Beat The GMAT!

Visit the new Beat The GMAT community

2009-10-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

On August 17, 2009, Beat The GMAT re-launched as a GMAT/MBA learning portal. The site now features free expert GMAT/MBA articles, prep resources, scholarships, and a very active discussion community.

I invite you to visit the new Beat The GMAT—and please tell your friends! :)

http://www.beatthegmat.com

Good luck!

Eric Bahn, Founder of Beat The GMAT

Welcome to Beat The GMAT!

2007-01-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Beat The GMAT! On August 16, 2005, I took the GMAT and scored a 720 (96th Percentile). I studied for the GMAT without the assistance of an expensive test prep class over the course of 80 days, keeping a very detailed weblog of my studying. It is my hope that this blog will serve as a study guide for future GMAT test takers and inspire others to study on their own as well. You do not need to purchase expensive test prep services to do well on the GMAT!

How to use this site

I have carefully documented my studies--down to the specific page numbers of texts I reviewed for each day. Using this website, many people have modeled their own study schedule after my own; some have even copied my day-to-day schedule entirely. Feel free to use this website in any capacity that suits your study needs. Also, be sure to explore the links to other resources that I have provided on this website--they have been critical in helping me master the material on the GMAT.

If you have set aside ample time to study for your GMAT (2-4 months), I would recommend that you start reading my blog from the first entry. However, if you are constrained by time (less than a month), skip ahead and emphasize my entries starting from Day 42, where I began my review of the Official Guide to GMAT Review.

Abbreviations

Some of the books I mention in my blog entries have very long titles. Since these titles are tiresome for my fingers to type, you will see the following abbreviations employed in many of my entries:

OG - Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition
PR - Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT 2004, with CD
Kap - Kaplan GMAT 2005 with CD
Kap800 - Kaplan GMAT 800, 2004-2005

Important Dates in my Study Schedule

To help you navigate my website more easily, here are some important milestones that I reached during my 80 days of studying for the GMAT:

- Introduction

- Explanation of why I started this website

- Day 1: Began review of Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT

- Day 12: Began review of Kaplan GMAT 2005

- Day 23: Began review of Kaplan GRE & GMAT Math Workbook

- Day 33: Began review of the Delta Course

- Day 37: Started making flashcards (should have done this from Day 1)

- Day 42: Began review of Official Guide, Reading Comprehension section

- Day 48: Began review of Official Guide, Data Sufficiency section

- Day 56: Began review of Official Guide, Sentence Correction section

- Day 65: Began review of Official Guide, Critical Reasoning section

- Day 70: Began review of Official Guide, Problem Solving section / Began review of Analytical Writing Assessment

- Day 80: Last day of studies

- Test day details

- Reflections on the entire GMAT study experience

The Beat The GMAT Scholarship!

I have started an annual scholarship for future GMAT test takers. Details can be found here.

***

A caveat: the page numbers I list for each entry in this blog are specific to the textbook editions that were available at the time of my studies. Consequently, for people studying with later editions, the page numbers in your newer books may not match with those of my own books. However, it should still be easy to follow my study schedule since I note the source and subject material covered for each day along with the page numbers. Always study with the latest materials!

Best of luck! You can Beat The GMAT like I did!

Eric
Beat The GMAT! http://www.beatthegmat.com

Visit the Beat The GMAT! Forum

2006-06-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

The Beat The GMAT! Forum (http://www.beatthegmat.com) is now almost two months old--and it's growing fast!

I've worked very hard over the last few months to line up some amazing partners to serve as experts on the forum. They include:

- Stacy Blackman - Stacy is one of the most respected MBA Admissions consultants in the business; she has been featured on the cover of Fortune Magazine. Stacy provides MBA admissions advice to Beat The GMAT members in her "Ask Stacy Blackman" section.

- Manhattan GMAT - One of the best known names in GMAT prep. Kevin Fitzgerald, Director of Marketing and Student Relations at Manhattan GMAT, provides weekly articles to the forum and serves as a regular contributor.

Visit the Beat The GMAT! Forum today (http://www.beatthegmat.com) and ask these experts for advice about the GMAT and MBA admissions. They are here to serve you--for free!

Scholarship Finalists have been selected!

2006-05-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

Five finalists for the 2006 Beat The GMAT! Scholarship have been selected. Click here to read the applicant essays and to vote for whom you think deserves to win. The community will ultimately decide who deserves the scholarships: the two finalists who receive the most votes will be announced as the winners.

Voting ends May 20, 2006. Thanks, and best of luck to the finalists!

Beat The GMAT! Forum is launched!

2006-04-09T16:59:00.000-07:00

The new Beat The GMAT! discussion forum has gone live. Please visit http://www.beatthegmat.com/ to check it out.

Learn how you can earn $20 by simply using the forum!

Essay topic released: Apply now for the 2006 Beat The GMAT! Scholarship

2006-04-09T16:52:00.000-07:00

The essay topic for the Beat The GMAT! Scholarship is now available. Please click here for more details and instructions. Remember--the deadline to submit your essay is April 30, 2006. Best of luck!

