Need guidance on a study plan to get 680 in one month!

Question

A small background myself I come from over represented pool of Indian Male IT engineer. I have a total of 4.25 years of work experience in an IT company. I plan to apply to B Schools in US/Canada, targeting a GMAT score of 680. 1st attempt - So i gave my first GMAT in Oct 2013 when i prepared for about a month and used just OG13 for my preparation Gave the GMATprep1 exam scored a 510(Q32 V27)

, but by this time i had already scheduled an appointment and didn't want to reschedule. I assumed the exam to be a cakewalk and boy was i wrong :shock:

! I scored a 460 ( Q32 V 22) :cry:

, was devastated with my performance and thought GMAT was not my cup of tea. In April 2014 after about 6 months , i gathered courage and started to study again. This time around i got to know about gmatclub and have been using this forum extensively since then. I learnt about MGMAT guides and used those to review QA and VA concepts. But during this period i got involved in a huge project at work and could not devote as much as i could to studies. I kept studying on and off till about the end of 2014 but realised i was too late to apply for the 2015 intake. So i decided to take the exam in mid 2015 for the 2016 intake and started preparing extensively from Dec 2014 with a target score of 680. My GMAT mock scores till now. GmatPrep 1 - 510(Q32 V27) - Oct 2013 Old Gmatprep 1 - 600 (Q44 V27) - Dec 2014 MGMAT 1 - 580 - (Q38 V31) - Dec 2014 Old Gmatprep 2 - 570 (Q44 V25) - Jan 2015 800score test - V38 didnt give quant - Feb 2015 GmatPrep 1 (repeat) - 620 (Q42 V33) - Apr 2015 MGMAT 2 - 580 (Q38 V31) - 27th April 2015 :cry:

I feel really demoralized now and think that after putting all that effort i stand at same level where i started from during the beginning of this year 2015. I really need to give this exam by end of May 2015 and have to score a 680 anyhow. Need an expert advice on how to go about studying during this month. Guys please help!

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear abahl88 , I'm happy to help! :-)

The very first thing I am going to say is: read this blog---- https://magoosh.com/gmat/2014/gmat-stud ... 0-or-more/ As I discuss there, far more important than the plan itself are the skills and perspectives and attitudes you bring. Now, having said that, here's a very good 1-month study plan. https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/1-month-gm ... -schedule/ Finally, I will say: beware about trusting mock test scores. Believe it or not, many folks actually get a lower score when they sit for the GMAT. To understand why this is true and what you can do to avoid it, see this blog: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2014/lower-on-t ... ice-tests/ Best of luck, my friend! Let me know if you have any further questions! Mike :-)

RichEconomistGMAT · Answer

Hi abahl88,

I'm curious to know if you've been keeping an error log throughout your prep. You've taken quite a few practice exams, but I'm also wondering if you've had the chance to go through them and identify where you're having the most difficulty. With a month before your next attempt, you should maximize this time by focusing on the areas/concepts/question types that are really giving you trouble, instead of reviewing even the concepts you have a strong grasp of.

Best,
Rich

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi abahl88,

Your practice CAT scores from the last 5 months are all "clustered" around the high-500s, so "your way" of studying has likely gotten you 'stuck' at this scoring level. To raise your score 100+ points, you're going to probably have to invest in some new GMAT materials and practice some new tactics. The good news is that the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Test, so you CAN learn all the tactics, patterns and "secrets" to the Test and score at a higher level.

Why do you need to take the GMAT by the end of May?
If you need MORE time than that to study, can you adjust your schedule?
When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

abahl88 · Answer

RichEconomistGMAT  - Thanks for this advice, I have started to maintain an error log only recently and have found out my weak areas as below
QA
1 Algebra -linear equations, quadratic equation ,inequalities, exponents and roots

2 numbers - odds and evens,Positive and negatives

3 fractions decimals percentage- Digits and decimals,Fractions,Ratios

VA
1 CR- evaluate the arguement

2 RC - Inference,Specific detail

3 SC - Verbs,Parallelism,Comparison

I need help as to how can i improve upon these areas.

abahl88 · Answer

EMPOWERgmatRichC - thanks for your feedback , yes i feel i have hit a plateau and have not been able to increase my scores.

I have to give the exam by May because , honestly i think i have spent way too much time on preparation without yielding any positive results and this has started to affect my morale/confidence. Need to get done with this exam and focus on other areas of my application. I apply going to apply in Round 1 , ie before sep 2015 , for which i need sufficient time to work on my applications. Need help to learn the tactics, patterns and "secrets" to this exam!

