One month to study for GMAT - which review materials?

Question

I have a little over a month to study for the GMAT and am hoping some GMAT whiz on this site can offer some direction regarding which prep materials are best considering the time constraint.

I need to score above 620 - so I don't need to ace it. As far as I can tell OC11 and Princeton Review - Cracking the GMAT are highly recommended. Has anyone tried a weekend class that was helpful?

If anyone has any study strategies - I'd appreciate any pointers.

Thanks.

gmatmba · Answer

Im no GMAT whiz ... but OG11 is the best resource out there. If you need more, get the OG verbal and quant. reviews as well. All the best

marigoldzoe · Answer

Hi there, thanks for responding. I know you're no whiz, but you probably have a better gauge of this than I do (or someone else might...?). Using OG11 (which I've already bought) and putting in roughly 2hrs/day and ~15 during the weekend, and doing PowerPrep...is it reasonable to assume I can hit 600 or above in one month's time. (I just need a reference point.)

rhyme · Answer

No one here can tell you what you can get with one months study. I know people who took the GMAT without even knowing what material was tested and got a 700+.

One friend of mine took it "for fun" and scored a 780. He just wanted to see what he would get. Wasnt even interested in grad school at that point. He didnt even know the format.

Another friend of mine studied on the train during his trip to the exam, for about a half hour, scored a 720.

Another friend of mine took a 9 week prep course, studied at least 30 hours a week, for all 9 weeks, and scored a 540. He then studied another 120 hours on top of that and pulled a 680. In the end, he put in well over 400 hours.

One girl I know studied for seven months and got a 720.

I studied for about 15 weeks, averaging 25 hours a week for 9 weeks, (225 hours), scored a 640, and then put in another 6 weeks pushing 30 hours a week, (180 hours) before I scored a 730. All told, I put in about 400-500 hours of study over a period of 15 weeks. I took somewhere in the neighboorhood of 20 full length practice exams. That's about 80 hours of exams. My story is here: https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=30030

My advice?

If you target score is 620 - take a practice exam and see how you do. If you are well above that number, take it. If you are scoring 630's, 640's, 650's.... probably wait. My friend who scored a 540 on his first attempt was scoring 650's on practice exams. When I got my second 640, I was scoring 720's on exams. Only on the third exam was I able to match my practice performance.

Also, yes

Manhattan GMAT - get these books, especially the SC one

I also highly recommend the class, but if you only have a month to do this in, that might not work.

marigoldzoe · Answer

Thanks, Rhyme. Sound advice - I'm going to pick up the Manhattan SC book. ...All your posts are awesome, thanks!

haas_mba07 · Answer

Rhyme,
Wanted to thank you too for posting a great story and giving a boost to the people looking at this.

I took my GMAT in 2004 with 5 days of prep and ended up with 620.

This time I am going to spend 3 months preparing before I give my GMAT again. I am hoping I will do better and reading your story does tell me that I can do better.

So thanks for the inspiration!! :-)

rhyme · Answer

5 days and you got a 620? Wow, thats pretty impressive man.

haas_mba07 · Answer

Rhyme,
 Wouldn't really say I was displeased with the my previous score. I actually walked out satisfied with the results given the prep time.
 But your story is the best I have read regarding perseverance, patience and hard work. I for one, am looking up to you and taking inspiration and guidance from your attitude ...

SpongeBoob · Answer

OG + GMATPrep + Princeton Review is your best bet.

rhyme · Answer

Well thanks. I'm impressed by your massive post count. You've been busy this week eh? You will do awesome at that pace...

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