GMAT help!

OP

Hey guys, I know its been a while but I've been busy with other stuff and I am planning on starting revision now to take the test in September.

I have already had a look at each section and I can see that I will need a really comprehensive book and plan in order to get over 700.

Can anyone who has done the GMAT give me any advice and recommendation in order to prepare by September! Any advice would be HUGELY appreciated!

Reply 5

Manhattan GMAT book is very good and get good reviews. It replicates the test well and comes with practice CD. Magoosh GMAT is interactive e-learning, allows you to learn at your own pace and comes with videos to explain. Avoid Kaplan and Princeton GMAT. Prep time varies. Most students plan at least 6 weeks: 1.5 hr on weekday and 5 hrs on weekends when you work full time. 700 score (88%) is tough, you need to perform well in both sections equally well. The new GMAT Critical Reasoning section is a bummer. Most European B-Schools require 600-650.

Good luck

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 6

Anne789

I agree with Tcannon. I think the Manhattan GMAT books are really good. I used them to study with and was able to break the 700 barrier. The best way to start your GMAT prep is to take a practice to take a practice test. Once you have taken a practice test you can see what your weaknesses are and how long you will need to study. On average, it takes about 3 months of studying to improve 100 points, so if you are in the 600 range, you can create a 3 month study plan.

Regardless of what your initial score is, there are several essential elements to doing well on the GMAT: Start by learning the content and strategies (ie go over your MGMAT books). Make sure sure to take notes. People tend to remember and understand things better when they take notes. After you go through the strategy guides, use the Official GMAT Guides to go over practice problems. When you first start, don't worry about timing. Get your accuracy down first. Once you are getting at least 80% accuracy, then you can worry about speeding up. The final step is building mental endurance. The GMAT is like a mental marathon, and you have to train your brain to concentrate for the full 4 hours that it will have to on test day. To do this, take at least 5 full length GMAT Practice tests, though since you are aiming for a 700+, 10 would be better. There are only four total that you can get from GMAC, so you will have to get other ones from some of the test prep companies. Luckily most of the major test prep companies give out a free test, I made a list here.

The last important piece of advice is: make sure that you don't study on the final day before the test. The best thing you can do for yourself is to relax, so you can show up on test day with a fresh mind. Also, bring snacks it is a long test and eating during breaks can help keep your energy up.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!!!

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 7

OP

Thanks! Would the older versions of the book be sufficient or is getting the newest version best?

Reply 8

I haven't seen the latest version. Are there lots of changes for instance to reflect the new critical reasoning (if yes, use newest version) or just minor updates (older version should do)? My study group got mostly used books from Amazon. The newest version is more expensive, but in the grand scheme of things the price is small.

Do the mock exam as often as possible. know your weakness and work on it. Be disciplined about time, don't get tied up on difficult questions for too long. The Manhattan GMAT mock exam is tougher, but prepares well for actual exam. What are your target B-Schools?

Original post by starburst92

Thanks! Would the older versions of the book be sufficient or is getting the newest version best?

Reply 9

OP

Original post by Tcannon

I haven't seen the latest version. Are there lots of changes for instance to reflect the new critical reasoning (if yes, use newest version) or just minor updates (older version should do)? My study group got mostly used books from Amazon. The newest version is more expensive, but in the grand scheme of things the price is small.

Do the mock exam as often as possible. know your weakness and work on it. Be disciplined about time, don't get tied up on difficult questions for too long. The Manhattan GMAT mock exam is tougher, but prepares well for actual exam. What are your target B-Schools?

My target B-schools are Rotterdam, HEC, Insead and bocconi. This is all subject to change depending on my score but hopefully hitting the 700+ score will make this viable.

How did you form a study group? Would you advise finding others? The only issue is that I have graduated from my undergrad and wouldn't know anyone who is planning on sitting the GMAT

Reply 10

OP

Original post by Tcannon

Manhattan GMAT book is very good and get good reviews. It replicates the test well and comes with practice CD. Magoosh GMAT is interactive e-learning, allows you to learn at your own pace and comes with videos to explain. Avoid Kaplan and Princeton GMAT. Prep time varies. Most students plan at least 6 weeks: 1.5 hr on weekday and 5 hrs on weekends when you work full time. 700 score (88%) is tough, you need to perform well in both sections equally well. The new GMAT Critical Reasoning section is a bummer. Most European B-Schools require 600-650.

