[60-Day Study Guide] Day 1 - Get Comfy with GMAT MATH

Hi Rafia,
Today's Quote:
The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex
overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.
- Mark Twain
Tweet that you're studying for the GMAT!
Day 1 Goal:
Time to get this party started! Hope that you are ready for an intense 60 days.
This first day is designed to familiarize you with the basic structure of the GMAT and to begin
identifying your strengths and weaknesses in mathematics.
To Do:

If you haven't done so already, add guide@beatthegmat.com to your contacts in your e-mail
system (to avoid issues with your spam filter)

Go to this thread and download two Excel files: "Improvement Chart for Official Guide 13th
Edition" and the "GMAT Progress Chart". Save these files to your computer. In the upcoming
weeks, you will use these tools to track your progress, identify weaknesses, and rectify problem
areas

On the MBA.com website, review the GMAT's test structure and overview

On the MBA.com website, review the information about GMAT scores and report

Familiarize yourself with the Beat The GMAT Website, GMAT/MBA Library, andCommunity

Become familiar with MBA Watch, a resource you'll be using later to investigate your target
MBA programs.

Register an account on MBA.com. In doing so, you can choose to receive information
regarding financial aid, recruiting events, and so on

Schedule your GMAT test for 59 days from today

Watch the Kaplan video, The GMAT Quantitative Section

Complete the math diagnostic test in the Official Guide for GMAT Review, 13th Edition (p. 2026)

Note: Take your time completing this test. The goal here is to gain familiarity with
GMAT math questions and to help identify your strengths and weaknesses. Also, don't worry about
the results. Remember, this is your baseline score; everything will improve from here.

Use the Answer Key on page 45 to determine your score, and use the Interpretive
Guide to help gauge your current mathematical abilities.

Record the diagnostic test results into your GMAT Progress Chart.
Questions or Comments?
If you need help with specific practice problems or need some tips for your prep strategy, post your
questions in the Beat The GMAT forums.
If you have an issue with today's e-mail, or would like to share a comment, please let us know by
posting in The 60-Day Study Guide feedback forum.
Good luck with your prep!
Brent Hanneson
The 60-Day GMAT Study Guide, Beat The GMAT

[60-Day Study Guide] Day 2 - Getting to Know the GMAT Verbal

Section
Hi Rafia,
Today's Quote:
Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Tweet that you're studying for the GMAT!
Day 2 Goal:
Today you will gain familiarity with the three question types tested in the GMAT Verbal section. You
will begin identifying your strengths and weaknesses in these areas.
To Do:
Complete the verbal diagnostic test in the Official Guide for GMAT Review, 13th Edition(p.

27-44)

Note: Take your time completing this test. The goal here is to gain familiarity with
GMAT verbal questions and to help identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Use the Answer Key on page 45 to determine your score, and use the Interpretive
Guide to help assess your current verbal abilities

Record the diagnostic test results into your GMAT Progress Chart

Read this Beat The GMAT member debriefing: from 610 to 750!! What worked, what didn't +
tools for you
Questions or Comments?
If you need help with specific practice problems or need some tips for your prep strategy, post your
questions in the Beat The GMAT forums.
If you have an issue with today's e-mail, or would like to share a comment, please let us know by
posting in The 60-Day Study Guide feedback forum.
Good luck with your prep!
Brent Hanneson
The 60-Day GMAT Study Guide, Beat The GMAT

[60-Day Study Guide] Day 3 - Your Baseline GMAT Score

Hi Rafia,
Today's Quote:
Do or do not. There is no try.
- Yoda
Tweet that you're studying for the GMAT!
Day 3 Goal:
Today you will discover your base GMAT score and gain familiarity with the GMAT test interface on a
computer.
To Do:
If you haven't already done so, download and familiarize yourself with the GMAT Progress

Chart

Download GMATPrep, GMAC's free test prep software. The GMATPrep practice tests
provide the most accurate assessment of your GMAT content knowledge, and they will help you
gauge your progress as you prepare for the GMAT
Read the article, Taking the GMATPrep Tests Multiple Times
In the Official Guide for GMAT Review, 13th Edition, review the section on Data Sufficiency
on pages 269-272
Take GMATPrep Practice Test #1

Important! Unlike the questions in the Quantitative and Verbal sections, the 12
questions in the Integrated Reasoning section do not change from test to test. In fact, Exam 1 and
Exam 2 both use the same 12 Integrated Reasoning questions. Since today's goal is to determine
your Quantitative and Verbal baseline scores, we'll "save" the Integrated Reasoning questions for a
later day. So, when you get to the Integrated Reasoning section, quickly enter guesses for all 12
questions. At a later date, when you retake the practice exam, you'll be instructed to carefully
answer the Integrated Reasoning questions at that time.
Don't Forget To:
Record the results of GMATPrep Practice Test #1 in your GMAT Progress Chart

Extra Reading:
Read the Veritas Prep article, Understanding the GMAT Scoring Algorithm

Questions or Comments?
If you need help with specific practice problems or need some tips for your prep strategy, post your
questions in the Beat The GMAT forums.
If you have an issue with today's e-mail, or would like to share a comment, please let us know by
posting in The 60-Day Study Guide feedback forum.
Good luck with your prep!
Brent Hanneson
The 60-Day GMAT Study Guide, Beat The GMAT
Hi Rafia,
Today's Quote:
What exactly is success? For me, it is to be found not in applause, but in the satisfaction of feeling
that one is realizing one's ideal.
- Anna Pavlova
Tweet that you're studying for the GMAT!
Day 4 Goal:
Over the next 19 days, you'll study all of the math concepts tested on the GMAT. Today you'll
examine important strategies for effectively tackling all math questions.
To Do:
If you are following the GMAT Prep Now video course:

Watch all videos in the General GMAT Strategies module

Watch all videos in the Data Sufficiency module

Note: Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with some of the math concepts addressed in
the Data Sufficiency videos; you will cover these concepts soon. The purpose of today's activities is
to understand the strategies required to tackle the two types of math questions you will encounter on
the GMAT.
If you are following the Manhattan GMAT Strategy guides:

In the GMAT Roadmap Strategy Guide, 5th Edition:

Read Chapter 2: Getting Organized (p. 23-48)

Read Chapter 3: How to Learn Content (p. 49-76)

Read Chapter 4: The Big Picture of GMAT Quant (p. 77-104)

Extra Reading:

Read the Veritas article, The Driving Force Behind Your GMAT Study

Read the Princeton Review article, Avoiding Careless Errors

Questions or Comments?
If you need help with specific practice problems or need some tips for your prep strategy, post your
questions in the Beat The GMAT forums.
If you have an issue with today's e-mail, or would like to share a comment, please let us know by
posting in The 60-Day Study Guide feedback forum.
Good luck with your prep!
Brent Hanneson
The 60-Day GMAT Study Guide, Beat The GMAT