Retake Strategy

[david.f.godoy]

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere else, but I want to be able to say 3rd time is the charm. So basically just finished with my 2nd attempt, a marked improvement over my last score (+160). However I feel like I left a lot on the table and it's on the outer fringes of the 80 percent range of the school that I'm targeting, I didn't get a chance to review the advanced mgmat review guide, comfortable with the material, not confident, and my timing in the quant section is wanting. So my questions is this, with a month left to study, or 32 days, are there any suggestions on areas to focus on, types of study sessions, etc. I've been through the 8 guides (most of them twice), a lot of the questions in the OG. My Verbal was in the 90th percentile, so I would mainly need to focus on Quant, which is in the 50th percentile. I felt like I understood all the questions and what they were asking for, but my plan in the UPS model was quite lacking and much like i was finding in my practice test (610-680 range) this was killing my scores and timing.
-David

[StaceyKoprince]

Nice work! +160 is amazing!

If quant is in the 50th percentile right now, then you are probably not ready for the Advanced Quant book - that's for people who are already 70-80 and looking to push to 90+.

And given that you've got only one more month, you're probably not going to get to the point of being able to use the AQ book and actually having the time to study it thoroughly, so leave that aside.

In terms of what you should do, I need more data from you on strengths and weaknesses. It sounds like timing is an issue (as it is for almost everyone), so start doing this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... anagement/

But in terms of actual content, you need to give me some data. :)

Use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back to share your analysis. (Note: please give us your analysis, not just the raw data - the ability to analyze your performance is hugely important to your ability to improve.)

I felt like I understood all the questions and what they were asking for, but my plan in the UPS model was quite lacking

So you were falling short on the process, which can mean setup, calculations, shortcuts, or all of the above. You'll likely need to go back over a bunch of OG questions you already did. This time, ask yourself:
- what's the best solution method and why? how would someone know that from the beginning / what are the clues?
- what are the traps and how should I be able to spot them before I fall for them?

Make yourself flash cards that say "When I see _______" on one side and "I'll think / do _______" on the other. Then start looking over OG and other past questions and building up a database of ideas: when I see this certain thing, I know they're testing XYZ, and when given these particular details, I know that my approach best approach is likely to be ABC. Or: what are the clues in the wording of the problem that give me ideas about what to do / how to approach this?

[david.f.godoy]

Thanks Stacy. You mentioned a month's time as not being a long time, and I should ditch the Advanced Quant, which I'm totally with you on. However, during my GMAT Prep 2.0 I went through the new IR section and it seemed much less tedious to me than writing an essay. So my question is, I know much has been made elsewhere (I dont know the stance you take) about taking it before it switches. But seeing as how, the actual test is not going to change, schools haven't had a chance to see how significant it will be in terms of evaluating your score, would it be wise to delay the test, study for an extra month, to make sure I can lock down a score over 700, rather than rush through the material again? Also thank you for your articles, a big help already, noticing my weaknesses already (data sufficiency and 2nd guessing myself, and how I set up FDP/Rate problems).

Regards,

David

[StaceyKoprince]

A lot has been made of taking it before it switches simply because - why study for the new section if you don't have to, right?

But we're getting close enough now that the situation is changing - for many, now, it's better to wait and take the new test. As you said, it's better not to rush when you don't really have adequate time anyway, and for the first year at least, the schools aren't going to pay much attention to the IR score. They just won't know how to interpret or how much to emphasize it until they get some good data.

Plus, it turns out that IR is a pretty good mix of quant and verbal, so if you feel like one area is really a big strength for you, then you get to take that big strength into IR. That will give you a leg up on getting "enough" questions right to get a "decent" score (both words in quotes right now because we won't actually know what's enough or what's decent until it launches and we start seeing the data!).

So if you're game, I'm game. Go ahead and take the new test - just remember that you'll have to give yourself some additional time to study for IR as well.