kokus wrote:
Hi All,
I've made the decision to switch from the GMAT to GRE due to finding the general level of the Quant part easier and due the lack of Data Sufficiency questions. I would appreciate advice on my plan of attack as I've seen some really good posts here. Here I want to make a note, that the only preparation I've done for the GMAT was covering the 5 Manhattan Quant books which was roughly 6 months ago as I had to postpone my studies.
1: Current score,timeline, target score:-
Current score: I am still to take a full-length practice test, but took the sample one from the MGMAT 5lb book. The Quant part was in the 152 range and the Verbal in the 150 range (I need to build on my vocabulary, as I got 7/10 on Reading Comprehension, but only around 3 or 4) on filling words.
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Timeline: I am looking to take the test in September. The study time for the next 3/4 months will be around 16-20 hours per week.
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Target score: I am looking for 90th percentile on Quant (e.g.167) and 85th on the Verbal (e.g.160). This means roughly 15 points increase on Quant and 10 on Verbal.
2: Study Resources and approach (14-15 weeks plan):
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Quant: 4-6 weeks: I've already made notes of all the important concepts in the 5 GMAT Manhattan books. I believe covering these concepts will give me a solid base (I've already covered the Foundations of Math).My question here is whether there is a major difference between the GMAT and GRE Manhattan Quant books given that they have the same sections and the concepts of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry etc are the same?
-Quant: 6-10 Weeks: Practising have made the magic for me on previous standardised tests and I am planning on getting the Manhattan 5lb book and the official Quant book to practice. Also, I've read that the Official Guide Quant questions are way easier? Is this true?
-Verbal: Week 10-14: In the first 10 weeks, I will study 10-20 words per day (Manhattan essential words and Barron, as resources) which should get me to roughly 1,000 words by the end of week 10. Then I will spent the next 4 weeks covering the Manhattan Verbal and Official Guide Verbal.Keeping the habit of studying 10-20 words for those 4 weeks should get me to roughly 1,500 words by the end of week 14.
I would appreciate advice on the resources,plan I have chosen. Also, I have considered taking an online course, like
Magoosh and would appreciate advice on the usefulness of such course given the books I've listed above?
The most important thing is that you've got a clearly defined study plan, and it sounds like you're committed to following it! So that right there gets you a leg up. Now, in terms of the questions:
1) Regarding resources, you're right, the fundamental concepts are pretty much the same. However, the way in which they're presented can be slightly different on each test, so you're better off gaining as much familiarity as possible with GRE question style, since that's the test you plan on taking. Of course what you've learned from GMAT studying is completely transferable, but it's best to focus on the GRE. I'd recommend making use of the seemingly unlimited question banks on this forum
https://gre.myprepclub.com/forum/viewforumtags.php -- you can select problems by source material, if you like.
2) I always think it's a good idea to have more than one hardcopy resource on hand--the Official Guide for "official problems" (written by ETS), and a strategy-oriented guide, whether Manhattan, or
Kaplan, or any similar resource that you're comfortable with. There aren't all that many practice questions in the GRE general guide anyway, so you'll want to have additional resources available. You can find some tough questions in the Official Guide, but there are certainly more in those other resources.
3) Vocabulary: It's still an important part of the GRE, so yes, I highly recommend consistent vocab practice. And be methodical about it--whichever system you choose, make sure you're going back at the end of every week or so and reviewing your newly-acquired words to make sure you have them down.
I'd also recommend starting the actual GRE Verbal practice now, while you're working on vocab, rather than waiting. That way you'll be learning new words, while applying them in question-specific context.
4) Be STRATEGIC about your studying. In other words, don't just do practice questions/problems, but look for concepts and creative ways to tackle questions more efficiently. Look for clues in the questions/answers, look for ways to simplify, determine whether a question seems easy or difficult (if it's very difficult, may be worth flagging, and returning to later). And at some point, start phasing in short, timed drills.
5) Be consistent about practice tests. The best are, of course, from ETS, but there's a whole range of available tests that can be very helpful for diagnostic info and practice. You don't have to do one a week, but try to space them out somewhat evenly before the test.
6) In terms of signing up for online courses---they can certainly be helpful, but see how things are coming along. As you move ahead with your studying, determine whether you feel that you're making good progress with the self-study, or whether more formalized structure/feedback would be helpful.
Hope this was of some help to you, and best of luck!