GMAT Strategy

Question

Hi All. I have just joined the forum. I have done Masters in Economics and wish to do Masters in Finance. I aim for a score above atleast 690 :-D

I am going to give the exam in first week of February. Kindly guide me how to prepare and what should be my strategy as well :?:

I had given GMAT prep test 1 and got a score of 640 :cry:

Please help :!:

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi shrutya,

A 640 on your first practice CAT test is a really strong performance (the average on the Official GMAT tends to hover around 540-550 each year). With a Test Date in early February, you don't have much time to study, so you'll have to be efficient with the time that you do have. I have some questions about how you've studied so far:

1) What were the Scaled Scores (for the Quant and Verbal sections) on this CAT?
2) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
3) How was your pacing on this CAT? Did you finish any sections early or have to rush at the end just to finish a section?
4) What materials are you currently studying with?
5) Do you have any areas that you consider to be "weak spots"?

6) When are you planning to apply to School?

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

shrutya · Answer

I took the entire CAT including IR and AWA. My Score breakdown were:
AWA - 5
Integrated Reasoning - 3
Quantitative - 45
Verbal - 33
I finished the test well before time. So timing is not an issue.
I am planning to apply before 15th Feb. I am studying Official Guide for Gmat and whatever free source I can get.
My weak spots are Data Sufficiency, Critical Reasoning, Two-Part analysis and Sentence Correction.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi shrutya,

If you're finishing the Quant or Verbal sections more than a minute or two early then you DO have a pacing problem - you're moving too quickly and probably making some silly mistakes as a result.

If you have not yet done so, you should do a question-by-question review of this CAT and define WHY you're getting questions wrong:

1) How often is it because of a silly/little mistake?
2) How often is it because the question is too hard or you don't know how to answer it?
3) How often do you 'narrow it down to 2 choices, but "guess" wrong?"

The answers to these questions will give you an idea of what you need to focus on. If you're finishing both the Quant and Verbal sections early, then part of what you must do to improve is SLOW DOWN and TAKE MORE NOTES.

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

GMATPill · Answer

I noticed your IR score of 3 -- ideally you want to put enough mental effort into doing better in IR, but not at the expense of the main Verbal and Quant sections.

Having said that, you mentioned you were looking for free resources. Well, for IR, your best bet would be the Practice Pill Platform -- which you can access here: www.gmatpill.com/gmat-practice-test/gma ... -reasoning

	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

GMAT Strategy

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards