HOW TO START, HOW TO IMPROVE, WHAT MATERIAL TO USE?

Hi Vivek, verbal was clearly the culprit in chief! Did you opt for ESR? Which specific area in verbal has been your nemesis?

Thanks for replying Rich.

Here are my answers to your questions:
1) I took 6 CATs: 4 including IR and 2 including Essay + IR
2) Yes, I took them at home.
3) Yes, I took most of the CATs ( 4 out of 6) at the same time.
4) No.
5) Yes, I took GMAT Prep twice. Quant questions were somewhat repetitive but Verbal part was having mostly new questions.
6) Based on my performance in mock exams, I have set target score of 710+
7) I'm planning to apply in R-1 for Fall-2018 admissions.
8) School list not yet decided, but after going through their websites, it looks like 700 is the average score for top 25 colleges.

Awaiting your valuable reply. Thanks in advance.

Hi,

You should keep at least Three months for your preparations. I would recommend you to take a GMAT PREP practice tests. You can now know your weaknesses and work on them. If you are willing to study dedicatedly for Three months, you are sure to achieve your goal. 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. Further I see you are a new member here at GMATCLUB and when you sign up at GMATCLUB you get a free 3 days access to EMPOWERgmat course. You can also try free access to Magoosh and Optimus Prep so try those out as well.

Also for 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 also try out the MGMAT guides they are phenomenal and cover the entire syllabus really well. 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 a 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 practise tests of any major GMATPREP company ought to do that.

Lastly I would also encourage you to purchase the latest version of OG and the verbal review for some great additional practice. Here is a link that will help you with your decision.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-ve ... 68383.html

Hope this helps. All the best.

Hi Ashish,

I haven't opted for ESR. What do you suggest?
In verbal, it was always RC which used to haunt me.

Hi Vivek, generally it's a good idea to opt for ESR, since it might throw some surprises and give future direction.

Though with a V19, I believe all the three sub-sections would need significant improvement.

Hi Vivek,

What study material did you use earlier?

I used e-gmat online course, OG'17, & MGMAT complete study guides.

Hi Vivek91,

From what you've described, if the two FULL CATs that you took were ones that you had already taken, then you would have seen some repeat questions (and that is not realistic). Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your practice scores can become - and that's what happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience' - and your practice CAT scores were not accurate.

Using your Official Score as a gauge, raising a 530 to a 710+ will require that you make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. All of that work will likely take at least another 3 months of consistent, guided study. Since that time commitment would take you right up to the end of August, if you want to apply for Round 1 then you will have to work on your applications while you study. Since you don't have a specific list of Schools that interest you, you might want to take a bit of time this weekend to research the various Programs and narrow down the choices to the ones that really match your overall career goals and interests. That list will help to define the type of 'competitive' GMAT Score that you actually need and will allow you to define the exact application deadlines for Round 1 and Round 2 for each School.

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

For 700+, you will need to work on both Quant and Verbal. Of course, extra effort will be required in Verbal. There could be many reasons for a lower than expected score in Verbal. We have discussed some of them here:
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/0 ... bal-score/

You could get your ESR to give you an idea of how you performed in each section. Though I am not sure that it will add a lot of value since V19 usually implies problems in all question types and Q45 implies good basics but problems in advanced applications. Only in case you feel that you might have performed exceptionally poorly in certain subsections, ESR might add value.

At 530, you will find the complete curriculum of a test prep company useful. I suggest you to check out some of our free resources here:
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/category/gmat/

Hi

3 month is pretty enough time so you can start with Best comprehensive material

1. Manhattan GMAT Quant Guides
2. Manhattan GMAT Verbal guides
or
Aristotle Verbal Guide
for CR critical reasoning bible is best book with 300+ pages of comprehensive Data

Start with quant, learn the concepts tested on GMAT
After learning, practice your learned section with times practice
You can also take quizzes to meet the pace of GMAT

1 Month for learning concepts and 15 days of practice and same with the verbal
when completed all the concepts learning and handsome practice
Take full lenght CATs, know your estimated score

Analyze the result with Correct/incorrect questions, pacing analysis
trace your mistakes and learn from them, make an error log to know
your mistakes in the previously attempted questions

Best CATs

1. Official GMAC (50+50$)
2. Manhattan GMAT (49$)
3. GMAT Club Quant CATs (80$)
4. Veritas CATs (49$ but you can buy at 15-20$ During sale period)

above Mock exams are as important as ranked

Good Luck
Cheers

Hi Vivek91,

Kindly do not be disheartened as GMAT is all about high commitment. It’s a good thing you have taken your exams. You can now know your weaknesses and work on them. If you are willing to study dedicatedly for that period, you are sure to achieve your goal. I believe you may benefit from taking a GMATPREP course as you may be a bit weak with your concepts. 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, Magoosh and Optimus Prep as they have great reviews on GMATCLUB.

