GMAT Study Plan - How to Start your GMAT Prep

I'm planning on starting my GMAT prep within the next few days. For study materials, I just ordered the 8 MGMAT books, OG12, and Verbal and Quant guides.

I want to take a practice exam to get an idea of where I am "cold" and as a way to gauge my progress moving forward.

Should I take one of the GMAT prep practice tests? The OG12 Diagnostic exam? an MGMAT Exam?

Anyone have any advice? I realize practice exams are going to be invaluable as I get closer to the end of my preparation, but I definitely want an idea of how far I'm going to have to go.

I'm shooting for final score of 700+, I'm (tentatively) planning to take the GMAT on March 17.. that would give me a chance to retake the test up to two more times before the changes are implemented in June.

Thanks in advance!

You can take any test. If I were you I would have preferred GMAT Prep over others. Also, you will not remember the questions when you take it next time (which would be after 1-2months atleast).

Anyone recommend any plans for the MGMAT series? Tried doing a search but the engine picked up all results for "GMAT", not "MGMAT".

Thanks.

Thanks for your amazing post!

Please help me structure my studying and evaluate my goal!

I have followed this forum for a while but now I am becoming active. I started studying for the gmat only two days ago. My plan is to take the test the first week in April. My dream score is 720, however I am not sure it is realistic. The material I am using is all manhattan gmat books except from foundations.

A friend suggested I take a mock test to see where I'm at but I didn't see that as a priority, instead I went through my old high school math books to recover my very limited math skills (I'm a social science graduate and math has never been "my thing"). However, I am very motivated to learn everything I need to learn to score around 720. I started with the book called Number properties, it is very good but some concepts I had to google to understand them properly (LCM & GCF!!!). Currently I am going through the book and when I feel i'm lacking basic knowledge I do some exercises in my high school book and then go back. The reason I am telling you these details is because I would appreciate input on whether it is realistic for me to aim for a 720 in only three months when my math is this bad. I did the questions in the Numbers book and managed to solve most of them but it feels like it's taking way too much time and that I don't have a firm technique and that I could solve tasks in more efficient ways. You are saying that going through the 12th edition is a waste of questions so is there any other forum where I can get practice questions? Quant review only has a couple of questions on the Divisibility and primes chapter and i'd like to practice more.

My English proficiency is not so good either, I am not a native speaker but have lived in English speaking countries for a while. Is there anything you would recommend except from reading a novel (reading crime and punishment now).

I am very thankful for any input!
/F

You should take a practice test and see how much you get. If you score less than 500, then it is going to be very tough to get 720.
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Hi BB,
I took GMAT Jan 6 after relying on Kaplan 100% for 3 months. Kaplan was great to get me to 650 but after that did more damage to my time and test.

Brief GMAT background
Oct 4 Kaplan CAT 1 530
....
Nov 6 Kaplan CAT 9 650

Dec 27 MGMAT CAT 1 620 Q43 V32
--
Dec 30 MGMAT CAT 4 640 Q43 V35

Jan 4 GMAT Prep 620 Q44 V30
Jan 6 REAL GMAT 570 Q45 V23

My main problem is speed vs accuracy. As Kaplan tutor suggested I tried to speed up in the actual test and bombed big time. So I am back to sqr1. I studied 3 months 3 hrs weekdays and 8 hrs weekends and all thanksgiving and christmas breaks 8hrs/day. I am realizing Thanksgiving to Jan 6 was not really an effective study as there was no increase in the score. As I read this gmatclub since Sunday I am kicking myself trying to figure out why I didn't fidn this forum in Oct or end of November. I see the main points are
Error log
Attention to strategy
Back to concepts with MGMAT serires with Sackmann + new CATs
Verbal/Math OG guides supplemented to the concept books
MGMAT Adv Quant

My questions are:
My main issue is Verbal and I will focus on Verbal while trying to get to the 50 on Quant. DO you see this is as a viable approach? I am comfortably at 36 range but getting faster and getting to 40 will be challeging since I get the 36 by guessing one RC psg and about 7 questions. I will break down with the MGMAT books and practice with the Verbal OG version 2.
I have 4 weeks. Is this reasonably sufficient time for me to get to 700+?
I finished 80% of OG12. Is there a value resolving them. What else could be a good substitute for practice.
I burned through 9 Kaplan, 4 MGMAT, 2 GMAT Prep CATs. What is the next best set Veritas, PR, or 800Score?
Major problem after 3 months is I am pretty much puked out from the last 3 months of work,GMAT,work,GMAT, no social life or gym (I am a regular). But I still feel like I don't have any time for anything other than work, GMAT, work,GMAT. I really don't even want to see a question right now but I will get myself going this weekend.
Any suggestions...?!

I am also writing these so others can learn from these mistakes...

Does anyone have the link to the Manhattan GMAT's table with the different edition problem number conversion? I couldn't find this on their website.

I currently have the new 4th edition of the Manhattan GMAT prep books, but I have the older 11th edition of the GMAT Official Guide book. I need help converting all the OG 12th problems listing to OG 11th problems in the MGMAT 4th edition. I would greatly appreciate the help in finding this conversion table.

Thanks,
Hanzi15

Hey!

