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Re: Just took baseline CAT (640) - need help w/ a 2-month study plan [#permalink]
Thanks Entwistle and Rich,

Rich, to answer some of your questions:
1) I don't know what's at the heart of the timing issue for sure, but had the same issue when I briefly flirted with taking the test a year ago. It may be a combination of not yet knowing all the math equations (I definitely guessed more than once) and the impatience to see the score (terrible I know).

2) Score Goal: Ideal world a 750, would be happy to crack 700

3) My idea is to apply this fall for business school, either round 1 or 2

4) 2 months timeline is based on my work schedule. The pace picks up in mid-may and will stay very busy through the end of July. If I don't get it scheduled by May 9 (or at worst the following week), I won't have the time for a full month of prep until the end of August.


Does that help clarify? As far as daily schedule, I plan to study an hour before work, tackle a few practice questions over lunch, and 1.5 hours at night. For weekends, I want to take a CAT every Saturday morning (as that's when I plan to take the test), review the week's error log, and focus on improving in problem areas.
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GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
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Re: Just took baseline CAT (640) - need help w/ a 2-month study plan [#permalink]
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Hi centreright,

I'd like to see how you perform when you take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) AND you use the entire 75 minutes in each of the Quant and Verbal sections.

I suggest that you study on your own for a week or so and then take the FULL CAT. It's tough to assess your chances of hitting your goal until you start to deal with your CATs in the same way that you'll have to deal with the Official Exam. To that end, you should take the CAT away from your home, at the same time of day as your Official GMAT (or a close approximation), under 'test-like' conditions, etc.

Once we have those results, I'll be in a better position to offer you some pointed advice.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Re: Just took baseline CAT (640) - need help w/ a 2-month study plan [#permalink]
Expert Reply
centreright wrote:
Thanks Entwistle and Rich,

Rich, to answer some of your questions:
1) I don't know what's at the heart of the timing issue for sure, but had the same issue when I briefly flirted with taking the test a year ago. It may be a combination of not yet knowing all the math equations (I definitely guessed more than once) and the impatience to see the score (terrible I know).

2) Score Goal: Ideal world a 750, would be happy to crack 700

3) My idea is to apply this fall for business school, either round 1 or 2

4) 2 months timeline is based on my work schedule. The pace picks up in mid-may and will stay very busy through the end of July. If I don't get it scheduled by May 9 (or at worst the following week), I won't have the time for a full month of prep until the end of August.


Does that help clarify? As far as daily schedule, I plan to study an hour before work, tackle a few practice questions over lunch, and 1.5 hours at night. For weekends, I want to take a CAT every Saturday morning (as that's when I plan to take the test), review the week's error log, and focus on improving in problem areas.


Hi centreright

For your pacing issue, try this approach: group five math questions together and spend approximately (but no more than) 10 minutes on them. Make strategic guesses on questions that you aren’t confident on or that would take you much longer than two minutes to answer. That way, you buy yourself some time and you can spend more time on questions that you can confidently answer.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted on your progress.

Jessica
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Re: Just took baseline CAT (640) - need help w/ a 2-month study plan [#permalink]
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Hi centreright,

Since it's been 2 weeks since your last post, have you gotten to take an additional practice CAT? If so, then how did you score? Were you better able to slow down and use more of the clock?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Re: Just took baseline CAT (640) - need help w/ a 2-month study plan [#permalink]
Hi There,

Below are our responses to your queries.

- Does a 2 month time table sound reasonable?

GMAT preparation takes anywhere around 3 to 6 months to score well. If you have got a hang of the exam pattern then 2 months time table is good enough for your preparation. Just be consistent with your time table, as it is extremely important.

- Are there strategies to make myself use more time? (rare question, I know)

GMAT strategies always help one to reduce the time taken to solve questions. If using a strategy is increasing your question solving time then you need to gain expertise on your strategies.

- What materials should I be using to study? (Currently have a 2014 Kaplan GMAT PREMIER and a 13th EDITION GMAT REVIEW)

We have written a blog on "Best Books For GMAT and GRE Preparation" on the below link and it would be helpful.

https://blog.manyagroup.com/detail.html?authorid=59

Wish you the best.
manyagroup.com
GMAT Club Bot
Re: Just took baseline CAT (640) - need help w/ a 2-month study plan [#permalink]

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