Took the GMAT Today, just sharing the experience

weigeldl

I did not attempt to beat the GMAT, I did not study...although I had originally planned to do so. I did however take the GMAT prep tests offered on MBA.com. As is indicated in this forum, they are a pretty good assessment of how you will ultimately score on the test. I scored the following;

Prep test 1: 630
Prep test 2: 600
Actual GMAT: 610

I am happy with my score, I am a little disappointed that I didn't have more time and really work on the quantitative area (I'm very weak here), but it is definitely enough to get me in to the university.

My only note is on clock watching. I have no idea how I will score on the written portion. I looked at the clock and had 6 minutes, I decided to add an actual experience to the analysis of an argument (1st section) and before I knew it the clock ran out and I was literally typing in the middle of a paragraph. There is no flashing light or obvious sign to get your attention when you are running out of time. I excel in writing but will probably get a considerably lower score because I did not watch the clock so be aware of this as you sit down to take the test. If you goof on the first section it also makes you needlessly paranoid throughout the rest so don't let it happen to you:)

Good luck all,
Dana

beatthegmat · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 8:06 pm Post subject:

Congratulations, weigedl! I wish you all the best in your upcoming MBA admissions!

800guy · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:09 pm Post subject:

nice work, dana!! good luck!

UPSTATE CRACKER · Guest

I JUST TOOK THE GMAT LAST WEEK. I DID NOT STUDY VERY HARD. I DID NOT TAKE ANY CLASSES. I BOUGHT TWO BOOKS, ONE BIG AND ONE SMALL. I REVEIWED BOTH OF THEM AND SOME ON-LINE MATERIALS. I DID 5-7 HOURS OF STUDYING WITH A LOCAL MATH MAJOR AT A UNIVERSITY (W/ NO DEGREE). HE DEF. HELPED ME UNDERSTAND SOME STUF I HADN'T SEEN IN YEARS AS I HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL ALMOST 4 YEARS.

I BARELY TOUCHED VERBAL AS I FELT CONFIDENT AND NEVER DID A 30 MINUTE PRACTICE ESSAY AS I ALSO FELT CONFIDENT IN MY WRITING ABILITY. OVERALL, I DID NOT DO MUCH PREP (THOUGH THE SMALL AMOUNT I DID DO HELPED; OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN BELOW A 500 GMAT SCORE).

MY SCORE: A 610. I AM STILL A LITTLE DOWN. I THOUGHT I COULD GET CLOSE TO 650, BUT I GOT OUT WHAT I PUT IN TO IT. I GOT ONLY 52% PERCENTILE IN MATH AND 82% IN VERBAL (37/37).

POINTERS: DO A PRACTICE ESSAY, FOR TIME'S SAKE AT LEAST. ON FIRST ESSAY I RAN OUT OF TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE OF THE LAST PARAGRAPH. ON THE SECOND ESSAY I FINISHED WITH 1 SECOND LEFT (LITERALLY). (THOUGH MY TYPING SUCKS AND I HAD TO CORREBT TONS OF ERRORS.) I THOUGHT I DID GOOD ON MATH AND BAD ON VERBAL, BUT I GUESS IT WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

I WAS NEVER SHOOTING FOR A 700+ OR HARVARD. (MY G.P.A. BLOWS!)
BUT MY SCORE W/ RESUME' SHOULD GET ME INTO THE SCHOOLS OF MY CHOICE.

I WILL NOT BE RE-TAKING THE GMAT. I AM POOR AND FEEL I WOULD ONLY IMPROVE WITH PAID CLASSES OR A REAL TUTOR.