The 2006 Beat The GMAT! Scholarship

2006-03-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that I have raised enough money through advertisements and donations to provide scholarships for two deserving people this year. I will buy all the GMAT preparation materials for two scholarship recipients—a package of 8 books, valued at nearly $150:

- Official Guide for GMAT Review
- Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review
- Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review
- Cracking The GMAT with DVD
- Kaplan GMAT with CD
- Kaplan GMAT 800
- Kaplan GRE & GMAT Math Workbook
- Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction GMAT Preparation Guide

These materials will provide excellent preparation for any person vying for a top GMAT score.

It’s very easy to apply: In the next few weeks I will release an essay topic. Each applicant will e-mail his/her essay response to me (in less than 300 words), and from the applicant pool I will pick 5 finalists. I will post the essay responses for the five finalists online, and two scholarship winners will be determined via an online voting poll. Ultimately, I will not decide who deserves the scholarships—YOU WILL DECIDE THE WINNERS with your vote. Applicants must be U.S. residents (sorry, I can’t afford to ship internationally this year).

Here’s a timetable for this year’s Beat The GMAT! Scholarship:

- April 10, 2006 - Essay topic released
- April 30, 2006 - Deadline to e-mail essay response to me
- May 7, 2006 - Five finalists revealed and online poll to vote for winners created
- May 20, 2006 - Poll ends and 2 scholarship winners announced!

I urge all people planning to take the GMAT to apply for this scholarship. It’s an easy way to get some free books!

***

In other news, I am happy to report that the Beat The GMAT! Discussion Forum is in the final stages of development and should launch in the next few weeks. IMPORTANT NOTE: the discussion forum will occupy the www.beatthegmat.com URL. If you wish to visit this blog in the future, please go to beatthegmat.blogspot.com.

I urge you all to please help me in making the Beat The GMAT! Discussion Forum a robust online community. As an incentive, I will be awarding a $20 gift certificate to the top forum contributor each month, for the rest of 2006.

New Years Resolution - Discussion Forum

2006-01-03T20:45:00.000-08:00

Expect some big changes with Beat The GMAT! this year. I'm in the process of creating a free GMAT discussion forum. I hope that one day the Beat The GMAT! Forum will be one of the best GMAT communities on the Internet. Stay tuned--I plan to launch in a few months...

Thanks for the Donations!

2005-12-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report that advertising revenue and donations have brought in $175 towards the Beat The GMAT! Scholarship to date! This amount is more than sufficient to fund one of my planned scholarships for April 2006—I am hoping that by the springtime, I will have doubled this amount to provide GMAT study materials for at least two deserving people.

Thanks to all of you who have contributed! I urge all of you out there to please consider donating to this cause. Donations and advertising revenue will go towards funding the Beat The GMAT! Scholarship.

Thanks very much for your help. Happy holidays!

Flashcards Now Available!

2005-10-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

As promised, I have finished digitizing my prized flashcards and they are now available for download. Please use them as a resource to assist you in your studies. A caveat: my flashcards are no substitute for creating your own. I highly recommend GMAT prep folk out there to create your own set of unique flashcards because you will learn a lot from the process.

The flashcards can be downloaded here:

Beat The GMAT Flashcards

Best of luck and enjoy! Feel free to distribute these flashcards freely!

Flashcards are coming!

2005-09-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Many readers have contacted me over the last few months inquiring about the flashcards I created for my studies. These flashcards were a critical component of my GMAT preparation, allowing me to stay fresh on important concepts and strategies. Towards the end of my studies I had made close to 300 of them, which I reviewed almost daily.

I am currently in the process of digitizing my prized flashcards. I don't have as much time as I did in the summer, so it will take a while to complete the process. I expect to have them available for download in about a month (give or take a few weeks). Until then--for all those currently studying for the GMAT--be sure to create your own set of flashcards! You learn a great deal from the process, believe me.

Stay tuned--my flashcards will be available for download here soon.

By the way, thanks to those of you who actually bid good money for my flashcards. Some of your offers really tempted my capitalistic side--I could have made a killing! Save your money, I'll distribute these cards for free.

Changes to the GMAT in 2006

2005-09-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

Princeton Review has issued a press release relating important changes to the GMAT, beginning January 2006. Thanks DaveForMBA for the tip!

Score Report

2005-09-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

I got my official score report in the mail today. Looks like I got a '5.0' on the AWA. A good score, not that it matters--admission committees really do not pay much attention to this component of the GMAT. Shits and giggles I suppose...

The Beat The GMAT! Scholarship

2005-08-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I really appreciate the support that my readers have given me over the last few months while I have been studying for the GMAT. I've been thinking about ways to give something back to everyone out there as a show of thanks, and I've decided that I'm going to do two things:

First, I am going to continue to maintain and develop this website. I hope this site will one day become one of the best GMAT prep/study guides available anywhere--and of course, Beat The GMAT! will always remain FREE.

Second, I wish to set up a Beat The GMAT! Scholarship, in which I will buy all the GMAT prep books for a few deserving people each year.

In terms of the application process for this scholarship, I'll likely judge applicants by how they answer an essay topic from an actual MBA application. It will be good practice for you all, and perhaps an excuse to jumpstart your fall applications.

The first scholarship round will probably take place in April 2006. I'll provide full details about the scholarship and the application process when the time comes.

Thanks again to everyone, and best of luck in your GMAT studies!

Reflecting on my GMAT Experience

2005-08-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, August 16, 2005, I took the GMAT and scored a 720 (90th percentile quant/85th percentile verbal/96th percentile overall). The result was slightly lower than what I had anticipated, but I am still satisfied. I worked very hard over the last few months to obtain this score.

Background

I am a recent non-engineering graduate from a top university in the United States. I will soon be starting my first full-time job out of school at a major software company, and I plan to work for several years before applying to business schools. Since I had some leisure time between my graduation and my first day of work, I decided to take this opportunity to get the GMAT out of the way. In hindsight, I should have spent my summer drinking more and traveling around the world--oh well.

I was born and raised in the United States.

Overview of How I Studied

My first step in this process was doing a search on Amazon.com and determining which books seemed worthwhile for my preparation. After reading some reviews on Amazon as well as doing some significant Googling, I decided to buy the following texts:

- Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition
- Kaplan GMAT 2005 with CD
- Kaplan GMAT & GRE Math Workbook [EDITOR'S NOTE: This is now called 'Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook']
- Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT 2004 (I bought this one a while ago)

As I got into my prep, I added the following:

- The Delta Course (an online math review)
- Kaplan GMAT 800

I was initially confused about how I would design my study plan, but fortunately I discovered two incredible GMAT forum posts by two incredible people: Ursula and TwinnSplitter. Both were high scorers themselves, and each had an excellent methodology for attacking the GMAT. I urge all future GMAT test prep folk to check out their posts.

I devised the following study plan for myself:

First, I familiarized myself with the GMAT as a whole. Before I started studying, I had no knowledge of the GMAT. Period. I didn't know what subjects were tested, how many questions each section had, etc. I initially learned about the GMAT and its subtleties by reading through Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT, Kaplan GMAT 2005, Kaplan Math Workbook, and Delta Course (since I assumed I was weak in math) cover-to-cover in that order. I spent the first half of my studies just reading through these books linearly and not emphasizing any single topic, just to get a general feel for the test.

After thoroughly reviewing the aforementioned texts, as well as the problem sets featured in those texts, I systematically attacked each section/problem type on the GMAT--reading comprehension, sentence correction, critical reasoning, data sufficiency, and problem solving--by practicing with Official Guide (OG) and Kaplan 800. Here, I employed TwinnSplitter's approach for tackling each section: for a given section I would rigorously practice problems of that type from OG and Kap800. I would do about 40 problems a day and would carefully review all explanations and analyze all errors. To help me analyze my errors, I recorded all my answers onto an Excel grid originally created by Ursula. This grid greatly aided me in determining where my weaknesses were in each section. Usually after about a week or a week and a half, I would feel like I had gained sufficient proficiency in the given section and would move on to another section, applying the same methodology but also doing 10 review questions from the previous section(s). I was able to finish all of Kap800 and most of OG through this strategy.

Finally, in my prep strategy I made it a point to take as many practice tests in front of the computer as possible. I tried to take a practice test every week using tests from PowerPrep, Princeton Review, Kaplan, and GMATPrep. These practice tests were crucial for helping me build the stamina I needed to sit through a 3.5-hour test.

Also, throughout my prep I handwrote close to 300 flashcards. Whenever I encountered some piece of information that I thought was critical to my GMAT success, I wrote it down on a flashcard. I tried to make it a point to review my flashcards everyday. Doing so helped me stay fresh on topics that I had covered well in the past.

I normally studied about 2-4 hours per day, but during my prep I took several long vacations that disrupted the consistency of my schedule. I usually did not work during the weekends.

Thoughts on Each Section of the GMAT

QUANT

On my test day, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the quant questions I saw on the real GMAT were virtually identical to those found in Official Guide, 10th Edition. I'm referring specifically to the medium/hard bin questions in OG. While I took my GMAT, I arrived at the conclusion that ETS was lazy. So many of the same question patterns I had seen in OG were tested on the actual test. Even the language of certain questions was the same, except for some slight changes in numbers used. It was really great!

Therefore, I believe that the best way to prepare for the quantitative section of the GMAT is to practice with OG, practice with OG, practice with OG! Be sure to pay special attention to the medium/hard bin questions in this book. If you are using 10th Edition, you can identify the difficulty level of each question using this grid. If you have time, try to do all the questions in OG. If you are pressed for time, do the last 100 questions of the problem solving and data sufficiency sections--they are the most representative of the real test because they come from the most recently retired GMAT exams.

__________

Data Sufficiency

Data sufficiency (DS) caused me a lot of problems early into my studies. Like many GMAT takers, I hadn't seen this question type before and I was initially confused about figuring out the best ways to attack these questions. Eventually, I was able to master DS by: (1) practicing as many DS questions as possible and reviewing my errors; and (2) systematically approaching each question:

Here's the DS strategy I wrote about in my Day 52 blog entry:

1. First, I read the question prompt very carefully, making sure I understand the information being presented. A common error I make is in misreading.

2. Next, I determine the question type-whether it is a "YES/NO" or "Asking for Value" question. WRITE DOWN the question type on your scrap paper. I've discovered that writing down the question type has been the most important factor in improving my DS proficiency. It keeps me on track for determining what kind of sufficiency I am seeking in a given problem.

3. Finally, keep the statements separate when solving. Very standard and important advice.

One thing that pissed me off about the books I read was that I couldn't find a single book that addressed DS strategy well. I had to figure out my own methodology. But trust me, once you have had a lot of practice with these question types, they become easy. Future GMAT test takers: be sure to review plenty of number property DS questions before you take your real exam (questions like, is "x>y?" or "is integer N odd?").

