NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 02:04 It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 02:04
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

Recommendations on new approach

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
avatar
echo
Intern
Intern
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 2
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
Recommendations on new approach [#permalink] New post   24 Jun 2010, 15:09
Hi all,

I recently took the GMAT and got an awful 580. It didn't help that I got really nervous and did bad on the quant section but also every word problem in this section seemed to be way more obfuscated than any of the problems from the OG12.

So I want to take the exam once again but this time I want to be better prepared. I have been reading these forums (and others) and some people suggest taking a course with a prep company while others suggest just buying MGMAT or other guides.

What I would like to know is if there is some sort of consensus on which approach works better. If it depends on the person what sort of benefits does each have?

A little background: for my first exam I studied 3 weeks from the OG12, the Kaplan GMAT Math Foundations book and from problems that I found here and there on the net. English is not my native language and I have a B.Sc. Engineering and a M.Sc. Comp. Sci. I believe that the areas where I have more problems are percentiles, probability, combinations/permutations and word problems on the quant side and the RC passages on the verbal side.

Thank you all for your input.
User avatar
nonameee
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 23 Apr 2010
Posts: 476
Own Kudos [?]: 352 [0]
Given Kudos: 7
Send PM
Re: Recommendations on new approach [#permalink] New post   25 Jun 2010, 05:19
I'd suggest you study on your own. Everything can be found in books and various forums (like this one for example).
User avatar
whiplash2411
SVP
SVP
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Status:Three Down.
Posts: 1764
Own Kudos [?]: 3468 [0]
Given Kudos: 210
Concentration: General Management, Nonprofit
Schools: HBS '17 (M) Stanford '17 (A)
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User
Re: Recommendations on new approach [#permalink] New post   25 Jun 2010, 11:48
If you have the self control and will power to draft and stick to a proper study schedule, then by all means study by yourself. That would be the best way to go about this. As far as the books go, you should definitely get the MGMAT Quant books and MGMAT SC along with the OG12 and OG Quant/Verbal books. GMAT Prep can be downloaded from mba.com and you can get a free practice test from each of the top GMAT Prep companies. Buying MGMAT will also give you access to 6 of their tests. I suggest you get their bundle if you do plan to get the books 'cos it also has a Quant strategy supplement that might be useful to you.

To improve RC, LSAT material will be very helpful.
avatar
echo
Intern
Intern
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 2
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
Re: Recommendations on new approach [#permalink] New post   25 Jun 2010, 14:09
Thank you all for your replies.

The only thing that I am afraid of, by going the books route, is that I might not be able to get tips for faster problem solving. For example, I found out really late in my studying about the:

1 / S + 1 / T = 1 / x

formula for combined work problems.

But I guess I will take the book route since you all seem to agree on that.

Thank you once more for your input.
User avatar
whiplash2411
SVP
SVP
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Status:Three Down.
Posts: 1764
Own Kudos [?]: 3468 [1]
Given Kudos: 210
Concentration: General Management, Nonprofit
Schools: HBS '17 (M) Stanford '17 (A)
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User
Re: Recommendations on new approach [#permalink] New post   25 Jun 2010, 18:23
1
Kudos
Echo, I think the books cover strategies pretty well, but at the same time, if you feel like you'll benefit from taking a class by all means do so. There is a whole page with the course discounts on GMAT Club that you can utilize.

But I think that the strategies covered in the books would be more than enough. What ensures faster problem solving is your understanding and subsequent execution of the correct method. This can be attained only through constant practice and exposure to a variety of problems which you can gain by using the books. My two cents :)
User avatar
nonameee
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 23 Apr 2010
Posts: 476
Own Kudos [?]: 352 [0]
Given Kudos: 7
Send PM
Re: Recommendations on new approach [#permalink] New post   26 Jun 2010, 04:37
Quote:
But I think that the strategies covered in the books would be more than enough. What ensures faster problem solving is your understanding and subsequent execution of the correct method. This can be attained only through constant practice and exposure to a variety of problems which you can gain by using the books.


Absolutely. You yourself are the best teacher.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: Recommendations on new approach [#permalink]
26 Jun 2010, 04:37

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions