Books
The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 9 th or 10 th edition
Kaplan book
I bought both but I used the Official guide for the most part.
Prep -
1. Reviewed the concepts section for Math and Verbal for 2 hrs over a couple of days. I spent a little time on figuring out how I planned to solve each section. For example, in Reading Comprehension, should I read the questions first or skim through the passage first. The stratergies in the books sound great, but I just could not seem to fold all these techniques into my method to solve something and still be quick. Simple is better, no?
2. For 3 weeks, 5 days a week I spent 1 hr preparing. I only did practice questions out of the book. Not the exams. I spent 20 mins for Math and 20 for Verbal and split the time equally between all types of questions. I spent the final 20 reviewing my answers. I used a stop watch and stuck to the time limit. In the review, I first scored my work, and marked the incorrect ones. I went back to the incorrect ones and without peeking at the answer tried to pick a new answer and then only did I read the explanation for the answer. I think the explanations helped me prevent some of the mistakes I was likely to repeat.
3. Exam simulation - 1 week before test, 3 tests, 1 a day.
Stick to time limit.
No cheating of any kind.
Complete the essay question at the end.
4. Do the top 10 things to do before exam day - should be similar to the stuff you do for CFA.
5. Exam day - Nothing new today, from breakfast to clothing to pencils. At the exam center, you are not so much in control, so be prepared, like dressing in layers, dont take valuables to the exam hall, request a seat away from anyone else (if possible). Take some ear plugs to the exam center.
I scored a 750.
Good luck.