GMAT Study Plan - How to Start your GMAT Prep

Hi,

I went through almost all the posts on this thread about how to go about beating the GMAT.

I have a few specific questions though about my weaknesses that I have found out over time.

1. I suck at RC (if the passage is long) - Small passage RCs however convoluted I have good hit to miss ratio ~100% but as the RC passage starts getting long, I am screwed. I lose my focus and start thinking about weird stuff which actually reading the passage, but when I am done reading the passage i find that I don't remember a damn thing that is there, and thus I have to reread or attempt questions with a partial knowledge of the RC.
--- Please suggest something that I can do to improve this particular area.

2. SC - How to remember the idioms. Almost 20-25% (if not more) of the SC questions have these.

3. CR - not much of an issue, other than the inference questions

4. DS - I am pretty confident about PS, but when it comes to DS under pressure I tend to forget one condition or the other, another focus issue

Please guide me how to overcome these bad boys..

Hi FinalFurlong,

I'll address RC for now, and allow others in the group to address the items you listed.

If you don't already do this, take notes (especially for those long passages!).

Our tutors give test takers the following advice on RC: Since more than 95% of all correct answers for Main Idea and Structure questions come from the first two sentences of the paragraphs, your first step is to read the first two sentences of each paragraph and take notes on each.

Make sure you only paraphrase and do not copy everything word-for-word. The point is is to get a brief summary of what you have read.

Pay attention to any of sentences that have opposition conjunctions like however, but and although.

This should be enough for a general mapping of the text and should help you locate many of the detail-related questions.

Before you get the hang of note-taking, don’t worry about timing. Your timing will improve as you practice. Most people complain about the fact that note-taking takes more time, but in the end, it will actually save you time and make you more precise.

Hope this helps! Here's a link to more tips on RC: https://gmat.economist.com/search/blog_ ... prehension.

This looks like a solid study plan; Reallt want to try it. I'll have the GMAT test in few month

I have given a Kaplan practice test and Scored-540.I am fulll time worker my working timings is from 10 am -8 pm.
I have been preparing form past 2 months.I am thinking of going for ! full month full time preparation is it possible for me to improve my score from 540 to 700+.Please help me here and any possible strategies for study is more than welcome..

Hi. Those are tough hours. Can you consider preparing before work? 8 AM or 7 AM? That would be ideal (use the best time on your prep vs. your commute or dealing with email)
As to the score improvement, you can expect up to 100 points in the first month with good focus. second moth I would say another 50 and another 25 in the third month of putting out effort.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Hi guys.. I have completed my bachelors in engineering (automobile) - CGPA (3.67) + > 3 years exp in after-sales in a major automobile company. I have scheduled to give GMAT on 25th October. I have read the Princeton review book + OG13 + MGMAT study guides (all 8). In my mock tests, I have scored from 630 to 710 in 3 tests. I have the following queries.
1. What is the minimum score that I should get that assures me of getting into top b school and getting a scholarship? – I necessarily need a scholarship.
2. I read in somewhere in this forum that it is tough to get a scholarship in 2nd round. I am planning to apply for round 2 this time. Is it okay?
3. Tips to improve my score further – Ways to prepare for last two weeks.

Hi. Top schools do not give scholarships based on the GMAT. Many don't even have a merit scholarship and it is all based on your profile or need.
You want to get at least the average score (which tends to be 720 these days). As an Indian IT/engineer male you probably want to get a 750+ to be competitive.

See here for some more thoughts about the last 2 weeks: what-to-do-30-14-7-3-1-days-before-the-test-152506.html

Thanks a lot bb for your inputs and the link which you shared... I would like to know what are the points considered while providing a scholarship and to the extent they are provided... I am not from IT but still I understand the crowd in the field I am coming from..

Hey BB,

I would love your guidance on where to start.

I have the following materials already :

1. Veritas Study material- Full Prep books that are serial numbers.
2. One of my co-workers took Manhattan Gmat course and gave me the 10 Book series
3. Planning to buy OG 2015, Quant and Verbal review.

Situation :

I work full time 50-55 hrs/week as Senior manager so might be able to squeeze out 15-18 hrs max per week. Not a native speaker so might need more time to be acquainted with Verbal.

Questions :

1. What is the study schedule I should follow
2. Do I have the right study materials.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: GMAT Study Plan - How to Start your GMAT Prep
Date: 09 Oct 2014, 02:07 pm
From: bb
To: dshah9380




There is really no reason to post this and to PM about this. Please don't waste people's time.

I am sorry about multiple posts. I was trying to get this darn private message thing to work. As I was not able to figure out, posted here.

I appreciate your help and guidance .

Thanks
Devin

Posted from my mobile device

Thanks JTuquero I ll start by doing the note-taking thing, and see my progress.

I hope fellow forum members help me out with the rest of the issues.

Hi,
So I've been casually studying for the GMAT for a while now from Kaplan but I couldnt manage it because of work. Last week, I finally took 2 months off from and have bought the MGMAT strategy guides.

I just wanted to ask should I also invest in the OG as well? is it a good idea to do the strategy guides and the OG if I have 2 months to do this?

Hi guys,

So I'm about to start my GMAT prep.. I have 2 guides:
1) Princeton
2) Manhattan GMAT

Which guide do you guys think I should start with?

I was thinking Princeton but it seems like Manhattan is a bit more thorough, so Im not entirely sure which one to begin with..

Let me know what you guys think

Cheers!

Hi guys,

Just to give some more detail with regards to my previous post

I'm preparing for my GMAT and I have the Princeton Cracking the Case 2015 edition and the soft copies of the MGMAT strategies/chapters given to me by my bf...

I was wondering if there was any point using the Princeton (seen some poor reviews) at all or just focusing on the MGMAT.. Also is it worth going through the MGMAT chapter by chapter or should I mix it up.. i.e. do some verbal today and math tomorrow etc...

I don't have a MGMAT study guide like I do on the Princeton which spells out what to study on each day so i just want to make sure I'm approaching this the right way if I do decide to use the MGMAT instead...

Thanks

I purchased both the MGMAT bundle and the OG bundle. Do I work through the OG math section (and additional math book) before moving on to MGMAT's math books? I'm unsure how to use these together.

Hi and welcome to GMAT Club. You would use them together. However, you probably want to read the theory and tips before you do the questions (that's how most people do it)
Open MGMAT book 1 and proceed. End when you are finished with book 8. Everything will be clear once you finish the first chapter.