My GMAT prep diary- 5 weeks to go

Question

Ok, so i am planning to retake the exam for the 3rd time. My first two scores were 680 ( Q48, V34 ) & 700 ( Q49, V35).
I know that some of you will strongly encourage me to only focus on my essays since i have reached that 700 mark, but i really don't think that a 700 will get me into Wharton. 
More importantly, in all my practice tests, i was scoring in the 740-770 range and was really shocked to get only a V35. The truth is that i was not confident of my answers at all during the V section, and was constantly getting stuck between 2 answer choices.
This time i plan to spend some time reviewing verbal and will try to understand why each answer is correct. Last time, i just kept solving questions aimlessly and if i answered the question correctly, i never bothered reviewing it. 
I want to solve fewer questions this time. I have started with the LSAT Logical reasoning bible, and am reviewing all the topics, including formal logic.
I have also purchased 'Doing Grammar' by Max Morenberg, and am planning to complete it in the next two weeks. 
I am really comfortable with Math, and will be solving questions regularly on forums, and from gmatclub tests. 
Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. My target score is 750+.
I will be posting here every couple of days.

bb · Answer

I assume you have read this thread with a reference to Pathfinder who had 720 and got into Wharton? should-i-retake-gmat-thread-retaking-gmat-strategies-83339.html

vwjetty · Answer

i hear you. i got a 430 on my first time and now I'm taking the entire summer to do some pretty serious prepping to take it in the fall in order to meet spring 2011 admissions. It's hustlin time :-D

thirdtimelucky · Answer

ok, so the last two days have been fairly productive.
Reviewed the following chapters from the LSAT LR bible.

Strengthen, Justify the conclusion and Assumption
Weaken
Inference & Main Point
Method of Argument
Formal Logic

I clearly remember that i was stuck on a couple of 'Main Point' questions on the real exam, and now i have learnt to isolate the conclusion. The Main point of the argument will always be the conclusion, only worded differently.
I solved about 20 Main Point questions from past LSAT papers and got 19 of them correct.
I will continue working through these chapters and solve questions from past LSAT papers.
The only reason i am solving LSAT CR questions is because i have already solved the OG questions before and am looking for new material. 
I also read chapters 1&2 from the 'Doing Grammar' book.

In the morning today, i did a gmatclub math test, m25.
Here is my result:

m25 31 37 84% 94.0450sec 88%

I got 31 out of 37 correct. I finished with roughly 15 minutes to spare & made 3 really silly mistakes. 
I want to solve at least one gmat club test a day. Have you guys found this useful?

I scored a Q49 on the real test, and am very comfortable with the material. Any advice on how to push this to a Q50 or Q51. I feel the difference between a Q49 and a Q50/51 is huge, especially if you are looking to score 750+.

Anyways, time to do some SC. I am planning to solve at least 20-30 questions a day from 1000SC.

thirdtimelucky · Answer

Did two more GMAT clubs tests - m23 & m24 m23 30 37 81% 9.7547 sec 63% m24 31 37 84% 118.5946 sec 78% I took m23 when i was at work

so i was unable to time myself. Still making some really shocking mistakes. This is exactly what i really like about these tests. You have to be very alert. I also did 2 more chapters from the 'Doing Grammar' book. I want to start solving 30 questions a day from SC 1000 and start applying some of these rules that i am learning from this grammar book. Should i solve SC 1000 questions or do you guys recommend that i stick to official questions? Weekend plan: 50 LSAT CR's & 4 LSAT RC passages. 50 SC 1000 questions. Will update again in a couple of days.

gurpreetsingh · Answer

Gmat club tests are very good, and for me the only mistakes were careless.

Take my Golden advice : The questions you will correctly answer in any test(especially tough quant like gmatclub), you are likely to solve it in real exam as well. But if you answer the question incorrectly and do not seriously tackle the reason for that, the concept tested on it might affect you on the real exam.

Suppose you got 30/37 correct on an average and you gave 20 tests.

7*20 = 140 incorrect questions, that might carry at least 20-30 mistakes that you are likely to repeat on your real day.

So its very important to check where you lack and how to tackle it.
Also do not neglect strong area, losing marks from that portion is even worse.

Good luck .

bb · Answer

Been quiet for a week, how is it going?

gurpreetsingh · Answer

I m improving gradually and multiple revisions are working for me. I m carrying SC,CR and RC daily like we have 1 hour lectures in the college for each subject.

I have decided not to give exam under deadline pressure, GMAT is the first step and I don't want to have lose base for my b-school career. Its better late than never.

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