Kickstarting my GMAT preparation | Need suggestions

Question

Hello Everyone,

I am an Indian engineer having two years of experience in strategy consulting. I am planning to give my GMAT exam sometime in October and need suggestions/feedback on which online course to pursue. I am a below-average student and would require help in both quant and verbal. I have narrowed down my options to E-GMAT and CrackVerbal as both these courses are highly rated for non-native speakers.

I am also open to any other suggestions.

Thank you.

kiran120680 · Answer

Hi, try TTP for Quant. They have a one-week trial option for $1. Try it.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi agarwal95,

Since it sounds like you're just beginning your studies, then it would be a good idea to take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can take 2 for free at www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). If you want to do a little studying first, so that you can familiarize yourself with the basic content and question types, then that's okay - but you shouldn't wait too long to take that initial CAT. That score will give us a good sense of your natural strengths and weaknesses and will help provide a basis for comparison as you continue to study. A FULL CAT takes about 3.5 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have those scores, you should report back here and we can come up with a study plan.

I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and goals:
1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

agarwal95 · Answer

Hi Rich,

I have given a full length test and scored a 430 (Q33 V17) which I know are very less but I could remember most of the basic concepts in both verbal and quant while giving the test. Now to answer your questions:
1. 740
2. October end or beginning of November
3. Round 2

Thanks

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

Best Gmat practice tests:-
https://gmatclub.com/forum/all-gmat-pra ... tml?fl=men

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi agarwal95,

Many Test Takers are unhappy with their initial practice scores, but you really shouldn't be. That 430 is just a measure of your skills right now - and you'll improve on that result over time as you learn more about the content, Tactics and little 'secrets' of the Exam. That having been said, you'll have to put in a great deal of training for this Exam. Raising a 430 to the point that you can consistently score 740+ will likely require at least 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, you've given yourself a great deal of potential study time - and the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

1) On this initial CAT, did you run out of time at the end of each section and have to 'rush' through a bunch of questions? How many questions did you have to quickly guess on at the end of each section? 
2) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

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

agarwal95 · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thank you for your advice.

1. I did run out of time and had to guess 5-6 questions in each section. I also could not concentrate throughout the exam and burned myself out very early

2. I can consistently study for 15-17 hours every week

Thank you

Posted from my mobile device

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Regarding resources, in addition to seeking advice in this thread, take a look at the GMAT Club reviews for the best quant and verbal courses, and also read through some GMAT success stories to see what materials have worked well for other test-takers.

You also may find it helpful to read this article about how to score a 700+ on the GMAT.

You also may find it helpful to read this article about  how to score a 700+ on the GMAT .

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi agarwal95,

Many Test Takers face pacing issues in the Quant section, the Verbal section or both – so you are not alone. However, it's important to remember that pacing problems do NOT exist on their own - they're the results of OTHER problems. One of the interesting aspects of the GMAT is that most GMAT questions can be approached in more than one way - so just because you correctly answered a question does NOT necessarily mean that you worked through it in an efficient way (or in the most efficient way). With the type of Score Goal that you're after, beyond learning all of the necessary content (math formulas, grammar rules, etc.), you will also have to learn Tactics, patterns and the little 'secrets' behind the GMAT.

Most GMAT Companies offer some type of free materials (practice problems, Trial Accounts, videos, etc.) that you can use to 'test out' a product before you buy it. We have a variety of those resources at our website (www.empowergmat.com). I suggest that you take advantage of all of them, then choose the one that best matches your personality, timeline and budget.

If you have any additional questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly at any time.

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

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