KarishmaB · Answer

Since self study is not giving the desired results, you may need to think about getting personalized help - either through private tutoring, a classroom course, or using the help of an expert relative/friend. Re-doing the same things again and again and in the same way may not lead to improvement. You need to change how you study. To see what I mean by different, check out our free Sentence Correction videos: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/free-gmat-lesson/ Go through all 4 parts from the playlist on the top left corner. May is a bit too soon for a 100 point jump. Target late June or early July. Most school apps will anyway not be out before that. You need to see about 720 on at least one never-before-seen practice test before you know that you are ready from a 680 at least.

OptimusPrep · Answer

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EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi abahl88,

From your last post, I'm a bit concerned that you might be on the verge of 'burning out.'

Your goals shouldn't change (they ARE obtainable), even if your timeline has to change a bit. You might very well need more time than you've allowed, so I'm going to suggest that you take a few days off and NOT study. Do whatever you do for fun, then come back to all of this on Monday with a renewed sense of purpose.

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

abahl88 · Answer

Just wanted to update this thread

I have postponed my idea to take the gmat in May to June.

Have been maintaining an error log for every mock and have analysed where and why i have been making mistakes.
In quants mistakes were due to
1) Not writing the answer solution properly due to insufficient time 
2) Not reading the question properly due to insufficient time 
3) Silly Errors

In the last mock i tried to improve upon the above.

In Verbal , i am not able to pinpoint my mistakes.
I have opted for the Verbal Online course from Egmat , but i am having difficulties in improving my SC accuracy which is still pretty low.
Need help on how to improve in SC and RC.

Recent Mock scores
Gmatprep 1 (3rd time) = 640 (Q48 / V30) - 24/05/2015 ( there were 5-6 repeats in each section)

I know my last mock scores are inflated , but i want to know by how much? I would like believe my ability in quants has improved compared to previous mocks considering the efforts put in.

I wanted to know 
1)Is the MGMAT quant section tougher as compared to actual GMAT?
2)Practicing questions on Gmatclub is sufficient for my weak areas?
3) When should i select the date for my test?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi abahl88,

Since this is the third time that you have used that particular CAT, I have to ask when was the last time that you took a *new* FULL CAT? You already seem to understand that this 640 score isn't realistic, so trying to define the degree to which the score is unrealistic is not a good use of your time. Instead, you should make sure to take a *new* CAT each time and make each experience as realistic and test-like as possible.

The new CAT scores will also be beneficial in that you can use them to track your progress. You'll be able to determine, relatively quickly, if your new study resources are helping you to improve or not. You'll also have a much better idea about how close you are to your goal score and when you should schedule your Official GMAT.

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

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear abahl88 I just respond to a few points. First of all, on the topic of "silly errors," read this blog: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/careless-m ... gmat-math/ As to your three questions at the end: 1) Is the MGMAT quant section tougher as compared to actual GMAT? About comparable. Maybe the MGMAT is a little harder. Remember, though, because the real GMAT is a CAT, you mostly will see the difficulty level most pertinent to you, whereas in the printed book, you see all difficulties at once. This makes a comparison problematic. 2) Practicing questions on Gmatclub is sufficient for my weak areas? Hmmm. I am going to say no. I have been deeply impressed with the math on this site, and I believe that's because the genius Bunuel maintains the high standards. Regrettably, there's no "Verbal Bunuel." The verbal content I have seen on GC test is mixed: some of it is good, and some isn't. If what you need is help in improving SC, I don't think GC will be enough. 3) When should i select the date for my test? That's a hard thing to say because, at the moment, you don't feel as if you are approaching mastery. You don't really have a solid plan yet for improving SC & RC. I have a couple recommendations in this regard. First of all, read this blog: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2014/how-to-imp ... bal-score/ If you really are committed to improving your SC & RC, then one of the very best things you can do is develop a daily habit of reading. It's time-consuming and hard work, but if you really want to make the improvements, that's one of the best ways to go. I will also recommend these free GMAT Idiom Flashcards: https://gmat.magoosh.com/flashcards/idioms I also thing Magoosh can help you make substantial progress on SC & RC. First of all, we have a large library of verbal lesson videos---here's a sample lesson: https://gmat.magoosh.com/lessons/944-substantive-clauses More important for your purposes, each and every Magoosh question is followed by its own video explanation. Having the VE right after the question is an excellent way to understand immediately your mistake. This instant feedback is precisely what you need to generate substantial progress. Here's a sample RC question: https://gmat.magoosh.com/questions/3464 Here's a sample SC question: https://gmat.magoosh.com/questions/3586 When you submit your answer to each question, the next window will have the VE. Once again, that immediate feedback is precisely what you need to make substantial progress. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Mike :-)

