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GRE/GMAT test Prep Help...

Gods_Debris

Gods_Debris

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Looking for any information, member's personal insights (especially those who are recent test takers) and/or guides available online. Downloads or just a push in the right direction - all is welcome.

Thank you in advance.
 
Gods_Debris said:
Looking for any information, member's personal insights (especially those who are recent test takers) and/or guides available online. Downloads or just a push in the right direction - all is welcome.

Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

I took the new GRE computer test in March. I didn't have much time to study because I was already in law school. Here is my perspective.

Funk Kaplan. Just too damn expensive. I went online (Amazon) and paid roughly $65 for the following books: Princeton Review Verbal Workout, Barron's Essential Words for the GRE, Nova's GRE Math Prep Course (worked like a charm!!!), and the official ETS GRE prep book (helped with the essays).

Follow the ETS essay format to a T. (E.G., using "furthermore" when backing up your points or "in contrast".... or saying first, second, third when illustrating your points). It was pretty straight forward.

Give yourself a few months to study (I hadn't taken geometry since the 90s). I did very well on the test - but it was probably because I was already in study/school mode. My brother took it after me and he was out of school for about 10 years - it took him a little more time to fuck with the reading comprehension portions.

The test is adaptive - so if you start fucking up at first it might lower your overall potential score but you will get easier questions. If I could give you advice - definitely work on speed reading and issue recognition techniques. Good Luck mayne!
 
the GMAT was/is a bitch of a test. I mean they put questions on there specifically to fuck with you because they have no answer to begin with. I also think their adding a new section to the test soon called integrated reasoning. I have no idea what that means but it will probably be some bullshit as well.

Anyhow here is my recommendation for getting a decent score based on my own experience.

The best books I bought were the official GMAT guide and the complete Manhattan GMAT strategy series (its like 8 books in all). the Manhattan guides really helped even in topics I thought I was good in, since the tests rules overwrite many of the rules that are commonly accepted at most undergrads. Also I found a good deal of downloadable test programs and test materials on Filecrop. Just type gmat into their search bar and see what you can find.

Also make sure to download the free test review that the GMAT offers and register to receive emails from them. A ton of schools will contact you and that never hurts since some of those schools will bend backwards to get you to go to them if you do your research.

The best thing I did prior to the test was sign up to get "Beat the GMAT" 60 day study guide. They sent me a daily study guide broken into 60 parts. I recommend you sign up as soon as possible and then pace yourself based on your situation because they say they based their 60 day guide on 2 -4 hours but on some of those days they added a lot of material for review. The first email they send will recommend more resources but when I used it they recommended the official Guidebook and Manhattan (along with some other). Anyway see what they base their guide on before you purchase anything if you plan to use it.

Lasty, If I could do it again I would of taken more practice test the were based on the way the official test is taken. A 2 minutes average time to answer computer adaptive questions is not very long at all unless you know exactly what to do from jump.

With all that said Good Luck on the test.
 
A thousand thanks for your insight's fellas. Thread has already proven fruitful and hopefully will be helpful for many others and not just me alone.
 
Found the following:

Cracking the New GMAT, 2013 Edition: Revised and Updated for the New GMAT
• Access to 2 full-length practice tests
• Tons of sample problems and drills in the book covering all 4 GMAT sections, plus more extra practice on the companion web site
• Step-by-step instruction on the new GMAT question types: table analysis, graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning, and two-part analysis
• Thorough review of all tested topics, including data sufficiency, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, sentence correction, reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and more
Click to expand...

Master the GMAT 2012
Peterson's Master the GMAT offers complete prep for the GMAT, including tips on essay writing and a thorough analysis of the types of verbal and quantitative questions you can expect on the exam. This no-nonsense guide to the GMAT includes essay-writing analysis and 6 practice tests, including a diagnostic tests to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses--all with detailed answer explanations. Readers will gain top test-prep tips, a helpful review of all subject areas—reading comprehension, sentence correction, critical reasoning, problem solving, data sufficiency, and analytical writing. The Appendix provides additional valuable information: insightful articles on the value of a graduate-level business degree and choosing the right program for your career needs, resources for GMAT preparation, and a Word List to help boost your vocabulary for the GMAT.
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1,014 Practice Questions for the New GRE
The best way to prepare for standardized tests is to practice, and this resource offers you plenty of opportunities to do just that. 1,014 Practice Questions for the New GRE, 2nd Edition has been completed updated for the changes coming to the GRE in August 2011, and includes:

