new here and I have 2 weeks until my test help please.

Question

Hi I'm new here and was hesitant in registering as I have been a "silent" reader for the past few days. I think I'm glad I did. So I have a little less than two weeks to take the gmat as my test date is on February 19th. So for the past three and a half weeks I have been studying with the OG and about a week ago I got the Kaplin premier mostly because I wanted the four more practice tests. Before I start studying at all I took a practice test. This was before I knew almost anything about the GMAT I got a 370. I wasn't even sure if that was good or bad at first. After looking into b-schools I know I had a lot of work to do and was a bit skeptical if I could actually do well on the GMAT. So right after I got my Kaplin and after two and a half weeks with the OG I took a Kaplin CAT and got a 500 Q(24) V(29). To most people on here that would be a terrible score but I was actually pretty happy with it. I improved by 130. Here are my top 5 schools from least prestigious to most (none are in the Top 50 b-schools) 5. YSU where I'm getting my under grad as I'm a senior (need at least a 450 to go here) 4. Urbana University in Urbana Ohio (need around the same but no "set score") 3. Cleveland State 2. University of Toledo 1. University of Cincinnati My GPA in my undergrad is a 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. I couple of days ago I took another Kaplin CAT and scored a 470. I was pretty upset with this one as I was not focused and didn't have the right attitude going into this one. I was letting some personal stress bring me down before taking it. After reading some posts on here I am now really motivated and want to score a 560. I am really isolating myself from other matters in my life and beginning to have the right frame of mind. What should I do in these two weeks to be the best prepared for the beast?

southernstunna · Answer

haha I didn't even know you could get a 370. Push your test date back, you need to spend some more time studying.

EBM · Answer

What's your motivation for going straight from undergrad to an MBA program, especially an unranked MBA program? I'm not trying to tell you what your life goals should be, but chances are you'd be much better off getting a few years of work experience, getting some real GMAT prep in, then applying to a higher-ranked MBA program.

Either way, don't just work OG problems or CAT exams. They won't teach you much. Get something like the MGMAT set and learn the quant and verbal fundamentals and how to actually work the problems.

Either way, don't just work OG problems or CAT exams. They won't teach you much. Get something like the MGMAT set and learn the quant and verbal fundamentals and how to actually work the problems.

heygirl · Answer

Do you need to take the test on Feb 19 itself? If you have time, then push the date to may be a month away,March mid. Did you get your concepts right before diving into OG problems? That's most important. No point in going on with the questions. I did that in my last GMAT attempt and landed a 490

, So i learned the hard way. 560 is not a difficult score. Do you know where you do most of your errors when you go through the OG questions? Another thing is a 470 on a kaplan test could mean a little higher score actually. Good Luck

heygirl · Answer

I forgot to add: Take a GMAT prep test or a MGMAT test and see how much you score. I personally never liked the Kaplan tests because the scores are pretty low as compared to what it could really mean.

johnpaul · Answer

Thanks for all of the input so far. It's helpful to hear all of the perspectives on my practice test scores. I really want to take this test feb 19th and no later. I don't know what my errors are and should I start using an error log for the last two weeks of studying. All what is the deal with the templetes for the AWA? I keep running across people mentioning them in posts. When I took my third practice test I wanted to use most of the time in my AWA sections so it was realistic, however I shouldn't get bogged down by doing the AWA instead use it as a brainstorming session as someone mentioned on a different thread. My 500 practice test was a Kaplin so that's great to hear it could be higher on the actual test. I will post an update for at least every new practice test I take. I'm think of taking two or three more.

EBM · Answer

No, focus on learning, not taking tests. Tests can only teach you so much. Learn the formulas, equations, and processes for working all the types of problems that come up most frequently on the GMAT.

Why the burning desire to take it on Feb 19 again?

msneemo · Answer

I got 370 myself, about 2 weeks ago, then after a week I had a 500 on my GMAT Prep.But, don't get intimidated by these scores. When I got the 500 I became a bit over confident and I think my performance have been decreasing ever since.Now I have exactly one week left and my goal is just to learn what I can, practice as much as I can and just face the test and see what happens.Reading your post Id like to suggest that if you have the time then do take more time to prepare.Cause in any case 2 or 3 weeks is very little time for this.And for any personal reason if you decide you cant afford to buy some more time, then just try to stay as relaxed as you can and if you get bad marks in any practice score then don't care about it that much.Just try to practice and cover all the topics as much as possible.

But, that's just my opinion.All the best!!!

