GMAT Strategy

I have been preparing for GMAT for the past 2.5 months now. I have given 3 CATs till now and here is my scorecard
CAT 1: GMAT Test Prep 1
Quants: 48
Verbal: 23
Total: 570
CAT 2: GMAT Test Prep 1 retake
Quants: 42
Verbal: 32
Total: 610
CAT 3: MGMAT test 1
Quants: 43
Verbal: 31
Total: 600

I started with PR. Then I ordered MGMAT set of 8 and coupled it with OG11. I have finished the MGMAT guide books and they have really helped in clearing the concepts. I am nearing the completion of OG 11. My main focus has been to develop accuracy and concepts rather than focus on speed and time management. I was targeting a score of 650+ in my 3rd CAT but was disappointed to see the results, especially in Verbal. I found Quants also hard this time. To be honest I wasn't expecting > 40. I feel confident about verbal now but this was somehow not reflected in the scores. My accuracy in Verbal varies from 70 - 75% in the later parts of OG11 and most of the Qs that go wrong are close calls. I think Time Management is the real root cause.

Here is my plan for the next 1 month
Focus: Now that I have all my strategies sorted out and I also have build up a decent accuracy level, I just need to straighten out my time management skills + sharpen my accuracy.

1. Do a full revision of PR+MGMAT+OG11 after completing OG11: Brush up concepts, mark the tricky questions, add on to my flash cards and analyze my strengths and weakness
2. Take another CAT
3. Use OGV & OGQ to sharpen the accuracy and strategy in a time boxed manner.
4. Take 2 more CATs to straighten out my time management while completing the supplementary books. I have yet to write AWA in any CAT.
5. Do a second revision after completing OGV & OGQ.

I am planning to complete these set of activities atleast 2 weeks before the test date: 28th Aug. My last CAT would be GMAT Test Prep 2. I am targetting a score > 700.

Two Questions:
1. Any thoughts on the 600, that I scored in the 3rd CAT?
2. Am I heading in the right direction?

The spirits are still high and the focus is still on :arrow:

Best Regards

Hi
I just thought of replying to my own post where I mentioned my strategy about revising PR+MGMAT all 8 books + OG11 - I solved 90% of all the problems in these books again. I think it has really helped. I would not shy away from recommending this strategy to anybody. I took a MGMAT CAT recently, though not in one sitting but in breaks. I got a score of 690 Q:45 and V:39.

The next important thing that I did was, manage my time well in the test:-
In the previous 3 CATs, I was left with 12/13 Qs to do in 18/19 min. I just altered the Eq, managing the last 13 Quants or 14V Qs in 25 min. I achieved this in the following way:
1. I moved on making an intelligent guess or just a stupid guess for Qs which I couldn't do. Knowing the Qs that I can or can't do helped me a lot.
2. 25 min for the last 13-14 Qs helped me to do justice to the last few Qs that I used to do wrong in a series.

Practicing just these two things: Revision and Time Management, helped me push my score from 600 to 690 on MGMAT.
I am about to start OG supplementary guides and here are my targets for the next CAT:
1. To repeat this score in a full length test: AWA+Q+V in one sitting.
2. Bring to zero the number of careless, silly, stupid errors in Quants. I committed 5 very silly mistakes.
3. Show a little improvement in RC.

Inch by inch I'm cruising ahead. Thanks for the support and information that I am getting from reading the questions from the blog. I think scoring 690 is a good milestone in itself, I now just need to repeat it to believe it :!: