June 21st- D Day

Question

Hey guys this is my first post and I must say this forum is awesome!

I am taking my test June 21st...I have finals next week, and I have been studying for the test throught for about a month. i am taking a week prior to my test off to focus 100% on the test. I would push back my test but I have summer school that starts June 22nd. What study plan do you think I should follow? I looked on the forum and there are a lot of good plans but they are generally 60-90 day plans.

Kaplan
Cat Diagnostic - 510
GMAT Prep test 1- 530 Had no idea about DS/# Properties/X squared tricks
CAT2-540
CAT3-600
CAT4-580 (I didn't study that week got cocky from 600)
GMAT Prep Test 1- 670 been about 6 weeks since I took this test, didnt remember any of the questions since I had no idea what I was doing the first time I took it.

Thanks guys,
Ali

bakfed · Answer

Hi xcobrax, first off, good luck on the real thing!

In order for anyone to say what study plan you should follow, it'll be easier to tell us what you have done so far (besides the CATs) and what your target score/schools are. If you're targeting the top 10 b-schools, you'll want to get 700+ score, in which case your study plan should deviate from a person who's only aiming for 620. Also, if you haven't, get the OG and study from that. Anyway, it'll be a bit too hard to determine what you need to do without know some of these relevant information.

DAYNE · Answer

I think you need more time, but thats just me....

xcobrax · Answer

I have completed the Kaplan course. (All 9 sessions) I have pretty much done All the Kaplan required things such as OG problems, quizes, Kaplan online workshops, read through some forums. I have also purchased the advanced Quant and Verbal OG books. I am looking to get into USC's MBA.PM or UCLA's FEMBA. Looking at the class profiles, GPA won't be an issue for me, but I am afraid of the GMAT. After reading through some forums, it seems that Kaplan test are harder than the real thing. My problem is the time constraints I am working with. Kaplan will let me retake their classes if I am not happy with my score, so in case I do not do as I wish I could, I will probably retake at the end of August.

Since I am taking a week and a half of prior to the test, I do feel confident that a 650 is not that far of a stretch, assuming Kaplan CATs are harder, since I will be studying non stop for that time period.

As Kaplan has also recommended, I have been reading through my CATs to see WHY something is right or wrong.

Thanks guys for the quick responses...

Since I am taking a week and a half of prior to the test, I do feel confident that a 650 is not that far of a stretch, assuming Kaplan CATs are harder, since I will be studying non stop for that time period.

As Kaplan has also recommended, I have been reading through my CATs to see WHY something is right or wrong.

Thanks guys for the quick responses...

bakfed · Answer

For USC, I'd estimate that a 660+ would be safe for a GMAT score, even though ideally it'll probably be better with a 680+. Kaplan tests do tend to be on the harder side; however, your GMATPrep score that you squeezed in there doesn't really indicate that you're grasping the fundamentals yet. A 530 on GMATPrep most likely mean that you're lacking some sort of a basic for either quant or verbal, or perhaps both (hard to say without a Q/V breakdown). If I were you, I'd stick to the OG religiously and focus on your lackings. If you're having problems with SC, do SC (and get MGMAT SC guide). If you're having general quant problems, do OG still. You have to be able to understand why you get something wrong. It seems to be that time is of the essence. For that week and a half that you're taking off, you really have to fucus. 650 is not out of reach for you, but it takes time to absorb materials. I would say just study as hard (and as smart) as you can, and take GMATPrep2 when you're close to d-day. If you're still not scoring as high as you wish to score (or at the GMAT level that USC publishes each year), you can still post-pone your test.

Realize that there are still a lot of information you didn't provide (such as Q/V breakdowns, or even # of hours you study per day, or per week) and it's still going to be a bit hard to analyze exactly what you should be focusing on. But whatever it is, find out your weak areas and tackle them. Good luck!

xcobrax · Answer

thanks for the rpely so quick...glad to see I am not the only nerd at home on a friday night. =)

study time I am doing 50-50 verbal and quant. Today I studied for about 4 hours, but since I have finals next week, I really need to focus on my Calculus final. I have a B+ in there right now =( I need at least an A-

Q/V
CAT 1 17/20 510
CAT 2 16/21 530
CAT 3 22/22 600
CAT 4 17/23 580

I put the number correct not the precentile correct?

