Hello,
I am appearing for GMAT on 9th July 2016. I sat down for my prep around 1 month back. I gave GMAT Prep Exam 1 without any prior prep and scored a 700 (Q49, V35). Today I wrote GMAT Prep Exam 2 and scored a 710 (Q49, V37). In between I also appeared for two MGMAT tests and scored a 610 and 640 respectively. I have been constantly preparing for a month and an increase of just 10 points on the official exam left me slightly puzzled. I am aiming for a 740 score in GMAT. As I still have two weeks to go, I just wanted some advice on how the score can be further boosted. I believe that DS is a weak area for me so would specifically like to work upon that. Besides this any other advice will also be useful
Thanks

Manick9
If you are working from 8 to 6 pm, then a course might be a waste of your time.

Have you taken a diagnostic GMATPrep exam yet? A lot of my advice would have to do with where you currently stand regarding your score:

1) Low-scoring students often benefit greatly from a course.
2) High-scoring students tend to benefit more from self-study and private instruction.

If I were working from 8 to 6, then I would probably try to do 45 minutes of study in the morning before work, and an hour of review afterward. I know that's a lot to ask, though, so I'd settle for an hour combined each day.[/size]

A lot of my prep ideas etc. are contained here :
my-journey-from-a-360-to-a-228813.html

I don't think only official material will be of help. The questions on the CATs require some intuitive thinking which you can develop only after practising from stuff by Bunuel etc. The OG is alright to start with because say 40/140 questions (or some such) are 'difficult' and require some kind of concept building. For the rest you need nothing - something that you'll realise GMAT isn't about.

After practising from a great deal of material from different sources (verified and otherwise), I know this for sure.

PS : If some question BAFFLES you and scares the DAYLIGHTS out of you or is just ODD : you always have GMATClub. Most importantly, there ARE SOME QUESTIONS OF POOR QUALITY and giving an additional 20 seconds to look up a question and verify it's source etc. won't hurt you.

PPS : Loved the plan bb, great stuff!!!!!!

I scored a 360 on that. And ended up with a 700 finally. OFCOURSE IT'S POSSIBLE.

my-journey-from-a-360-to-a-228813.html

I gave the GMAT a shot after a 4 week study plan and came in at a Q42 V36 IR6 AWA6. I am wanting to apply to some schools in December/January and am wondering the best 4-5 month study plan to boost my score from the 630/640 range to 700+ as I want to apply to the Wharton Exec MBA San Fran and the Haas EWMBA. Obviously I need a major gain in my quant, and a decent gain on verbal. I currently have Magoosh, the official guides, and the Manhattan GMAT 5 quant books as well as the Foundations of Quant. My 4 week study plan was the first week going through Foundations of Quant twice, then the next week going through the MGMAT quant books (algebra, geometry, word problems, number properties, and forgot the other one), then the 3rd and 4th week watching the Magoosh videos on struggle areas and doing practice problems. I didn't study the verbal section at all, as my first MGMAT practice test was a V35 and Q35 so I focused on quant. I took 4 total (one per week) MGMAT practice tests, and improved about 20 points each week, 560, 570, 610, 630. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am ok to invest some money if worth it, but not looking to break the bank, and would prefer a plan that is more self study focused. Thanks!

Thank you for this excellent post!

I wanted to share my perspective on the GMAT data sufficiency section from my experience (Q50 recently)

Every GMAT data sufficiency question fundamentally tests one of three skills -

1. Re-framing the original question statement to a simpler question statement
2. Avoiding key ‘traps’ and avoiding inferring more than is fact based
3. Solving ‘just enough’ so you balance getting to the right place with not running off time

Once we adopt the above three as the core pillars behind solving DS question, things become much simpler.

Take for example -

A room contains 101 people, given there is at-least 1 architect in the room, how many total architects are in the room?

1. 32% of the architects are left handed
2. 71% of the architects are bongo players

The key to solve the problem is to realizee that the number of architects only can be a whole, positive number. It cannot be something like 1.7. -13! This radically simplifies the solution space. The original question is re-framed into something simpler which is principle (1). I would let you try out this question!

I have compiled all my experiences, tips and hacks in a dedicated free toolkit guide at :mastergmatds [dot] com . Advanced DS problem solving techniques for serious test takers. Please do give it a shot!

chesstitans ,

Your so very curious query made me think with equal avidness but i don't think we have specific posts about FAILED STUDY PLANS. BUT you can read the GMAT experiences/debriefs where people did not achieve the awesome score even after studying for long or check the previous gmat experience debriefs of those who nailed it in their 3rd or 4th attempt. All of this relates to bad study habits and unorganized way of studying. Sometimes happens for not having a study plan at all but mostly happens when students have one but do not follow it.
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Hello there! After trying too hard my final gmat score is 300 i have a good gpa score completed my bachelors and masters in accounting with 3.9 3.9 gpas 3 years of work experiences and stong profile..
i want to get in one for master accounting colleges in texas.. universities like clear lake or university of houston which are average colleges.. what are the possiblities of me getting there? Please help me.. i tried really hard for gmat.
Please help me.. thank u in advance

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Hi ankykool,

To start, you would likely receive more of a response if you post your story in its own thread (for example, in the 'Share GMAT Experience' forum here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/share-gmat-experience-8/). You should go into as much detail as you can about how you studied, the study materials you used, etc. I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have.

Your immediate question is Admissions-related. There's a forum full of Admissions Experts here:

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

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

It will help to indicate the kind of mock test you took.

Just found this post. I took my first GMAT Prep Test in Offical prep software and scored a disaster score of 360. The Post by BB States that the Score can be improved by 150 Points Does that mean there is no chance to score 650+?

