Study Strategy (from 400 to 500-600)

[shg]

Hello, Stacey.

I would appreciate it if you could help me regarding how or which materials to study. I am considering whether I should buy Manhattan textbook now or not.

I am non-native. I got GMAT scores below. First of all, I studied a mathematic textbook to review basics. Secondly, I studied rules for verbal section and then did 13th editon of official guide third times during the period between December and April.

I thought I constantly got scores for quantitative section and sentence correction the last few weeks through simulation. Concerning CR and RC (my weak points), I tried to find weakness, but I think I need to get to used to it, because wrong answers are sparse.

However, my overall score is becoming worse. Even though some simulations are just indicators, I was upset about recent result. Now I realized that my mistake is that I used the valuable resources such as prep(latest & previous version) at early stage.

28/Dec: 430 (Q 32 V 16) GMAT (1st attempt)
9/Feb : 400 (Q 35 V 12) GMAT
23/Mar: Manhattan CAT No.1: 530 (Q 36 V 27)
20/Mar: GMAT prep : 540 (Q43 V 21)
29/Mar: GMAT prep : 490 (Q42 V 17)
7/ April: 410 (Q36 V 12)
11/May: Next test

Many thanks.
SHG

[StaceyKoprince]

My guess is that you're probably having timing issues, to start - that is a very common cause of score drops. Verbal in particular has had such wide swings that you're almost certainly having timing issues.

Second, it sounds like most of the study materials that you used were not GMAT-based. Note: I'm making a distinction between study materials (things that tell you what to do on the GMAT) and practice materials (like the OG). The OG helps you to test yourself, but it's really hard to learn straight from the OG without any GMAT-focused study materials.

Whether you choose to get our books specifically - I'll let you decide. :) But, yes, you are going to need some materials that will help you study.

Given most of your verbal scores (and the fact that you're a non-native speaker), I'll tell you what I'd want you to do if you were my student. I'd start you with Foundations of Verbal, and have you work your way up into our main three SC, CR, and RC strategy guides as you feel solid with the foundational material.

What's your goal score? If it's 700+, then you should expect your quant score to have to carry a lot of the weight, in which case you probably want to get the five main quant strategy guides as well. If your score is more like 600, then you can probably just work with the material in your weaker areas.

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

Then come back here and tell us the results of your analysis and what you think you should do based on that analysis. We'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

Assuming you do have timing problems (nearly everyone does), read these in the order given:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/

http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/