GMAT Study Plan - How to Start your GMAT Prep

Hi Lordspace,

It's really not a good idea to start with OG12. Because it does waste questions when you don't know about gmat. OG12 is useful to review the math concept first (if you need). Then you could continue with cracking the Gmat. Exercies in that book are at easy/medium level. After that you should work on kaplan. Kaplan Math is quite good. I'm working on kaplan now,

Hi All,

I have one query for recommended books and for study plan

W.r.t. recommended books, can anyone plz tell me if books mentioned under below mentioned columns should be followed in below sequence ?

1)Advanced Plan
2)Ultimate Plan
3)Beyond Hardcore Plan

And w.r.t study plan , it 3 months study plan and I just have 2 months. I have done OG 12 and had 70% accuracy in within time limit. Can you please further advise on this.

Quick reply will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Best Regards,
RenukaD

Continue -

I have made a study guide, please advise. I have 2 months and I just want to make sure this plan will prepare me well for 730-750. 50hrs/wk. Please ignore all the EXAM #2s, they're just copy and pastes. Thanks.

Study Plan
1. Take Official GMAT Test online, review all questions 5/29 Sat
2. Review math 5/30 – 6/3
a. Books:
i. Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook for concept review and practice problems
ii. Kaplan GMAT Premier Live Online for concept review and practice problems
iii. Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review for practice problems
iv. Official Guide for the GMAT Review, 12th Edition for practice problems – mostly easy and medium questions
b. Tips:
i. Take notes, make flashcards on important materials
ii. Keep error log
iii. Time: 90seconds/questions
iv. Review all questions wrong thorough. Make notes to avoid in future.
v. Review all guessed answers.
3. Practice Math Questions 6/13 – 6/16
a. Continue to practice problems
b. Search for the hard 10% and practice

4. Review Verbal, continue to practice math problems 6/17 - 6/23
a. Books:
i. Manhattan GMAT’s Sentence Correction Guide for concept review
ii. PowerScore’s Critical Reasoning Bible for concept review
iii. Kaplan GMAT Verbal Workbook for concept review
iv. Official Guide for the GMAT Verbal Review for practice problems
v. Official Guide for the GMAT Review, 12th Edition for practice problems
5. Practice Verbal Questions, continue to practice math 6/23 – 7/1
a. Should be devoting more and more time as material accumulates
6. Build stamina through taking official exams and target weak points JULY
i. Practice Questions, review, and read test tips 7/2 FRI

1. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 7/3
• Work on weak math 7/3
• Work on weak verbal 7/4
2. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 7/5
• Work on weak math 7/6
• Work on weak verbal 7/7
3. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 7/8
• Work on weak math 7/9
• Work on weak verbal 7/10
4. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 7/18
• Work on weak math 7/18
• Work on weak verbal 7/19
5. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 7/20
• Work on weak math 7/21
• Work on weak verbal 7/22
6. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 7/23
• Work on weak math 7/24
• Work on weak verbal 7/25
7. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 7/26
• Work on weak math 7/27
• Work on weak verbal 7/28
8. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 7/29
• Work on weak math 7/30
• Work on weak verbal 7/31
9. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 8/1
• Work on weak math 7/1
• Work on weak verbal 7/2
10. Official GMAT Exam #2 and go over ALL solutions 8/3
• Work on weak math 8/4
• Work on weak verbal 8/5

Tentative test date 8/7
TARGET SCORE: 750

Hi bb, i have another question. I already finish all 3 verbal books of Manhattan gmat. I read each book and then went to the OG and solved all questions available for each section, SC, RC, CR. I was correct in 75% - 80% of the questions. Is that usual? or i´m doing something wrong? I´m not a native speaker, and haven´t take any practice test yet. I did took the gmat in 2007 and got 590 (V31, Q41) without any study.

Recommendations? my target score is 680-700

Thank you

This is exactly what I needed to get started. Thank you!

i think thats good considering you are not a native speaker.... i am also at 70-75% accuracy after going through verbal manhattan books...i hope it gets better for both of us..

I have started preparing based on this study plan and book recommendations.
I am glad I came across this thread, else I would have started off with OG.

I have started studying using Princeton Review and Kaplan Premier 2009. Planning to finish in 2 weeks and then start with Manhattan SC.Will start doing OG questions as given in each chapter of SC.

joined this forum recently..plannin to give gmat in aug end..CheriInfinite post is really helpful..gonna follow this strategy

Question for BB – Should I read the Kaplan Premier book simultaneously with the MGMAT quant series or do I first read the Kaplan Premier book, then start the MGMAT series? I plan to start studying next week and take the GMAT in Dec/Jan. Thanks for the advice. Great forum.

Nice post . I am writing my Gmat again in another 20 days or so and I can feel the tension / nervousness building in me. I will see how to unwind from work few days before my test .

i wish i'd gone through this post before taking my GMAT. Anway, this should come in handy for my second attempt at GMAT.

thanks for the post.

bb,

I seem to be having trouble finding any information as far as pacing advice is concerned. Have we had any topics on the issue specifically about what we should target or is this issue something that by nature will fluctuate from member to member?

Disclaimer, I have searched on the forum for this information but I can't seem to find any threads with expert advice.

Exactly, the notation got the best of me. Thanks

Excellent post BB..
I think gmatclub is amazing place to be.. thanks to all the members for creating such an wonderful community
Really loving it

See also, gmat-cat-timing-planner-82513.html

This is basically what I was looking for except more of a 'what do you recommend' instead of allowing myself to make it up.

Hi,
I have been reading the GMAT study plan suggested by all bb and other members.
Here's my plan, based on several combinations which I think will suit me. Would like to have your insights on this one -

1. Day Zero - Princeton Review CAT1
2. Princeton Review, after completing half of the PR book, CAT2
3. After completion of PR, CAT3
4. OG 11th edition - Here I plan to complete the book in 3 parts, after 1/3rd of the questions in all the sections are exhausted, I will take a test and gauge my progress. I will go on doing this until I am done with the OG.
5. After building on the basics, I'll take upon the MGMAT SC and such other specific material ( like the PowerScore CR, or the Verbal and/or Quant review) to iron out the flaws
6. Take the CAT7
7. Kaplan 800 - Quant & Verbal to solve some of the tougher problems - here I'll use the same strategy as with the OG.
8. GMAT Prep 1 - After exhausting the MGMAT, PR and Gmat Club tests and on completion of the Kaplan 800
9. Towards the end of my prep, I'll go back to the OG, so as to remain fresh with actual questions for my exam.
10. GMAT prep 2.
11. OG
12. Exam day!!!

The reason, I am preparing in this distributed manner, and not sticking to a single section for a month is because I believe after a month of Quant and thereafter a month of Verbal, my Quant would again become dodgy and so on.

I've booked a late december date for the exam, so I've roughly 4 months.
Is this a good enough plan or do I need any improvements?? Your suggestions would be really welcome

Thanks
Rahul