Also for 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 also try out the MGMAT guides they are phenomenal and cover the entire syllabus really well. 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 a 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 practise tests of any major GMATPREP company ought to do that.

Lastly I would also encourage you to purchase the latest version of OG and the verbal review for some great additional practice. Here is a link that will help you with your decision.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-ve ... 68383.html

Hope this helps. All the best.

Hi

You should better complete Kaplan premier book, because for 550, it is good enough
go through all the book, Start with quant, learn the concepts tested on GMAT
After learning, practice your learned section with times practice
You can also take quizzes to meet the pace of GMAT

1 Month for learning concepts and 15 days of practice and same with the verbal
when completed all the concepts learning and handsome practice
Take full lenght CATs, know your estimated score

Analyze the result with Correct/incorrect questions, pacing analysis
trace your mistakes and learn from them, make an error log to know
your mistakes in the previously attempted questions

Best CATs

1. Official GMAC (50+50$)
2. Manhattan GMAT (49$)
3. GMAT Club Quant CATs (80$)

above Mock exams are as important as ranked

Good Luck

Hi veets13,

I would highly encourage you to aim a little higher. Even if you are scoring low right now it doesn’t imply that you will not get better. I have met several people who started really low but have nonetheless scored enviable scores and made it to top business schools. It’s a good thing you have taken your GMAT once. You now know your weaknesses and can work on them. If you are willing to study dedicatedly for Three months, you are sure to achieve your goal. 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. Further I see you are a new member here at GMATCLUB and when you sign up at GMATCLUB you get a free 3 days access to EMPOWERgmat course. You can also try free access to Magoosh and Optimus Prep so try those out as well.

Also for 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 also try out the MGMAT guides they are phenomenal and cover the entire syllabus really well. Just by going through these guides and solving the OG will help you reach 600+. 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 a 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 practise tests of any major GMATPREP company ought to do that.

Lastly I would also encourage you to purchase the latest version of OG and the verbal review for some great additional practice. Here is a link that will help you with your decision.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-ve ... 68383.html

Hope this helps. All the best.

Hi Rohan2345,

Thanks for your support and motivation.
I will definitely take note of your valuable advise during my prep.

Wow! It's not everyday when anybody asks for tips to hit 550. You sir, do have courage. Getting back to business, you have already received many detailed replies so I am going to keep it short.

1. Develop a routine. Give 1 to 2 hours a day. Take it easy but be persistent. Do not take a break from it.

2. Verbal Review and Quant Review are easier than the Official GMAT Guide. Try solving those 2. Don't just solve them, understand how to get every question in those books correct and why the wrong options are wrong.

3. Last thing I tell everyone - Read 1 article everyday on economist.com

For a 550, all you need is the basic understanding and practice of the concepts.

Hello

680 is a good score you can improve it 700+, both of your quant and verbal
need a little bit more attention you probably know your weak areas, clear
concepts on these weak points practice questions related to these concepts
Take full lenght CATs, know your estimated score
Analyze the result with Correct/incorrect questions, pacing analysis
trace your mistakes and learn from them, make an error log to know
your mistakes in the previously attempted questions

Best CATs

1. Official GMAC (50+50$)
2. Manhattan GMAT (49$)
3. GMAT Club Quant CATs (80$)

above Mock exams are as important as ranked

Good Luck
Cheers

Hi nickcab ,

660 is a great score and you can surely increase your score to 720+. You should dedicate around 2 months to improve your score. If you study dedicatedly for that period, you are sure to achieve your goal. 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, Magoosh and Optimus Prep as they have great reviews on GMATCLUB.
Also for 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 practise tests of any major GMATPREP company ought to do that.

Lastly I would also encourage you to purchase the latest version of OG and the verbal review for some great additional practice. Here is a link that will help you with your decision.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-ve ... 68383.html

Hope this helps. All the best.