I just Beat The GMAT!

Hey guys,

I'm glad to say that after some hard work, I got a GMAT score that I'm proud of! I never posted on these forums, but I read a ton of posts that definitely helped me get my goal score. Let me take you through my journey, and hopefully you can learn from my mistakes

Here is a journal-style recap leading to my 730!

Week of 12/3/2012:
Crap. I think I signed up for the GMAT in late December. Uhh, let me take a practice test...wait, my bday is coming up soon so instead I'm just gonna party for the next 10 days. I'll definitely start preparing after that...

Week of 12/17/2012:
Okay. Haven't started studying yet, but I have a solid week off from work to really buckle down and study. Let me take a diagnostic test, then spend 10 hrs/day working through OG practice problems, then take a final GMATPREP test the day before the exam. I'd study the day before exams in college, so studying for 1 exam for a whole week should be fine!

12/19/12 GMATPREP1 (First Attempt): 640 (Q42 V37)
Okay. I can deal with that, I only had a loose understanding of what was covered on the GMAT. Once I work through the practice problems I can def. get a 700+

12/21/12 GMATPREP1 (Second Attempt): 660 (Q44 V36)
Umm. Improvement in Quant. I was an engineer, I'm sure I can get a much better Quant score...40 points away from target, this isn't so bad. Let me keep working through practice problems.

12/26/12 GMATPREP2 (First Attempt): 680 (Q47 V37)
680! Close, but I'm taking the test tomorrow. Can I really improve 20+ points in one night? Why isn't my verbal improving? I did like 100+ verbal questions and read the explanations. The questions on the prep tests seem a bit more difficult than the first 50 or so questions in the OG. I sure do hope that the OG isn't sorted by difficulty or anything. No, they wouldn't do that without any clear, obvious disclaimers.

12/27/12 (exam day):
Exam is at 3PM. Let me get a really intense workout beforehand, then have a huge, filling meal so that I am pumped up for the exam.

12/27/12 (exam time):
I'm pumped up, I'm 30 minutes early, I know I can get that coveted 700+ GMAT score!
Writing Section:
Okay, this isn't bad. Very simple argument, I'll just make an intro, body, and conclusion.
IR:
WOW this is way tougher than I was expecting! These calculations are impossible!! How am I supposed to finish all 12 questions in 30 minutes when it takes me 6 minutes just to calculate something!
Quant:
Hooray, first 15 questions were a breeze! Much easier than I've seen on GMATPREP. Hmm, these questions seem to be a lot more difficult now. Crap, I think I got a solid 10 incorrect questions in a row. 8 minutes left to answer 6 questions, this is going to suck. I failed. The only thing that would have led me to get a 700+ would have been a really great Quant score. This sucks. Game Over
Verbal:
Screw it, I'm not taking a break. Let me just get through this, I don't want to be here anymore. Darn, I really messed up that quant section. I'm exhausted, I can barely keep my eyes open. Gosh these RCs are boring, and I can't ever find the error in these SCs. This whole verbal section is boring, I'm so sleepy.

12/27/12 Actual Exam #1 640 (Q49 V29 6AW 6IR)
49Q!! 49Q! Awesome! Oh, wait, what the heck!! 29 Verbal?!?!! I was scoring no where near a 29 verbal!! Wow, a 640, that's what I got when I didn't even know what was on the GMAT! With verbal scores like that how could I possibly get into a reputable GMAT program?!

Week of 12/28/12:
Wow, there are a lot of forums online that are tailored to conquering the GMAT. I am going to sign up for the GMAT on 2/2/13 and make a clear, structured plan based on my new knowledge of the GMAT and the prep resources.

My Plan:
Download all of the MGMAT books and read them on my iPad at the gym. Focus strictly on verbal, and formulate a strategy for RC, CR & SC that I can employ on every practice problem.

1/08/13 MGMAT 1: 650 (Q44 V35)
Hmm. I'm not thrilled with this score, but I heard that the Quant is very difficult on the MGMAT CATs. I at least have a methodology for attacking the verbal questions, but I'm definitely running into timing issues.

1/13/13 MGMAT 2: 590 (Q39 V32)
590!!!! 590!!!! Why is my score continuing to decrease!!! I finally wrap my head around some GMAT strategies, start feeling confident, and I get a 590?!?!?!!?

1/14/13 MGMAT 3: 650 (Q43 V36)
Okay, at least I'm back to where I was at the start of my prep. I know I can do better on the Quant, so I'm not too concerned with a Q43. I am just going to continue to practice OG problems and employing/fine tuning my strategy for tackling verbal questions. I just know my verbal will improve.

