Study plan after OG 2015 Diagnostic Test

Question

Hi Everyone,

I have just started my preparation for the GMAT and have found this site extremely helpful. I started off my preparation a few days ago by giving the OG 2015 diagnostic test and scored the following:
PS: 20 (Excellent) 
DS: 16 (Above average)
RC: 13 (Average)
CR: 10 (Above average)
SC: 13 (Above average)

This was without any kind of preparation whatsoever.

Now I am planing to give my exam in 3 months and will be preparing with the help of the following:
1. OG Guide 2015 
2. OG Verbal Guide 2015
3. OG Quant Guide 2015
4. Manhattan GMAT Advanced Quant
5. Manhattan Sentence Correction

My questions are:
1. Can I aim for 720+ with the help of the above books and keeping in mind my current status of the diagnostic test?
2. If not, then what should I be looking to change?

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

That is a pretty good position to start from. Since you are targeting for a text book based preparation, i would recommend you to follow a study plan from here: gmat-study-plan-how-to-start-your-gmat-prep-80727.html?fl=menu However, I would recommend you to take a trial of preparation courses, most of the companies including ours give some period of free trial. You can identify the course that fits your needs and then decide if you want to continue with the course or not. Apart from the course, make sure that you 1. Purchase the Exam pack 1 and Question pack 1 from mba.com 2. Make an error log and keep a note of the questions you got wrong. So that you do not make the same mistake again 3. Solve all the official questions you can get your hands on. All the best with your preparation!

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

Thank you Janielle for your response. I will surely look into your comments.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vkarmwar,

Unfortunately, the Diagnostic Test at the beginning of the OG isn't a great way to establish a 'baseline score' - the number of questions isn't correct, the pencil-and-paper aspect of it isn't realistic, the Test doesn't adapt, it's not a FULL Test, etc. As such, to get a more accurate assessment of your skills, you'll want to take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) sometime soon (maybe this weekend). You can download 2 for free from www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). A FULL CAT takes about 4 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.

You've defined your goal and tentative timeline, but I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline/plans:
1) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
2) Do you know which Schools you're planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

I am planning to apply for batches starting July 2017, that is when I am done with 3 years of my Work Experience.
I am aiming for ISB, HEC Paris, IESE, INSEAD.

I have also recently given my 1st Mock GMAT.
MGMAT CAT 1 (28 Nov 2015) scoring 630 Q45 V32.

I am planning to give my GMAT on 6 Feb 2016.

I am aiming a score of 720+.

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

That is some good planning. Make sure you keep that foot on the accelerator throughout. Do not loosen up.
Apart from the GMAT score, there are various factors that play a big role in your admission to a top school.
The schools you have listed are very competitive. Make sure you get all your acts in line before you apply.

All the best!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vkarmwar,

With your February 6th Test Date, you have about 8 weeks of study time remaining, which should give you ample time to study and improve. As you continue to study, you should plan to take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) every week or so.

Have you had a chance to review this CAT yet? How many questions did you get wrong because...
1) of a silly/little mistake?
2) the question was too hard?
3) you narrowed the answers down to 2 choices and 'guessed wrong'?
4) you were low on time and had to guess?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

I have only given one CAT
But I noticed the following
1. I couldn't finish the quant section properly. For example, I had 3 minutes for the last ten questions.However, when solving them after the test I could do then fairly well.
2. In verbal I could attempt all the questions but found reading comprehension to be my weakest spot. I need to work on that.

I plan to give 5 more MGMAT and finish off with two official GMAC tests in the end.

The score of 630 is not good enough for my target of 720+ and I need to show continuous progress to achieve the same.

Let me know if you have any suggestions regarding the same.

Thanks a ton.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vkarmwar,

A 630 is a solid 'baseline' CAT score, but we still have to see if you currently have the necessary practice resources to get you to 720+. Since you've taken a 'book-heavy' study approach so far, you might need to invest in some new non-book resources (since many Test Takers who use a book-heavy approach end up getting 'stuck' at a particular scoring level). I suggest that you study as you see fit for the next week, then take a new FULL-LENGTH CAT. From that score, we'll have a better sense whether you're improving or not by studying in this way.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

dabral · Answer

I am no longer active on this forum.

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

Hi Rich, In the past couple of weeks I have given a few more FULL LENGTH CAT (inclusive of Essay and IR) My scores have been as such. All of them are MGMAT CATs 28-Nov-15 CAT 1 Quant: 45 63%; Verbal: 32 66%; Total: 630 71% 13-Dec-15 CAT 2 Quant: 46 66%; Verbal: 37 83%; Total: 680 84% 20-Dec-15 CAT 3 Quant: 44 58%; Verbal: 36 81%; Total: 660 80% The test were I scored 680 was given in the best of conditions. I was not disturbed at all and had a decent place to sit. But anyways there is not much difference in the scores of the last 2 exams. Quant: I don't know what I need to do to score higher. People say quant on the MGMAT is tougher but am unable to relate these scores with real GMAT. Verbal: I am doing above average on Critical Reasoning as well as Sentence Correction. But I need to improve on the reading comprehension. So I have started doing extra practice from Veritas Prep RC. But people say verbal on MGMAT is easier than that on the real GMAT. If that is true, then I am not doing well enough on the verbals. Let me know what you think. How should I proceed further for my target of 720+. If am going good for that. Thanks a lot