VERBAL

Sentence Correction

As I mentioned before, I am a native English speaker, a fact that gave me a huge advantage in sentence correction over non-native speakers. The GMAT tests a lot of idioms and subtle American English grammar that, in my opinion, cannot be easily learned unless you practice American English on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong-it's still possible for any person to master these question types on the GMAT!

The great thing about the GMAT is that it tests only a limited set of rules. Princeton Review and Kaplan 800 provide a good overview of the various SC question patterns. Two free guides that I found critical to my study of SC were Spidey's Sentence Correction Notes, and Sahil's Sentence Correction Notes. These guides, created by two really generous guys, contain incredible information and no bullshit. Everyone should download them.

Even though I am an American native and had plenty of OG practice, SC was by far my greatest weakness on the GMAT. I never did get a complete grasp on the various question patterns to be found on the test. If I could do it all over again, I would have purchased the Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction Guide. I've heard only phenomenal reviews about this book. This is especially a must have for non-native English speakers.

__________

Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension (RC) was probably my strongest section on the GMAT. I had a very reading-intensive major in college so I was all ready used to breaking down passages like those found on the GMAT. The best advice I can give to someone about mastering RC is not to follow anyone's advice too closely.

I believe that RC is particularly hard to advise people on because a person's approach to these types of questions is very personal. Princeton Review and Kaplan say that skimming is the best method for tackling RC-which may be true for some people. However, I've found that reading carefully works best for me (but quickly--reading each passage in under 5 minutes), while simultaneously taking notes. Thus, different strategies for RC work for different people, so it will be up to you to experiment and determine what works best for you.

In any event, here's the strategy I used for attacking RCs. The following can be found in my Day 44 blog posting:

1. Immediately write down the topic and scope after reading the first paragraph of a given passage. Doing so will help you think about questions relating to the main point or main purpose.

2. Try to go into an RC passage with an attitude that you are excited to learn about the information it contains. It takes some practice, but this strategy helps you maintain your focus while you read.

3. Read linearly. That is, try not to read sentences or parts of passages over and over again--doing so will slow you down dramatically and actually confuse you because the ideas in the passage are not being read in logical order.

4. Do not skim, but read quickly. This is a personal strategy. I find that I digest information better when I don't gloss over too much detail.

I also cycled the following questions in my mind while reading an RC passage:

1. Why is the author writing?

2. What is being said?

3. How does the author accomplish her goal?

This strategy worked for me, but it may not for you. Once again, it's all about experimentation and a ton of practice.

__________

Critical Reasoning

I developed a fairly systematic approach for critical reasoning (CR). Usually CR didn't cause me that much problems, but I did tend to make a lot of careless errors because of lapses in concentration. This is the big challenge when it comes to CR: staying focused! I think that my verbal score suffered on the real GMAT because I started getting sloppy with these types of questions--I guess I'll never really know for sure.

Here's the method I came to rely on for CR--an excerpt from my Day 66 blog entry:

1. Read the question prompt first and WRITE DOWN the question type (weaken, assumption, etc.)

2. Read the CR passage actively, noting the location of the conclusion and premises.

3. Look at answer choices and immediately eliminate choices that are out of scope, moving top to bottom. Remember, the CR passage provides a limited set of information. There tends to be a lot of answer choices with out-of-scope information.

4. Review answer choices that are left and pick the one that best answers the question.

As for anything related to the GMAT, practice makes perfect when it comes to CR. After you do a lot of problems you well get a feel for the patterns and question types that ETS loves to test. In my actual exam, I found that ETS was particularly fond of strengthen/weaken questions.

Be sure to be familiar with boldface question patterns. None of the textbooks I reviewed addressed boldface questions, which are a new format for CR. Official Guide only had one boldface practice question in the entire book. I encountered two of such questions on my actual GMAT, and I was stumped for both. The only resource I have seen for tackling these types of questions was a post from a GMAT forum. OG 11th Edition may address boldface questions better, but I haven't had the opportunity to check out this new text. In any case, be sure to do your research on these types of questions!

AWA ESSAYS

I found preparing for the essays to be the easiest aspect of my entire GMAT prep. The first thing I did was download the official list of AWA topics. GMAC is nice enough to publish this list of topics that can be tested on the GMAT. Next, I tried to figure out what it takes to score a '5' or a '6' on these essays. I came across the some tutorials online, which provides some helpful templates for organizing a high-scoring essay, as well as a few good examples of essays.

I did several practice essays under timed conditions using topics from the official list. In total, I did 5 analysis of issue practice essays and 5 analysis of argument practice essays. This is how I would typically spend my time for each 30 minute essay:

- 5 minutes for brainstorming, creating an outline.

- 20 minutes for writing.

- 5 minutes for proofreading and editing.

I recommend that you all do a few practice essays before your GMAT, just so you can get a sense of how to organize your time and ideas. Also, check out TwinnSplitter's discussion of AWAs--he lists some useful additional resources.

My Review of the Materials I Used

Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition

Many people refer to OG as the Bible of GMAT prep. But it's so much more than that. Official Guide is the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, and the Gita of GMAT prep. Every person should buy this book.

If you have time, do all the problems in OG. If you are under time constraints, emphasize the last 100 or so questions from each section, as they contain the most recently retired GMAT questions and also tend to be the hardest questions of each section.

