Here goes...
I studied for about a month in September 2005 and then lost focus after a 3 week vacation. Since I was going to apply for Fall 2007, I wasn't in a hurry to take the GMAT.
Beginning of this year, I started studying again and used the resources listed below. I didn't work through all the material..I had more than I needed. I have the tendency to buy/acquire all sorts of material without giving it much thought.
Resources
1. Princeton Review - Good Verbal, Average Quant.
2. Kaplan/Kaplan 800 - I used it last september and didn't give any test. Most people here say that Kaplan tests aren't representative...so I didn't bother.
3. Princeton Grammar Smart - Must read for non-native test-takers
4.
OG 10th edition/11th edition - Same set of problems for the most part.
*** BEST resource for Verbal ***
5.
MGMAT SC guide - Good for the basics. Works in conjunction with
OG.
6. GMATClub - Problems for all sorts of resources...probably the only thing you need for a variety of problems.
7. GMATClub Challenges - Took challenges 17-25. Fosters creative thinking and good time management. I am sure if I had taken the ETS test, I would have scored higher in the Q section. Highly recommended !
8. GMATClub stickies by Honghu, Paul, YWilfred and others.
9. Permutations/Combinations - Various resources on the net. I had gotten really good at these questions. My favourite question type...
Practice Tests
PP2 - 760 (
OG overlap )
PR1 - 740 with AWA
PR2 - 690 with AWA
GMATPrep1 - 730 with AWA ----------Accurate Score Predictor
GMATPrep2 - 720 with AWA
Manhattan GMAT exams - 650, 690 - Didn't find them too useful.
Strategy for Quant
Nothing much except that I was forced to backsolve a few times. I am not good at it. It is not something that comes naturally to me. I would suggest that you get in the habit of using it for some of the tougher problems. Getting a strong foundation of concepts is more important than solving more problems.
Strategy for Verbal
RC - Active reading, relate main idea of all passages. If you have ample time before the exam subscribe to The Economist...covers a variety of topics which are well written.
SC- Has been said before..you must be able to eliminate all wrong answer choices based on grammatical principles. Can't think of any short-cuts. Knowing various idioms helps a lot.
CR- LSAT material including 1000 CRs. GMATClub forum!
AWA
Used to brainstorm on 5 issues before I went to sleep every night. Try to spend some time on AWA. In the actual exam, you wan't a good start to your test and expend the minimal amount of energy possible on this section.
I avoided GMAT on saturdays. It is very important that you recharge every week !!!
In the middle of my prep, I lost steam and stopped studying for about 5-6 days. My wife inquired why I had stopped. I replied that I am re-thinking this whole GMAT business. She told me fine and that it is entirely up to me about what I want in life.....But don't wake up 5 years from now and regret that you didn't do it because you got lazy....OUCH !!!! Don't need more motivation than that....
I will add more if I remember...
As always questions are welcome, I owe much to this forum. It is payback time...