4 Month Study Strategy (Math Focused)

[nightrunner19]

Hello All!

I'm looking for some feedback on my study schedule.

Details
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Goal Score: 730 or above
Time to GMAT: 3.5 months
LSAT: 166 (93rd percentile)*
* I am very strong when it comes to RC / AR but could use a bit of SC work. Quant is not a strength for me

I didn't start with a practice test, because I had a lot of work to do on Quant and I didn't want to get myself down.

Weeks 1-12:

• Magoosh (following the Math Focused Study Plan)
  Completing the following MGMAT books: Fractions, Algebra, Word Problems, Geometry, Number Properties, Sentence Correction
  Official GMAT Prep PT #1

Weeks 13-14:

• Work through entire Total GMAT Math Book

Week 14:

• Power Week (I'm taking the week off work) - Work through Economist GMAT trial @ 10 hours a day.
  2 Unofficial practice tests

Week 15

• Final week - Work through both Official Guides (Quant & Verbal)
  Final Official GMAT Practice Test #2

Other things: Meditation daily, running daily, good nutrition, no alcohol.

Any feedback? I'm really hoping to make this test count!

[MartyMurray]

This could be good. I am not all that familiar with Magoosh or Total GMAT Math. So I am not in a great position to really evaluate much of your plan.

I do have a couple of comments.

One is that part of the reason for taking practice tests is to figure out what you need to work on and how you stand. That information can be valuable to have on an ongoing basis. So one thing that jumps out at me is that by only taking one practice test in three months you will not be getting an optimal amount of information, or an optimal amount of practice in taking the test.

For one thing, there are many different areas of quant, and some show up more on the test than others do. How will you get a feel for that, and for what you need to work on, without having experienced the test?

So while I agree with waiting, and not burning a GMAT Prep test unnecessarily, I think you should consider taking more practice tests and taking them sooner in that first three months. If you don't want to get down, maybe you need to find a method of staying up that's better than avoiding the test. You mentioned meditation. (Yay) So maybe you are familiar with working with your mind and emotions. I am sure you can come up with other ways of staying positive about your prospects. For one thing, the truth is that anyone can learn to rock this test. So getting down or discouraged never makes sense.

On another note, SC can take a while to get better at. So if you need work, there, maybe you should do more on that in those first three months too, or maybe that's included in the Magoosh work you mentioned.

Generally I advocate taking a video game like approach to learning about and taking the test. For one thing, GMAT quant is more of a reasoning game than a math test. That's less of a comment on your plan than it is something to keep in mind as you prepare.

Does doing the Economist program ten hours a day make sense? That's an interesting idea that actually I kind of like, even if ten hours might be a lot for you, though it does sound like fun to me. When I was preparing I would do questions until I could barely think straight, and then do some more, often at like 1 AM. So maybe you will be that way too. At the same time, that program has a certain way of looking at things. So does making that the focus of your entire power week make sense? I guess you will find out.

So I guess your plan sounds pretty good as far as I can say given my lack of familiarity with some of the materials, but I tend to feel that maybe you would be better off making the process more of an iterative feedback loop than what you have is.

[[email protected]]

Hi nightrunner19,

You're going to have to remain flexible on some of these details - you're going to find that certain concepts will take longer to master than others, so some adjustments will be inevitable.

To start, regardless of any feelings that you may have on the subject, you really should take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections ) sometime early on in your studies (in the first 1-2 weeks). This will establish a baseline score, better define your strengths and weaknesses and provide a basis for comparison. There are certain aspects to test-taking that can be learned only by taking FULL CATs at regular intervals (so you should also plan to take a FULL CAT every 1-2 weeks).

Your planned last two weeks also seem overly 'busy' - the volume of work that you're thinking about for your last couple of weeks before Test Day is far too much (and you'll be more likely to 'burn out' than benefit from it).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[nightrunner19]

Based on all of your feedback, this is my revised study schedule:

Weeks 1-12:
Magoosh (following the Math Focused Study Plan)
Follow here on out
1 a night: Completing the following MGMAT books: Fractions, Algebra, Word Problems, Geometry, Number Properties, Sentence Correction
Beat the GMAT daily questions
Official GMAT Prep PT #1
2 Unofficial GMAT PT

Weeks 13-14:
Work through entire Total GMAT Math Book
Review all wrong questions in Magoosh
2 Unofficial GMAT PT

Week 14:
Power Week (I'm taking the week off work) - Work through Economist GMAT trial @ 10 hours a day (5 days)
2 Unofficial GMAT PT

Week 15
Final week - Work through both Official Guides (Quant & Verbal)
Final Official GMAT Practice Test #2
2 Days before (total break from all things GMAT)

I'm looking to do 8 Full CAT Practice Tests (2 Official GMATPREP and 6 Free ones that I can dig up). I plan to take my first CAT this coming weekend.

Does this look better?

[DavidG@VeritasPrep]

While there's no magic formula that will work for everyone, I do think it makes sense to space your practice tests out so that you're taking them a bit more regularly. In your current plan, you're taking two tests in 12 weeks, and then taking 5-6 tests in the last few weeks. My concern is that you won't be able to find a timing rhythm with your early tests, and then you won't be giving yourself enough time to thoroughly dissect the later ones. Why not give yourself two weeks to build a foundation early on, then start taking a test every other week or so, maybe ramping up to a test per week towards the end? That way if you get to practice test, say, #4, and you're not seeing the results you'd like, you have more time to tweak your study plan before the big day without feeling rushed.

[Rich@EconomistGMAT]

Hi nightrunner19,

Have to agree that this sounds like a lot of work in the last two weeks leading up to your exam date. Make it more of a point to actually *schedule* your self-care, rather than just listing out what you'd like to do in your free time. Putting these things for yourself on a calendar will help you avoid burnout, which you'll need to be cautious of based on this current plan.

Best,
Rich

[mindovergmat]

Hi,

I may not have read the thread closely enough, but I didn't see you describe your current quant situation. What is your current score and what particularly are you missing? 3+ months is a long time and depending on where you are you may be able to focus in on your weaknesses and end the process sooner.

Great work on keeping the life balance and strengthening your mind through meditation as well - that is more useful than we know.

I will message you as well.

[mindovergmat]

Hi,

I may not have read the thread closely enough, but I didn't see you describe your current quant situation. What is your current score and what particularly are you missing? 3+ months is a long time and depending on where you are you may be able to focus in on your weaknesses and end the process sooner.

Great work on keeping the life balance and strengthening your mind through meditation as well - that is more useful than we know.

I will message you as well.