Be sure to carefully analyze your mistakes and to read the explanations to ALL the problems. ETS likes to test the same patterns over and over again in their tests. Be keen on learning these patterns--this can only be done through rigorous practice. Like I said, on my actual GMAT many of the quant problems were virtual replicas of problems I saw in OG.

A few weeks ago, a new Official Guide 11th Edition was released. I have yet to review this latest edition, but I would advise future test prep folk to invest in this book because it is always best to practice with the most recently retired GMAT questions.

__________

Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT 2004 with CD

A lot of people bad mouth this book because they complain that PR's practice questions are too easy, and that the book in general isn't too helpful for people who wish to score 700+ on the GMAT. In my opinion, many of their complaints are valid. The problems do seem a bit basic. Additionally, it's true that PR is designed specifically for people who wish to score in the 500s or 600s.

However, if you are starting off your GMAT studies without any prior knowledge of the GMAT (like I did), of all the books I have reviewed, PR offers the best introduction to the test. What makes this book terrific is that it is an easy read. The authors of PR have a great sense of humor and they organize their material well.

I liked the practice tests that were featured on the PR CD. Do them all if you have the time. Watch out for practice CAT 2 though--I found a bug in the scoring algorithm.

I highly recommend people to read the PR book first in their prep. From this book you'll get a good sense of what this test is all about as well as pick up some handy general test-taking strategies.

__________

Kaplan GMAT 2005 with CD

This book also offers a good introduction to the GMAT. It is not as readable as the PR book, but the Kaplan book is certainly more thorough and features rigorous practice problems.

A special caveat to those people unfamiliar with Kaplan: Do not worry too much if you have difficulty solving Kaplan's practice problems. They are very hard--much harder than what you will see on the actual GMAT--and many of the problems are also poorly written.

IMPORTANT WARNING: Do not fret about your Kaplan practice test scores. The scores tend to be skewed down dramatically--from 70-120 points below what you should actually expect on your real exam. This is just a ploy by Kaplan to scare people into buying their expensive classroom test prep services. Nevertheless, it's still worth practicing the tests on the Kaplan CD because you should have as much GMAT simulation as possible before your real exam.

__________

Kaplan GRE & GMAT Math Workbook [EDITOR'S NOTE: Now called 'Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook']

I'm lukewarm about this book. I didn't find it too useful in my preparation. At first, I thought I was going to like this book because it seemed to comprehensively cover the fundamentals of GMAT math--which it does in fact do adequately. However, by the time I finished I felt like this book was too basic and didn't offer much strategy.

This book may be well suited for people who have been out of college for a long time or have not touched math in a long time. But the regular Kaplan and Princeton Review books are probably sufficient to cover the fundamentals. Save your money.

__________

Kaplan 800, 2005-2006

I bought this book on a spontaneous Amazon.com shopping spree. What surprised me about this book is that it does not offer that many practice problems, in comparison with the aforementioned books. However, it does feature very thorough and very clear explanations to each problem. This is a great book to buy if you are looking for decent strategies to obtain a 700+.

Kaplan 800's math review is simply fabulous. The math review alone is reason enough to buy this book.

Purchase this book and review it slowly, if you have the time.

__________

The Delta Course

I feel like I wasted my money and time investing in the Delta Course. Don't get me wrong--this online advanced math review will teach you a lot of great tips for solving probability, permutation, and combination problems.

Nevertheless, the reality is that people overemphasize the necessity of preparing for these kinds of questions. In my actual GMAT, I only encountered one permutation/combination problem. It was so easy that I didn't even need to apply my fancy Delta Course knowledge.

To do well on the quant section of the GMAT, you are best served by thoroughly practicing arithmetic and algebra. Don't waste your money by buying this service like I did.

__________

PowerPrep and GMATPrep

The great thing about these software programs is that they are free, so definitely download them.

PowerPrep is a great resource. Be sure to look through the quantitative review. It is very comprehensive and also contains some good strategies for solving some hard problems. The look and feel of the practice tests on this software are exactly the same as what I saw on my actual GMAT. The only bad thing about this software is that the questions employed in the practice tests are drawn directly from Official Guide 10th Edition. Do one practice test at the beginning of your prep, before you touch OG, and one after your prep, after you reviewed OG. The two scores have traditionally served as an accurate predictor of the range of your real GMAT score. One complaint that a lot of people have had about PowerPrep is that its tests' quant sections are too easy in comparison with the real GMAT. In my actual test experience, I didn't find this to be the case.

GMATPrep is the new software that is supposed to replace PowerPrep. In the near future, all GMAT tests will have the same look and feel as the tests found in GMATPrep. The makers of this software claim that these practice tests do not overlap with questions found in OG 10th Edition; unfortunately I found some overlap, but not too much. GMATPrep also features tests with more difficult quant sections than can be found on PowerPrep. Consequently, I think that GMATPrep is presently the most accurate representation of an actual, typical GMAT exam.

