NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 24 Apr 2024, 23:53 It is currently 24 Apr 2024, 23:53
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

NEED HELP!! A bit discouraged :(

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
User avatar
bunsu14
Intern
Intern
Joined: 17 May 2011
Posts: 15
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
NEED HELP!! A bit discouraged :( [#permalink] New post   29 Aug 2011, 08:10
First and foremost I want to express my deepest thanks to the creators and members of this forum for their contribution to the GMAT world. I've been a member here for a few months, but have only recently started to post.

My GMAT study background, I have been building up my Toolkit since February '11 and it currently consists of:
8 MGMAT Study Guides
PowerScore CR and SC
OG12
Aristotle SC Bible

Since then I didn't really have a solid study plan and have been "casually" reading the guides and taking notes as I felt that I needed to build a solid foundation before tackling questions or practice tests. I jump from quant and verbal guides, have not utilized the practice questions in the guides and only recently started to use the OG12 practice questions.

I signed up for Knewton online prep course in January '11 and have yet to take any of the classes.
Yesterday I decided to take Knewton's diagnostics test and scored a dismal 510 (30V 31Q).

At first I was very discouraged about my score, but after thinking about my study approach for the past few months I believe my study approach is all wrong.

Any advice?

Much appreciated.
User avatar
B
mohater
Retired Moderator
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Status:Accepting donations for the mohater MBA debt repayment fund
Posts: 1823
Own Kudos [?]: 1148 [0]
Given Kudos: 234
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Operations, Finance
Schools: Ross '14 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V38
GPA: 3.54
WE:Accounting (Manufacturing)
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User Reviews Badge
Re: NEED HELP!! A bit discouraged :( [#permalink] New post   29 Aug 2011, 09:20
The GMAT tests specific topics and subtopics. Simply reading content is not enough.

Begin your prep by taking a practice test (you have done this). Use the results of the practice test to determine. Keep an error log to track progress and figure out WHY you are answering problems incorrectly.

A 510 is not a terrible starting point. People have gone from this up to 700+.

Best of luck.
User avatar
bunsu14
Intern
Intern
Joined: 17 May 2011
Posts: 15
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: NEED HELP!! A bit discouraged :( [#permalink] New post   29 Aug 2011, 09:57
Thank you for the reply mohater!

Any advice on how I can leverage my diagnostics test to focus on trouble areas? Any recommendations on a solid study plan? - I believe I'll need some structure or I'll never get my score up. Much thanks.
User avatar
B
mohater
Retired Moderator
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Status:Accepting donations for the mohater MBA debt repayment fund
Posts: 1823
Own Kudos [?]: 1148 [0]
Given Kudos: 234
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Operations, Finance
Schools: Ross '14 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V38
GPA: 3.54
WE:Accounting (Manufacturing)
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User Reviews Badge
Re: NEED HELP!! A bit discouraged :( [#permalink] New post   29 Aug 2011, 11:51
Start an error log and go through your diagnostic and note the # of problem types (DS, PS, SC, RC, CR) and how many you answered correctly/incorrectly. Figure out what your weakest section is and begin working through material and practice problems, while ALWAYS using your error log. Continue to work through all subsections (don't ignore a section simply because it's your best section, study every section but give more time to your weakest). Take a practice test every so often to gauge progress and adjust your plan accordingly.

Your book selection is good for now. You may need to expand later on, but for now, it's enough.
User avatar
ebonn101
Current Student
Joined: 26 Mar 2011
Posts: 282
Own Kudos [?]: 113 [0]
Given Kudos: 12
Concentration: Finance
Schools: UCLA (Anderson) - Class of 2014
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User
Re: NEED HELP!! A bit discouraged :( [#permalink] New post   29 Aug 2011, 12:11
Develop a solid study regimen and your score will improve drastically. My first CAT was a 530, and as an active duty Army officer with a demanding schedule, I didn't have all the time in the world to study either. I put a mark on the wall about 4 months out and developed a plan to study 1-2 hours per day during weekdays and 4-6 hours per day on weekends (not including CATs). Using OG 12, MGMAT 8 guides and MGMAT Advanced GMAT Quant, along with some Princeton Review and Kaplan material (which I would not recommend), I was able to score 750 on test day.

It's all about budgeting your time, developing a plan, and remaining disciplined to stick with that plan, which it will be really hard to do at times. By month 3 I was finding it very hard to stay motivated, as at that point you start to see your improvements decrease in size despite spending the same amount of time. Give yourself a day off here and then to stay fresh, but also understand that you won't make significant improvement if you don't force yourself to maintain a solid study regimen.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: NEED HELP!! A bit discouraged :( [#permalink]
29 Aug 2011, 12:11

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions