GMAT Study Plan - How to Start your GMAT Prep

BB,
Thanks for the very helpful tips.

Great post!

My name is Ani and I am from Lebanon-Beirut, Armenian and I am struggling with the GMAT. My highest score was 310 and I am stuck with a low GMAT score. I liked your post. I took several courses at GMAT, took several practice tests, Studied the OG, and read a lot of how to sit for the GMAT exam but in vain. When I submitted to the University in Beirut, the GMAT was not a requirement. I finished my MBA courses last year and defended my thesis successfully and now at the end I was not allowed to graduate because of my low GMAT score and that I have to submit a GMAT score of 450. I am stuck with a low GMAT score. I am very confused and do not know how to re-study. Now I hate GMAT. Is there any possibility that I can overcome this? Your advise is very much appreciated.

This is an awesome post - made a big mistake by only looking at OG13 and not making full use of online forums for my prep.. Next time, I am sure I will crack it with help from people out here

Hi Ani, what is the break-up of your quant and verbal scores?

If you are good at QA, I think you should focus on getting that to 40+ range and pulling your GMAT score to a good level.. all the best!

These all steps all very helpful for us and these clearly explain that "How to Start your GMAT Prep ". Thanks for this post..

More about error log at keep-track-of-error-log-learn-from-it-using-a-pivot-table-174268.html#p1382417

Great Help !! I think this kind of road-map was much required before I start my prep. Kudos!!
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Whether it is your first time or whether you have taken the GMAT test before and are hoping to better your score, we recommend the following

1. Personalize your practice test

Take an initial test to evaluate where you stand. You will know the areas that you need to work on. Try to follow a personalized study plan based on your strengths and areas for improvements.

2. Get familiar with the questions

Unless you know the type of questions that come on the GMAT, you cannot possibly practice. Get familiar with the question types by picking up a relevant and reliable practice book.

3. Practice a little each day

Don’t get burnt out; however, don’t procrastinate either. The best way to prep is practice each day. Remember it is important to practice on relevant material which will eventually help you get comfortable with all types of questions.

4. Take simulated tests

A GMAT standardized test is more a test of endurance than merely content. GMAT tests content that you have studied at some point in your life in school. Hence, more than content it tests how good a test taker you are. Make sure you time yourself to get a better feel of what the actual testing experience will be like. Schedule in section stops and breaks just like on test day. You should at least take 5 to 6 simulated tests with adequate sectional practice in between.

Hi All
I have just given a Princeton review mock and i got 31 out 41 questions correct with just 29 score. followings questions were wrong 1, 7, 8, 12, 20, 21, 23, 25, 29 and 30. Is the score correct. Please help.

Regards

Raman Goel

Hi All,

I just started my GMAT preparation weeks ago after solid decision that I will pursue an MBA degree. I plan to attend enrollment next year and hope to get admitted by 2016 in any top 10 US MBA. I took my first CAT with Manhattan Prep CAT and the score was 490 . This will need a lot of effort since my target is to exceed 700.

It is great to find this gmatclub, such a very big resource that I will follow most of the suggestion from GMAT master here.

Regards,
Htyo

Hello BB,

I have made my study plan according to the strategy suggested by you. I've dedicated 20 days each to Quant & Verbal, and then another 20 days for full review; given I'm not working at the moment. My question is, while I am preparing for Quant & Verbal, how do I incorporate mock tests to evaluate my quant and verbal separately? My idea was to write full mock tests during the review week and only prep for Q&V during the first 40 days? Does this make sense? Any suggestions by you would be much appreciated!

Thanks!
RCA

Dear BB,

I am a new member at this Forum and right now I am aiming for Harvard's application round which is due on 5th Jan 2015.

Having read one of your post where you wrote that if someone is aiming to hit a score of 700+ with 3 months remaining then he is already late, I am a bit demotivated as I only have a little over 3 months left till the application deadline for Harvard.

So what do you suggest?? Shall I put off my Harvard application and apply at some later date??

Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.

Thanks and Regards,
Nabeel

It is 4.3 months technically until Jan 5th....

