAC, the GMAT test creators. No other material in the market can provide you better questions suitable for GMAT than the test creator themselves. SO you may like to redo some questions during the last days of preparation. Also keep a cool during the end days and book your dates only when you are confident. Rescheduling the dates is not a big deal, I myslef did it thrice
All the best. Doubts and questions are welcome.
