I have to tell somebody... I just beat the GMAT!!
As I can't stand all the scary stories behind the GMAT preparation, I want to tell my story. Because it is possible to score 700+ without preparing too much if you don't stress too much.
I took it yesterday: 700 (Q45, V41). I am a non native english speaker and this is my first attempt at GMAT. My toefl was 110 (30R, 30L, 23S, 27W)
I didn't have any time to prepare and just reviewed some key concepts of math on the first sunday of study with MGMAT number properties + geometry from the brief summary in the official guide (5-6 hours)
In the evening did my first Gmat Prep and scored 670 (Q41,V41).
Didn't have the time to do anything for a week but I booked the GMAT appointment. Next sunday I did all the exercises from the Official guide advised on the MGMAT Word Translation (only the first part, not the more advanced second section) but hadn't the time to go through theory, just the solutions of the ones I got wrong. (5-6 hours)
In the evening I tried to start the second GmatPrep but didn't have the strenght to go ahead.
On Monday I worked all day and took Gmat Prep in the evening, scored 720 (47Q,41V). Reviewed with my BF the ones I got wrong.
Yesterday I worked till 1pm and went to take the test at 2pm. My computer crashed 3 times during the second part of the exam, which was awful and stressing.
Throughout the exam I had the impression I was doing poorly, at some point the quantitative questions seemed really too easy and I freaked out.
I didn't get any geometry with graphs... only 2 geometry problems where I had to make a graph myself, otherwise mainly exponents and functions.
The verbal part (for which I didn't prepare at all) at some point got incredibly difficult and I was way behind, so I just speeded through the second half of it without giving too much thought to the answers... awful sensation again.
The score of 700 was a nice surprise, even if after the second GmatPrep I was hopeful for a 700+ score.
My advice if you have little to no time is: play with your strenghts... go through the beat the gmat quantitative flash cards just to review the key concepts, If you have the chance buy the MGMAT manual in your weakest area and let it guide you to the preparation. It takes 1 afternoon to go through 1 MGMAT book.
For Verbal I was naturally prepared as everything I read is in English and I'm really good at reading comprehension (I did Cambridge Proficiency twice (B) and scored exceptional in reading both times)
My advice is : do both GMat Preps to know what to expect and then don't stress too much.
Of course with more time and preparation I would have scored higher, all the same I think I will be happy with my score.
As I can't stand all the scary stories behind the GMAT preparation, I want to tell my story. Because it is possible to score 700+ without preparing too much if you don't stress too much.
I took it yesterday: 700 (Q45, V41). I am a non native english speaker and this is my first attempt at GMAT. My toefl was 110 (30R, 30L, 23S, 27W)
I didn't have any time to prepare and just reviewed some key concepts of math on the first sunday of study with MGMAT number properties + geometry from the brief summary in the official guide (5-6 hours)
In the evening did my first Gmat Prep and scored 670 (Q41,V41).
Didn't have the time to do anything for a week but I booked the GMAT appointment. Next sunday I did all the exercises from the Official guide advised on the MGMAT Word Translation (only the first part, not the more advanced second section) but hadn't the time to go through theory, just the solutions of the ones I got wrong. (5-6 hours)
In the evening I tried to start the second GmatPrep but didn't have the strenght to go ahead.
On Monday I worked all day and took Gmat Prep in the evening, scored 720 (47Q,41V). Reviewed with my BF the ones I got wrong.
Yesterday I worked till 1pm and went to take the test at 2pm. My computer crashed 3 times during the second part of the exam, which was awful and stressing.
Throughout the exam I had the impression I was doing poorly, at some point the quantitative questions seemed really too easy and I freaked out.
I didn't get any geometry with graphs... only 2 geometry problems where I had to make a graph myself, otherwise mainly exponents and functions.
The verbal part (for which I didn't prepare at all) at some point got incredibly difficult and I was way behind, so I just speeded through the second half of it without giving too much thought to the answers... awful sensation again.
The score of 700 was a nice surprise, even if after the second GmatPrep I was hopeful for a 700+ score.
My advice if you have little to no time is: play with your strenghts... go through the beat the gmat quantitative flash cards just to review the key concepts, If you have the chance buy the MGMAT manual in your weakest area and let it guide you to the preparation. It takes 1 afternoon to go through 1 MGMAT book.
For Verbal I was naturally prepared as everything I read is in English and I'm really good at reading comprehension (I did Cambridge Proficiency twice (B) and scored exceptional in reading both times)
My advice is : do both GMat Preps to know what to expect and then don't stress too much.
Of course with more time and preparation I would have scored higher, all the same I think I will be happy with my score.
