04-02-2013, 03:24 PM
500 to 700 in 45 days
45 days.docx (Size: 21.54 KB / Downloads: 22)
I just got back from my GMAT and I got a 700(Q48 V3 . Here I am sharing my prep story for all those students who are average and are desperately looking for that magic '7'!
First and foremost, know your strengths and weaknesses. This will save up a lot of your prep time and help you focus on areas where most of your score can increase. The 80-20 rule applies to the GMAT as well. 80% of your improvement in score will come from 20% of the weaknesses. So it helps to identify those 20% of your weaknesses soon and work on them.
Day 1: GMATPrep1 - 510(Q36 V25)
I was quite shocked to see this score. I expected at least a 580 to give myself a chance of getting a 700 in 45 days. So I started analysing the test and jotting down points about areas of improvement, strengths, weaknesses etc.
Day 2: Give the Diagnostic Test from the Official Guide
I used OG12 for my preparation and it helped me immensely. I could immediately understand what do I need to focus on at the beginning of my preparation.
1. I figured that in Quant, I needed to work on Ratios, Probability, Permutations and Combinations.
2. In Verbal, I needed to work most on Sentence Correction, followed by Critical Reasoning.
Day 3: Start with the OG
Start with problem 50 in each section. The ones before are a little too easy for our liking. Remember, we have just 45 days. Make it a point to solve at least 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas daily. Easier said than done. You will need to go and look at the solution well and understand how each problem has been solved. This is because even though you may get the answer correct, you need to know the best way or the quickest way of getting there.
Day 4: Continue with the OG - 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas
By now you will start understanding the workings of the GMAT and what it expects. You scores in the further tests will definitely show it. Even so, you need to be dedicated enough to go through all explanations in detail.
Day 5: GMAT800 test: 580(Q40 V30)
There's the improvement. Now that you know something about the GMAT and you combine it with your preparation, your score should definitely see an improvement of at least 40 points in the 500-600 range. However, after you finish the test, take a break and then go through the explanations of each answer. This is a time-consuming job bbut most important in your preparation.
Day 6: Continue with the OG - 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas
Day 7: Continue with the OG - 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas
Day 8: Continue with the OG - 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas
Day 9: Continue with the OG - 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas
Day 10: GMAT800 Test: 640(Q44 V35)
Wow that's a huge improvement. Even I didn't expect my score to increase so much so soon. Again, analyze the test. See what mistakes you made. See the explanation for each answer.
Day 12: Continue with the OG - 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas
Day 13: Continue with the OG - 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas
Day 14: Continue with the OG - 5 questions on each section and 10 questions on each of your problem areas
Day 15: GMAT800 Test: 610(Q38 V35)
We're reached the 1/3rd mark on our prep and I see the first major drop in score. The Verbal stays unchanged from last time and the Quant plummets from Q44 to a Q38. OK maybe we're reached stagnancy in the verbal area. And now we need to work on the Quant as well. When you reach this level, you should realize that this is the level you will reach by just polishing your knowledge and reviewing what you know already.
To increase your score from here, you will have to learn new concepts, read more, use more strategies.
Day 16: Buy the ManhattanGMAT SC Guide and start reading.
This is a book that can be read almost anytime and referred to again and again. You do not need to finish a certain number of pages in one go. Neither do you need to be at your desk when you read this. Just treat it as a welcome change from the usual Question-Answers of the GMAT. This book really is the bible for SC. Read just the first 5 chapters, and most of your doubts will be cleared. The further chapters are for people who are regularly scoring 700+. But it wont hurt to read them nonetheless. However, do not invest time in the further chapters and reduce time in your actual prep. Thats an extra.
Day 17: Time to wind up the OG.
You may have finished 50-75 of the OG questions in each section. Leave it there and start from the last 40 of each section. Finish the last 40 in 2 days. We cannot invest more time in the OG at this stage.
The ManhattanGMAT guide gives you access to their website and 6 CATs. Use these wisely. The scores they give you and the timing system reflect most to the actual scores you will get on the GMAT. By far the best practice tests on the market. They are followed by the GMAT800 tests. Do not try the old 800Score tests. They are full of crap. Further, when you have just 45 days to prepare, do not even think about the Kaplan tests. They are very disorienting. They are probably for students getting a 750+ on other tests.
Day 18: Think about the essays a little
For students who are weak with the language, it would make good sense to start reading English newspapers, novels, articles and paragraphs at this stage of the prep. Get used to the flow of the language. Understand the difference between Spoken English and Written English.
For the others, like me, leave this bit for until a lot later.
You should be finishing the OG today. You won't need to look at it again until the last 3-4 days remain.
Day 19: ManhattanGMAT test 1: 640(Q42, V3
Are we on track again? Well we studied verbal mostly last week and used the ManhattanGMAT SC guide. And this is the best Verbal score i've gotten until date. So I guess we are back on track. Again, analyse the test, see the explanations. Manhattan's s/w gives you a whole load of statistics that you can use to your benefit. Some of these are the %-ile indicator that shows you what percentile you were on, on each question of the test. Show's you where you screwed up or did well. It show's you the difficulty level of the questions. At this stage, you want to be getting most questions in the 600-700 range or higher. For this, all questions below these ranges must be answered correctly.