1/19/13 MGMAT 4: 670 (Q44 V37)
670! So close. I'm a little concerned that I have not broken a 700+ score once, and I'm taking the GMAT in about 2 weeks. Maybe I should reschedule? No, I know how crazy work is going to get in February, and I won't be able to dedicate the required amount of time. I am going to continue to fine tune my verbal strategy and work through practice problems from OG or online.

1/23/13 MGMAT 5: 670 (Q44 V37)
Hmm, at least I'm not declining! I feel like I'm on the right track. I just need to really engage in the verbal section, and pretend like I'm interested in these random topics. Actually, some of the RC is pretty interesting. Maybe I should start reading on my free time?

1/24/13 GMATPREP1 (Third Attempt): 710 (Q48 V40)
FINALLY!! I broke the 700 mark!!! Who cares if this was my third time taking GMATPREP1, I broke a 700!! Something really clicked for me during this exam, I feel like I'm actually engaged in the material on the verbal section. I don't need to take as many notes, and consequently, I am not running into any timing issues.

1/26/13 MGMAT 6: 710 (Q48 V38)
710!!! GREAT!! I broke 700 twice in a row!!! I'd like to see a 40+ verbal score, though, I want to prove that I have decent verbal skills since I have such a strong engineering/quant background. This might be the last test I take, I know next week is going to be a 80+ hr work week, with a ton of travel.

1/27/13 GMATPREP2 (Second Attempt): 740 (Q48 V44)
740!!! Shocking! A week ago I was unable to get out of the 600's. The verbal section was really interesting to me, and my strategies appear to finally be paying off! This is probably the last time I'll be able to study extensively, so I'm confident, and will focus on work the next 5 days.

1/30/13:
On a plane to Detroit. Why does the person next to me keep trying to make eye contact? Oh, I see, just a recent GMAT-test taker trying to strike up small talk because I had my GMAT prep books out. Wait, what did she just say?? There is a calculator available on IR??? I feel stupid.

2/2/13 (exam time):
Got my yellow (energy) vitamin water, a kit kat bar, and a large bag of an "energy mix" of nuts. This time I am ready to make good on my 8 minute breaks, and all the online advice I got stressed the importance of breaks. Also, last time I almost fell asleep during the verbal section.

Writing Section:
Pretty simple argument again. I'll just pretend like I'm writing an email to a client (organized, concise, etc.).
IR:
That calculator sure comes in handy...
Break1:
Alright, first 2 sections down. Time to go to the bathroom, drink some energy drink, eat some nuts and have half a kit kat bar!
Quant:
Crap. 1st question I have no clue how to answer, I really wasn't diligent on memorizing my math rules. Hopefully I can still pull this off.
Break2: Alright, the Quant was okay. Either way I am not going to dwell on it AT ALL. It's now time for the rest of my vitamin water, kit kat, and some more nuts. Oops, I spilled half my bag of nuts on the floor. Oh well, I'm not going to draw attention to myself, and I'm not going to dwell on that until after the exam.
Verbal:
These RC passages are VERY interesting! (or maybe I finally was able to convince myself that this material is interesting)

2/2/2013 Final Score: 730 (Q48 V42)
YES! Target Score! I'm done!!

There is my recap! I hope there is something of value in my debrief!

Congrats! Value in your debrief is that it shows hard work pays off.

Haha, maybe the most informal recap I have ever read. Any idea on what lead you from a 650 to 750? I think stamina definately plays a big part in it because if you start to get tired on the verbal section you can make stupid mistakes.

Thoughts?

-BP

aerq

Very nice debrief! Would you be able to explain your strategy to increasing score in Verbal? Im having the same issue. idk what to do to increase my verbal section.

Congratulation's krad. You've summed it up very well. Most of us go through the same grind, don't we ? Congratulation's once again.

Congratulations! I have the same problem (weak on verbal) and was wondering if you have any effective strategies to boost your verbal score within a month. Would you contribute this major improvement to the MGMAT verbal books?

I would say MGMAT helped a lot in boosting my verbal score, however, I did not necessarily use the strategies outlined in the book. I used the strategies at first, but then fine tuned them for what works best for me. My best advice for the verbal would be to start with the MGMAT strategy, take a ton of practice problems, then re-assess your strategy and try to fine tune. Keep doing this until you are confident on the verbal section, and have no issues with timing.

Hi Krad890,

Can you please elaborate about your verbal strategies?
How did you fine tune them?

I am also at the same level where you were in the mid-way.