Practice Tests

I took a ton of practice tests. Do as many as you can during your own prep. Here's a breakdown of my scores:

4/7/05 - PowerPrep 1 - 690 (45Q, 39V)

4/20/05 - Princeton Review CAT 1 - 690 (46Q, 40V)

4/29/05 - Kaplan Diag CAT - 670 (42Q, 41V)

5/6/05 - Princeton Review CAT 2 - 690 (43Q, 42V) [Skewed down from a bug]

5/16/05 - Kaplan CAT 1 - 610 (39Q, 35V)

5/25/05 - Princeton Review CAT 3 - 720 (45Q, 45V)

6/2/05 - Kaplan CAT 2 - 590 (38Q, 33V)

6/17/05 - Kaplan CAT 3 - 620 (38Q, 36V)

6/24/05 - Kaplan CAT 4 - 590 (37Q, 35V)

7/15/05 - Princeton Review CAT 4 - 720 (45Q, 45V)

8/1/05 - GMATPrep 1 - 720 (47Q, 41V)

8/8/05 - GMATPrep 2 - 740 (49Q, 42V)

8/15/05 - PowerPrep 2 - 760 (51Q, 41V)

8/16/05 - ACTUAL GMAT - 720 (96th Percentile)

Final Advice

My apologies for this post being so long. If you are still reading--I am amazed. Here are some concluding thoughts I have about preparing for the GMAT:

- To Recent Grads: If you are a recent college graduate thinking about business school down the road, consider taking the GMAT in the near future. This test will probably be a lot easer to study for as a student or a recent graduate because your study habits will still be fresh. Your GMAT scores are good for 5 years, so get the test out of the way early if you can.

- Flashcards: Record all your critical notes about the GMAT onto blank flashcards and make it a point to review your flashcards frequently. This is such an effective method for drilling strategy points and knowledge into your head. Start making flashcards from the first day of your studies. By the time I took the test, I had close to 300 cards--I was really glad I made the effort because they made my last-minute review a breeze.

- Online Forums: I wish I had done this more myself, but participate on online fora like Beat The GMAT Forum and TestMagic. These fora foster excellent discussion on all things GMAT, from general strategy to answers to specific questions. Participate a lot and solve the problems that are posted--it's an excellent way of mastering the test. Careful though: these fora can be addictive!

- Keep it short: I did about 12 weeks worth of prep over the span of four and a half months. In hindsight, I wish that I had maintained a tighter schedule so that I could have taken my test earlier. Try to keep your test prep within 2-3 months. Extending your prep too much can lead to burnout as well as forgetfulness.

- Read about others' successes: If you find yourself slumping in your studies or becoming jaded, read about the successes of other test takers on the online fora mentioned above. These people have a lot to share in their happy posts. It's a surefire way of gaining insight about the exam and boosting your own morale.

- Confidence: You must walk into your test with a leave-no-prisoner-behind attitude. No matter what happens during your prep or during your test, NEVER lose faith in yourself. Prepare well for your test, expect to score high, and reach your target. Shaky confidence will lead to disaster.

- Blog it: Consider blogging your own test prep experience. It's a great way of staying on track with your studies, and you will be helping future generations of GMAT prep people through your documentation. E-mail me your blog address and I will create a link to it on Beat The GMAT. Let's create a new online community of people who have successfully studied for the GMAT on their own! Set up your free blog at Blogger.

- Finally, Enjoy!: Don't forget to enjoy what you are doing. Don't you remember a time when math problems were kinda fun? Don't you sometimes think that the reading comprehension passages you read contain some interesting information? Find a way to have some fun with your GMAT preparation. It's probably something very different from what you do on a normal basis, so appreciate the experience for what it is. Once you can convince yourself that what you are doing is fun, the process becomes a whole lot easier.

That's all I got. I apologize if I left out some details or if I made some grammar/spelling mistakes.

I'd like to send out my sincerest thanks to all of you who have read my blog and supported me throughout my GMAT preparation. Beat The GMAT has received visitors from every continent in the world (except Antarctica-maybe soon). It has been so satisfying for me to know that my blog serves such a large and diverse community. I hope to continually show my thanks and commitment to you all by maintaining my website for the future.

Remember: You can Beat The GMAT too! Best of luck!

Eric
Beat The GMAT! http://www.beatthegmat.com

Debriefing from a guy who scored a 790

2005-08-18T16:10:00.000-07:00

The following is one of the most influential posts I've ever seen on GMAT strategy. "TwinnSplitter," the guy who wrote this post, had an incredible strategy for attacking the GMAT. I borrowed heavily from his strategy in forming my own study plan.

TwinnSplitter applied principles of high-performance athletic training to GMAT Prep. It's a fantastic methodology for approaching the GMAT.

Enjoy! http://www.urch.com/forums/just-finished-my-gmat/26097-790-gmat-q50-v51-4.html#post152529

Ursula's Debriefing

2005-08-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

The following is a legendary debriefing by a GMAT forum user named "Ursula," who scored a 760 on the GMAT. Her post is the reason why I became inspired to study for the GMAT on my own and create Beat The GMAT!

Ursula developed a simple and methodical study strategy--truly a beautiful thing.

Enjoy! http://www.urch.com/forums/just-finished-my-gmat/10134-760-q49-v46.html#post41054

Updated Links

2005-08-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to updating the links on this website. There are now links to over 50 sites and resources that I had used during the course of my GMAT preparation [EDITOR'S NOTE: All these links have been moved to the 'Resources' section of the Beat The GMAT Forum].

In other news, I'm planning a "Beat The GMAT! Scholarship." More information about that soon...

