Recommendations on new approach

Question

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.

nonameee · Answer

I'd suggest you study on your own. Everything can be found in books and various forums (like this one for example).

whiplash2411 · Answer

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.

To improve RC, LSAT material will be very helpful.

echo · Answer

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.

whiplash2411 · Answer

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

nonameee · Answer

Absolutely. You yourself are the best teacher.

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