abahl88 · Answer

Thanks Mike for the word of advice , really appreciate that

An update to my preparation. I have changed my strategy this time around. I took out the OG and did the SC and RC sections again, but this time I timed each and every and question. On the questions where i took more than 1:30 mins, i marked them and then reviewed them later. While reviewing i wrote the concept behind the question for reference, doing this i understood where i was going wrong. I gave another mock after doing the above , from the GMAT extended pack. Below is my score 650 ( Q47 V33) - 13th June ( no repeats as it was from the extended pack) I am little relieved seeing the improvement in my score and think the efforts put in are showing some results. I feel the above preparation strategy works for me. But to get to 680 i need to work harder. I also have selected my GMAT date -- 9th July 2015 so now have another 3+ weeks to go. So below is how i intend to go about studying for the remaining time. week 1 (15 Jun - 21 Jun) - QA Practice last 50% of both PS ( 115) and DS (87) questions of the OG, all timed. Write down questions where i got them wrong / took more and time and why. 20 Jun - Give extended pack mock 2 21 Jun - Revise mistakes of the mock and add them in the error log week 2 (22 Jun - 28 Jun) - VA Practice all questions of the official VERBAL review, all timed. RC - 104 ,CR - 83 ,SC -113 Write down questions where i got them wrong / took more and time and why 27 Jun - Give a extended pack mock 1 - repeat 28 Jun - Revise mistakes of the mock and add them in the error log week 3 (29 Jul - 5 Jul ) - QA Math review book Practice all questions of the official Quantitative review, all timed. PS -176 DS - 124 4 July - Give a extended pack mock 2 - repeat 5 July - Revise mistakes of the mock and add them in the error log Last week - week 4 (6 July - 8 July) - Revision from error log. 9th July - GMAT Along with the above I have decided to do the following 1) Read 2 high quality articles daily (1 from Economist and 1 from NYT) 2) Meditate for 20-30 mins everyday PS:I do have 3 mocks left from MGMAT but i don't intend to use them as i believe GMATprep is the closest to the actual exam. Please add anything that you would want to suggest regarding my strategy.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi abahl88,

That's great news about this most recent CAT. With a 650, you're actually not far from a 680+; to pick up those missing points, you have to find those little mistakes that you made while taking this CAT and 'fix' them.

Since you're in the final few weeks of your studies, you have to make sure to put an emphasis on the level of realism with which you take your CATs. Test Day is a specific 'event' - the more that you can make your practice CATs match up with Test Day, the more accurate the score results will be and the better trained you will become to handle the Official GMAT. To that end, you should plan to take the ENTIRE CAT each time, at the same time of day as your GMAT, away from your home, etc.

You're remarkably close to your goals - finish strong and you can make them happen.

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

RichEconomistGMAT · Answer

Hi abahl88,

Students enrolled in Economist GMAT typically see their scores fluctuate +/- 30 points on any given exam, so as the other experts here have pointed out, you're not far from your target score. However, I would also like to second Rich in terms of burning out. Take some time to step away from your prep - do something fun you haven't had the time for lately, and you'll come back to your prep over the next month completely recharged and motivated to get those 30 additional points.

Best,
Rich

abahl88 · Answer

OK so i had my Gmat yesterday and i am feeling shattered , i could not believe what the screen told me.

570 ( Q44 V25) . I had never got below V33 in any of the recent gmatprep exams ( Exam pack 1)

My scores were Gmatprep 3(Q47 V33) and Gmatprep 4(Q45 V33).
I also tried to make my mocks as close to the real thing , by taking full length tests, timing my breaks.

i don't really understand what went wrong with verbal during the exam , because i finished in time.I even got 2 bold faced questions and i thought i was going well. A V25 is nowhere close to my actual verbal ability.
I dont know if i had bad day or i got complacent with verbal during my preparation.

My QA score of Q44 is around what i was expecting , maybe marginally less than my mock score of Q45.

I definitely plan to give the exam one more time. This score is not the measure of my true ability.

Some of the things i plan to do.

For VA
1) I have the  egmat  verbal online course. Will go through each section again and work on my weakness.Wondering if i should convert it into the live prep course.
2) Read editorials of newspapers online.
3) Go through Manhattan SC book again
4) Read powerscore bible for CR again

I need a strategy on how to tackle each section.

For QA
Got a couple of questions almost exactly as they are in the gmat club tests .Plan to continue to give these every weekend and analysing them.

Plan to give the gmat again by Aug end and need advice on how to tackle verbal during this period.

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear abahl88 , My friend, I am very sorry to hear about your struggles. I am going to ask you to read this blog very carefully: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2014/lower-on-t ... ice-tests/ Read this, and read the articles linked at the end. Yes, you need to practice GMAT Verbal material more, but these skills will be absolutely essential for performing at your potential. Please let me know if you have any questions. Mike :-)

Need guidance on a study plan to get 680 in one month!

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