Good luck

Where is the best place to get the books? They are really expensive! Is there a guide that is just as good but a bit more budget friendly?

Reply 11

Finding Study Groups:
You can post a thread on BeattheGmat and GmatClub, name your city and study period. It mostly works in larger cities such as London.

If you are networked with other applicants, you can post a request on your FB page or the FB page of some B-School under comments.

If you work full time and know people in traditional MBA feeder firms (consulting, Investment Banks), you can form a study group. Some firms offer even inhouse study groups for their analysts and bring in admissions consultants to guide them.

Visit the MBA fair and exchange contact details with other applicants, then follow up. not suitable as you need it now.

Walk into the Starbucks in Canary Wharf's Jubilee Court Mall London on weekends. You will see study groups hogging tables. The books and calculators give them away: GMAT and CFA students.

Affordable books:: Either ebay or amazon. you can get cheaper used books. You can post at B-School and maybe some 1st year student will sell you their GMAT books. Otherwise you can try to go to a specialist Uni library, but these books tend to be on loan with waiting list. Books are the cheapest item compared to exam fee, application fee, costs for visit or tuition.

Smart choices of good B-Schools with various stats. GMAT at Erasmus (640), HEC (680), Insead (710).

Original post by starburst92

My target B-schools are Rotterdam, HEC, Insead and bocconi. This is all subject to change depending on my score but hopefully hitting the 700+ score will make this viable.

How did you form a study group? Would you advise finding others? The only issue is that I have graduated from my undergrad and wouldn't know anyone who is planning on sitting the GMAT

Reply 12

OP

Original post by Tcannon

Finding Study Groups:
You can post a thread on BeattheGmat and GmatClub, name your city and study period. It mostly works in larger cities such as London.

If you are networked with other applicants, you can post a request on your FB page or the FB page of some B-School under comments.

If you work full time and know people in traditional MBA feeder firms (consulting, Investment Banks), you can form a study group. Some firms offer even inhouse study groups for their analysts and bring in admissions consultants to guide them.

Visit the MBA fair and exchange contact details with other applicants, then follow up. not suitable as you need it now.

Walk into the Starbucks in Canary Wharf's Jubilee Court Mall London on weekends. You will see study groups hogging tables. The books and calculators give them away: GMAT and CFA students.

Affordable books:: Either ebay or amazon. you can get cheaper used books. You can post at B-School and maybe some 1st year student will sell you their GMAT books. Otherwise you can try to go to a specialist Uni library, but these books tend to be on loan with waiting list. Books are the cheapest item compared to exam fee, application fee, costs for visit or tuition.

Smart choices of good B-Schools with various stats. GMAT at Erasmus (640), HEC (680), Insead (710).

Thanks so much! This is very helpful. I live in London so hopefully can easily find people planning on doing the GMAT too!

Reply 13

You are welcome. As a London based applicant, you are more likely to find a study group. I would recommend forming a study group of 3-4 people in total. You can meet only once a week for problem solving and progress report. With luck you complement your skills as poets or quants. I found it conducive as GMAT cramming can be lonely. Good study partners provide support and motivation. You can even moan and sby listens. From a cost perspective, study group is cheaper than hiring a tutor. If not available, Magoosh GMAT is relatively affordable as compromise solution.

PS: If you go to Canary Wharf Starbucks, make sure you go to Jubilee Court, there are 3 Starbucks in Canary Wharf. I heard that Starbucks renovated and reduced number of tables as crammers hog them for hours with only 1 coffee. The management dimmed the lighting to put off crammers. Haha.

Original post by starburst92

Thanks so much! This is very helpful. I live in London so hopefully can easily find people planning on doing the GMAT too!

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 14

OP