*over 1,000 practice questions for the new GRE, including hundreds of questions covering the new question types
*detailed answer explanations for all practice questions
*math drills broken down by geometric shape, such as circles, triangles, and 3-D figures
*verbal drills that include the new Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence question types
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Gruber's Complete GRE Guide 2012
THE MOST TRUSTED AND EFFECTIVE ADVICE IN TEST PREP
NO GIMMICKS, NO TRICKS, JUST EASY STRATEGIES THAT WILL ACTUALLY RAISE YOUR SCORE.
-Includes 3 full-length practice tests
-Inside info on how GRE questions are created
-Strategies that will save you study time by pointing you directly to the answer

Get the Skills that Unlock The Answers
With the explanation to a question, you can answer that one question. With the Gruber strategies, you can answer thousands of questions! These strategies show you how to think about problems instead of trying to solve each one individually, and they can be used consistently on every GRE test.

Use the Most Trusted Methods
More schools use Dr. Gruber's books for SAT courses than any other SAT books.
PBS chose Dr. Gruber to train teachers nationally to improve the nation's SAT scores.
National learning centers, state agencies, and state education departments have contracted with Dr. Gruber to improve SAT scores and critical thinking ability.
Dr. Gruber's strategies were chosen as the core for the revolutionary prep software that adapts to your strengths and weaknesses at MyMaxScore.com.

"Dr. Gary Gruber has developed a method that will raise students' test scores by sharpening their thinking skills."-Boston Globe

"By learning Dr. Gruber's strategies, a student can increase his or her IQ to do well on any exam."-Teen Magazine

"His methods make the questions seem amazingly simple to solve."-Library Journal

"With the aid of your books, my scores improved so dramatically that I am now anticipating acceptance into schools that I was reluctant to even apply to."-Lauren F., New Jersey

"GRUBER CAN RING THE BELL ON ANY NUMBER OF STANDARDIZED EXAMS."
-Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune
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Downloading now, and should be uploaded either tonight or tomorrow.
 
Johnny_2_Clips said:
Found the following:

Cracking the New GMAT, 2013 Edition: Revised and Updated for the New GMAT


Master the GMAT 2012


1,014 Practice Questions for the New GRE


Gruber's Complete GRE Guide 2012


Downloading now, and should be uploaded either tonight or tomorrow.
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:cheers: :thumbsup:
 
I scored a 700+ in the GMAT, first attempt. I was lucky and had good advice so I feel I should contribute

It took 3 months/ 10 weeks. Btw, if you're planning to go to b-school, you'll also need another 8 weeks for all the research about schools and essays. DO not research schools until you have your scores because this test is no joke and if you score less than 650 forget the top schools.

Week 1 - Register on http://www.mba.com (the official website of the GMAT), and order books
Recommended materials a) Princeton Review's Cracking the New GMAT b) The official guide to the GMAT latest edition c) Kaplan 800 (Just the Test CD's if you can)

Week 2 - Read the Princeton Review. This book is the best for understanding the logic of the GMAT and the shortcuts. Its very verbose but really useful

Week 3 to 6 - Study the official Guide, and solve problems in all the sections.

Week 7/8 - Start taking the official practice tests. I recommend 1 every other day. WHen I took the test, the CD had 8 tests. Also start practicing writing the Analysis essays quickly. Each test takes 4 hours, so if you work, you may need to wake at 3 am.

Week 9/10 - ONLY IF YOU ARE SCORING OVER 650, start taking the Kaplan 800 practice tests. Not the book, just their test and just the 800 tests. GMAT is an adaptive test. That means If you do well in the GMAT, you will spend most of your time facing the hardest problems so the Kaplan 800 practice prepares you for that. IF YOU ARE SCORING BELOW 600, find an easier private test CD. Whatever you do not retake the same test, you will get false sense of your performance.

Take the test immediately after this regimen. Which means book the date way in advance, probably once you are done with the official guide.

Good luck :)
 
Just took mine a few months ago, go to MBA.com when you sign up they send you two free cat test (computer adaptive test), the thing that helped me the most is online times test, the way the test is setup is the questions get harder as you get them
Right and easier as you get them
Wrong, so the best study method, in
My opinion, is to get books to learn the fundamentals (formulas, grammar rules) them go to Kaplan and other online sites to get as many cat test as you can to get used to how the test is setup and Guage your score and pay attention to what you are getting wrong and why. There is only so many tricks they can use. Also there is a company called knewton they give you 6 online test and after you take the first one they guarantee an 50 point increase if you complete their online curriculum...hope this helps
 
Prime stuff boys and Johnny you are the f'ing man my dude, much love bruh (no homo). Let's keep it coming fellas: every insight is wanted, welcome and appreciated. Hell, even if you come through just to brag about how well you did we implore every anecdote and everyone is invited to the party.

