Newbie - Just took test - horrible

[cheezoos]

Hi everyone I'm new to the forums
Took the gmat today and did horrible
450

Scaled score
Q - 32
V - 20

Honestly I only studied for two weeks so that probably was a major factor. I didn't know much about the gmat until i found this website. But it was too late to use the information since I only had two weeks left.

My target score is 550-600
I am trying to apply to long beach state MBA program
I am an EE student graduating this year.

If I can commit an hour to two hours a day how long do you all suggest it would take me to get a score around 550 to 600?
I will have to buy all new books and I am more of a self study person.

The books i used was
Gmat for dummies
and a Kaplan Book
Thanks!!

[beatthegmat]

Hi everyone I'm new to the forums
Took the gmat today and did horrible
450

Scaled score
Q - 32
V - 20

Honestly I only studied for two weeks so that probably was a major factor. I didn't know much about the gmat until i found this website. But it was too late to use the information since I only had two weeks left.

My target score is 550-600
I am trying to apply to long beach state MBA program
I am an EE student graduating this year.

If I can commit an hour to two hours a day how long do you all suggest it would take me to get a score around 550 to 600?
I will have to buy all new books and I am more of a self study person.

The books i used was
Gmat for dummies
and a Kaplan Book
Thanks!!

Hi cheezos:

Welcome to the Beat The GMAT community! I'm sorry to hear about your experiences on the GMAT today.

Needless to say, there's definitely some room for improvement with your score. The first thing you need to do is develop a strong study strategy for yourself. Spend some time looking through my GMAT Blog, https://beatthegmat.blocked, to see what one successful self-study strategy can look like end-to-end.

Also, take a look at the GMAT Resource Wiki, https://www.beatthegmat.com/wiki/. There are some great book recommendations and free resources there to assist you on your prep.

Best of luck! Don't hesitate to ask your questions about the test on these forums--this community is here to help you succeed.

[beatthegmat]

Oh yeah, one additional plug I'd like to mention: think about applying for a Beat The GMAT Scholarship, https://www.beatthegmat.com/scholarship/

There are some awesome resources being awarded to winners. Thanks!

[cheezoos]

THanks for the resource
i was reading the wiki page and was wondering

If i by the OG review, verbal, and quantitative
will that be enough?

or should i also see about buying some manhattan books?

[beatthegmat]

The OG books are essential--I strongly recommend purchasing them.

Princeton Review, Kaplan, and Manhattan GMAT provide great resources for teaching you strategy and GMAT concepts.

I think OG alone isn't enough--you probably want to supplement with one or all the books above.

[cheezoos]

Thank you for the quick reply!

I am goign to by the OG books which the Wiki said were essential
WHen you said i should supplement with one or all of the books
such as kaplan mahattan etc.

SHould i just get the typical book?
like kaplan 800 or should i get kaplan verbal same thing
with manhattan. THere are so many books to choose from.

[beatthegmat]

Thank you for the quick reply!

I am goign to by the OG books which the Wiki said were essential
WHen you said i should supplement with one or all of the books
such as kaplan mahattan etc.

SHould i just get the typical book?
like kaplan 800 or should i get kaplan verbal same thing
with manhattan. THere are so many books to choose from.

The wiki has some guidance in terms of books to purchase. For me:

PR is a great intro book
Kaplan is good, difficult practice problems
Manhattan GMAT is outstanding test strategy, good problems

Do your research, but I trust these GMAT references the best.

[GCHall840]

I would definitely look into the Manhattan GMAT strategy guides.
When are you going to take the GMAT again? If you can wait, I would look into the Manhattan GMAT virtual online course. You can take that from any PC with an internet connection. Virtual in that sense, means that there are two real people teaching the class, live. That online course runs for 9 weeks. Honestly, if you want something that is very well done and, if you think that you need the right kind of structured preparation process, I would take that course. I think that it is very hard to study on your own, too. I chose to take their online course that started on March 11. I am certainly very pleased with everything about that course from the strategy guides that they use to the two instructors that teach the class.
Take a look at what they have to offer. I think that the Manhattan GMAT prep course is a lot better than Kaplan and Princeton Review, too.

Greg

[aim-wsc]

Thank you for the quick reply!

I am goign to by the OG books which the Wiki said were essential
WHen you said i should supplement with one or all of the books
such as kaplan mahattan etc.

SHould i just get the typical book?
like kaplan 800 or should i get kaplan verbal same thing
with manhattan. THere are so many books to choose from.

The wiki has some guidance in terms of books to purchase. For me:

PR is a great intro book
Kaplan is good, difficult practice problems
Manhattan GMAT is outstanding test strategy, good problems

Do your research, but I trust these GMAT references the best.

about book: I believe its everyones personal opinion.

So far what you have discussed on this thread are very reputed and standard books for GMAT, so no harm in purchasing those.

since the title suggests you are newbie I couldnt resist to link https://jc-gmat.blocked/2007/01/how ... -gmat.html
my article for HOW TO APPROACH GMAT

[scoutkb]

I probably started in the 400 level when i first started studying. I forgot everything about math and grammer. So i decided to use the MGMAT strategy guides. All i can say is the SC guide is AMAZING! The math guides are also amazing if you have a good grasp of the basics. I did not. I bought the ARCO's math review to refine those skills. I am by no means an expert on the gmat, but i do know a little bit about how to improve the basics.

This is what i suggest and maybe some more accomplished GMAT test takers can chime in.

1) Relearn the basics, for math get the ARCO's math review
2) Relearn SC basics, get a good grammer book
3) Get the MGMAT guides and do them over and over till you get the concepts right...this is a pain, but before you know it, you will start understanding the questions and how to solve them. Be sure to do the OG math review problems and OG 11 with the MGMAT books. This really helps solidify the knowledge from the MGMAT guides in relation to actual GMAT problems.
4) Practice tests

Another key point is to take notes. I made over 300 flash cards to date and started writing notes. I have a horrible memory so refering to my notes helps a great deal. I would say i have improved from around the 450 level to the high 500 level in 2 months. Its not easy for me, but as long as i keep working hard i know i am improving. Good luck.

Oh BTW...the Kaplan 800 book is good if your scoring in the mid 600 or higher. Dont waste your time with it until you get there. You wont see any of those questions on the test until you can score at that level.

[cheezoos]

Thank You so much for ur replies!!
I am going to try to give it two months before i rewrite the test.
I believe my problem is that i did not get real serious about the test and wstudied the wrong books. I am going to donate a min of a hour every day. Aiming for two. and 2 - 4 on the weekends.

I got my Official Score back.
5.0 on the AWA do you all think i should put more effort into the essay portion as well? OR is that well enough?

Books Bought
OG Gmat review
OG Verbal
OG quantitative
Kaplan 800
SC Manhattan

[Stacey Koprince]

5.0 on AWA is great - you don't need to put more effort in on the essays. Concentrate on the multiple choice portion of the test!