As I mentioned I am not very pleased with my result not because it is a bad one but because I think, I could have scored better on the verbal part. Before I give you an overview of my experience and what not to do, I would be happy to get an expert opinion on the subject of retaking and applying with this score. I have no option, as it is quite late in the stage, and will use this score to apply to HBS and Wharton, I have above a 3.8 GPA from a decent state university. Would this score be sufficient if the rest of my application is good?
Now for those of you who want to know about my GMAT preparation. First, here are my scores, bare in mind all the tests were taken in the last 10 days, I also did take the official GMATPrep tests, but on the first test, I kind of got lost in though and didn't finish the Quant portion so I wouldn't consider them very reflective. As I mentioned I took one test per day in the span of like 10 days, so the improvement you are seeing is probably not due to a lot of improvement in knowledge, rather than in time management. I did take all the tests in timed conditions but I think I probably had only one test where I didn't have a phone or a buzzer ring and someone disturb me.
Manhattan GMAT 45 36 670
Manhattan GMAT 47 33 660
Manhattan GMAT 46 40 700
Manhattan GMAT 46 35 670
Manhattan GMAT 47 44 740
Powerprep 49 44 750
Powerprep 49 40 730
Manhattan GMAT 47 44 740
GMATPrep 2 49 36 700
Materials used:
1. OG - 12th edition (didn't do RC problems)
2. OG Quant Review, 1st edition
3. OG Verbal Review, 1st edition
4. Manhattan (all 8 guides)
5. Old ETS Paper Tests (did all 9 math sections + 2 SC sections)
I actually have a bunch more material but had no time to cover it, as my studying consisted of 1 month of reading and doing the problems from the Quant Manhattan guides, 2 weeks of reading the MGMAT verbal guides (mostly reading them quickly and not taking notes). Probably, I took 2 weeks to do OG Quant and Verbal Guides and the last 10 days were spent in taking tests and doing problems from OG 12th edition and paper tests. Until the last two days, I probably spent no more than an hour a day - yes not much and not to mention I was not very productive.
On test day, aka today: I got to the center 20-25 minutes early; there is only one spot to take the GMAT in a room with other people taking other tests. People are laid back in my country so I did the check in and started the test quickly. The AWA was ok; I honestly don't know I didn't prepare much except for reading what is expected for a 4 and 6. I wrote the essays no issues there. I took my brake and sat down for the Quant portion, unlike all other times this time I managed my time and finished with 4 seconds left � Yes I know, but I tended not to finish math questions in my practice tests. I did rush a little bit and there were some harder questions but overall it was ok. I stayed calm, remembered a few little trick - read the Beat the Gmat flash cards - they are good for these things. I read them 2 or 3 times before the test, but it was enough for the quant. Nevertheless, these are very helpful tricks to learn as they save time.
Then came the verbal , I was filling ok in the beginning no major issues but again started struggling with time a bit and then for some reason got the jitters. People were come in and out of the room and I got a bit distracted. I am a fast reader but I had to make time on the RC, so I could use it on the SC. I know ridiculous, I barely finished with 1-minute left because I rushed the last few questions and especially the last RC passage.
Then I answered some demographics questions and got my score. I was happy with the quant but then I saw the verbal and my happiness subsided. In the last 5 days, I had managed to improve my timing better and was scoring above 40 as you can see. However, I was not doing that great in SC and was loosing a lot of time on these questions. I studied SC for only 2-3 days and obviously, that was not a good strategy. I am sure I can do much better on verbal, if I study and I am planning to retake the test.
Now for those of you who want to know about my GMAT preparation. First, here are my scores, bare in mind all the tests were taken in the last 10 days, I also did take the official GMATPrep tests, but on the first test, I kind of got lost in though and didn't finish the Quant portion so I wouldn't consider them very reflective. As I mentioned I took one test per day in the span of like 10 days, so the improvement you are seeing is probably not due to a lot of improvement in knowledge, rather than in time management. I did take all the tests in timed conditions but I think I probably had only one test where I didn't have a phone or a buzzer ring and someone disturb me.
Manhattan GMAT 45 36 670
Manhattan GMAT 47 33 660
Manhattan GMAT 46 40 700
Manhattan GMAT 46 35 670
Manhattan GMAT 47 44 740
Powerprep 49 44 750
Powerprep 49 40 730
Manhattan GMAT 47 44 740
GMATPrep 2 49 36 700
Materials used:
1. OG - 12th edition (didn't do RC problems)
2. OG Quant Review, 1st edition
3. OG Verbal Review, 1st edition
4. Manhattan (all 8 guides)
5. Old ETS Paper Tests (did all 9 math sections + 2 SC sections)
I actually have a bunch more material but had no time to cover it, as my studying consisted of 1 month of reading and doing the problems from the Quant Manhattan guides, 2 weeks of reading the MGMAT verbal guides (mostly reading them quickly and not taking notes). Probably, I took 2 weeks to do OG Quant and Verbal Guides and the last 10 days were spent in taking tests and doing problems from OG 12th edition and paper tests. Until the last two days, I probably spent no more than an hour a day - yes not much and not to mention I was not very productive.
On test day, aka today: I got to the center 20-25 minutes early; there is only one spot to take the GMAT in a room with other people taking other tests. People are laid back in my country so I did the check in and started the test quickly. The AWA was ok; I honestly don't know I didn't prepare much except for reading what is expected for a 4 and 6. I wrote the essays no issues there. I took my brake and sat down for the Quant portion, unlike all other times this time I managed my time and finished with 4 seconds left � Yes I know, but I tended not to finish math questions in my practice tests. I did rush a little bit and there were some harder questions but overall it was ok. I stayed calm, remembered a few little trick - read the Beat the Gmat flash cards - they are good for these things. I read them 2 or 3 times before the test, but it was enough for the quant. Nevertheless, these are very helpful tricks to learn as they save time.
Then came the verbal , I was filling ok in the beginning no major issues but again started struggling with time a bit and then for some reason got the jitters. People were come in and out of the room and I got a bit distracted. I am a fast reader but I had to make time on the RC, so I could use it on the SC. I know ridiculous, I barely finished with 1-minute left because I rushed the last few questions and especially the last RC passage.
Then I answered some demographics questions and got my score. I was happy with the quant but then I saw the verbal and my happiness subsided. In the last 5 days, I had managed to improve my timing better and was scoring above 40 as you can see. However, I was not doing that great in SC and was loosing a lot of time on these questions. I studied SC for only 2-3 days and obviously, that was not a good strategy. I am sure I can do much better on verbal, if I study and I am planning to retake the test.