Let's go black man!
 
:dance2::bravo:::gun03::cheers:
t4cash said:
I scored a 700+ in the GMAT, first attempt. I was lucky and had good advice so I feel I should contribute

It took 3 months/ 10 weeks. Btw, if you're planning to go to b-school, you'll also need another 8 weeks for all the research about schools and essays. DO not research schools until you have your scores because this test is no joke and if you score less than 650 forget the top schools.

Week 1 - Register on http://www.mba.com (the official website of the GMAT), and order books
Recommended materials a) Princeton Review's Cracking the New GMAT b) The official guide to the GMAT latest edition c) Kaplan 800 (Just the Test CD's if you can)

Week 2 - Read the Princeton Review. This book is the best for understanding the logic of the GMAT and the shortcuts. Its very verbose but really useful

Week 3 to 6 - Study the official Guide, and solve problems in all the sections.

Week 7/8 - Start taking the official practice tests. I recommend 1 every other day. WHen I took the test, the CD had 8 tests. Also start practicing writing the Analysis essays quickly. Each test takes 4 hours, so if you work, you may need to wake at 3 am.

Week 9/10 - ONLY IF YOU ARE SCORING OVER 650, start taking the Kaplan 800 practice tests. Not the book, just their test and just the 800 tests. GMAT is an adaptive test. That means If you do well in the GMAT, you will spend most of your time facing the hardest problems so the Kaplan 800 practice prepares you for that. IF YOU ARE SCORING BELOW 600, find an easier private test CD. Whatever you do not retake the same test, you will get false sense of your performance.

Take the test immediately after this regimen. Which means book the date way in advance, probably once you are done with the official guide.

Good luck :)
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Another note, give yourself enough time to take the test more than once, most schools will take your highest score and shoot for your best score first, but understand that this test is not about how smart you are, the big factor is understanding the test and you will naturally be more comfortable and relaxed the second time. My first time I took it I got mid 600s but then studied more and practice taking the test and I improved greatly so work as much as you can but give yourself enough time for another if you need to abd after that give yourself enough time to put out the best app you can, the biggest thing id say is try to not to rush any aspect of the process plan put and plan ahead and give yourself down time to let your brain rest so you don't burn out
 
Gods_Debris said:
Looking for any information, member's personal insights (especially those who are recent test takers) and/or guides available online. Downloads or just a push in the right direction - all is welcome.

Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

Hey Gods_Debris,

The links are dead in the first thread below but I will upload them by this week in the same thread (I downloaded them from there). I also have Aristotle Grail for Verbal. Also, I just took the GMAT but I did not perform very well. I over studied and used too many resources. You might want to limit your practice test taking to once a week because those practice tests are very tiring and you need to review them thoroughly.

I just got the 12th edition Official Guide on PDF. Unfortunately, I already own the 12th and 13th edition hard copies but it will help someone else. The Official Guides are retired GMAT questions. Also, I included McGraw Hill's GMAT (2010) and their "Conquering the GMAT Math." Make sure you are not using too many resources. Manhattan GMAT is the best out there and the links were to their fourth edition books. If the links do not work then PM me and I will upload them again. Good luck because the GMAT is a beast. I will be retaking it again.:( Have you checked out Beat The GMAT or GMAT Club. They are very useful sites.

http://www.bgol.us/board/showthread.php?t=615871&highlight=gmat+books

http://depositfiles.com/files/8utfeur7q?redirect

http://depositfiles.com/files/tckh545vs?redirect

http://depositfiles.com/files/6qlb1zk39?redirect
 
haddix823 said:
Another note, give yourself enough time to take the test more than once, most schools will take your highest score and shoot for your best score first, but understand that this test is not about how smart you are, the big factor is understanding the test and you will naturally be more comfortable and relaxed the second time. My first time I took it I got mid 600s but then studied more and practice taking the test and I improved greatly so work as much as you can but give yourself enough time for another if you need to abd after that give yourself enough time to put out the best app you can, the biggest thing id say is try to not to rush any aspect of the process plan put and plan ahead and give yourself down time to let your brain rest so you don't burn out
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Yes sir, you are absolutely right. I started off studying too much in the beginning and I burned myself out. I have to retake the test but I need to take some time off first. And applications are opening soon. I wish my score was even close to the mid 600's.:lol:
 

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