-
bhatiagp
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:40 am
- Location: UAE
- GMAT Score:720
Hi Guys..
Just done with my GMAT finally. Don't think I'll want to repeat the test again. Scored a 720 ( Q, 49, V 41)
I took the test twice last year and I scored a 660 ( Q 47, V 35) and 620 ( Q 48 , V 28).
I've seen loads of scores with breakups of Q 49, V 41 at 730/740 earlier, which may mean that the test is getting progressively harder on its scoring.
On my test prep took about 12 tests including a few of the offical Paper Based tests. They are definitely helpful, but I have realised that the GMAT Quant was way different today from anything I have seen so far. It was definitely tricky, and required understanding of the subtle nuances of the subject more than intense calculation in some questions.
With regards to Verbal, you would be in good shape, with the Good Old books such as the OG, the Verbal OG and Quant OG guides, Manhattan SC, and Power Score CR bible. I used all of them and Princetons Verbal Workout, Kaplans GMAT guide and the Arcos GMAT book in my previous prep attempts.
This time, I took training from Knewton and it was excellent as well. Writing about this calls for a separate post, and I don't want my debrief to sound like a marketing campaign for Knewton, but "KNEWTON ROCKS". I would definitely accredit my comfort level on the verbal section to them. They were fabulous.I just used their material for my practise.
To those who wanted to know how I progressed to this score, here are my Practice Test scores
ETS Paper Based Test 1 - 720
ETS Paper Based test 2- 710
ETS Paper Based test 3- 700
ETS Paper Based Test 4 - 740
GMAT Prep 1- 760 ( 49, 46)
GMAT Prep 2- 750 (49,44)
Knewton Test 1- 700 (47,38)
Knewton Test 2-650 (43,31)
Knewton Test 3- 730 (49,41)
Knewton Test 4- 740 (49,44)
Although a more detailed debrief will follow from my side if needed, here some advice for future test takers
1) Don't bother about tough probability, permutations and combination. You may not have any question, and even if you do, knowing the basic concept can help. If not guess and move on. You would be doing the guessing work on easier problems otherwise towards the end of the test. The problems you could have completed but didn't due to lack on time.
2) Number theory, set theory and exponents will have far more problems. Surprisingly I had two or three geometry questions testing slopes in parallelograms and triangles. Although not difficult the problems were time consuming.
3) Problems in Quant are getting harder, and it is very difficult to complete the quant on time. I had to guess that last 7 questions and I did make educated guesses towards the end of the test.
4) Keep AWA for the last day. Try to read some news paper articles in business news on Environmental issues, and the business climate. It will help in the AWA for giving real life examples.
5) On the verbal section, the CR is getting tougher. Work on a few passages where CR skills are being tested. That should hold you in good stead in the exam.
6) The CR was tough as well. Finally SC, which is painful for non native speakers, can be beat by knowing the common strategies, and practising the GMATPREP questions. Use BTG to search for previous posts on questions you don't understand.
7) Finally I have been here for on various GMAT forums for a long time now. This is an addictive forum. Close to your test days, at least a month closer to your test , you are better off focusing on your practice tests than aggressively replying back to every post you read on BTG or any other forum your active on. I was active on an another forum , last year and it didn't help me. I was spending more time reading feel good posts about high scores, and reading posts on how I should be working on my essays rather than working on my weaknesses in the test. Do one thing at a time.. Don't put your hands in two many buckets. You'll come back empty handed
8)My wife lost her uncle 2 days before my test date, and I had two challenging days prior to the test; wherein I was trying to rush in for last minute tickets to India for her, and all travel agents were shut because it was weekend.
Couldn't work on my plan for the last 2 days that I had in mind, but nevertheless, I am happy with what I have got... No regrets... So you never know in which situation you would be going in for your exam irrespective of your time and prep for Test. So when you go for your test, keep everything else aside, and when you are practicing, don't jump over your excellent scores.
Your GMAT score doesn't define you as a person, as an employee, as a friend.... Don't harp over your test scores... No one would care beyond a point. Unless your plan to join a Test Prep company to go and teach GMAT
9) Finally, ETS and Pearson may not agree with me, but the GMAT also depends on your luck. But they say the luck favours the brave, so go ahead, give it your best shot and while doing the test forget thinking about your score.
And before I forget, thank you BTG... I have used the forum on so many ocassions to look for answers and explanations and it has been a helpful experience every time.
