740 (Q50, V40)

My study for GMAT involved 2 steps:

1. Review the 8-book Manhattan GMAT series in depth to learn the methods of answering GMAT questions
2. Practice the principles learned in Manhattan GMAT books on GMAT questions to the point where those principles become second nature. Initially my focus was on applying the MGMAT methods. Only later did I begin trying to solve questions in a timely manner.

I scored as follows on my practice tests:
MGMAT # 1: Q36, V42 650 (10 weeks before test, after 1 month of study)
MGMAT # 2: Q48, V41 730 (6 weeks before test)
GMATPrep 1: Q50, V40 740 (4 weeks before test)
MGMAT # 3: Q47, V45 740 (3 weeks before test)
GMATPrep 2: Q50, V44 760 (10 days before test)
MGMAT # 4: Q48, V44 750 (4 days before test)
Actual GMAT: Q50, V40 740

Based on my practice test scores, I thought I would be able to get Q50, V45 for something like a 760 on the actual GMAT. I don't know what happened on the verbal. For some reason, the CR questions seemed harder than usual.

Here is my advice for studying:
OG12 contains questions that you will see in the GMAT prep practice tests. Be careful about this before burning through every question in the OG12 book.

Some MGMAT math questions are computationally intensive to the point where they are nearly impossible to solve within 2 minutes. The real GMAT does not ask such insane questions. My MGMAT math scores were consistently lower than my GMAT prep and actual GMAT math scores for this reason. Other than this, MGMAT is awesome. MGMAT is the best non-official resource out there.

BE CAREFUL about using questionable review materials. There are a lot of bad books out there. In my experience, only official GMAT questions, MGMAT questions, and some Kaplan questions adequately resemble the types of questions you will get on the GMAT. Bad review materials for verbal are especially dangerous because they may teach you methods that violate the strictly established rules for GMAT verbal questions. Such a rule for official GMAT CR and RC would be "do not introduce outside information."

I truly believe that a reasonably intelligent person can attain any score they desire on the GMAT if that person is willing to put in the work. But depending on the score you want, it may be a ton of work (as in hundreds of hours of study). The test taker's supreme advantage over the tricky test writer is that the GMAT is standardized, and thus the questions must remain consistent and predictable in the type of reasoning ability they require. After answering many practice questions, I began to see patterns in the required logic that improved my % of correct answers.

If you are motivated enough to study on your own, you will learn everything you need from the MGMAT books. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on prep courses unless you are struggling to find ways to unload your cash. They will not teach any secrets that aren't covered in the MGMAT books.


Many thanks to everyone who posts so many great questions on this site. GMATclub is a seemingly limitless source of study material thanks to all of you.