I just Beat The GMAT!

some feedback I hope is helpful for people studying. for background, I studied materials engineering in college which is extremely mathematical (algebra, calculus).

- first time taking GMAT's
- studied: about 1 week full time (40-hours total or so) and a 2 weekends before that.
- 100% of study on verbal sections, 80% on sentence correction since I didn't know sh*t for grammar!
- Used Kaplan book, Kaplan verbal supplemental book, Kaplan tests, GMAT prep tests, GMAC prep books (the big one w/ 800 questions, and a 300-question verbal supplement)
- Had to find a textbook on grammar since Kaplan doesn't explain the grammar rules worth a damn. Ultimately, I had to piece a lot of it together (making my own compilation of sentence correction rules) just by doing questions, getting them wrong, and reading the answer explanations (used GMAC books exclusively for this since they're real questions).

Prep tests v. Actual test impressions:
- Took one of the GMAT Prep tests before any study, and scored 750, without taking it very seriously. I found it to be far easier than the real thing. The math was much more algebra-centric (which I'm strong at) than the real test. The real test had many more word problems, more complex geometry, and multiple/factor problems. I found myself struggling for time on the real test; this wasn't a problem on the practice at all.
- The verbal part of GMAT Prep test is generally representitive, IMO.
- My math 50 score was only 93% was a shock since the 51 scores I got on practice tests were 99% (I think).

Kaplan prep tests v. Actual:
(applies to any of the tests (1-4) as I think they pick from the same question pool anyway given that it's a CAT)
- Kaplan math was easier than real, similar comments to above (real test had less algebra, more of everything else). However, I struggled to make time on the Kaplan test, as I did in the real one.
- Kaplan Verbal was much tougher than the real test. I was scoring 37-40 on the Kaplan verbal (around 90% ish), vs. 44 (97%) on the real one.

One last tip: I scheduled my test for 3:30 in the afternoon. I spent all day NOT studying, just hanging around the house, taking a nap. Scheduled my eating to make sure I would be fed but not get a food-coma. Coffee right before the test. Basically saving up all the mental energy since this is really a test of mental focus once the preparations are over. Not cramming last minute helped a lot I think.

I also got 50M (93%), 44V (97%) but only a 760. This shit's messed up. Why does the composite score fluctuate?

Could it have something to do with the difficulty in the questions served? I know everyone gets sample questions throughout the test that don't affect your score. Maybe it has something to do with that?

congrats on the great score. your tip about how to spend the day of the exam is a great one; i followed the same advice when i took mine (scheduled it for 2pm, went to the gym in the morning and made sure i had a good meal afterward; did no studying the day of). good luck on all your apps!

If you took the test recently if definitely should not fluctuate. When did you take it?

I think the composite score is calculated from not only your score but also those of other people??

I can think of many people who will find it a bit odd to see one get a 770 on a week's study. I've seen a few 770ers on this forum who have made it that big with less than one month's study (often interrupted). I'm sure that is not an actual trend. Of course, if one is bright, as in GMAT bright, one'd certainly make it. But I wonder, if being GMAT bright is the same as being simply bright; and if those despairing about their lack of ability to bring in an acceptable score after months of grueling study need to re-think their options.

I hope it is possible to get a 770 even after months of hard, carefully directed labour.

g'luck to all those appearing for the GMAT in the next one month.

Everyone,

I took my test 9/15/09 in San Francisco. That is weird that brandonsun got the same individual scores but a 760 composite... I have no idea how that works. I would personally like for the GMAC to be a bit more transparent about how the composite scores are calculated too but seems like that's not happening anytime soon.

As far as making 770 on a week's study, keep in mind I'm unemployed so I studied literally full-time for a week. 8+ hrs for about 5 days, and I came in with strong enough math skills that I didn't have to worry about it at all (though probably still could have done better if I did practice math). And as far as HOW to study, I think your time is spent most effectively if, when studying, you continuously THINK about building a repeatable method that can apply to EVERY question of a specific type (i.e. sentence correction). So I think its best to do 5-10 problems at a time of a given type, review the answers, update your framework understanding for that type of question (new rules to watch out for, adjust your approach, etc.), then do another 5-10 and repeat. I think its much less effective just to do a whole practice test, then another whole practice test. Doing so doesn't give you as many chances to actually learn.

Looks like Brandonsun beat me to the post. I got the exact same split and percentiles but received a composite score of 760. I'm fine with it though, considering the effort (or the lack of it) I put in. I too have a materials engineering background and spent around the same time (1-2hrs/day for 3 weeks) studying for the test. I guess to ace the GMAT one needs to get an engineering degree and a couple of weeks of studying

This could be a good CR question