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gmoney · 2007 December 15th, 02:07 AM

I'm posting my study methods for people who don't have a lot of time to study for the GMAT. I decided late in the season to apply to school so I only had 4 weeks to study. I took my test today. In the past 4 weeks, I spent about 1-1.5 hours per weekday reviewing material and 4-5 hours per day on weekends taking practice tests. I purchased the OG 11 and Manhattan GMAT series books (which also provide access to their online CATs). My practice test results were as follows:

GMATPrep 1 = 720 (first test I took in week 1)
GMATPrep 2 = 760 (took this test the day after GMATPrep 1)
Manhattan GMAT 1 = 660 (took this test in week 3)
Manhattan GMAT 2 = 720 (took this test in week 3)
Manhattan GMAT 3 = 730 (took this test in week 4)

Actual GMAT (week 4): 760 - Q:49 and V:45

I found the Manhattan GMAT tests somewhat useless because they were significantly harder than the OG and ultimately the actual test. In fact I view the time I spent taking Manhattan GMAT practice tests as wasted and I could've used it to do more OG practice questions. The problem was that Manhattan GMAT quant questions layered in too many concepts per problem, took far longer than a realistic GMAT problem and often required tricks neccessary to even reach an answer. I was quite discouraged after my first Manhattan GMAT test. So please, don't fall into the trap that test-prep companies want you to. Don't be discouraged, your best assessment of how you'll do should be the free downloadable tests distributed by GMAC. Taking too many practice tests outside of the free ones can be a waste of time.

That said, I did find Manhattan GMAT's test preparation books very helpful. I found their geometry guide and number properties guide most useful in reviewing information I hadn't seen in years.

I felt the actual test questions today in the quant section were most similar to the easy to mid-level difficulty questions in the OG. The actual verbal questions were most similar to the medium to more difficult verbal questions in the OG. But no questions on either section were harder than any provided in the OG.

Good luck!

2007 December 15th, 02:07 AM	#307 (permalink)
gmoney I JUST got here. Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2	I'm posting my study methods for people who don't have a lot of time to study for the GMAT. I decided late in the season to apply to school so I only had 4 weeks to study. I took my test today. In the past 4 weeks, I spent about 1-1.5 hours per weekday reviewing material and 4-5 hours per day on weekends taking practice tests. I purchased the OG 11 and Manhattan GMAT series books (which also provide access to their online CATs). My practice test results were as follows: GMATPrep 1 = 720 (first test I took in week 1) GMATPrep 2 = 760 (took this test the day after GMATPrep 1) Manhattan GMAT 1 = 660 (took this test in week 3) Manhattan GMAT 2 = 720 (took this test in week 3) Manhattan GMAT 3 = 730 (took this test in week 4) Actual GMAT (week 4): 760 - Q:49 and V:45 I found the Manhattan GMAT tests somewhat useless because they were significantly harder than the OG and ultimately the actual test. In fact I view the time I spent taking Manhattan GMAT practice tests as wasted and I could've used it to do more OG practice questions. The problem was that Manhattan GMAT quant questions layered in too many concepts per problem, took far longer than a realistic GMAT problem and often required tricks neccessary to even reach an answer. I was quite discouraged after my first Manhattan GMAT test. So please, don't fall into the trap that test-prep companies want you to. Don't be discouraged, your best assessment of how you'll do should be the free downloadable tests distributed by GMAC. Taking too many practice tests outside of the free ones can be a waste of time. That said, I did find Manhattan GMAT's test preparation books very helpful. I found their geometry guide and number properties guide most useful in reviewing information I hadn't seen in years. I felt the actual test questions today in the quant section were most similar to the easy to mid-level difficulty questions in the OG. The actual verbal questions were most similar to the medium to more difficult verbal questions in the OG. But no questions on either section were harder than any provided in the OG. Good luck!