-
Junior2011
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:00 am
Hello to everyone,
So far I have been a silent participant of this forum. But today I decided to share my story and became an active poster (although not to post a great story - at least not for now �. As I read all those wonderful and inspiring stories about people that have succeeded in beating the GMAT, I motivate myself to keep trying.
My background:
English is not my first language. I went to college in the US, and I am currently working in the States. My target score is 680 and above.
Here is my story:
On February this year, I decided to start preparing for taking the GMAT. I enrolled in Manhattan Gmat Course ( 9 Weeks program) I did not miss any of the sessions. I struggled to complete all the benchmark questions, reading, and exercises as per the Syllabus since my work-hours are long. The course itself was quite good.
After the course ended, and I decided to schedule a date to take the exam ( 5 weeks after). I kept studying myself at least 17 hours per week. My first attempt, I got 580 ( July 30). I was not disappointed to be honest since I was scoring 500 on the practice exams in average. One week before the test, I decided to study the material ( both strength and weak areas ) in general rather than taking practice exams every 3-4 days. I realized I was not scoring higher so I decided to understand the material really well.
The 580 (44 Math; 26 Verbal ) gave me motivation, so I decided to try it one more time. Until this point, the below were the tools I used.
- Read Manhattan GMAT Study Guides and completed the questions at the end of chapter ( Math Only).
- Completed 6 Manhattan GMAT exams.
- Completed 2 MBA.com practice exams
- Reviewed all the exams questions, and attempted twice the ones I originally got wrong.
- Completed the exercises and questions as per Manhattan GMAT Syllabus. This is a large pool of questions from the 12th OG.
- Foundations of Math ( Manhattan GMAT).
- Challenging questions
- Others ( basically all the tools available on Manhattan GMAT site. i.e class recording etc)
For my second attempt ( 5 weeks after my first exam), I used the below tools:
- Completed 5 Manhattan GMAT exams in the last two weeks ( one every 2-3 days). I scored 510, 540, 620,620, 600. Two days before the real test, I completed a Math section only ( 6th exam). I got 29. I thought that my 620s scores perhaps were matter of luck.
- Reviewed all the exams questions, and attempted twice the ones I originally got wrong.
- Completed the exercises and questions as per Manhattan GMAT Syllabus. This is a large pool of questions from the 12th OG.
- 2 Exams. 800scores.
- Completed the mid-high level questions of the Green and the Yellow GMAT books.
- Flash Cards "BeattheGmat".
- Challenging questions
- Worked hard on Data Sufficiency ( a clear weakness)
- Worked hard on Reading Comprehension ( clear weakness).
The day of the exam I was nervous at the beginning, but after finishing the Essays I felt calm but at the same quite anxious. I went through the Math, and I founded it hard. Too many DS questions; I knew that I was not doing well, since I did not see any combinatory, probability or hard geometry questions coming out. I felt " I am not gonna make it this time". Also, timing became an issue. I had to guess the last 4 questions. Verbal was quite difficult; I had difficulties to focus at the beginning. I think the lack of confidence that I felt in the Math section just took over me during the first half of Verbal. The other half I think I did quite good. At some point, I felt tired ( maybe to many practice exams during the last week).
When it was time to see the scores, I look at the screen and I see 500 ( 29 MATH; 29 Verbal). I was really disappointed, I felt miserable, and sad. I just wanted to go home. I have worked so hard during the past 6 months; studying every single day after work and long hours on weekends to get such a score. Many people had faith on me. They all thought I was going to make really well.
Now, it is evident that I need to retake the test again. But I do not know when. I feel disoriented, and I do not what else to do, and which strategy to follow. When I do an evaluation, these are my conclusions:
- Need to improve DS; particularly the questions that read: The total cost of producing item X is equal to the sum of item X's overhead cost and production cost. If the production cost of producing X decreased by 5% in January, by what percent did the total cost of producing item X change in that same month?
(1) The overhead cost of producing item X increased by 13% in January.
(2) Before the changes in January, the overhead cost of producing item X was 5 times the production cost of producing item X.
I honestly do not know how to handle them.
- Need to improve timing for Math.
- Need to improve Reading Comprehension.
I wish I could be one of those people, who everyday post wonderful stories about beating the GMAT. I have a dream, and today I feel frustrated that I may not achieve it. It is tough and really sad to see a 580 and the a 500 score, after so much work.
I also know that I need stayed calm and about anxiety.
I will highly appreciate if you recommend me any material or strategies based on the aforementioned. What I have in mind so far is the following:
Veritas, Kaplan, PR, Knewton -4 (free tests) (must).
GMAT Prep -2 (repeat at least once)(must)
Nova DS course (a must for those weak in DS).
GMAT Club Tests
Kaplan Mastery (good practice "By type" of questions).
Powerscore RC Bible.
: Powerscore CR Bible
Best regards to all and thanks in advance.
