Hi all,
I plan to retake the GMAT in about 9 weeks (Oct 22), and I would love to have any of you critique the schedule/plan I'd like to follow.
I reviewed a few posts on these boards and they have been very helpful:
1. How to start your GMAT prep (can't link to it)
2. GMAT Study Plan: go from 650 to 700+ (can't link to it)
Goal and reason for a retake: On my first GMAT 2 years ago, I scored 690 (Q:44, V:41). They basically map to 69th percentile Quant and 89th Verbal. My main goal is to score at least 48 on Quant (84th percentile). Secondary goal is to keep my verbal at around my previous score (no less than 39, 87th percentile).
I took the GMAT prep a few days ago to determine my weaknesses, and I scored exactly like my first official GMAT: 690 (44, 41).
Materials available:
-
MGMAT books (all 8).
- OG11 & OG12
-
OG Quant &
OG Verbal- Kaplan Math Workbook
- Kaplan GMAT PP
Tentative Schedule:Week #1: - Word translations
MGMAT review (including
OG exercises).
- Specific
error log review
- 40 CR questions (Kaplan)
Week #2:- Number propperties
MGMAT review (including
OG exercises).
- Specific
error log review
- 20 CR questions (Kaplan)
- SC idiom review
Week #3:- Fractions, Decimals, Percent
MGMAT review (including
OG exercises).
- Specific
error log review
- 5 RC passages (Kaplan)
- Review Quant time saving strategies
Week #4:- Geometry/Inequalities
MGMAT review (including
OG exercises).
- Specific
error log review
- Quant test strategies review
- Take
MGMAT 1st CAT test online
Week #5:- CR
MGMAT review (including
OG exercises).
- Specific
error log review
- 40 word translations questions (
OG Quant),
error log review
- 40 number properties questions (
OG Quant),
error log review
- Take
MGMAT 2nd CAT test
Week #6:- RC
MGMAT review (including
OG exercises).
- Specific
error log review
- Verbal time saving strategies review
- 40 SC questions (
OG +
OG Verbal),
error log review
- Take
MGMAT 3rd CAT test
Week #7:- Global
error log review
- test taking strategies, mental notes review
-
MGMAT 4th CAT test
- GMATPrep 2nd CAT test
Week #8:- Global
error log review
- Essay strategy
I am open to criticism (that's the point of this post
), so please let me know what you think I should change. I put my Quant weaknesses first. I have flash cards from 2 years ago that are still helpful to me for SCs, so that's why I don't have an "SC week".
Questions I'd like to hear opinions on:
1. I plan to rely on
Manhattan GMAT for all my reviews of basics. I used the one on SC, and that really helped me bump my verbal scores from ~35 to 41 despite English being my 2nd language, so I am assuming that their prep material are all very good. Is there any problem you see solely relying on
MGMAT?
2. I plan to do
OG exercises while I review basics as this is how
MGMAT books are structured. I don't see an issue with that since I am retaking the GMAT and don't have much time, but I'd like to hear people's take on that.
3. Am I planning for enough CAT tests? I have 5 total in my schedule in addition to the one I just took.
On a side note, I'm thinking about a way to incorporate
GMAT Club Tests rather than Kaplan's. Given my limited time, is it worth the $100?
If anybody can point out something I am not doing right or has suggestions that will help a lot.
Cheers.