Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Nov 2007:30 AM PST
-08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
Nov 2211:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Do RC/MSR passages scare you? e-GMAT is conducting a masterclass to help you learn – Learn effective reading strategies Tackle difficult RC & MSR with confidence Excel in timed test environment- Nov 23
11:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease. 
Nov 2510:00 AM EST
-11:00 AM EST
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors.
31 Jan 2014, 21:02
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello GMAT Experts & Motivators,
Background:
I have been studying for the GMAT for last two months. I started with Kaplan Diagnostics score of 450 and within two months was able to pull up to 600 in Kaplan CAT. My most recent practice test score, however, is 570 from Manhattan- the free practice test. My score track includes: 450, 480, 520, 600 and 570 respectively. My Quant is significantly better than Verbal. So far, my best raw score, independently, include Q47 and V29. My Quant score have fluctuated so much between that 600 and 570. I had Q47/V23 when I had the 600 from Kaplan CAT and Q40/V29 when I had the 570 from MG prep.
Flexibility and deadline:
I have one more month to prep before I sit for the actual test. I am scheduled to take the test on March 8, 2014. I do have many prep tools and resources needed for the test. I am enrolled in Kaplan On demand (online) program and have bought complete set of Manhattan books (strategies and foundations) and many other preparation materials. I am willing and able to put as many hours as needed for the preparation. However, as you all know, putting 100s of hours won't help if they are not quality study hours. Therefore, I have given my best to put in as many hours as possible while trying to retain most information. I have also allowed myself to occasionally have fun with friends and hangout to refresh my mind. As you might agree, I want to prep hard and smart but for some reason it is not working as much as it should have.
Prep strategy used:
I went through all the video workshops in Kaplan, watched most Kaplan Lessons on Demand, read the entire Kaplan Premier book, gave 5 CAT (including OG1), attempted many Kaplan quizzes, read MG foundation for verbal section (including SC, RC, and CR) and completed Number properties Foundation in MG so far. However, I have practiced only few problems, as in sitting in and working tons of problems at a time. I know, I should be practicing more but the idea of just sitting-in to practice bores me to death and I end up studying MG strategy books, Kaplan books or taking video lessons instead. I did not have this problem with practicing before, it is a new bad habit that I developed in these GMAT prep months. One of the side effects of the GMAT, I guess! Any motivation to help me practice more will also be greatly appreciated.
My QUESTION:
I am not sure how to boost the score from 600 to 700 in one month. I know that I am being ambitious here and I understand that I have a long way to go but I am ready to put in hours needed in this one month. I am not good in sitting-in and practicing as in practicing questions, and I want to improve this bad habit that I developed recently, but I am currently putting in many hours and will be more than happy to spend above 8+ hrs a day to sit home and study for the GMAT. Any suggestion, advice, support or motivation will be highly appreciated. I promise kudos for any effort to help.
I apologize for a long post but I thought I really needed to explain what I have tried and what I am going through to get a more acute suggestion.
Thanks
Background:
I have been studying for the GMAT for last two months. I started with Kaplan Diagnostics score of 450 and within two months was able to pull up to 600 in Kaplan CAT. My most recent practice test score, however, is 570 from Manhattan- the free practice test. My score track includes: 450, 480, 520, 600 and 570 respectively. My Quant is significantly better than Verbal. So far, my best raw score, independently, include Q47 and V29. My Quant score have fluctuated so much between that 600 and 570. I had Q47/V23 when I had the 600 from Kaplan CAT and Q40/V29 when I had the 570 from MG prep.
Flexibility and deadline:
I have one more month to prep before I sit for the actual test. I am scheduled to take the test on March 8, 2014. I do have many prep tools and resources needed for the test. I am enrolled in Kaplan On demand (online) program and have bought complete set of Manhattan books (strategies and foundations) and many other preparation materials. I am willing and able to put as many hours as needed for the preparation. However, as you all know, putting 100s of hours won't help if they are not quality study hours. Therefore, I have given my best to put in as many hours as possible while trying to retain most information. I have also allowed myself to occasionally have fun with friends and hangout to refresh my mind. As you might agree, I want to prep hard and smart but for some reason it is not working as much as it should have.
Prep strategy used:
I went through all the video workshops in Kaplan, watched most Kaplan Lessons on Demand, read the entire Kaplan Premier book, gave 5 CAT (including OG1), attempted many Kaplan quizzes, read MG foundation for verbal section (including SC, RC, and CR) and completed Number properties Foundation in MG so far. However, I have practiced only few problems, as in sitting in and working tons of problems at a time. I know, I should be practicing more but the idea of just sitting-in to practice bores me to death and I end up studying MG strategy books, Kaplan books or taking video lessons instead. I did not have this problem with practicing before, it is a new bad habit that I developed in these GMAT prep months. One of the side effects of the GMAT, I guess! Any motivation to help me practice more will also be greatly appreciated.
My QUESTION:
I am not sure how to boost the score from 600 to 700 in one month. I know that I am being ambitious here and I understand that I have a long way to go but I am ready to put in hours needed in this one month. I am not good in sitting-in and practicing as in practicing questions, and I want to improve this bad habit that I developed recently, but I am currently putting in many hours and will be more than happy to spend above 8+ hrs a day to sit home and study for the GMAT. Any suggestion, advice, support or motivation will be highly appreciated. I promise kudos for any effort to help.
I apologize for a long post but I thought I really needed to explain what I have tried and what I am going through to get a more acute suggestion.
Thanks
01 Feb 2014, 08:06
Kudos
Bookmarks
While I wouldn't consider myself a GMAT Expert, I have been able to assimilate new information and get certified in a variety of fields in a short period of time. While studying the material is helpful, I take an approach of programming my brain to try to think like the test writer. Practice questions help, but taking it to a deeper level of understanding in how the questions are formed and what they're looking for will benefit more from my experience.
Take writing a computer program for example. There are many coding languages, but for particular problems some make more sense than others. Find the one that will get you the correct answer the fastest, and continue to use that language (or test taking method) for that type of problem. Practice doesn't make perfect in and of itself, it's perfect practice that can really boost scores.
I think you will be able to with focus and determination. I know it's hard for me to stay focused for long period of time, but I would recommend something like the Pomodoro technique to drill in all the information but not overwhelm yourself and forget what you learned. Some or none of that may be helpful, so at least take this with you...
"People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily." –Zig Ziglar
Take writing a computer program for example. There are many coding languages, but for particular problems some make more sense than others. Find the one that will get you the correct answer the fastest, and continue to use that language (or test taking method) for that type of problem. Practice doesn't make perfect in and of itself, it's perfect practice that can really boost scores.
I think you will be able to with focus and determination. I know it's hard for me to stay focused for long period of time, but I would recommend something like the Pomodoro technique to drill in all the information but not overwhelm yourself and forget what you learned. Some or none of that may be helpful, so at least take this with you...
"People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily." –Zig Ziglar
03 Feb 2014, 02:26
Kudos
Bookmarks
Aaadhi
I think you are referring to too many resources for content and that might be the problem. You've got to look to feed content to your brain in a way that makes it easy to digest. Referring to so many resources might just confuse you. I would advise you to narrow it down to a couple of resources. For instance MGMAT booklets, Powerscore CR bible, OG, GMAT Club quant CATs, MGMAT CATs were my staple material for the GMAT. Concentrate on few resources and make sure you are completely clear with GMAT content before you take on questions.
My signature has a link to my debrief; my debrief might have some useful tips for you.
