Kaplan Exam and Today (06/30) To Do's

So on 06/28, I took a Kaplan exam and I scored a 650, its 50 points more than my previous diagnostic Kaplan exam. Out of 41 questions in verbal I got 10/13 S.C correct 6/14 C.R correct and 6/14 R.C correct. Somehow I couldn't focus well in the exam especially in CR and RC. While practicing in RC/CR using the OG book I could always score a minimum of 80%. But somehow I see a lapse in concentration while writing the exam.

I believe the lapse might be due to the shift from practicing using a book to using a computer in doing the same problem (Just my assumption). But my assumption could be wrong as in SC my accuracy remained same in both the cases. So it might not be the shift as mentioned above but it may be due to the methodical approach towards a problem. See in SC, i use the MGMAT split method, which always keeps me on toes and active in eliminating answer choices, so my Standard Deviation on most of the SC question lie around the mean time of 1 min in SC. So I think its the approach towards solving CR/RC which might help me to solve the issue mentioned. So I am going to finalize a methodological or strategic approach to CR and RC. I am going to review Kaplan, MGMAT and power score to come up with a Strategic approach while solving CR, same applies to RC. I am going to apply this approach on some questions in OG. Also, I am planning to work on online kaplan questions, since the interface is similar to GMAT Prep and it would help me to get used to screen. So, this what I am going to do next 3-4 days and give one more Kaplan exam

1. Finalize CR/RC Methodology to approaching questions
2. Use that approach in doing some quesitons, which were not previously attempted
3. Do questions from Kaplan Online CR/RC

Also, from kaplan exam analysis I found the below weak points I have in each topic:

Math
1. Number Properties
2. Mixture Problems
3. Digit Problems
4. Percent Problems

Verbal
1. Comparison questions In SC
2. Law Passages

Today's Goals:

1. Find Strategic approach for CR/RC and apply (Evening)
2. Do 10 CR questions in Kaplan/OG (Evening)
3. Do 2 Passages in Kaplan/OG (Evening)
4. Do Mixture Problems from Kaplan online database (Lunch break and free time in office)
5. Get Basics in SC Comparison Questions (Lunch break and free time in office)
6. Order WSJ.

I have taken off from work from tommorrow onwards (only Wed-Fri each week for next 4 weeks), so I will have more time to concentrate for GMAT. So thats it for today. Gotta do lot of Todo's, lets keep on rolling..

6/26 Update and Todays Prep

Had a effective GMAT preparation day yesterday; Completed some CR/RC and some SC questions. Again, I didn't get time to work on math, but today I will start keeping some time for Math. I was contemplating on some of the options I got for GMAT MATH, as I need to pick one for the next 30 days and steadfastly work on it:

1. GMAT CLUB tests
(pro: Reduces errors and familiarity w/t different question types; But are they close to OG level?)

2. Involving in Forums
(Same as above, Can I find OG Level questions)

3. Do advanced problems in OG 12/11/10 and see how can I do them faster?
(Something I like, find all adv problems and work on those, also I have tracked my time on each question, I can go back and see how can i speed each question further up)

4. GMAT Focus
(I might use this at the end of the process)

5. GMAT FIX
(Has GMAT Prep questions with answers; there are around 800 questions, all OG level)

I think choices 3, 4, 5 are closer to OG and I might prefer them, I will think about those and decide one.

Below is yesterday's update:

1. CR - Completed 10 questions, noted some points. Especially CR question 43 of the verbal review guide, when the argument doesnt mention about percentages/proportions or numbers then using "fewer number" or quantity in answer choice is incorrect. Check choice C and D, both use proportion and fewer, you can eliminate them. Read the OG explanation for more details (Accuracy - 90%)
Todays Goal: Complete 44- 54 questions
Time: 1.5 hours

2.RC - Did 4 passages, learnt that the structure is key, just keep structure in mind while reading and you can weed out what are details and what is the main content. While selecting an answer choice, make sure that there is a one line or a group of words that can justify your answer. For questions, which ask why author made a specific quote, paraphrase, why did the author bring in the point, probably to compare, probably to give example or etc., make a note of it, go to answer choices and eliminate accordingly. I need to improve on these questions, in order to.., which I will keep a note while doing RC today. (Accuracy: 82%)
Todays Goal: 4 RC; Before that read how to approach passages with Inorder to questions
Time: 1.5 hours

3. SC - Wrote down why each choice is wrong in Verbal review guide for each question. Did 20 of them. (Accuracy: 80%)
Todays Goal: Review All Notes I made until now. Work on 40 questions with 1 min timer
Time: 1.5 hours

4. Math - Didnt work yesterday
Todays Goal: Complete Reviewing Notes and Work on either probability or work on 40 math questions.
Time: 1.5 hours

and besides these I need to run for 30 mins. Lets do it :)

Hello GMAT

Hi..Everyone..Thought to keep a blog about my preparation for GMAT for a while, finally today my thought took action. I have been preparing for GMAT for about a month or two regularly, but recently had some burnouts which caused my motivation to go down, especially today when I wanted to study for 6-8 hours, but my mind was not allowing me as I was studying until 2 AM yesterday night. So the blog is a motivation for me to follow fellow GMAT bloggers and keep myself motivated. Below is a prep I have been doing for a month or two:

1. SC

Completed OG 12, Verbal Review,
Reviewed MGMAT notes (not thoroughly yet)
Accuracy: 80% out of 220 questions attempted

2. CR
Completed: LSAT All Strengthen, Weaken, Assumptions and some 10 tests
Accuracy in LSAT: Started with 50% moved to 80%.
I have noted that LSAT CR and GMAT CR are way different in terms of answer choices. (LSAT answers are predictable not GMAT)
OG 12 CR : Accuracy around 80%, but taking around 2.5 mins average
Verbal Review CR: Under Progress

3. RC
Completed
- LSAT RC (10 Sets) ; Accuracy around 70%, but timing is horrible around 12-14 minutes.
- OG 12 ; Accuracy around 80%
- Verbal Review: Accuracy around 80%

4. Math
Completed: Around 600 OG 12 Questions, PS Accuracy 92%, DS Accuracy 78%

Courses I am taking: KAPLAN (You can take practice exams at test center, thats main reason why I took this..also they got nice tips for Math)

Books I am referring: MGMAT, OG and LSAT.
=================================================================
So, this was the effort I kept until now, but I have to keep more smart work going a head. I got around 40- 50 days before I go for my main exam. Below is a tentative schedule I am following going a head

Daily:
SC - OG 12, 40 questions with 1 min per question
CR - Verbal Review - 20, Try the T-method in MGMAT, predict answer, find what kind of reasoning the question has and proceed
RC - Daily 4 RC

Math - I am not getting time to work on math, but I want to focus on weak points I have, for example:- probability- Work problems

Besides this I am maintaining notes (hard) for everything I am learning, this tip i got from a beatthegmat post.

Today I am planning to complete

CR
-Verbal Review 33-43 questions. Goal: Standardize the methodology for each question.
RC
- 4 Passages, with focus on Main Idea and Inorder to questions.
SC
- Review 5 questions which you got incorrect in OG 12; Revise Notes
Math
- No time to practice, but will review 10 previous incorrect questions..

Lets do it..