So here is my day to day plan
6/5-Work until 5, Study for Calculus Final until 10PMish, do a few Verbal and Quant just so i dont skip a day
6/6- Meet with GMAT Tutor at 11AM-? Then study for finals from ?-?
6/7-Off study for Econ/Hist/Calc final definetly squeeze GMAT in there at least 2 hours as well
6/8 Econ Final at night, so study in the AM for some econ few GMAT problems to brush up on
6/9 History final in the afternoon, so study for final in the AM, then after history fnal study calc
6/10 study calc and calc final at night
then pretty much smooth salings until the 21st, except 2 days that I have to work. i think 14th 15th but I am off a little early so obviously GMAT
I also want to take 2 CATs at a Pearson center prior to the 21st.

bakfed · Answer

hmm...The number that folks are looking for is, for example, Q37 V26. That will tell people what percentiles you're at and what you should be focusing on. Knowing how many questions you got right actually mean nothing since the entire test is computer-adaptive. I'm not a big fan on tackling both v and q at the same time. I'm more of "tackle-one-section-at-an-extended-period-of-time" person. But however it is that suits you, you should go for it.

I wasn't quite sure how you can take 2 CAT at a Pearson center? Nonetheless, make sure you do the GMATPrep2 and re-do GMATPrep again to exhaust the question bank. I'll wait and see your Quant and Verbal raw scores before making my own suggestions as to what I think you should do.

By the way, are you more math-oriented or verbal-oriented?

xcobrax · Answer

I thought I was Math, but looking at the scores I would say Verbal. Ironic because English was my 4th language learned.

CAT 1 Q34/V40 Overall 39th percentile
CAT 2 Q40/V40 Overall 44th percentile
CAT 3 Q59/V53 Overall 66th percentile
CAT 4 Q51/V53 Overall 60th percentile

Kaplan lets you take as many CATs at a Pearson center as you want, so from wha I have read, I should do 2 runs at a center before the real thing.

Thanks again.

bakfed · Answer

sorry, but something's got to be wrong. A score of Q34 and V40 would indicate to anyone that you're definitely a verbal person and you'll need to strengthen your math. But you must have typed something wrong for CAT3 and CAT4 as Q will not let you get 59 and V will not let you get 53.

xcobrax · Answer

I checked Kaplan again, those numbers are accurate according to their "analysis." What I did notice though, on my higher scores, higher mix of difficulty of questions.

xcobrax · Answer

CAT 3 and 4. I am assuming since CAT 3 had more "high" difficulty questions, I received more points...

bakfed · Answer

Got ya! I finally understood where you're coming from. By the way, on the real test (and on GMATPrep), you will get a raw score of, for example, Q51 and V50. The numbers do not mean a percentage as you've indicated in your previous posts, rather, these numbers are raw scores that can translate into a percentile, for which a Q51 is probably a 97 percentile and a V50 is probably a 99 percentile. A Q51 and V50 will most likely get you 790, if not 800 on the test. Anyway, that's what I was looking for. However, with these screenshots, I have to say that you're probably right in the middle for both right now. It's probably a good idea for you to focus a lot on the Official Guide (and of course, your private tutor as you've mentioned earlier). The official guide contains questions from an array of percentages, up to even 680 (or 700) probably. By doing these OG questions, you'll be more familiar with the type of questions there are and the difficulty of the questions (the questions get progressively harder as you work through the OG). The OG should be able to help you achieve a 650 if you really practice the questions and understand your mistake. Your improvements from CAT2 to CAT3 is awesome. It shows that you're picking more stuff up. From hereon, it's really just more practice and getting your fundamentals down. Just focus everytime you practice; quality is key. Once you're done with your final, study study study. Visit GMATClub often and just go do some problems that people posed on the quant and verbal sections. If you get the question wrong, make sure you ask yourself why you're getting it wrong. You definitely have a chance to get 650+, but you'll need to work hard at it. You should be putting in at least 3 or 4 hours a day for GMAT up to the day prior to your test. It's going to be very tedious but that's how you need to do it.

xcobrax · Answer

thanks man, you guys are awesome!

