GMAT Study Plan: go from 650 to 700+

Hi VinceCPA
thank you for the input, i will work with MGMAT and then think of Kaplan.
And i will concentrate on verbal.
Hi BB
Waiting for your comments.

hi ppl..dis is the first time i m posting on this forum.wel actually i require some help from you guys.i gave my gmat yesterday and scored a mere 640. I was shocked when i saw the score coz this was the lowest score i got including my practise mock tests. Was not at all satisfied with the score and so planning to give it again in a month's time.
The following were the scores which i got in my mock tests:
Manhattan (M1)-660
M2-660
Kaplan-680
M3-660
M4-640
M5-690
Gmat Prep1-690
M6-710
Gmat Prep2-710

Final GMAT: 640

I was expecting a score abv 700 bt was not successful. Well now my aim is to crack the GMAT and get a 750.What should I do?What should be my strategy? Now that I've solved quite a good amount of material-OG,Kaplan 800...how should I go about my preparation now to achieve my aim?Please help..its urgent...i jus have a month's time!

Hi
Just now completed Knewton 1st test. got 590 (46,25) (33correct,25correct)

Hi BB - nice place here. I saw this site a while back and then recently saw your reviews on Amazon. Your first post in this thread recommends a variety of books (like Kaplan for verbal, MGMAT among others for quant; if I remember correctly), but based on your and others' recent reviews of the MGMAT books, I am leaning towards just getting their 4th edition and the Official Guide 12th edition and going to town on that. I've taken one GMATPrep test, got ~710. I'd like to apply to INSEAD and/or a few other top international or domestic schools, so I'd like to see that score closer to 750 for my own comfort - I'm an engineering grad and my GPA (3.33) isn't top of the line in my mind, so I want my GMAT score to easily offset that. Plus I don't want to get a false sense of security based on my first score.

My point is, would you agree that MGMAT + OG is a good way to go?

My other question pertains to laying out a schedule. How would you lay out a typical week's schedule for MGMAT? I'm thinking 2 hours per day, 5 days per week. Is that sufficient to get it done in two months? Thanks to anyone for your input.

Thanks! Welcome to GMAT Club.
Absolutely - go for MGMAT Guides + OG 12.

Your timing sounds fine - I would recommend to use the better time of the day (when your mind is fresh) vs the time after dinner/few beers/etc. So, it is not only about 2 hours but quality of those 2 hours too.

Hope this makes sense.

nice post. hopefully should help me in crossing the 700 mark

Hi BB,

Great site you have going here. I'm trying to cross the 700 mark but quant seems to be holding me back. I've done the GMAT and am looking to give it one more try. I scored 650, but my quant score was terrible (36Q, 42V). I used MGMAT books as well as OG. Is there anything you can suggest to improve my quant score? Is it just a matter of repetition and practice? Or are there books/softwares with more challenging questions that I should focus on? I felt pretty good post exam and was extremely disappointed when I saw my quant score. I'm sure I can improve. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and keep up the good work!

just downloaded an error log template. now to get over the 700 hump.

Aug 21th MGMAt2- 660
aug21st GMAt prep1 2nd time 690 (50,31)

Thank you for this. I am hoping some of the information I am picking up here will be very helpful as I have my exam in a week.

nice one!! i hope it really helps for me!!

Hi BB

I joined this forum today. I attempted GMAT for the first time yesterday and scored 630 (Q47, V28). However, My goal is to cross into 700.
I studied for the exam not so seriously for two months. I never joined any forum or read anyone's replys.
My GMAT Prep tests I and II were also 650 and 640.
I went through all MGMAT Books, OG 12, OG Reviews. Quite helpful for Quants.
I gave all MGMAT CAT exams and scored between 650 to 670.
My Quant is always between 47 to 49. My verbal is always between 29 to 33.
Exam pressure is not a problem for me. I have cleared all 3 levels of CFA examination but GMAT verbal seems to be a different trick altogether.

I know my weakness is verbal. I am planning to practice more on verbal.
If I am wrong, can you please correct me if my book selection is fine.
1> The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible
2> Read a lot from GMAT Fiction
3> Kaplan 800 for both Quants and Verbal.
4> A good grammer book for GMAT mentioned n 650 to 700+
5> Practice verbal from GMATClub tests


And a very serious studies (as I did for CFA) for next two months. Planning to take second attempt in jan last or Feb first week.

Please let me know if I should do any improvements in my plan.

Thanks in advance.

I have a doubt about Kaplan Math Workbook. Is it really good? A friend of mine told me it was really basic and I found some bad reviews about it. I tested 47 twice in MGMAT and 44 in Kaplan, so I think it will not be easy to improve. I don't want to spend a lot with a good tutor but I would really like to break through the 50s in quant. Should I try this Kaplan book?

Getting lot of info about improving quant, I think MGMAT quant books and kaplan are needed, no 2 ways about it, i need to buy the kaplan premier now!

Nice and helpful post... I have got my motivation back to give the GMAT again... I have score a 690(Q48 V36)... I know verbal needs a lot of improvement. I am going to stick to improving my grammar basics and studying from MGMAT SC and CR.
Suggested reading for RC: Harvard Business Review, LBS Business Strategy Review.
The kind of English that these sources have is there at the top. Authors from Harvard and other top business schools write articles for HBR. Also try out some books from Harvard Business Press(If money is not a constraint)

I am planning to practice more Maths from Princeton, Kaplan Math Workbook and McGraw Hills GMAT. Will let you know how it goes.

Hi BB,

I've been following your posts quite closely. Plan to take the GMAT in a couple of weeks. Took MGMAT Online test about three weeks back (at night -dead tired after Office) and scored a 610. Checked the answers and found a lot of silly mistakes.

Now (hopefully) much better prepared. My goal is definitely a 750+ score. However, I don't feel very confident right now. RC is a worry. SC I get about 80% correct, CR about 75-80 (Kaplan CD).
I know I've not shared much background, but I am wondering how I can get my confidence that I can score 750+? BTW, I am on a month's leave from Office to prepare for the test. Any advice for a couple of weeks of intense prep which can make a difference in my final score?

Regards

Rahul

Great post Im on my way to GMAT would see how it goes..