GMAT Strategy

I'm completely sad. The first time I took the GMAT I was actually depressed. So sad is a lot better. Took the GMAT for the first time in 09, crammed it all in a month. Got a 380. Bad. Very bad. So on 2011, I learned my lesson. I didn't cram, instead I tried to prepare myself for it a lot better and thoroughly too. Ok, so I took a 2-1/2 month prep course, then I studied on my own. By they way, my weakness was everything (as you might imagine) but more so on Math. of course. So after the class ended in April, I comitted my self to studying five days a week about 2-3 hours. Then when I became unemployed later that month, I was studying 7-8 hours everyday. Everyday for almost 2 whole months was devoted to Math. Only Math. In fact, the only time I studied verbal was the last week before the test, which was June 25. My score? 370. Bad. Very Bad. How the heck did I get this score? I don't get it? Can someone please let me know? I know I have never been a good test taker. At all. But still, this was an epic failure. Might I add that this time around my math was a 13 as opposed to 23 on the first time I crammed it for a month...and I studied it for 2 whole months this time for 7-8 hours, 5 days a week!!! Why God Almighty why hasn't my hard work paid off?? Can someone please offer some suggetions?? I was thinking of studying for a whole year this time. I dunno. At this point I'll take any suggestions.

I feel your pain and frustration, I took it in may last year also got 380 and thinking of taking one more sometime very SOON actually ASAP.

I am worried the same will happen to me. thanks for sharing this , now i know that hard work sometimes doesn't pay as ALL other PEEPS here say it does ughh

#$#% GMAT

Valentta,

How did you study? Often, it's not the QUANTITY of studying as much as the QUALITY of studying that makes the difference. Without fully understanding the process you used for all those hours and weeks, it's hard to assess what could have gone wrong. What resources did you use to study? Did you follow a program of any sort? Did you use an error log in your studies?

Studying for 7-8 hours a day seems extreme. If you are THAT weak in Quant (getting a 13) then you definitely don't need to cram. You need to move slowly. Take 1-2 days off per week. Study in short bursts of 1-3 hours (min/max) at a time. You are not allowing your brain to fully grasp the logic behind the math concepts. The GMAT doesn't test raw math ability like high school standardized tests. It tests your ability to use logic/reason with those concepts.

I don't post much on these forums but I can't even count the number of posts I see like this. I'm just curious, what is the big hurry? The GMAT isn't changing until June 2012. That gives you almost a year to take the exam in its current format. So many posts in the Strategy section are from people who seem to be in a hurried panic to take the test. Why? B-school will always be there. Relax and take your time with it. This is a process. You're going from A-Z in 4 weeks. It's just not going to happen.

My overall point? Create a plan that doesn't set you up for failure. Take your time. You might even end up enjoying the journey. Afterall, isn't that what life is about?

Thank you Bens4vcobras and Brent GMAT Instructor. You're absolutely right. what is the hurry? Part of it is just my impatience. I will def. try out your suggestion in studying 1-3 with 1 0r 2 days off. That should help me absorb it the material a lot better. I hurried through math and went over too many topics in a short amount of time, so whenever I went back to something I thought I had mastered, I had already forgotten it. This time around I do have to really take it slow, practice a topic as much as I can, get it down packed, and then move on to the next topic.