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

Hi Dabral, Thanks a lot for your tips. Since I plan to give a good number of CATs I have decided to give some MGMAT CATs for now and some official GMAT mocks at the end of my practice. As of now my scores are as follows: 28-Nov-15 CAT 1 Quant: 45 63%; Verbal: 32 66%; Total: 630 71% 13-Dec-15 CAT 2 Quant: 46 66%; Verbal: 37 83%; Total: 680 84% 20-Dec-15 CAT 3 Quant: 44 58%; Verbal: 36 81%; Total: 660 80% I don't know how reliable these scores are. Since people say the Quant is too tough and the verbal too easy on the MGMATs. Let me know your views. Thank you

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vkarmwar,

Since these CATs were all taken in the last 3 weeks, it's not surprising that the scores are relatively close together. The latter 2 CATs do appear to show that you've improved in the Verbal section, but your Overall Quant performance is fairly consistent.

Have you had a chance to review your last CAT? How many questions did you get wrong because...
1) of a silly/little mistake?
2) the question was too hard?
3) you narrowed the answers down to 2 choices and 'guessed wrong'?
4) you were low on time and had to blindly guess?

The above issues are likely what you have to 'fix' to pick up the missing points that you're after. Thankfully, the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Test, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

Hi Rich, Yes I did review it yesterday and after looking at the mistakes I feel like punching myself. Quant: I got the last 6 answers wrong in the exam. But while reviewing them I could solve all that too within 90 seconds. I screwed up in the exam because I got too worried that if I do not attempt all the questions I will get heavily penalised. But all of them were below 85 percentile. I need to work on my time management. I did not have to guess on any of them and felt comfortable with the questions. Maybe the clock got the better of me. Verbal: I finished the verbal section with 10-12 minutes to spare. Critical Reasoning: 11/14 with Avg Difficult of right answer:670 Sentence Correction: 8/15 with Avg Difficult of right answer:660 Reading Comprehension: 6/12 with Avg Difficult of right answer:650 I am working on my RC but my sentence correction doesn't seem great either. I think more practice is the only answer for time management in quants. Please let me know what you think I can do for my improvement on the verbal side. Thanks a ton

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vkarmwar,

Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) on their studies before they hit their 'peak' scores - since you've been studying for about 2 months, it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort yet to have mastered all of the 'nuances' of taking the GMAT. This is all meant to say that you could very likely improve over time.

That having been said, the pacing issues that you're facing don't exist on their own - they're the result of OTHER issues in how you're taking your CATs. To that end, you have to take a good look at how you're dealing with EACH question on the CAT (including the ones that you're getting correct). Are you taking too long on certain questions or rushing through others? WHY? You can actually fix a lot of these issue by taking the proper notes and staying calm and organized. You still have plenty of time to hone all of these skills, but you have to make a conscious effort to adapt your 'mechanics.'

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

Thanks a ton Rich. And yes I have realised that its more about being organised in my quant section. I will look into your tips as well

dLo · Answer

I would not jump straight into the MGMAT Advanced Quant book. I did this, went through the first 4 chapters and found that without an already stellar quant score (90th+ %ile), the advice was not helpful. Work on strengthening your pattern recognition and shortcutting strategies for quant first. Unless you're in 49+ in quant, the AQ book will not be useful; go to the standard MGMAT Quant books and the back-section strategies first.

Also, since you say you don't know what you're doing wrong in Quant, and you've taken a bunch of MGMAT CATs already, use the assessment reports! They will tell you exactly what types of Quant problems you got wrong, where your weaknesses are, how long you spent on certain types, etc. This was the most valuable tool to me when trying to improve my Quant score - and from there strengthening the basic Quant strategies from the MGMAT books as well as working on my quick-thinking skills was the key. Attached is an example - it showed me exactly what types of problems I was doing poorly on in Number Properties specifically. This will tell you exactly what to focus on improving.

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

Hi,

That is exactly what I am doing right now.
I am using the assessment reports to identify the type of questions I got wrong.
Once I do that I plan to read the strategies for the same from the MGMAT Quant books.

Its good to get it confirmed from you though.
I know I am going good then.

Thanks a ton.

dLo · Answer

No prob, my main point was don't waste your time with the advanced quant book.

DarkKnight1005 · Answer

Hi,

I just took my 1st GMATprep exam and scored 710: IR5 Q50 V35. 
Previous to this I had finished all my MGMAT CATs:
My scores would be an average 680 IR4 Q46 V36.

The Quant was easier on the GmatPrep than it was on the MGMATs.
But I found the Verbal questions quite different, if not difficult, than what I had been seeing on the MGMATs.

I have my GMAT scheduled in two weeks and I will be taking another GMATprep before that. My Target score is at least a 720.

Let me know your suggestions if any to improve on my score.

Thank you

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