Best Online GMAT Study Resources?

Question

I recently took the GMAT and was disappointed with my score. I had been scoring 650-670 on MGMAT CATs and I scored a 710 on the GMAC software. However, when I tested last week I scored a 620 (41Q 35V). This was after reading most of the Manhattan books, but probably not practicing enough difficult questions. I struggled in SC and number properties.

I am currently on a 4 month long overseas assignment and have access to a work computer during the day. I can do practice problems online but cant download any software on the computer. I can only have a book or two at my desk at a time, and probably will go at most an hour uninterupted, hence the focus on online problems with books to supplement.

I am thinking Magoosh 3 month advanced plan if anyone is familiar. Really looking to do lots of practice problems while at my desk, but at a pace that can take pauses throughout the day as work comes in. I already purchased the OG guides and Manhattan guides.

Thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

pushpitkc · Answer

Hi  jmabach

I think you should focus to improving your Quant scores to the Q49-50 range 
and try and push harder to get your verbal score to V40.

For Quant I wouldn't recommend any other online resource except the 
 GMATClub Quant Mega-Thread  for concepts and the GMATClub Tests
and the forum for Quant practice. Make sure to use the workBook 
feature here at GMATClub to the fullest.

As for Sentence Correction, you could use the Manhattan Strategy Guides
for basic strategy and use Magoosh/Veritas question banks for advanced
practice.

These posts might come in handy to improve your scores
1. V30 -> V40  
2. Q44 -> Q50

Make it a point to write down why you get questions wrong and read this learning 
from time to time. Maintaining an error-log will go a long way in improving your score.
Use the questions in the OG and the other official questions towards the end of your 
preparation!

Hope this helps you.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jmabach,

Based on what you've described about the 'limitations' in terms of how you can study, how were you taking your practice CATs? It does not sound as though you could have take a Full CAT in one sitting - and if you had to take your CATs in 'pieces', then those score results would have likely been 'inflated.'

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

jmabach · Answer

I took those under test like conditions, I even travelled to my parents hpiae for my last (710) cat to get into an unfamiliar-ish space. I just arrived overseas a few days ago.

My plan for taking CATs here is to take them when I am off work. Ill have to wake up early or take them after my shift. I take the test in quant/verbal/IR/essay order. If I am in a time crunch, I may have to skip IR and AWA, but I maxed out IR on my last gmat and breezed through AWA.

jmabach · Answer

What I think os realistic based on my circumstances here is trying to find large banks of practice questions to work on throughout the day. And take a CAT every other week.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jmabach,

When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. As such, I'd like to know a bit more about how you took your CATs:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you plan to take your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE (re: in an online forum or in a practice set)?

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

jmabach · Answer

Rich, responses are below:

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?

-Yes. I take the test in Q/V/IR/AWA order. I scored an 8 on the IR on the GMAT I took as well. 
 
2) Did you take them at home?

Yes. Minus one I took at work.

3) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you plan to take your Official GMAT?

Roughly. But I had a few appointments in the morning, whereas on my practice tests I usually slept in/relaxed before taking them.

4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
 
No.

5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE (re: in an online forum or in a practice set)?

No.

jmabach · Answer

Did some research and tried out some resources, and my plan is below. This is based upon 3-6 hours of studying daily, but with frequent interruptions due to my job.

Its a habit approach vs a specific plan.

Daily: 
-Study MGMAT books, Kaplan 800, and MGMAT advanced, take notes on anything that I dont have 100% confidence on. Sprinkle in some idiom flashcards and some LSAT RC as needed.
-Do practice questions from GMAT club tests, forums, and veritas (Ill probably buy the on demand course, need some CATS anyway). Add OG as test gets closer. Do all five types, morning quant and afternoon verbal. Keep error log and update notes as needed with new concepts.

Weekly: 
-Take GMAT club tests under test like conditions (found a library where I can get away once a week for a few hours).
-Redo inncorrect questions from error log.
-Review notes.

Bi-weekly: 
-Take full mock (MGMAT, Veritas, and GMAC as test day gets closer) under test like conditions. 
-Review mock and update notes as needed.

If you have any feedback, it would be appreciated. With everything I've read, seems like a consistent, disciplined approach is the way ahead for me.

Thanks.

Posted from my mobile device

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jmabach,

Your Study Plan sounds reasonable, so you should proceed as planned. Based on your prior work, there are some things you should keep in mind about how you take your future CATs though:

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your practice scores can become - and that's what happened here. If you ever skip sections, take the CATs at home, take them at different times of day, etc., you aren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.'

Test Day involves a variety of really specific steps and parameters (including steps before the Test even begins - such as leaving your home, traveling, etc.). Every factor matters, including the psychological ones. Now that you've taken the Official GMAT, you know the exact details about what goes into Test Day. You better prepare for your retake, you have to better mimic all of those aspects during practice.

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

SIMONexamPAL · Answer

Hi, It seems like our course would be a great fit for you. www.exampal.com

snehal88 · Answer

you can try e-gmat, I heard a lot of good reviews.

jmabach · Answer

I have been using this strategy for 2x weeks. I found a library here that very closely replicates a testing center (computers and desks with dividers). I installed the GMAC software again retook test one. I scored a 730, so slight improvement. Expected since I recognized a few of the questions from a month and a half ago. But what I really noticed was how much more stressed I was during this test. Much more distracting to test in a place you don't study. Thanks for the tip!

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