I just Beat The GMAT!

Since this forum helped me immensely, I thought I'd give a synopsis of my GMAT experience.

Target score: 700
Study duration: 4 months (April - July)
Study materials: OG (2009 & 2005), GMAT800
Practice tests:
- GMAC Test 1 (710)
- Kaplan Test 1 (610)
- Kaplan Test 2 (550)
- Kaplan Test 3 (670)
- Kaplan Test 4 (590)
- ManhattanGMAT Test 1 (670)
- ManhattanGMAT Test 2 (690)
- ManhattanGMAT Test 1 (640)
- ManhattanGMAT Test 4 (700)
- ManhattanGMAT Test 5 (730)
- ManhattanGMAT Test 1 (720)
- GMAC Test 2 (760)
Actual GMAT: 770 (99%) - Q50/V47

A couple of pointers:
- I found the ManhattanGMAT tests to be very beneficial. Their quant sections were more difficult than the GMAC (tests and actual). However, I think this is by design and the point is to learn key concepts. Upon reviewing my mistakes and solutions after each test, I was able to identify key concepts that I was unaware of. I kept a log of these and by the end of the 6 ManhattanGMAT tests, I had a list of about 30 or so new concepts/tips that I was able to use on the actual GMAT. I also felt like each successive ManhattanGMAT exam tested concepts that I had struggled with during earlier exams - I found their historical computer adaptive system very useful. The above also rang true for Verbal. Sentence correction questions were designed to test specific grammar techniques. By the end of the sixth ManhattanGMAT test, I was getting all SC questions right because I had reviewed and internalized my mistakes in the previous exams.

- On the actual exam, I struggled with the timing on the quant section, a problem that persisted during my preparation (I almost always knew how to arrive at the correct answer - however, doing so within 2 minutes was sometimes a challenge). My strategy to counter this was to work through all problems, and get to the correct answers, until question #32, even if I was falling a little behind schedule. After this, I would simply guess the last 5 answers if I was short of time. On the actual GMAT, I had to make educated guesses on the last 3 questions. I figured that saving the time-contrained-guessing for later was a better strategy because by the end of section, the test would have pretty much found an upper and lower bound for my score. Even if only a third of my guesses were correct (1 out of the 3 questions I guessed), the last two incorrect answers would not drastically hurt my score.

That's all folks. Good luck![/list]

What were your splits on the MGMAT exams???


Congrats on the outstanding score!

Thanks! The MGMAT splits were mostly Q46/V42.

I really like your strategy regarding the time management on Quant. I guess I also need to devise something like that

Congrats on the outstanding score!

How many hours a day did you devote to GMAT and for how long ?

Hi..congrats for the great score..

Would like to know a couple of things...

First, on an average how many questions were you able to complete in the Quant section for MGMAT...(I have taken four of these and am completing 29-33 question, with balance being guesses)

Second, the tests that you have mentioned have been taken in what time frame..as in the time gaps betwween each tests...

tx

just wants to know that how you maintain the error log in SC ?
Congrats !

Thanks everyone

reetwik: Spent about an hour every weekday and around 10 hours on weekends for a total of 4 months

thegr81: The same as you. I was able to reach Q#32-33 on the MGMAT Quant with the remainder being educated guesses. The tests were taken every weekend

barira1: MGMAT has this feature that allows you to revisit your completed tests and review mistakes. It's nothing fancy. I simply did that, read the solutions recommended by MGMAT and maintained a simple Word document of SC techniques

Thanks for your reply.

Is it possible for you to share that word doc on the SC techniques. Will be very useful to the would be GMAT beaters

Inspiring! What a fantastic score.