I want to go from a 220 to 600

Question

Hi everyone,

I started GMAT preparations last year. I studied for the GMAT, on average 2 hours a day, for about 3 months. I used Magoosh, and they promised they could bump scores up a couple of points. So, here is my question. I have an essentially non-existent math level (literally still scoring 0 on the math portion). I assume that Magoosh isn't going to help me with basic math concepts that I struggle with.

Does anyone have recommendations for ABSOLUTE beginners in math? Assuming I forgot everything and have to start from zero. I don't even have a background in business, but studying business is something that I really want to do after living in China for 8 years.

Finally, under the assumption that you get what you put in - does anyone have any experience going from somewhere in the 200-zone to an even 600 or above? I'm determined, but I also want to be realistic. How much time do I really need to commit to reaching my desired score AND what kind of studying should I be doing to reach my level?

Thank you, GMAT community!

udaypratapsingh99 · Answer

200 signifies problem at basics. You'll have to start with basics of mathematics. Don't start with GMAT Material directly, but try understanding concepts from either high school level standard books or some standard Quantitative Aptitude book. Stick to it for at least 1.5 months; read every single line, solve every single question. You'll feel improvement. Then at the end, practice with some GMAT 700 level questions and test series.

WARNING:: Never try to learn any short trick. Short tricks are the major cause of failure.

WARNING:: Never try to learn any short trick. Short tricks are the major cause of failure.

GMATin · Answer

Hi Kaylee,

First of all, I am glad you are ready to take on this challenge. Your goal will definitely come with its set of obstacles but then again there is always a way to overcome them. I have jotted down a few of my thoughts:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-ma ... 77291.html

https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-study-p ... ml?fl=menu

https://gmatclub.com/reviews/gmat_courses/?fl=menu

You can do this!!

7) Get ready to pump yourself on a daily basis. Read experiences of people who never gave up, push yourself with motivational videos and my personal favourite - write your affirmations for why GMAT is so important for you. Read these affirmations every single day (morning and evening, if possible) and keep adding stronger affirmations to the list and deleting weaker ones You can do this!!

rohan2345 · Answer

Hi kayleyjojohnson, Welcome to GMATCLUB. You should study for around 3 months to achieve your target score. It's a good thing you have taken your GMAT. You now know your weaknesses and can work on them. If you are willing to study dedicatedly for that period, you are sure to achieve your goal. I think you need to solidify you base and adopt a proper technique to answer the questions. I believe you may benefit from taking a GMATPREP course. If you are willing, there are some great GMAT prep companies that can help you with your preparation. In order to make an informed decision I would highly encourage you to go to their websites and try on their free trial and decide for yourself which one do you like better. You try out free access to EmpowerGMAT, and TTP as they have great reviews on GMATCLUB. If you are looking for a good course in verbal, I would highly encourage you to consider e-gmat verbal online or the e-gmat verbal live course. They are both amazing courses especially designed for non-natives. They offer almost 25% of their courses for free so you can try out their free trial to decide which one you want to go for. Plus the e-gmat Scholaranium which is included in both the courses is one of the best verbal practice tools in the market. You can easily track your progress in that you can identify your strengths and analyze and improve on your weak areas. I must add that if you are particularly looking to discover and improve on your weak areas in Quant; a subscription to GMATCLUB tests is the best way to do that. They are indeed phenomenal and will not only pinpoint your weak areas but also help you improve on them. Further taking multiple mocks might help. Apart from the GMATPREP, Manhattan GMAT tests and Veritas Prep Tests in my experience have good verbal and Quant section and will certainly help you point out and improve your weak areas. Further another advantage of taking many mocks is to build up your stamina. Apart from the GMATPREP tests, taking practice tests of any major GMATPREP company ought to do that. I would also encourage you to purchase GMATPREP QP 1 for some great additional practice. Lastly, you can check out a very interesting article by Mike McGarry from Magoosh detailing a 3 month study plan https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/3-month-g ... -students/. You will find it very helpful as it gives out a study plan as per your needs. Hope this helps. All the best.