G-Day Details

2005-08-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a recap of my G-Day:

I began my day by waking up at 9:30 AM. My test was scheduled for 1:00 PM, so I had the luxury of being able to sleep in a little bit. I had no problems sleeping during the night, and I woke up feeling rested and refreshed. After reading some e-mails and taking a shower, I went down to the kitchen and ate a huge breakfast around 11:00 AM. My sister was kind enough to prepare for me: an enormous omelet, some canadian bacon, and a giant peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It took me a while to get all this food down, since my stomach was a little uneasy from nerves. After my meal, I played around on the computer for a little bit and then took off for the test center at 12:10 PM.

I'm fortunate to have a Prometric test center within ten minutes of my parent's house (just to clarify, I've been at my parent's place for the last few days). I walked into the test center around 12:20 PM and was greeted by two friendly Prometric employees. They had me fill out a nondisclosure agreement, and then I put all of my belongings into a locker, except for my license and a pair of foam earplugs I brought with me. A Prometric employee checked my identification before I entered the testing room and then escorted me to my computer terminal.

I really liked how Prometric set up its computers. Where I went--and it may be the case for all Prometric centers--I was given a cubicle of my own with very high walls. My terminal featured a desktop computer, large CRT monitor, and an adjustable desk chair. In each cubicle, a soundproof headset is provided. I didn't use my clunky headset because I had brought my own earplugs.

The Prometric employee handed me 8 blank yellow sheets of paper and two pencils, and I was able to start my test around 12:30 PM. I'm glad I didn't have to wait until 1:00 PM.

The AWAs were great! My analysis of argument was very easy to pick apart, and I was able to write four paragraphs and about 400 words in about 22 minutes. I had plenty of time to proofread and edit. My analysis of issue was also pretty easy, and I finished with about 3 minutes to spare. I took my AWAs to be a good sign for the rest of my test.

After the essays, I left the test room for my five minute break. I went to the bathroom and then ate one bite of a granola bar that I brought with me. Prometric provided some cold filtered water, so I took a few small sips before heading back into the testing room.

The quantitative section was a breeze for me today! I only saw one combinations problem, which I was able to easily solve. I solved a lot of arithmetic word problems and number property data sufficiency questions. Many of the problems were strikingly similar to OG questions that I had previously reviewed--it almost felt like I was cheating. Thus, in my experience today I found that the difficulty level of quant problems on the real GMAT matched that of the practice questions in OG. I have to admit though, by question 20 I was freaking out a little bit because it didn't seem like the questions were getting any harder. But I reminded myself that I was well prepared for quant and everything should seem easy to me. I finished with 8 minutes to spare!

Following my quant section, I took another five minute break. I followed the same routine as my previous break--went to the bathroom, took a bite out of the granola bar, drank water, headed back into the test. At this point I thought to myself, "it's almost over, finish hard!"

The verbal section started out fairly well. The first ten questions didn't seem too harsh. I got a bold face question around question #6, and then two back-to-back reading comprehension passages around question #10. In general, the reading comprehension wasn't as tough as I had anticipated. I got 1 science passage, 2 history passages, and 1 business-related passage--all of them were under 45 lines. Around question 20, however, I started to run into problems. I just couldn't keep up the intensity of my concentration. I think I had overexerted myself during the quant section, and my attention began to drift in and out. By question 30, I snapped back into gear as I was getting excited about the test ending soon.

So after clicking my final verbal question, I went through about 12 screens of survey questions. I blew through them to get to my scores. I was hoping to jump up for joy, seeing a 750, but instead I had a rather emotionless 720. I was pretty disappointed in my verbal score, but extremely happy about my quant performance.

I walked out of the testing room somewhat somber, but a Prometric employee greeted me with a huge smile and said, "Wow! You blew this test out of the water!"

They printed out my unofficial score report for me, told me I'd get my official report in 2 weeks, gave me a small pamphlet called "Interpreting Your Scores," and then I got my stuff and left the building for home. By then it was 4:45 PM.

***

At the moment, I'm debating whether I should retake the GMAT. However, I'm leaning towards not retaking it. Even though I am convinced that I could score above 40 in verbal upon second try, I have to take the GMAT in perspective. What good would 20 more points, or even 40 more points do for my MBA candidacy? The answer is not that much. My 720 score all ready would put me in competitive position for the elite MBA programs. Also, it's important to remember that the GMAT is a means to an end--not an end in itself.

In any event, I feel like I deserve a long break from the GMAT. I'll let you all know how my AWAs go. Thanks for reading this long post!

G-Day Result: 720 (96th Percentile)

2005-08-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to thank everyone who supported me throughout this prep process. Your support did mean a lot to me!

I took my GMAT today, and I scored a 720 (90th Percentile Quantitative; 85th Percentile Verbal; 96th Percentile Overall). I'm satisfied with the overall score, but I'm a bit concerned about my poor verbal performance. There is an 11 point difference between my scaled quantitative score and my scaled verbal score (verbal was under 40). Ideally, I wished to have more balanced scores.

During the test, I simply lost my focus when I got into the verbal section, and I don't think I performed to my potential. At least my quant score turned out to be very good!

I'm going to wait and see how my AWAs turn out. If I get a 5.0+, I'm definitely not going to retake the test because my essays at that point should demonstrate that I do indeed have strong verbal abilities.

Anyway, I'm slightly pissed, slightly happy, and very relieved. I didn't reach my goal of 750+, but that's okay. This score should keep me competitive for the top MBA programs I will eventually apply to.

