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Think you cannot handle the GMAT? You can. Goal: Above 600

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vstraesser Just gettin' started!
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Think you cannot handle the GMAT? You can. Goal: Above 600 Post Sat Jan 28, 2012 1:17 pm
Getting into a European Top Grad-School, MSc Management - Debrief


Hi everybody,
I just took the GMAT, and although it didn't go quite as well as it could have, I am satisfied and reached my goal. This article might be interesting for everybody who wants to get into a Business program at a European Top Grad School, but feels like he or she cannot handle the GMAT.

I got a BA in English Linguistics. I always sucked at maths, big time, seriously. After graduation I started to work in sales and marketing, and I felt like I should get a Master's in Business to boost my career (opportunities). I knew the GMAT was part of every application. I bought the OG 12 guide, looked into the verbal section. I am not a native speaker of English, but that sometimes might even help. I studied grammar and syntax and all that excessively in school and college, but I looked at the verbal questions and had no idea what was going on. I checked out the math section. I could answer like one out of ten questions. That was it. No clue. I soon realized this was going to be tough.

Usually European Grad Schools expect results above 550, usually above 600. This might not seem too big of a problem for many people in this forum, but it can be a challenge. What I did:
1)Bought 4 month access to a Knewton Prep course. That helped a great deal to understand the concepts. I think I wouldn't have been able to do so otherwise. I did like 2 hours every day (besides my full-time job) taking those online classes.
2)After two months of studying with Knewton I started working on the Official Guides with past GMAT questions. I marked every single question I got wrong, reviewed it, did it again. I kept track of everything. I did OG 12 twice, OG 11 twice. I did the Quantative Review 2, and did some parts of the Verbal Review, too.
3)I read all sorts of forums, did questions I wouldn't find in those guides. The web is full of those.
4)I didn't do a Diagnostic Test with Knewton when I started. I would have gotten below 100. Seriously, I nearly wasn't able to get anything right.
5)After three months I took a Knewton CAT, 540. Did a second one two weeks later, 520. Did a MBA CAT a month later, 640. Three weeks later, before the actual test, 660.

I studied for 5 months total. Basically every day. I almost didn't party, didn't watch all the lovely TV stuff I like... I just focused, because I really want to get into one of those programs.
I took the GMAT yesterday, got 610. Above 600 is great for me and all I really need, so OK.
Surprising things:
1)I panicked in the Math section on the actual test. Guessed one question, guessed one more. Then got a real easy question on interest. I was so confused I guessed again. But then it went smoothly. I recognized the answers into which the GMAT wanted to trick me.
2)I wasn't too focused in the Verbal section. This test is tiring, and I somehow thought, I guess, that I can do verbal.
3)Result: Math 45, Verbal 28. Remember: I was a complete fail in maths, and I have a degree in Linguistics. Conclusion: To some extent, the GMAT is unpredictable. Second conclusion: the hard work pays off. I spend the most part of my time studying for the Quant section, and I did not too bad of a job.

You could say I improved like 400 points, in 5 months. It takes time and effort, but if you study hard, anything is possible. Try to understand the concept behind each question, make sure you get it. After several months of study, the GMAT is not going to surprise you.

Good luck to everybody, take care.
Cloudy

Thanked by: Cally627
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