Gmatsaiyan · Answer

Follow the following study plan:-
https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-study-p ... ml?fl=menu
https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-self-pr ... tml?f=menu

Courses that can help with your prep:-
https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-co ... ml?fl=menu

Best books for Quants:-
https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-ma ... ml?fl=menu
Best books for Verbal:-
https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-ve ... ml?fl=menu

PeatearGryffin · Answer

For absolute basics of math concepts, I would look to Khan Academy for at least supplementation. He takes concepts that may be presented in a confusing manner in a math textbook and have a great way of explaining it in understandable/digestible ways.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi kayleyjojohnson,

To start, is that 220 the only CAT/mock that you've taken over your 3 months of study? If you took any other CATs, then how did you score on those Exams (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each? Did you take your CAT(s) in full - including the Verbal, Essay and IR sections?

For free math practice and help, I recommend that you set up an account at Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org). The site is completely free and makes the learning a bit more fun and 'game-like' (as opposed to the dry academic approach taken by most books). While the site is vast, you should limit your studies to basic Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry. After spending a little time re-building those skills, you can restart your GMAT studies.

Raising a Score in the 200s to the point that you can consistently score 600+ will likely require at least another 3 months of consistent, guided study - and you'll have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

1) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
2) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
3) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

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

udaypratapsingh99 · Answer

There's a famous book in india, for quantitative aptitude by Arun Sharma; you can use it for basics, it will definitely help.

Posted from my mobile device

bhallaayushman · Answer

Get help for Math. At least go through the syllabus and then try solving more practice tests.

MathRevolution · Answer

Hi Kayley,

The GMAT is not that easy as we assume. It requires a proper plan which includes details about topics covered in both the sections: Verbal and Quant, beginner course of action, concept-building, practice questions, reliable material for practice and of course a diagnostic tool or tests for performance check.

There are a lot of aspirants who have raised their score from 200 to 650+ and it is realistic. What it requires is a systematic study plan, alternative approaches to solve, time-management and dedicated trainers.

To be honest, Math with level 0 requires a bit of hard work, but it is not an uphill task to improve the score. First, we will request you to visit our website and take the free diagnostic test. Upon completion of the diagnostic test, we will be able to provide a comprehensive analysis of your skills and a customized study guide.

Also, check out our free trial pack and free video lessons on our site: https://www.mathrevolution.com .

At present, your mathematics skills are bit shaky and hence we recommend you to start with the basics of every concept and go slow while learning that concept. Solve as many questions you can solve. Gradually you will able to deal with difficult problems as well. Regular tests will reflect the positive change in score and hence your confidence will boost up. Also, remember that one can only score well in GMAT when one balances both Verbal and Quant scores  (ideally V 36+, Q 41+ or V 28 / Q 49 or V 31/Q 43) .

Build your math basics with our  "Math Review" (5-hour lesson) . These videos are for reviewing basic math including arithmetic, algebra, geometry and word problems. At your level, you need to go over these videos twice. We are sure that you can strengthen your basic math skills. However, we suggest you refer to these videos any time you need to refresh and master the basics. You may take an online course where you may ask as many questions you have or you may consider private tutoring as well.

We would request you to provide us certain details like your desired score, how many mocks have you taken while you were studying last and what the score was. This detail will help our expert to draw a comprehensive plan for improvement in you.

Let us know if you have further questions.

You can reach us at  info@mathrevolution.com

Success is within your reach, 
Good luck!

udaypratapsingh99 · Answer

Good Job !! thanks; it's useful.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Kayleyjojohnson,

I’m glad you reached out, and I’m happy to help. As long as you follow a linear and thorough study plan and a realistic timeline (at least 6 months), you can improve your GMAT score. Since you scored 200, it’s clear that you need to follow a study plan that allows you to learn GMAT quant and verbal from the ground up. In other words, follow a study plan that allows you to individually learn each GMAT quant and verbal topic, and then practice each topic until you’ve gained mastery.

If you’d like further advice on how to improve your quant and verbal skills, feel free to reach out. Also, you may find it helpful to read the following articles:  The Phases of Preparing for the GMAT  and  How Long Should I Study for the GMAT?

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I want to go from a 220 to 600

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