6 days to go - what is the best way to use these last days?

Question

Hi All,

I started working on the GMAT about 2 months ago. In that time, I have taken a Knewton course (see practice GMAT CAT scores below) which has been  really  helpful, and I have also used MGMAT's SC bible, which also gives access to 6 practice GMAT CAT tests as well (scores also below).

I am now just 6 days away from my first attempt at the real thing and very keen to get people's opinions on how best to use this time to maximize the end result. I plan on doing another 2 or 3 practice GMAT tests (2 of which will be the GMAC's two official practice GMAT CATs), and then I also have Jeff Sackmann's Total GMAT Math bible that I am going to pick select drills from.

Anything else I should be doing? I am aware that my quant section (permutations, combination and advanced probability in particular) is going to be the anchor dragging behind me, so likely going to concentrate more in this area than on verbal

TEST SCORES TO DATE 
 
 Knewton CAT's:  
Diagnostic GMAT 12/05/2009 
Q V Total
25 31   480

Practice GMAT #1 02/21/2010 
Q V Total
35 34   560

Practice GMAT #2 03/01/2010 
Q V Total
48 34   680

Practice GMAT #3 03/07/2010 
Q V Total
34 31   530

Practice GMAT #4 03/16/2010 
Q V Total
35 45   640

Manhattan GMAT CAT's:  
Practice GMAT #1 03/10/2010 
Q V Total
42 33   620

Practice GMAT #2 03/11/2010 
Q V Total
43 36   650

Practice GMAT #3 03/13/2010 
Q V Total
46 39   700

Practice GMAT #4 03/15/2010 
Q V Total
47 42   720

For the record, I found Knewton's CATs quite a bit more difficult!

Thanks in advance for any advice!

ThomasD · Answer

Definitely do the gmatprep cats and if you haven't done so yet, take those including the AWA section. I'd recommend briefly reading over this if you havent done any AWA previously: how-to-get-6-0-awa-my-guide-64327.html?highlight=ml313

tatham · Answer

Thanks - very useful. Even though the essays are the least important of the 3 parts to the GMAT, it doesn't hurt to ensure you crack a 6.0, right?! :wink:

ThomasD · Answer

you are absolutely right. i found the extra hour it adds to make a bit of difference as it wears you out a little more. so not a bad idea to prep under actual test conditions

i followed that guide and got a 6.0 and you really just have to plug in the variables of the particular essay and you'll do just fine

tatham · Answer

hi bb,

Do you have any suggestions for me regarding my original post?

Thanks!

Ryan

bb · Answer

Not much else to do at this stage - just relax; review some of the questions you got wrong; take a full test the day before (but don't do much else; maybe review it) and mostly it. This is not the time to change anything 8-)

bb · Answer

Hey Tatham - how are you doing? 
Based on your post you have a day left?

Please let us know how it goes.

tatham · Answer

Thanks!

Just did my final CAT today (GMATPrep practice test #2) - thought I had messed up the Quant section, but ended up scoring a 720 with 47 on the quant - weird huh?!

Anyway --- going to take it easy tonight -- don't think doing any more work (or god forbid, cramming!) will help at this stage, so time to chill for the first evening in 2 months!

Will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Laters!
:lol:

bb · Answer

Good Luck. Don't stress if you can't fall asleep right away tonight - nobody can

ThomasD · Answer

Curious as I am......how did you do tatham?

tatham · Answer

Thanks for the interest

I ended up getting a 650. The exam was unbelievably tough - tougher than any of the MGMAT or Knewton practice CATs that I have done. A bit of a surprise, but I guess one should be ready for any level of difficulty on the GMAT. The one thing I found strange was that the verbal questions were consistently tough. I had hoped that this meant that I was getting them consistently right (!), but my score was one of the weakest in this area that I have achieved in weeks! So, for the record, the end result was: Q: 42 - 62% V: 38 - 83% Total: 650 - 79% C'est la vie! Thanks everyone for all your help and assistance! :-D

bb · Answer

Congratulations! Nice to have it be over with! and thank you for posting the results. :wink:

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6 days to go - what is the best way to use these last days?

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