But, that's just my opinion.All the best!!!

johnpaul · Answer

ok I will study the strategies in my Kaplin premier more for this week and only do the two practice tests. The main reason I don't want to push the test back any is because I feel that the preparation is pretty taxing. I know it's kind of a bad excuse but I am constantly thinking about the GMAT. I don't want the constant anticipation to linger on for a real long time. I am shooting for 3 to 4 hours every day of prep this week and the same until about feb 16th where I'll taper to no studying the day before the exam. Thanks again for all of the feedback.

msneemo · Answer

I know exactly what you mean.Its the same reason why I am not rescheduling my own exam.But while you are at it , you should have studied the MGMAT series.I don't know much about the kaplan materials.But from various posts and by reviewing the SC part of MGMAT, I think MGMAT is the best.Then again, different stuff work for different people.

dcduke · Answer

Not to slam the Kaplan materials, but from my limited experience with them, it seemed like they were focused more on gimmicks (e.g., back solving, picking numbers) than on actual problem-solving strategies. I would strongly recommend the MGMAT strategy guides for quant. From what I understand, the MGMAT SC guide is also one of the best guides around for that topic.

Going back to a point emont made earlier, why the rush to take the GMAT and go to business school? Unless an employer is requiring you to get an MBA to "check the box" for some reason, it probably makes sense to wait a few years, and apply to more highly ranked schools. If you can combine a strong GMAT with a 3.6 GPA, it seems that you could do better. I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your life, but getting an MBA is not inexpensive, and you should be clear on your motivation for doing so. I would strongly advise taking your time with the GMAT, learning core concepts, and revising your business school choices based on the results. Best of luck.

EBM · Answer

If you push the test back you can prepare at a more leisurely pace rather than cramming for it. Taking your time and learning things a few subjects at a time will reduce stress and increase your chances of retaining the knowledge.

You can take it in two weeks and get a bad score, or you can push it back a few months and get a good score. Your call.

mariyea · Answer

Hi this is a list of preptests you can take to prepare you for the test.
all-gmat-cat-practice-tests-links-prices-reviews-77460.html
It would be good if you studied the basics well first though. Take a couple of weeks to a month to do so then start practicing. I see that your Q is pretty weak so what you have to do is check out Bunuel's profile... it would also be good if you followed his posts... it would improve you r math scores significantly... He has posted tough math qs that would surely prepare you for the exam.

mariyea · Answer

want-to-become-an-active-reader-and-annihilate-the-rc-108764.html This would probably help you in RC
want-to-make-cr-easier-read-this-108771.html This should help in the CR.

For sentence correction just go to the SC section of this site. It has plenty of material that would help raise your score.

Hope this helps!

Mari

msneemo · Answer

Well, you could follow your plan and take a GMAT Prep test exactly at the 8th day before your exam.If you still score around 300 - 400 there, then please do reschedule.The rule is to reschedule before at least 7 days before the exam,so rescheduling now or on the 8th day will be the same thing.You seem to be confident about your study plan , but still GMAT is a tricky monster to tackle.So, don't take blind shots if you know you will loose.

heygirl · Answer

Yeah, the GMAT is taxing but it sure pays off to prepare well and study at leisure(2-3 months around,in total). If you really want to take the test on FEb 19th then go ahead. Depending on the score that you receive, have an open mind to take the test again in 1.5 months time like by march end. Will that leave you enough time to apply to the Schools of your choice?

johnpaul · Answer

I am now thinking about possibly rescheduling. Beside the GMAT score itself the cost of going to a ranked school is a factor in me not wanting to go to one. Is the pay off worth it? I know if I got a job, studied for the GMAT at a leisurely pace and saved up for it going to a ranked school might be possible. It the payoff going to be worth it compared to acquiring a MBA at an unranked school without the wait?

EBM · Answer

Yes, it's generally understood that the return on investment from going to a good school is worth it.

All MBAs are not created equal. Quality of education, internship opportunities, quality of network, and job placement will all be better at a higher-ranked school. Differences in tuition/fees are pretty negligible in the long run when you look at differences in career earnings. Go to the best school you can get in to.

johnpaul · Answer

Only 1 and a half weeks left so I'm almost down to the home stretch. So far I made my way through a lot of the kaplin 2011 premier strategies (only about 20 pages left) and have probably 1/2 of all the questions in the OG done as well as going through all the brief strategies in the OG. As far as practice CATs go I will only be doing one more on sunday, 6 days before the test. I saw that someone recently got a 700 with about only 20 hours of studying so I know that I'll never score that high but I also realized that I did put in the time so I should take the test on feb 19th. I'll never be as ready as I am now if I don't as far as having the right attitude and having a very easy school and work schedule is concerned.

EBM · Answer

I'm still baffled as to why you seem to be in a hurry to get a mediocre score...but then again, it's your $250. I also don't understand why you think you'll never be as ready as you are now--you've only studied 2 weeks, how can you think you're as ready as you would be with a few months of systematic studying?

I wouldn't recommend comparing yourself to the people who get 700+ with only 20 hours of studying, or thinking that just because you put in a similar amount of time you'll be fine. Some people can do GMAT-style math in their sleep and don't need much studying to learn how to apply it to the test.

	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

new here and I have 2 weeks until my test help please.

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards