Your learning approach is great. Please don't change it. Its more of quality than quantity. So even if it takes an hour to review, it is fine as long as you are trying to figure out a better way to solve each and every problem. But instead of kaplan quiz problems, use
OG problems. Even if you solve 5 to 10 problems a day, it will take 20 to 25 days to complete the whole book. And you can solve it once again to get a better understanding. Use
OG as the main source and supplement it with kaplan problems.
What is your target score ?
Have you taken a GMATPrep mock ?
By now, you have a fair idea of what the test is all about. So start off reviewing the basics given in
OG book and any other strategy books, you have and then go for a GMATPrep mock.
Give an GMATPrep mock.
Analyze the test extensively to find your weak topics i.e not just PS or SC but inequalities or probability in quant and SV error problems in SC.
Find the weak topics in all the sections - Work on improving them.
Start with any strategy books you have.
learn the concepts.
Supplement it with
OG problems. Solve it topic wise.
Solve the problems in timed mode.
Take ample time to review.
Post/search the questions in forums. You will find expert solutions for every problem.
Take notes, prepare an
error log.
All these will take almost 2 to 3 hours for one topic as you said. Try to finish one section a day if possible or if you have more weak topics then take more time between your mocks and try to cover all weak areas. With 1 test you won't get much topics to learn, but once you had taken two or three tests you will have solved atleast one problem in each topic and an overall analysis will give you a fair idea of your weak areas.
Once you complete 3 kaplan tests, take a GMATPrep mock again. Taking GMATPrep mock in the middle is very important as none of the other test prep company mocks are close to GMATPrep, so their diagnosis might go wrong. In short, your diagnosis of weak areas in both GMATPrep and kaplan mocks should be in sync. Different prep company uses different style and none comes as close to GMAT particularly the verbal section. So its better to be cautious and not rely completely on other test prep companies for the entire preparation period. My RC accuracy was 30% in
MGMAT mocks and 90% in GMATPrep mocks and I thought I was doing pretty bad. That's why I am suggesting you this. Don't save it for last minute. After all the tests are useful only to improve your testing experience (stamina, endurance) and to know your weak areas. Proceed with strategy guides and solving problems for another three weeks, if you know your weak areas, you don't need to take tests. Keep on improving. And the last 10 days before your actual test, take the another GMATPrep. See if you are close to your target score. Then start reviewing all the daily notes, you had prepared, mock tests and flash cards etc, tough problems. This will definitely help you reach your target score.
Each GMATPrep mock test can be taken many times. The first two tests will be very close to what you will be scoring in the actual test. Generally there will be a +/- 30 point difference between your GMATPrep and GMAT scores whereas it will be more than 50, when it comes to other tests. You can repeat the tests, the first repeats will be a good indicator, but score gets inflated in the subsequent repeats.
Try to improve both quant and verbal. Concentrate on your strength more (either quant or verbal) and improve the other. Do not leave out any section unprepared, that is a very bad strategy.
If you are looking for good study materials or strategy guides, check this post.
Hope this helps !!
Thanks for all the info! I think that's a good idea, I do however want to take one more Kaplan CAT before I take the initial GMATPrep Practice CAT. You said that there is more than 2 Practice CATs that GMATPrep provides? Can you explain?
guide today. I did 15 problems and I'm going to review and write notes (
) on them tomorrow. I'm not timing myself on the questions yet. Do you think I should?