I suggest you don't sit on your behind any longer and jump up and grab the books/courses and kick into gear and start working on your GMAT. it depends on where you start obviously. If you are already at 650, then you only need a short hop to get to 700 as opposed to many of us who started at 550 or below.

Good Luck!
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Hi,

I went through the OG'13 initially and wrote the GmatPrep mock. Got 710 (Quant 49, Verbal 38). Can anybody tell me how to proceed ahead to maximize the score (target 750). A rough study plan for 1-1.5 months. TIA.

Hi BB and Hello all GMAT aspirants ..!

After lot of search on GMAT I found that joining this website is first step to avoid all chaos created in my mind due to lot of Googling.
This is my first Reply and I would like to give my brief intro to all and would like to read about you also .

I have completed my B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering) in 2007 with 55.98% aggregate(4years). 12th = 87.67% & 10th = 81.86%.
Till now I have kept GMAT option aside due to cost factor but after working for almost 7 years [Present: 4.3years in IT(QA) & Past: 2.9years in Design], I feel that now I can go ahead and pursue my MBA dream from elite college. I am planning for Executive MBA program through GMAT as it will be in line with my work experience. PGPX from IIM needs 7years WE.

After signing to this website I read BB's Study plan and decided to leave my 'I want to eat everything' attitude and start preparing for exam.

I feel quite confidant in Quant section but Verbal is main area of concern for me (as English is not my native Language).

I am exploring all free available stuff and test practice to decide which Plan I should opt to improve my Verbal and Practice all other sections ..!

----- Update 23rd April 2015 -----

Study Resources:
1. I have purchased Magoosh 1 year subscription in Sept 2014 and found that content on it is easy to understand and a good start for GMAT.
2. I am exploring MGMAT books and Veritas Prep videos also.
3. For more focus on my week area Verbal I will buy e-gmat soon (purchased on 27-April-15).

After Free Manhattan Gmat Challenge Set#1(22nd april 15), I came to know that there is difference between Magoosh and Manhatten Quant challenge. This challenge set is more difficult than Magoosh. hmm I need more practice & time on Quant now.

My Strong, Average and Weak areas:
A. Strong: Quant, SC, IR
B. Average: CR
C. Week: RC, Timing, AWA

Reading References
1. The Economist Magazine
2. The New York Times
3. The Wall Street Journal
4. How to read Better and Faster - NORMAN LEWIS

: Whatever it may be but I won't give up and I will give my best efforts to crack GMAT.

Hoping to get some valuable inputs for my Executive MBA plan through GMAT and also some motivation from you guys.

Hi BB,

I need some advice. I scored a 730 in my GMAT prep 2 exam (Q 50 ,V 38), however, i am not satisfied with this score as I feel I can do better in verbal. So what strategy or tips do you suggest for crossing 40 in verbal. Thanks a ton. ( Ive dont the OG, MGMAT Books, given one exam on the GMAT Club test and also done the 400 extra questions of GMAT prep)

This is great! I'm going to post my own strategy here soon and hope it is as effective as this one!

I am planning to give Gmat in last week of october. I have been studying for last 6 months but in an unsystematic manner. So presetly i am not able to decide how to finish my course and when to give Test series and which test series. The books i am planning to finish are-
QUANT
1 Gmatclub book
2 OG- PS & DS
3 Advanced Manhattan
(i have done 5 Manhattan books. I am good in 600+ ques but not able to solve 700+ ques)

CR
1 Powerscore BIBLE
2 OG

SC
1 Egmat Course
(i have done Manhattan SC)

RC
1 OG
(i am unable to find any good book for RC)

Kindly suggest me how to go with all these material and test series, so that i can finish it off in time.

Currently i am pissed of with so many material and it wasted so many months of mine.

Have you debriefed after taking your prep exams? If so, try and identify your weakness and focus on that when studying. If you don't find a recurring weakness, it may be your timing strategy.We have advised folks to give themselves nine minutes to answer five questions, and then adjust accordingly.
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