My GMAT PREP 1 SCORE Breakdown

360
Q 24 - 16 incorrect questions
V 17 - 19 incorrect questions

Please suggest me how i can improve my score by 300 points ?

I am taking the GMAT towards the end of August or septmeber. I've used you guide to make an outline of a plan for myself thank you for a good post.

Hi all,

I am planning to start the preparation and gave one CAT got 480. Today with the New Years planned to start the preparation and started with sentence correction and I did not like the theory part in OG.
Where should I look for the good content to study. MGMAT books would
Be enough or should I got for tutors? Please suggest

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If you intend to take gmat in about 6 months, start reading the Economist or Scientific American. This solution is a long-term one but works! Otherwise, just start with RC passages, go slow and try to comprehend at the first go (without re-reading the same line twice). Then slowly work on your reading speed, while comprehending at the same time.

Hi Everyone,

Its been 3 months that I am preparing for GMAT but my results are very bad, I have practiced OG 2018 and Manhattan 6th edition, and found both of them very difficult, then I started studying basics, Maths Foundation by Manhattan as I feel my basic math needs to be improved. I have covered all the topics now but still I feel difficult to comprehend the math questions within the time limit. I am really worried for the exam.

Can anyone suggest what should I do? As of now I have planned to follow gmat club practice question banks and from 500 level I should start attempting questions, one day one topic of maths along with english.

is it going to work for me?

Guidance will be very much appreciated
_________________

Hi friends! I wanted to share this in case you're thinking about applying to graduate or business school and also interested in supporting small businesses in the midst of these challenging times. I prepped for the GMAT with TestCrackers and can't recommend them enough. All of their instructors have 99th percentile scores, and they completely support you through the study process every step of the way.

They have worked quickly to move their classes online and to offer the same expert instruction and individual attention that they have for years in-person. If you're interested, you can use the code STUDYINPLACE2020 to get $150 off any course purchased in April (www.testcrackers.org), or call them directly to talk through your situation. 415-323-5728

Feel free to ask me if you have any questions about my experience.

Hi Himanshu,
First of all you don't get disheartened by your score, you have to understand how GMAT works, make your own study plan, see what material you're comfortable stidying from.

You can do it with a proper study plan and a positive mindset, don't let this demotivate you. It was a diagnostic test to see where you stand before your preparation. You shall work accordingly, it'll take hardwork but you can do it.

I'd like you to analise as to which section you're weak in, which topics you find difficulty doing.

Then make sure your basics are solid, I'd suggest Manhattan guides for the same.
There are many online courses as well such as Target Test Prep, e-GMAT, Magoosh etc. All of them have free trials (TTP has 1dollar for 5 days trial), you can take them and see which one is the best suited for you, choose the one from which you feel you can learn in a better way.

(It isn't compulsory to join an online course if you feel you've gotten a grip over GMAT questions and can tackle them- that's why do basics from Manhattan first)
Also, finish the OG thoroughly, do it twice if you have to but make sure that you are clear with all the cocepts and tricks.

Once you're done with basics and are confident with that, you can give a mock if you want to just to see where you stand (if you're easily demotivated, then give mocks after you're done with your prep)

Do not move to practicing higher level questions before being confident with your basics, a simple reason being, GMAT is a computer adaptive test, if you can't ckear easy level or basic level questions you won't even see the ones that have a higher difficulty level, so don't rush it.

One advice would be to study topic wise, move to the next when you're hapoy with your preparation of the topic you were studying.

Be active on GMAT club because a lot of questions are posted regularly, even if you're not able to solve them in the starting stages, you can look at the answers given by experts and can learn few tips and tricks
There are also good amount question banks of all levels of questions, so you can get a good amount of practice.

It is very important to time yourself throughout your preparation, do not worry about exceeding the time at all, your first aum should be solving the question, as you become clearer with concepts, your speed will eventually increase. The reason for timing yourself isn't mainly seeing if you can complete the questions on time, it is also to make you used to it, to make you comfortable with the fact that a timer will always be on when you're solving a question and for you not to get nervous.

Also, it is very important for you to set small goals, big goals become overwhelming. Do not aim to go from a 330 directly to a 730
First make an aim to reach and cross 500, then 550 or 600 then make an aim to reach 700 and so on..

Do not fall for the idea of having to do each question in 2mins or so, easy questions take less time, difficult ones might take more. Do not fall for this idea especially during reading comprehension, don't rush there because if you can't understand the passage then you lose those 3-4 questions, on the other hand if you do then that will save you time as you will be able to answer the questions quickly

One of the most important think to do throughout your prep is to review. Review your mistakes, revise concepts, make sure you don't make the same mistakes, look out for silly mistakes. Take out a day per week to only and only review your mistakes. GMAT questions have some catch, some questions even have a particular trick. So keep reviewing and revising. Once you're able to avoid your mistakes I think you'll be sorted

Rest I'm sure that you will get a lot of good posts on GMAT club as to how to go about all of this
I'm sure you'll do it
Remember, baby steps


All the best !
Hope this helped a little

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Hi Kushagra,

Multiple experts are of the view to give one of the standardized tests to understand where you stand!

Hi,
It varies for people.
For me personally, this strategy has not worked out well at all.
Despite spending insane amounts of time on one topic, after moving on to quant, I completely lost momentum with english and my ability had reduced significantly.

I would not say there is no chance because it is very possible the chapters get shorter and easier as you go. Not all gmat chapters are equal. It’s possible the last half of the course will be much shorter than the first half. I would just keep pressing on and realize preparation may take longer than you initially anticipated, which is usually the case.

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