EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi anuragkumar08,
You might find it worthwhile to reach out to
MGMAT's Customer Support Team and asking directly.
Since it sounds like you're just beginning your studies, then it would be a good idea to take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can take 2 for free (and they come with some additional practice materials). If you want to do a little studying first, so that you can familiarize yourself with the basic content and question types, then that's okay - but you shouldn't wait too long to take that initial CAT. That score will give us a good sense of your natural strengths and weaknesses and will help provide a basis for comparison as you continue to study. A FULL CAT takes about 3.5 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have those scores, you should report back here and we can come up with a study plan.
I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and goals:
1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Hi Rich,
Thanks for your reply. I shall definitely try contacting the
Manhattan Prep Support team.
You made a good point about me taking my first CAT early on in the preparations. I had actually taken a Mock Test on the Economist website a few days back. Scored a 700 on it with a 51 in Quant. I am not exactly sure how accurate that mock is but seeing the posts here, it lacks in comparison with the
OG Mocks or the
MGMAT's and Veritas CAT's.
So, today I decided to go ahead with the Full Length CAT 1. To my surprise, I managed a 730 (51 Quant, 38 Verbal and 7 IR). I must however admit, I did struggle very much in my Verbal section and was even clueless in my approach to certain problems. I have identified SC and CR as my glaring weaknesses. I feel I am quite strong in Quant, but I do want to maximise my Quant score in the actual test so I will need to practice those 700+ problems that will boost my score from say a 48/49 to a 50/51.
Further analysis of my mock CAT on : Got 8/16 Data Sufficiency questions incorrect. Got 8/12 SC's incorrect. Got 3 CR questions incorrect as well. No mistakes in RC and just 1 in the Problem Solving one.
My Goal Score is 750. 700+ is a bare minimum I aspire to get as I am targeting one of the top 20 B-Schools in the US. ISB is another option but since I happen to be yet another average engineer in this overcrowded market, only a 720+ will suffice.
I am planning to write GMAT in mid/end June. That gives me about 3 months to prepare (I will need to take a 2 week break in March for some personal reasons).
Currently I am in my Pre-final year of college and have absolutely no work experience. Depending on my GMAT scores, I might try my luck with some deferred MBA programs like Yale's or the ISB YLP or even HBS 2+2. I am yet to make a comprehensive list of all such deferred MBA programs. I don't mind working for 2-3 odd years and applying later with work ex as well but I feel this is the correct time for me to write the GMAT since I have free time to prepare. Also, the scores being valid for 5 years is a huge plus point.
Hope I answered your question.