I am just getting started on 'Mission GMAT' and your forum is a blessing for newbies like me! I have a couple of quick questions that I was hoping you could help me with:

1 - I have been out of touch with Math for a long time so I want to start from the basics. I have the 'Kaplan Math Workbook - Sixth Edition' from 2008. Should I buy the latest edition which according to my research is the Seventh Edition from 2011 or stick to the old one I have? If you suggest buying the new one, please let me know if there is a another book that you recommend instead of Kaplan.

2 - I have 'The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition' from 2009. Is it OK if I stick to this one or do you recommend I buy the latest, 13th edition?

Thanks so much!
J

Hi,

Is it enough to have OG12 + the integrated reasoning guide(which was sold till june 5th) provided by GMAC?

Guys/Girls, is it really worth taking a test right before even starting to study or looking at earlier questions. I know that it will give you an picture of what i need to study, but is it it worth to waste one?

And to be honest im also very scared of getting a score around 460, beacuse that will indicate that i wont able to reach 700+ in a very long time.....

Hi MBAAAAAAAA ,

Please check your PM. I have sent you an message. Thanks

Karthik

Hey guys,

I've just started off my GMAT journey. Took the GMATPrep and scored a dismal 530 (Q41, V23). Couldn't complete the verbal section; ended up leaving 7 questions. I thought I was smart ....I was expecting a 600 at least. A bit shocked with the result. I'm thinking of giving this 1-1.5 month's time. Any suggestions will definitely help.

Thanks a lot for the reply.

Well, I took a diagnostic test (GMATPrep 2011 version) around a year back just to see where I stand...scored 560 (Q47, V21) on that one... back then, I faced the same issue....struggled with Verbal and couldn't complete the test, although I can't recollect the number of questions left unanswered.....I postponed my GMAT plan and focused on work...This year I've decided to take the exam and I find myself starting off with a poorer score, especially quant ....Now I understand why people suggest to take the exam before you grow too old

I'm a bit confused about the right material to use.....had a look at the 2012 book list on GMATClub.....Do you recommend using most of the books mentioned out there? Also, any strong recommendations? Was thinking of the following:

1. Official guides (13th, and the quant and verbal one)
2. Kaplan Premier 2013 and Kaplan 800
3. Manhattan complete set of 10 (8 strategy guides + roadmap + IR book)

Wanted to know if any updates to Kaplan 800 and the Official guides to quant and verbal are expected, given that the GMAT has undergone a change....The existing editions for these are 2-3 years old....I discovered that Manhattan has an updated set (5th version) referring to the OG 13th edition...I'll go for the updated one...just don't want to end up purchasing the older versions of the books mentioned above...

Also, I remember someone mentioning about Powerscore CR instead of Manhattan CR, should I give that a try?

And thanks for the useful tip....that has definitely increased my confidence!

Must mention that you have a really good score, given your diagnostic score....Let's hope I replicate the same!

Hey BB..

I am planning to take GMAT in 8-9 weeks time from now.
And below details explain where I stand now.

I started my GMAT prep 4 weeks back. Being an engineer , Quant is my fav area and I am very much comfortable with it.
However CR and RC are my pain areas.
Took my 1st CAT test(manhattan) a week back ans scored : 670 ( 48QA and 33 VA).
Toom my 2nd CAT test(manhattan) today and scored :690 (48QA and 35 VA)

The books I am using:
Maths: Manhattan (all 5 quants) + Maths Bible NOVA
Quant: Manhattan(RC , SC , CR) , powerscore CR and Aristotle SC and RC.
OG 12 , GMAT Verbal + Quant review.

750+ is the target here as I represent the most common test taker.(Computer science engineer from India with an average GPA + 4 years of IT exp (1 yr in Europe))

Need suggestion on the following points:

1. What I need to do to take my Quant to 50 +.
2. What I need to do t improve my RC.
3. Can you please suggesst any overall verbal plans.
4. Is 8-9 weeks of prep from now good enough ?
5. I am planning on 2 CATs per week (total 15 + ) , is that a good stratergy or you think it is going to prove fatal.
6. 2-3 hours per day is max I can put into my prep. So do I need to focus on any other material and cut down few I am currently using.

Thanks a ton in advance!
Cheers
Rakesh

Thanks. Good study plan.. I will try and stick with it

I just want to say thanks for creating this forum and study plan. Honestly, I have been planning to take the GMAT for a long time and I just had no idea where to begin. I have three months until I take the test. I sure hope that's plenty of time.

Hey all, I am reviving my prep. With the new format of the exam, can anyone suggest what are the latest editions that I refer to. had lost touch with prep for a while, will really appreciate opinions.

It is going to be tough to restart - think of a bad dream - you remember only the worst part and only vaguely.
Would recommend to take a look at some good "foundations" books and would recommend at least getting the MGMAT Roadmap. Very decent (and cheap) book to get you started.

Also MGMAT Math Foundations and MGMAT Verbal Foundations are quite good in building up confidence and providing a good coverage of basics.

I would recommend to start there.
On your question specifically, MGMAT just released a set of the new books a few months back - the 5th edition of the MGMAT Guides. Those are pretty good!

Best Regards,
BB.
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