So far I have been a silent participant of this forum. But today I decided to share my story and became an active poster (although not to post a great story - at least not for now �. As I read all those wonderful and inspiring stories about people that have succeeded in beating the GMAT, I motivate myself to keep trying.
My background:
English is not my first language. I went to college in the US, and I am currently working in the States. My target score is 680 and above.
Here is my story:
On February this year, I decided to start preparing for taking the GMAT. I enrolled in Manhattan Gmat Course ( 9 Weeks program) I did not miss any of the sessions. I struggled to complete all the benchmark questions, reading, and exercises as per the Syllabus since my work-hours are long. The course itself was quite good.
After the course ended, and I decided to schedule a date to take the exam ( 5 weeks after). I kept studying myself at least 17 hours per week. My first attempt, I got 580 ( July 30). I was not disappointed to be honest since I was scoring 500 on the practice exams in average. One week before the test, I decided to study the material ( both strength and weak areas ) in general rather than taking practice exams every 3-4 days. I realized I was not scoring higher so I decided to understand the material really well.
The 580 (44 Math; 26 Verbal ) gave me motivation, so I decided to try it one more time. Until this point, the below were the tools I used.
- Read Manhattan GMAT Study Guides and completed the questions at the end of chapter ( Math Only).
- Completed 6 Manhattan GMAT exams.
- Completed 2 MBA.com practice exams
- Reviewed all the exams questions, and attempted twice the ones I originally got wrong.
- Completed the exercises and questions as per Manhattan GMAT Syllabus. This is a large pool of questions from the 12th OG.
- Foundations of Math ( Manhattan GMAT).
- Challenging questions
- Others ( basically all the tools available on Manhattan GMAT site. i.e class recording etc)
For my second attempt ( 5 weeks after my first exam), I used the below tools:
- Completed 5 Manhattan GMAT exams in the last two weeks ( one every 2-3 days). I scored 510, 540, 620,620, 600. Two days before the real test, I completed a Math section only ( 6th exam). I got 29. I thought that my 620s scores perhaps were matter of luck.
- Reviewed all the exams questions, and attempted twice the ones I originally got wrong.
- Completed the exercises and questions as per Manhattan GMAT Syllabus. This is a large pool of questions from the 12th OG.
- 2 Exams. 800scores.
- Completed the mid-high level questions of the Green and the Yellow GMAT books.
- Flash Cards "BeattheGmat".
- Challenging questions
- Worked hard on Data Sufficiency ( a clear weakness)
- Worked hard on Reading Comprehension ( clear weakness).
The day of the exam I was nervous at the beginning, but after finishing the Essays I felt calm but at the same quite anxious. I went through the Math, and I founded it hard. Too many DS questions; I knew that I was not doing well, since I did not see any combinatory, probability or hard geometry questions coming out. I felt " I am not gonna make it this time". Also, timing became an issue. I had to guess the last 4 questions. Verbal was quite difficult; I had difficulties to focus at the beginning. I think the lack of confidence that I felt in the Math section just took over me during the first half of Verbal. The other half I think I did quite good. At some point, I felt tired ( maybe to many practice exams during the last week).
When it was time to see the scores, I look at the screen and I see 500 ( 29 MATH; 29 Verbal). I was really disappointed, I felt miserable, and sad. I just wanted to go home. I have worked so hard during the past 6 months; studying every single day after work and long hours on weekends to get such a score. Many people had faith on me. They all thought I was going to make really well.
Now, it is evident that I need to retake the test again. But I do not know when. I feel disoriented, and I do not what else to do, and which strategy to follow. When I do an evaluation, these are my conclusions:
- Need to improve DS; particularly the questions that read: The total cost of producing item X is equal to the sum of item X's overhead cost and production cost. If the production cost of producing X decreased by 5% in January, by what percent did the total cost of producing item X change in that same month?
(1) The overhead cost of producing item X increased by 13% in January.
(2) Before the changes in January, the overhead cost of producing item X was 5 times the production cost of producing item X.
I honestly do not know how to handle them.
- Need to improve timing for Math.
- Need to improve Reading Comprehension.
I wish I could be one of those people, who everyday post wonderful stories about beating the GMAT. I have a dream, and today I feel frustrated that I may not achieve it. It is tough and really sad to see a 580 and the a 500 score, after so much work.
I also know that I need stayed calm and about anxiety.
I will highly appreciate if you recommend me any material or strategies based on the aforementioned. What I have in mind so far is the following:
Veritas, Kaplan, PR, Knewton -4 (free tests) (must).
GMAT Prep -2 (repeat at least once)(must)
Nova DS course (a must for those weak in DS).
GMAT Club Tests
Kaplan Mastery (good practice "By type" of questions).
Powerscore RC Bible.
: Powerscore CR Bible
Best regards to all and thanks in advance.
