Strategy for One-Month Studies

Question

Hi,

I took a  GMAT Focus Edition  test today at a test center and scored 425, with 79V, 72DI, and 71Q. I need to raise my score to at least 555 by November 12, when I’ll retake the test before the master’s application deadline. At the same time, I have two university exams in one and two weeks, respectively, that I also need to study for.

Can you help me understand how to think and focus to achieve success?
Thanks!

pintukr · Answer

Actively using Forum Quiz to solve topic-wise various difficulty level questions..All the Best..

bb · Answer

My suggestion would be to pick an intensive course such as Magoosh OR get old Kaplan books (they are shorter than MGMAT and skipping Geometry and SC). Really depends on how you prefer to study books vs. online but both options are fairly budget-friendly.

culpanihil · Answer

Thank you for your response!

Do you think it’s realistic for me to achieve this goal? And do you think there’s a particular study approach that would work better than others?

bb · Answer

It depends on how much dedication you can put in and how structured you can be at focusing on learning and improvement. Many take the first test with many new-user mistakes so improvement at the first stage can be quite fast - you can probably gain 50 points by not spending too much time on each question and not guessing or missing questions at the end but the other 70 or so points you will have to work for in Q, V, and DI. It seems all had room for improvement, so pick the area that you feel most comfortable with and most enjoyable and spend the first week on that. Second week on the other, and third week on another. You can also work on them in parallel - it is really dependent on what works best for you. There is no formula to beat it.

What I can say is the fact that you are asking so many questions and have not started yet likely indicates you are procrastinating and will not start and try to wait for something, which will result in not getting your target score, so if you cannot start today, and you feel you need more answers (which will not come by the way; you will just waste time), I would say don't bother to do it now and instead wait for a more opportune time when you have more time to improve. It is worth applying with a solid score as that improves your chances of admission, your chances for scholarship as well as options of schools.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi culpanihil,

Although what you are trying to do is a tall order, I do think one option is to engage in topical practice.

For example, let’s say you want to practice Number Properties. You can do so by answering 50 or more questions just from Number Properties: LCM, GCF, units digit patterns, divisibility, remainders, etc.

After each problem set, it's crucial to delve into the questions you answered incorrectly.

For instance, if you stumbled on a remainder question, take a moment to reflect. Was it a careless error? Did you fail to apply the remainder formula correctly? Was there a concept in the question that eluded you? This analysis is key to your learning process.

By carefully analyzing your mistakes, you will be able to fix your weaknesses efficiently and, in turn, improve your GMAT quant skills. Number Properties is just one example; follow this process for all quant, verbal, and DI topics.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Good luck!

Coachingkhojo · Answer

Week 1 – Basics & Diagnostic 
 
 Take a  diagnostic test  to find weak areas. 
 Revise core  Quant  (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, word problems). 
 Revise  Verbal  (grammar rules, critical reasoning, reading comprehension). 
 Study basics of  IR & AWA .  
 
 Week 2 – Concept Practice 
 
 Practice  Quant  (Problem Solving + Data Sufficiency). 
 Practice  Verbal  (SC, CR, RC – 20–25 Qs daily). 
 Maintain a  mistake log . 
 Take a  sectional mock  (Quant + Verbal).  
 
 Week 3 – Advanced Practice 
 
 Focus on  tough topics  (probability, combinatorics, number properties). 
 Timed full sets (Quant – 62 min, Verbal – 65 min). 
 Take  1 full-length mock  and review deeply.  
 
 Week 4 – Revision & Mocks 
 
 Take  3 full mocks  (Days 21, 25, 28). 
 Revise formulas, grammar notes, and weak areas. 
 Light study in last 2 days — stay calm & well-rested.  
 
 Quick Tips 
✅ Use  official GMAT materials 
 ✅ Focus on  accuracy before speed 
 ✅ Practice with a  timer 
 ✅ Review every mistake

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