In the near future, I'll write a detailed follow up of my test experience, as well as a summary and reflection of this entire prep process.

Thanks again for reading!

I seriously hate you, Prometric!!

2005-08-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

My test has been rescheduled again for tomorrow.

Here's my situation. Prometric called me this morning telling me that my original test center was closed because of technical difficulties it was experiencing and that I had to reschedule. Accordingly, I rescheduled my test for Wednesday at a site an hour away from my home (the only thing available at such short notice). Later that day, a representative from my original test center called me to remind me that I had an exam with them tomorrow.

I was confused, so I called my original test center directly, at which time I was informed that they were experiencing no technical difficulties. So, I rescheduled my test back to my original time and place--but not without a $50 rescheduling fee!

Even though this situation was all Prometric's fault, this company refuses to waive the rescheduling fee. I'll have to write an angry letter later this week.

Die, Prometric!

Day 80 - PowerPrep 2

2005-08-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

Today I took my 13th and final practice CAT, PowerPrep 2.

As I mentioned before, PowerPrep draws its questions entirely from Official Guide 10th Edition, so none of the questions were fresh to me. That's not to say however that I remembered all of the answers. In fact, I had forgotten a few questions entirely.

The result: 760 (51Q, 41V). I'm a bit disappointed with my verbal score, but I had made an error on the second question in that section that totally screwed my final scaled score. In any event, this result is certainly skewed high, especially my quantitative score.

Considering my performance in all the practice tests I have taken to date, I am going to predict that my actual GMAT score will fall within the 710-750 range. I believe that it is unlikely that I will reach my goal of 750+, but I'll still be satisfied if I reach a 720+.

So now my test is on Wednesday morning. As Tom Petty once put it, "the waiting is the hardest part."

SUMMARY OF DAY 80 WORK:
1. PowerPrep Practice CAT 2.
2. Flashcards.

RECAP OF DAY 80 INSIGHTS:
1. See my post from earlier today. I'm still pissed at Prometric.

I really really hate you, Prometric!

2005-08-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

My test is now on Wednesday, August 17. This morning I received a call from Prometric (the company that facilitates GMAT testing) telling me that the test center I was supposed to go to on Tuesday is experiencing "technical difficulties," and that it was necessary for me to reschedule my exam.

This blows. My test was supposed to be tomorrow afternoon at a location 5 minutes from my house. Now I have to travel over one hour on Wednesday morning to take my GMAT.

Prometric: get your shit together!

[EDITOR'S NOTE: As of January 2006, the GMAT is no longer administered by Prometric. It is now administered by Petersen VUE.]

Day 79 - Final Review

2005-08-14T23:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks again everyone for the supportive e-mails. Just to clarify, my test is on Tuesday, August 16, not tomorrow (Monday).

I had a simple day of study. First, I went through my flashcards carefully and then proceeded to do all the practice questions on GMATPrep, which amounted to 75 questions total, covering all topics. GMATPrep is supposed to provide fresh, newly retired GMAT questions to its users, but I was disappointed to see a lot of overlap with Official Guide 10th Edition. Nonetheless, it was nice to get some practice in.

Tomorrow I will do my final full-length practice test, PowerPrep 2. Since I have completed most of OG, it is unlikely that I will see any fresh problems. But that's fine because I want to have a really high score before going into my real exam. There is somewhat of an informal tradition for GMAT prep folk to take PowerPrep 2 after completion of OG, since this score tends to be skewed high. It's a great confidence boost to have at the end of your prep.

It's all coming to a close soon. Thank God!

SUMMARY OF DAY 79 WORK:
1. Did all 75 review questions in GMATPrep software - Data Sufficiency, Problem Solving, Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension.
2. Reviewed Flashcards.

RECAP OF DAY 79 INSIGHTS:
1. Leave PowerPrep 2 for the end of your studies as a confidence boost before your test.

Day 78 - Review Continued...

2005-08-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'd like to make a major shout-out to all you readers out there. Many of you have been sending me supportive messages throughout this prep process, and it means a lot to me. You all rock.

That message of appreciation is long overdue. Anyway, I had another chill day of review. After doing two practice AWAs in the morning, I re-read Sahil's Sentence Correction Notes, which are excellent. Next, I re-read the Statistics and Counting Methods lessons in the Delta Course website and finished up by reviewing some errors I had committed in various Official Guide sets.

I'm plan on putting the studying aside for tomorrow. I'm going to hit up the beach to get some fresh sea air, which will be a welcome change to the stuffy room I usually study in. I've reached the point in my studies where the best thing to do is to relax--and I fully intend to do so.

SUMMARY OF DAY 78 WORK:
1. Analysis of Argument Practice.
2. Analysis of Issue Practice.
3. Re-read Sahil's Sentence Correction Notes.
4. Re-read Statistics and Counting Methods chapters of the Delta Course.
5. Reviewed 10 previous Official Guide Problem Solving errors.
6. Reviewed 10 previous Official Guide Sentence Correction errors.
7. Reviewed 10 previous Official Guide Critical Reasoning errors.
8. Reviewed 10 previous Official Guide Data Sufficiency errors.
9. Flashcards.

RECAP OF DAY 78 INSIGHTS:
1. Are you a few days away from your test? Relax. Take some time to clear your mind.