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afdebbas
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studying strategy 28 Jul 2015, 09:37
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Hello

My exam is in 3 weeks. I have finished all the Manhattan prep books and I'm currently focusing on doing as many exercises and exams as I can.

Is is a good strategy to solve exercises of difficulty level = 700 only? Should I also work on easier exercises?

And would it be sufficient if i were to solve only exercises posted in this forum? The timer and discussions following the questions are really helpful. Would solving tons of questions posted in this forum rid me the need to solve exercises from books like the official guide?

Thanks for the help

Any additional input is highly appreciated.
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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studying strategy 28 Jul 2015, 09:48
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Hi afdebbas,

It's not clear what your goals and specific 'needs' are. If you can answer a few questions, then I'll be happy to advise:

1) What is your score goal?
2) How have you scored on each of your practice CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)?
3) What resources have you been using during your studies?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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afdebbas
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studying strategy Updated on: 28 Jul 2015, 10:15
Originally posted by afdebbas on 28 Jul 2015, 10:08.
Last edited by afdebbas on 28 Jul 2015, 10:15, edited 1 time in total.
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi afdebbas,

It's not clear what your goals and specific 'needs' are. If you can answer a few questions, then I'll be happy to advise:

1) What is your score goal?
2) How have you scored on each of your practice CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)?
3) What resources have you been using during your studies?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

Thank you for your prompt reply

1- A score between 670 and 700 is satisfactory.
2- After i had finished the Manhattan prep books I took one practice exam (last week) and I scored 620 (V35, Q40).
3- Manhattan prep books (5 Quant books, 3 english books). And now I have started solving exercises on this forum.
4- I want to apply for the intake of September 2016. The first round deadlines of the schools I am targeting are all in September 2015.
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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studying strategy 28 Jul 2015, 10:15
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Hi afdebbas,

It sounds like this is your first practice CAT. If that's the case, then we don't have much information to work with (regarding how you should best spend your next 3 weeks). You should plan to take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) every week until your Exam.

With these Scaled Scores, you have an opportunity to pick up those 'missing' points in either the Quant or Verbal sections. Have you had a chance to review this CAT in detail? When doing so, you should make note of all of the questions that you COULD have gotten correct, but didn't because of a silly/little mistake. Adjusting how you do your work, so that you can keep those little mistakes form happening, should be your first priority.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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afdebbas
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studying strategy 28 Jul 2015, 10:18
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi afdebbas,

It sounds like this is your first practice CAT. If that's the case, then we don't have much information to work with (regarding how you should best spend your next 3 weeks). You should plan to take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) every week until your Exam.

With these Scaled Scores, you have an opportunity to pick up those 'missing' points in either the Quant or Verbal sections. Have you had a chance to review this CAT in detail? When doing so, you should make note of all of the questions that you COULD have gotten correct, but didn't because of a silly/little mistake. Adjusting how you do your work, so that you can keep those little mistakes form happening, should be your first priority.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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I took the GMAT exam last april and I scored 590. I studied using the kaplan premier 2015. I only solved exercises in this book along with the supplied practice CATS. I didn't do any extra effort.
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studying strategy 28 Jul 2015, 10:25
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi afdebbas,

It sounds like this is your first practice CAT. If that's the case, then we don't have much information to work with (regarding how you should best spend your next 3 weeks). You should plan to take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) every week until your Exam.

With these Scaled Scores, you have an opportunity to pick up those 'missing' points in either the Quant or Verbal sections. Have you had a chance to review this CAT in detail? When doing so, you should make note of all of the questions that you COULD have gotten correct, but didn't because of a silly/little mistake. Adjusting how you do your work, so that you can keep those little mistakes form happening, should be your first priority.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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And yes i looked into the CAT I took in detail. I have noted all the topics I scored wrong in and I am now solving tens of exercises on these topics from this forum before i take the next CAT. So my question is, is it a good idea to solve questions of difficulty level = 700 only? Should I also solve easier questions?
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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studying strategy 28 Jul 2015, 19:43
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Hi afdebbas,

When you scored 590, what were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores? Those number will help provide a basis for comparison between your Official Score and the CAT that you took last week.

Right now, with a 620, you do NOT need to focus on '700-level' questions. You'd be better served honing your skills, and working to eliminate little mistakes, on lower-level questions.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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OptimusPrepJanielle
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studying strategy 05 Aug 2015, 08:03
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afdebbas
Hello

My exam is in 3 weeks. I have finished all the Manhattan prep books and I'm currently focusing on doing as many exercises and exams as I can.

Is is a good strategy to solve exercises of difficulty level = 700 only? Should I also work on easier exercises?

And would it be sufficient if i were to solve only exercises posted in this forum? The timer and discussions following the questions are really helpful. Would solving tons of questions posted in this forum rid me the need to solve exercises from books like the official guide?

Thanks for the help

Any additional input is highly appreciated.
Show more

Hello afdebbas,

The level of difficulty of the questions that you solve is not the best way to focus your studies. Under exam conditions it can be very easy to miss even 600 level questions. Solve the exercises in the OG for sure and also take those practice tests under testing conditions. You can use this forum when you need more targeted practice, for instance if you find you need extra practice with quant number properties questions or critical reasoning assumption questions. All along keep in mind that the quantity of problems that you solve is not as important as the process (learning concepts/strategies and applying them).

I hope that helps!
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