Here's my story.
The following are my CAT scores on the last 5 CATS I took leading up the GMAT on 4/11/13. From a background perspective, I am an average fellow who has been studying for the exam for the last six months while working full time. I was aiming for a 650.
GMAT Prep 1- 570 Q38/V30 on 1/18/13
MGMAT Free CAT-640 Q42/V35 on 2/2/13
GMAT Prep 2- 570 Q38/V30 on 3/16/13
GMAT Prep 1- 700 Q48/V38 on 3/23/13
GMAT Prep 2- 720 Q49/V40 on 4/2/13
Actual GMAT 600- Q40/V32 on 4/11/13
Resources used for study prep
OG 13the edition with error log
MGMAT quant review guides
MGMAT SC guide
Power score CR bible.
GMAT Prep question pack #1 (I purchased these questions a few weeks prior to test day in order to solve new official questions).
MGMAT, BTG, and GMAT Club forums. Used the forums to review problem explanations and to obtain advice from experts and peers. These forums are priceless.
Test Day
Arrived 1/2 hr early and felt relaxed and confident. I was well rested and had plenty of energy going into the testing center. I took several full length CATs and GMAT Prep was very similar to the real thing. Essay no problem and IR was a little easier the GMAT Prep. Now on to Quant. I'd like to make note that quant has always been my weakness and I am happy to have scored at least a 40 on the section. I had to guess on a couple of tough DS questions and a long quadratic formula PS question or two. Overall, I can recall seeing several NP, mean/median statistics, exponents, ratio and rates, geometry, and a few line graphing questions. I was not surprised that this section was tough for me but I made sure to keep track of time and give it my 100%.
Verbal was a little different from what I expected. SC and RC were pretty straightforward. However, there were a few tough SC questions where I made very close decisions between 2 contender answer choices. I was pleased with my prep in SC, so I don't think that SC is where I got hurt during the exam. However,I was pretty stunned with the CR questions as I expected to see more weaken, strengthen and assumption questions. I think I had 1 weaken, 2 assumption, and maybe 1 strengthen and the rest of the questions were evaluate the argument (i.e which answer would be most useful to evaluate the argument?), Draw the Conclusion, complete the passage. I was sure that I would see more weaken/assumption/must be true questions but perhaps this is where I went wrong.
Anyhow, I am getting ready to apply to Part Time MBA programs in the NYC area with a Fall '13 start date. I know my score is not that strong but I think the rest of my application should hopefully compensate for this. I feel as if I could score better if I sit for the exam again, but I'm not sure if should spend more time studying as I have to complete the rest of my application. I am getting married in early July and have that on my mind as well (luckily the bride to be has been doing most of the wedding planning)..
Any advice from experts or community members would be greatly appreciated.
The following are my CAT scores on the last 5 CATS I took leading up the GMAT on 4/11/13. From a background perspective, I am an average fellow who has been studying for the exam for the last six months while working full time. I was aiming for a 650.
GMAT Prep 1- 570 Q38/V30 on 1/18/13
MGMAT Free CAT-640 Q42/V35 on 2/2/13
GMAT Prep 2- 570 Q38/V30 on 3/16/13
GMAT Prep 1- 700 Q48/V38 on 3/23/13
GMAT Prep 2- 720 Q49/V40 on 4/2/13
Actual GMAT 600- Q40/V32 on 4/11/13
Resources used for study prep
OG 13the edition with error log
MGMAT quant review guides
MGMAT SC guide
Power score CR bible.
GMAT Prep question pack #1 (I purchased these questions a few weeks prior to test day in order to solve new official questions).
MGMAT, BTG, and GMAT Club forums. Used the forums to review problem explanations and to obtain advice from experts and peers. These forums are priceless.
Test Day
Arrived 1/2 hr early and felt relaxed and confident. I was well rested and had plenty of energy going into the testing center. I took several full length CATs and GMAT Prep was very similar to the real thing. Essay no problem and IR was a little easier the GMAT Prep. Now on to Quant. I'd like to make note that quant has always been my weakness and I am happy to have scored at least a 40 on the section. I had to guess on a couple of tough DS questions and a long quadratic formula PS question or two. Overall, I can recall seeing several NP, mean/median statistics, exponents, ratio and rates, geometry, and a few line graphing questions. I was not surprised that this section was tough for me but I made sure to keep track of time and give it my 100%.
Verbal was a little different from what I expected. SC and RC were pretty straightforward. However, there were a few tough SC questions where I made very close decisions between 2 contender answer choices. I was pleased with my prep in SC, so I don't think that SC is where I got hurt during the exam. However,I was pretty stunned with the CR questions as I expected to see more weaken, strengthen and assumption questions. I think I had 1 weaken, 2 assumption, and maybe 1 strengthen and the rest of the questions were evaluate the argument (i.e which answer would be most useful to evaluate the argument?), Draw the Conclusion, complete the passage. I was sure that I would see more weaken/assumption/must be true questions but perhaps this is where I went wrong.
Anyhow, I am getting ready to apply to Part Time MBA programs in the NYC area with a Fall '13 start date. I know my score is not that strong but I think the rest of my application should hopefully compensate for this. I feel as if I could score better if I sit for the exam again, but I'm not sure if should spend more time studying as I have to complete the rest of my application. I am getting married in early July and have that on my mind as well (luckily the bride to be has been doing most of the wedding planning)..
Any advice from experts or community members would be greatly appreciated.
