Hello everyone,
Since I took the decision to take the GMAT a few weeks ago, I have looked into some daily questions and soon figured my journey to the GMAT will be much easier with GMATClub.
So a few days ago I read through Everything You Need to Prepare for the GMAT and have taken advise from all the great posts by bb and others. It's really amazing what this community has put together.
Following the GMAT Study Plan for New GMAT Test Takers I obviously first informed myself (Step1) and I continued with
Step 2: Practice test / Diagnostic test: GMATPrep1 - just this morning
Turns out I got an exact 50 percentile 560 (Q36/V31) on the diagnose test today.
I am not really sure what to think of it, but I guess it's ok for a start.
Step 3: What GMAT score do I actually need?
I have actually not decided what business school I want to go to. I am planning on staying in Europe. And I am not aiming for top top top, therefore, I would like to hit the high 600s. I wouldn't pass on 700+![8-)]( "Cool")
, but for now I am trying to hit, let's say 680.
Step 4: What are my weaknesses
With Saruba's great error log, it's pretty easy to analyse my first Q37+V41 questions. Let's take a look:
Quant
20x PS - 40% accuracy (ouch!)
17x DS - 53% accuracy
I considered myself being strong at maths, but to my defense it took a while until I understood what DS really is asking for. Furthermore, I haven't done powers, roots, etc. since high school. Mostly a matter of reviewing everything.
Saruba's error log allows putting down the questions area and sub-area to figure out what topics are more or less shaky. Without having started my GMAT studies I am not even able to tell what (sub-)area the questions address yet.
Verbal
13x RC - 54% accuracy
11x CR - 91% accuracy
17x SC - 76% accuracy
To my surprise verbal section went quite well and I even had a few minutes left at the end. Not knowing too much about the GMAT the RC hit me completely by surprise. I didn't know that several questions would address the same text. There is definetely room for improvement there!
Step 5: Designing my study plan
Well there is something you guys could help me with.
I basically got about 11 weeks (from today). I have a full-time job but am confident to do 15-20hrs per week (2-3hrs on most weekdays and 5-10hrs on weekends).
Following most of the study plan suggestions, I will do 4 weeks of quant, 4 weeks of verbal and 3 weeks of reviewing.
I hope to be off work the last week before the actual test date (which I have not set yet).
So I have some questions to you guys:
- Would you recommend spending the 11 weeks differently?
- When should I do more full practice tests? Every weekend or just after finishing one "block"?
- so far I only have Kaplan Premier (2013) and the GMAT Offical Guide. In my opinion this is already quite a workload... What else would you recommend?
I will start reviewing the incorrectly answered questions of the diagnostic test (GMATPrep) tomorrow with explanations which can be easily found in this forum.
Then I guess I will start on the 1100 pages of Kaplan Premier![:roll:]( "Rolling Eyes")
Looking forward to tackling the GMAT with you guys!
Thank you for any comments.![]()
Since I took the decision to take the GMAT a few weeks ago, I have looked into some daily questions and soon figured my journey to the GMAT will be much easier with GMATClub.
So a few days ago I read through Everything You Need to Prepare for the GMAT and have taken advise from all the great posts by bb and others. It's really amazing what this community has put together.
Following the GMAT Study Plan for New GMAT Test Takers I obviously first informed myself (Step1) and I continued with
Step 2: Practice test / Diagnostic test: GMATPrep1 - just this morning
Turns out I got an exact 50 percentile 560 (Q36/V31) on the diagnose test today.
I am not really sure what to think of it, but I guess it's ok for a start.
Step 3: What GMAT score do I actually need?
I have actually not decided what business school I want to go to. I am planning on staying in Europe. And I am not aiming for top top top, therefore, I would like to hit the high 600s. I wouldn't pass on 700+
, but for now I am trying to hit, let's say 680.Step 4: What are my weaknesses
With Saruba's great error log, it's pretty easy to analyse my first Q37+V41 questions. Let's take a look:
Quant
20x PS - 40% accuracy (ouch!)
17x DS - 53% accuracy
I considered myself being strong at maths, but to my defense it took a while until I understood what DS really is asking for. Furthermore, I haven't done powers, roots, etc. since high school. Mostly a matter of reviewing everything.
Saruba's error log allows putting down the questions area and sub-area to figure out what topics are more or less shaky. Without having started my GMAT studies I am not even able to tell what (sub-)area the questions address yet.
Verbal
13x RC - 54% accuracy
11x CR - 91% accuracy
17x SC - 76% accuracy
To my surprise verbal section went quite well and I even had a few minutes left at the end. Not knowing too much about the GMAT the RC hit me completely by surprise. I didn't know that several questions would address the same text. There is definetely room for improvement there!
Step 5: Designing my study plan
Well there is something you guys could help me with.
I basically got about 11 weeks (from today). I have a full-time job but am confident to do 15-20hrs per week (2-3hrs on most weekdays and 5-10hrs on weekends).
Following most of the study plan suggestions, I will do 4 weeks of quant, 4 weeks of verbal and 3 weeks of reviewing.
I hope to be off work the last week before the actual test date (which I have not set yet).
So I have some questions to you guys:
- Would you recommend spending the 11 weeks differently?
- When should I do more full practice tests? Every weekend or just after finishing one "block"?
- so far I only have Kaplan Premier (2013) and the GMAT Offical Guide. In my opinion this is already quite a workload... What else would you recommend?
I will start reviewing the incorrectly answered questions of the diagnostic test (GMATPrep) tomorrow with explanations which can be easily found in this forum.
Then I guess I will start on the 1100 pages of Kaplan Premier
Looking forward to tackling the GMAT with you guys!
Thank you for any comments.