Where would you start?

[vbcannon]

I just took a Kaplan CD-ROM CAT and scored a 470. I heard that the score is 60-100 points lower than an actual score but then I am seeing in other threads that this is a myth.

Anyway, I looked to see where my weaknesses were and I saw that in every section I was scoring around the same. I was getting 40-60% of every section correct. I didn't have any that was lower than a 40% correction rate or higher than a 60%.

I took that as, I have a pretty nice grasp on all of it, I just need to improve my skills in every one of them. I like Math so I figured that I would start with that section because it is easier for me to grasp and I could probably make up the most ground there. I missed 19 of the 37 math questions and when I looked back at why I got them wrong, it was simply because I had forgotten how to work that particular problem or I was being careless.

What would you guys who are high scorers recommend I do? I have already bought the OG11 and the SC guide as well which will be coming in a few days and just downloaded the Flash Cards on this forum.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[wickely]

Kaplan's scoring being way off is legend, but not myth. Some people do report their real scores to be close to their Kaplan scores, but most people have the same experience you did.

I think your plan is good and that you're on the right track. Attack your weaknesses and be sure to carefully analyze your results. Take the GMATPrep tests. Those are the most accurate. Princeton Review's were also really close for me.

[VP_Jim]

Usually, people who score sub-500 do so because they have serious weaknesses in their fundamental abilities in math and grammar. Before even working on GMAT problems, I would do a careful review of basic algebra and geometry. I'd also get working on improving speed and accuracy in doing mental math. For verbal, start reading any well written materials you can get your hands on.

As you mentioned yourself, most of your mistakes happened because you had forgotten how to do that particular type of problem. Some pre-study before hitting the GMAT stuff will ensure that you're focused on GMAT strategy, rather than constantly needing to review the basics. It's tough to do well on the GMAT without a solid foundation.

Good luck!

[vbcannon]

Usually, people who score sub-500 do so because they have serious weaknesses in their fundamental abilities in math and grammar. Before even working on GMAT problems, I would do a careful review of basic algebra and geometry. I'd also get working on improving speed and accuracy in doing mental math. For verbal, start reading any well written materials you can get your hands on.

As you mentioned yourself, most of your mistakes happened because you had forgotten how to do that particular type of problem. Some pre-study before hitting the GMAT stuff will ensure that you're focused on GMAT strategy, rather than constantly needing to review the basics. It's tough to do well on the GMAT without a solid foundation.

Good luck!

So, I'm back and I have studied about 25 hours on the Math basics. I feel like I am about 90% solid on the basics. Do you think I should keep doing it until I am 100%? I haven't even started on the grammar basics. I just got my OG11 and Manhattan SC book in and haven't started on them because I have been reviewing the math part of the Kaplan 2009 book. Would you think I should start reviewing for the Grammar part now or keep going on the math until I am solid?

I have until January 15, 2009 til I take the test and am studying 3 or so hours a day.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[VP_Jim]

You should probably get going on the grammar, too. You need time to allow the basics to settle in and become second nature.

As for the math, I'd advise trying the first half of each section in the OG to see how you do. That will expose any weaknesses in your fundamentals, if you still have any. When you do a problem, make sure you spend some time afterwards to analyze it and find some sort of takeaway or rule for the problem that you can apply to future questions.

Three hours per day for six weeks or so is a great amount of time to study. Keep it up!

[vbcannon]

You should probably get going on the grammar, too. You need time to allow the basics to settle in and become second nature.

As for the math, I'd advise trying the first half of each section in the OG to see how you do. That will expose any weaknesses in your fundamentals, if you still have any. When you do a problem, make sure you spend some time afterwards to analyze it and find some sort of takeaway or rule for the problem that you can apply to future questions.

Three hours per day for six weeks or so is a great amount of time to study. Keep it up!

Awesome! Thanks Jim that makes me feel better! I like your advice on taking away something from every question instead of trying to just hurry and get through it, find out if it was right, and move on.

Seriously, I appreciate it.

[vbcannon]

You should probably get going on the grammar, too. You need time to allow the basics to settle in and become second nature.

As for the math, I'd advise trying the first half of each section in the OG to see how you do. That will expose any weaknesses in your fundamentals, if you still have any. When you do a problem, make sure you spend some time afterwards to analyze it and find some sort of takeaway or rule for the problem that you can apply to future questions.

Three hours per day for six weeks or so is a great amount of time to study. Keep it up!

So are you saying to start learning grammar basics first or to do the first half of each math section in the OG to see how I do first? I am not exactly sure what you mean by each section in the OG. The first part is the diagnostic, then the math review, then a bunch of practice questions. Is that what you are talking about?

[VP_Jim]

I would do the math and grammar at the same time. Well, not literally of course, but maybe an hour a day on each.

By "each section", I meant the problem solving, data sufficiency, sentence correction, reading comp, and critical reasoning sections. The diagnostic test at the beginning isn't very helpful.

[vbcannon]

I would do the math and grammar at the same time. Well, not literally of course, but maybe an hour a day on each.

By "each section", I meant the problem solving, data sufficiency, sentence correction, reading comp, and critical reasoning sections. The diagnostic test at the beginning isn't very helpful.

I hate to sound so ignorant but when you say study grammar, are you referring mainly to the SC part? I have a Kaplan Premier 2009 edition and the OG11 and the Manhattan SC Guide. What would you or any other high scorer suggest when studying "Grammar"?

I did find the diagnostic test to be pretty difficult. I got understood all of the Kaplan Math and that didn't help much on the Problem Solving portion of the Diagnostic Test. The questions were a lot harder and required more than just a basic knowledge of math. They also required you to know how to logically get to the answer. Of course you had to have the fundamental knowledge of the Math but it still made it difficult.

I am beginning to see that it takes more than a basic knowledge but also seeing how the test makers want you to think. (That seems to be the toughy) If it weren't tough we would all make an 800 though right?

Back to my point, can anyone suggest how to grab a hold of basic grammar.

My study habits from here on out will be

1 Hour studying basics of Grammar
1 Hour studying basics of Math
1-2 Hours studying the actual practice questions and how they arrived at those answers.

This will be after I do what Jim suggested with taking half of each section's tests, but I can already tell you, I will need help in all sections.

Does that sound like how I should do it? I just know, it may take an hour trying to completely understand how to get one of the problems right.

[VP_Jim]

Yes, grammar = sentence correction. There is a very small number of grammatical rules that are actually tested on the GMAT. Your goal is to know those rules COLD and be able to spot them in sentences without having to think about it too much.

Your study plan sounds good. There's nothing wrong with taking an hour on a problem when studying, since you'll never forget how to do that problem! The goal is to learn something from every problem you do, no matter how long it takes. Of course, you can't that long on the real test, but hopefully your speed will improve as you study more.

Finally, yes, the quant section of the diagnostic test in the OG is a bit silly. It's not at all representative of the actual test, so don't stress about it too much.