I would first like to thank everyone on this forum for providing their valuable inputs for all aspects of GMAT be it Quant Preparation, reference study materials, test day tactics or test strategies. I would like to thank Eric for starting this wonderful forum.
Now the debrief:
Background:
I am an Indian IT professional. Had a hectic schedule (12-13 Hrs a Day office timings + commute) along with challenging responsibilities at work. Took the date in May 08 for Oct 14 2008 but over the period of time work was so demanding that in August I felt I need more time so postponed the date to 25th Oct 08 coz that was the only available slot. I wanted one on 31st Oct. I gave TOEFL in June end. Didn’t study much in July. Started with serious preparation in Aug 08
Test Preparation Time:
Effectively 1.5-2 months, study time varied from 45 min to 2 .5 hrs per day. Some days were perfectly organized some were a little haphazard. Weekends were well utilized. On some days I was not able to study at all.
Study Materials:
1. GMAT OG 11th Edition: Did this almost twice. Once at the beginning of Preparation (August) and second time in the last two weeks before the exam (did only the wrong ones and critical problems that I had marked when I did it for the first time). Excellent book to understand the look and feel of GMAT. Did CR and RCs completely twice.
2. Kaplan Verbal Workout: I found this book extremely helpful, as I was weak in verbal. They have excellent RC strategy. After doing this my score improved a great deal in RCs. It also has excellent SCs and CRs practice questions.
3. Kaplan 800: I did mostly for more practice questions. The quant was not very difficult. The CRs and SCs were good.
4. Saahil’s and Spidey’s Notes: Needless to repeat it again. Indeed an excellent compilation of Verbal strategy. Did them in last fifteen days.
5. Math Review from GMAT Prep Software
6. All practice questions from GMAT prep software
7. During Last week I visited this forum for GMAT prep solutions for PS & DS. Got lot of my doubts clarified and was extremely benefited on the multitude of questions posted here.
8. 1000 SCs and RCs during travel time and free time at work.
9. Read some essays from Kaplan and OG. Didn’t practice many essays
Practice Tests
I gave a lot of practice tests:
1. Diagnostic Test: 570 in May 08
2. Kaplan: Range 550 to 590 in all 4 tests (Gave it in last 3 weeks)
3. GMAT Prep:(I did this 6 times. I installed this software on my Laptop and on my machine as well. Surprisingly only 10-15 %questions were repeat and that too in the last 2 tests) 670,670, 640, 700, 730, 710 (I took initial tests around 1 month before the exam and the last 3-4 in last two weeks before the exam)
4. PowerPrep: 2 tests I don’t remember the score
5. Princeton online free Test
6. Manhattan Online free test
Some General Tips
· Practice Tests do help improve the Score: I started practice tests in my second month of my prep. 4-4.5 hrs is a long time especially if one is returning back to tests/acads after a long time. One gets mentally tired after initial two hours. I took around 6-7 full-length tests with the essays at the same time as my exam Slot.
· Learn to let go of Quant questions: I realized this in the last week of my prep though people have been consistently making us aware of this fact on this forum. I always used to get 48-49 in quant in my practice tests. I tried to use different strategies to push it to 50 but couldn’t do it. There are times when we know that if we are given a few more seconds we will crack a particular problem. But if we spend those few extra seconds on a problem then we have to accelerate our pace in last 7-8 questions that may result in more mistakes.
· Have a Steady Frame of Mind on the Test Day: Don’t panic. GMAT is a mind game. The steadier we are the better we perform. Keep a Positive approach. Don’t rush and don’t be too laid back also. Think of nothing else in those 4 hrs. Just concentrate on the question that is in on your screen.
· Consistence: There are days when things don’t go as planned. Work, family, friends, socializing etc tend to be demanding or just sometimes we feel the need to just take it easy. That’s perfectly alright. But make an effort to get the prep back on track. Consistency pays.
· Keep realistic expectations
To sum it up all there were times in my prep when I was not able to push myself over 670-680 or above 35 in Verbal. But I kept on trying. Tried different strategies, visited this forum almost everyday for inspiration, for new study materials, for new test strategies and this kept me going. In my last week of prep 700 was in sight. Like many others I also wanted to have that 7 in the hundredths place of my score
On the test reached well before time. Kept in mind all the reasons for my mistakes in previous tests. Test went on smoothly. Took 6-7 min breaks between all the sections. Quant had no surprises but the first three questions of verbal were CR and SC but they were very tricky. Took almost 10min to solve them and after that gained the pace and finished the exam dot on time.
Prayed for a moment and waited for my score to appear on the screen. I knew quant went well was expecting 48-49 but the first three questions in Verbal could make or break my chances of 700.
Was pleasantly surprised to see 38 in Verbal. Walked out of the center with a 710 and a BIG smile
Thanks for reading this really long post.
And a BIG THANK YOU to BTG