I have looked around on the forum, as I take breaks from studying for finals i find myself looking at some GMAT questions =)

What do you think of this strategy that Kaplan said? They suggested that the day prior to my test, I do not do anything but relax, and if I do study GMAT material stop around noon and just relax until my test. I scheduled it at noon btw...

bakfed · Answer

well, different folks have different ideologies when it comes to the day prior. I personally studied the day prior, but didn't kill myself over it. I would say that if you're the "antsy" type, who always want to look at some materials (such as myself), do some problems the day before. But if you're the one who's easily influenced by the number of questions you get wrong (or right) and will feel discouraged, I say just drop GMAT the day prior to d-day and enjoy it. I mean, afterall, if it is already a day prior to GMAT, I'm pretty sure you aren't going to be able to understand the concept that you haven't understood already. That's my take! Good luck on your test, man! I'm sure you'll do fine. You have lots of room for improvement on both Q and V, which is great! Unlikes people who's always getting 97% on math and 50% on verbal (these folks will obviously have to spend the majority of time on verbal), you get to switch around, loosening up your brain power for both Q and V. I personally was more a Q person and don't fare as well in V. I spent over half a year on verbal....imagine that!! I was getting so verbal-bummed-out at the end, lol...

xcobrax · Answer

So I met with my GMAT tutor today, and I have to say, Kaplan Live online courses were a total waste of money for me. I think the money that you will save by signing up for just their online portion access and using the rest of the money towards a good private tutor is a million times better than the $1700 live online classes. You can get the online workshops, CATs etc for $600... I am not saying Kaplan's Live online is not good, but using the $1100 for a private tutor and Kaplan online access will get better results.

hmmmmm just had a crazy idea, should I blog everyday starting from today?

6/6 met with private tutor, the guy is awesome...knows his stuff and tought me a few tricks. We did GMAT Quant for 2 hours, then I went to school to study for finals...

hmmmmm just had a crazy idea, should I blog everyday starting from today?

6/6 met with private tutor, the guy is awesome...knows his stuff and tought me a few tricks. We did GMAT Quant for 2 hours, then I went to school to study for finals...

bakfed · Answer

I don't think you need to blog your work everyday; however, I do think that you should visit this site everyday to get exposed to the different type of questions by visiting the verbal and quant sections. I won't make any comment toward live or online tutoring classes, as I endorse nobody. But there are definitely books that people recommend (including myself) for a person to get, such as ManhattanGMAT's sentence correction and number property guides.

xcobrax · Answer

So I took my GMAT yesterday, and I wish I could have posted something awesome, but I cant =(

Q45/V25 580

The sad part about my verbal score is that I am not an international student...

Few people said my quant score is "great" but it is only a 75th percentile, I don't see what is "great" about that...

obviously I need to work on verbal...

On a side note, based on the score I received, this notion of Kaplan tests scoring lower intentionally etc was not true in my case

bakfed · Answer

don't give up. There really wasn't a lot of time that you can prepare for the GMAT given the time of your first post and d-day. I'd say to try again, but give yourself more time to get familiarized with the concept. Q45 is not a bad score, but definitely improvable. However, I would focus my energy more on the verbal part as that can be easily made into V33 or V35, or even more. Check out the resources that people post everyday to learn stuff and you'll be on your way to a higher score.

xcobrax · Answer

Would you happen to have the scoring matrix link on hand by any chance? I stumbled across a scoring matrix a couple of weeks ago and now I cannot find it. The matrix showed what your score would be given 2 raw scores.

The other scoring matrices I have seen show them independently

thanks.

The other scoring matrices I have seen show them independently

thanks.

whiplash2411 · Answer

Here's the one you were probably looking for:

all-gmat-scores-92159.html

But here's a comprehensive list of a lot of scoring mechanisms:

gmat-score-guide-to-gmat-scores-score-reports-83890-40.html

Hope this helps!!

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