Just done with my GMAT finally. Don't think I'll want to repeat the test again. Scored a 720 ( Q, 49, V 41)
I took the test twice last year and I scored a 660 ( Q 47, V 35) and 620 ( Q 48 , V 28).
I've seen loads of scores with breakups of Q 49, V 41 at 730/740 earlier, which may mean that the test is getting progressively harder on its scoring.
On my test prep took about 12 tests including a few of the offical Paper Based tests. They are definitely helpful, but I have realised that the GMAT Quant was way different today from anything I have seen so far. It was definitely tricky, and required understanding of the subtle nuances of the subject more than intense calculation in some questions.
With regards to Verbal, you would be in good shape, with the Good Old books such as the OG, the Verbal OG and Quant OG guides, Manhattan SC, and Power Score CR bible. I used all of them and Princetons Verbal Workout, Kaplans GMAT guide and the Arcos GMAT book in my previous prep attempts.
This time, I took training from Knewton and it was excellent as well. Writing about this calls for a separate post, and I don't want my debrief to sound like a marketing campaign for Knewton, but "KNEWTON ROCKS". I would definitely accredit my comfort level on the verbal section to them. They were fabulous.I just used their material for my practise.
To those who wanted to know how I progressed to this score, here are my Practice Test scores
ETS Paper Based Test 1 - 720
ETS Paper Based test 2- 710
ETS Paper Based test 3- 700
ETS Paper Based Test 4 - 740
GMAT Prep 1- 760 ( 49, 46)
GMAT Prep 2- 750 (49,44)
Knewton Test 1- 700 (47,38)
Knewton Test 2-650 (43,31)
Knewton Test 3- 730 (49,41)
Knewton Test 4- 740 (49,44)
Although a more detailed debrief will follow from my side if needed, here some advice for future test takers
1) Don't bother about tough probability, permutations and combination. You may not have any question, and even if you do, knowing the basic concept can help. If not guess and move on. You would be doing the guessing work on easier problems otherwise towards the end of the test. The problems you could have completed but didn't due to lack on time.
2) Number theory, set theory and exponents will have far more problems. Surprisingly I had two or three geometry questions testing slopes in parallelograms and triangles. Although not difficult the problems were time consuming.
3) Problems in Quant are getting harder, and it is very difficult to complete the quant on time. I had to guess that last 7 questions and I did make educated guesses towards the end of the test.
4) Keep AWA for the last day. Try to read some news paper articles in business news on Environmental issues, and the business climate. It will help in the AWA for giving real life examples.
5) On the verbal section, the CR is getting tougher. Work on a few passages where CR skills are being tested. That should hold you in good stead in the exam.
6) The CR was tough as well. Finally SC, which is painful for non native speakers, can be beat by knowing the common strategies, and practising the GMATPREP questions. Use BTG to search for previous posts on questions you don't understand.
7) Finally I have been here for on various GMAT forums for a long time now. This is an addictive forum. Close to your test days, at least a month closer to your test , you are better off focusing on your practice tests than aggressively replying back to every post you read on BTG or any other forum your active on. I was active on an another forum , last year and it didn't help me. I was spending more time reading feel good posts about high scores, and reading posts on how I should be working on my essays rather than working on my weaknesses in the test. Do one thing at a time.. Don't put your hands in two many buckets. You'll come back empty handed
8)My wife lost her uncle 2 days before my test date, and I had two challenging days prior to the test; wherein I was trying to rush in for last minute tickets to India for her, and all travel agents were shut because it was weekend.
Couldn't work on my plan for the last 2 days that I had in mind, but nevertheless, I am happy with what I have got... No regrets... So you never know in which situation you would be going in for your exam irrespective of your time and prep for Test. So when you go for your test, keep everything else aside, and when you are practicing, don't jump over your excellent scores.
Your GMAT score doesn't define you as a person, as an employee, as a friend.... Don't harp over your test scores... No one would care beyond a point. Unless your plan to join a Test Prep company to go and teach GMAT
9) Finally, ETS and Pearson may not agree with me, but the GMAT also depends on your luck. But they say the luck favours the brave, so go ahead, give it your best shot and while doing the test forget thinking about your score.
And before I forget, thank you BTG... I have used the forum on so many ocassions to look for answers and explanations and it has been a helpful experience every time.
Last edited by bhatiagp on Wed Sep 16, 2009 8:35 am, edited 2 times in total.
