2017 GMAT OG still useful??

Question

Hi everyone!

New to this site, and have not been able to exactly pin point to this query (some similar and maybe I could have extrapolated, but if anyone is keen to answer, that would be great!)

I am looking to start preparing for the GMAT to take later this year, and was wondering if the OG bundle from 2017 would still be relevant today? Or were there major changes since then?

The difference in cost is pretty large (the 2017 bundle goes for around €10 here in spain, compared to €80 for the 2020 one)

Thank you in advance!!

Juan.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Juan,

Back in 2018, the GMAT went through some changes (in simple terms, the Quant and Verbal sections were shortened), but the overall content of the GMAT remained the same. As such, you would be fine using the OG2017 books during your studies - although to hit your Score Goal, you will almost certainly need additional study resources beyond those books.

Since it sounds like you're just beginning your studies, then it would be a good idea to take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can take 2 for free at www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). If you want to do a little studying first, so that you can familiarize yourself with the basic content and question types, then that's okay - but you shouldn't wait too long to take that initial CAT. That score will give us a good sense of your natural strengths and weaknesses and will help provide a basis for comparison as you continue to study. A FULL CAT takes about 3.5 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have those scores, you should report back here and we can come up with a study plan.

I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and goals:
1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

jbarrios88 · Answer

Hi Rich!

Thank you very much for the super quick reply!

Yes, I think I am pretty aware of the fact that I will most likely require further materials, but I would like to study the OG first, take a second practice test (first one I got a 610, which I am okay with given I had no idea of the format, or the effects of not finishing the questions in time, which totally killed my verbal lol)

Regarding your questions:

1) What is your goal score? I am aiming for 700+, even though I am not applying to top 10 schools (Cambridge, Lisbon, IESE, Edinburgh, and maybe IE)
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT? September this year (I don't really like the online test taking structure).
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School? Starting to apply in September, depending on when I get my GMAT results back.

Thanks again for the advice!

Juan

Russ19 · Answer

Hi

I think OG-17 will do because around 30% of new questions are added to a new one, and some are omitted. If you like soft material, this platform will assist you to practice all the new questions with a timer. Check the link below:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmac-officia ... ml?fl=menu

Thanks

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Juan,

A 610 is a strong initial practice CAT Score (the average score on the Official GMAT hovers around 550 most years). In addition, by planning to take the GMAT in September, you've given yourself lots of potential study time - which is great! An important aspect of any Study Plan is to take FULL-LENGTH practice CATs/mocks at regular intervals - so rather than wait until after you have worked through the entire OG, you might consider working through some material from each question type and then taking your next CAT (so that we can get a sense of how well "your way" of studying is helping you to improve.

In addition, since you know which Schools you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement (and knowing about those issues early-on can give you more time to "fix" them).

There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

1) What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on your first CAT?
2) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

jbarrios88 · Answer

Thanks sjuniv32!

I will definitely have a look.

J.

jbarrios88 · Answer

Hi Rich!

Thanks for the advice!

Yes, I have already had a call with all the admission departments from the schools I am considering, and the top ones (Cambridge, IESE) said that given an at least average GMAT score (circa 700 for those schools), I should be fine. The rest seemed okay with even what I got at the baseline (they are at the rear end of the top 100 MBA schools).

Regarding your questions:

1) What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on your first CAT?  V31 and Q43 (I can't quite remember how many questions I did not get to answer in the verbal, maybe 2 or 3) 
2) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week? I think I can study between 15 and 20 hours per week without any issues.

I really had no idea how relevant the GMAT was, some schools I talked to (ESCP here in Europe) even said that with a 700+ score, I could get a merit Scholarship. So I really want to crush this exam.

J.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi jbarrios88,

Since there have not been any content changes to the GMAT since 2017, you could use books from 2017. Also, I see that you plan to use additional resources after completing the OG; however, you may want to use other resources first and the OG second. I say this because if you are still trying to learn GMAT quant and verbal, it may be more helpful to start off using materials that allow you to learn each GMAT quant and verbal topic individually, and then practice each topic until you’ve gained mastery, rather than starting with a study resource that will be used more or less just for practice. Once you have improved your quant and verbal skills, you can use the OG to do problems sets of random questions to see if you still have remaining weak areas. Also, you may find it helpful to read this article:

How to Score a 700+ on the GMAT — A Mini Guide for Success

Certainly, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Juan,

Statistically-speaking, raising a 610 to the point that you can consistently score 700+ will likely require at least another 2 months of consistent, guided study - and you'll have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

I suggest that you study as you like for the next 2 weeks, then take a NEW, FULL-LENGTH CAT. Once you have that next Score, you should post back here (or you can feel free to PM me directly) and we can discuss the results and how you might best proceed with your studies).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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