I am from India, no I am not an engineer and i am not a math genius
A little trading background before i get into the gmat (i beleive both are interconnected). I began my career as a stockbroker and then changed industries but the love for trading and investing never diminished. I suffered lots of setbacks but kept at it. I made all the mistakes. I read a lot of books, followed successful traders. I started maintaining a trading log, reviewed my trades regularly and most importantly, I spent a year researching strategies for my personal use and I am sticking to those..yes they have paid off and paying
The most important thing in the stock market is to have a well thought out plan THAT suits your personality. If you trade by the seat of your pants you are going to go broke soon - same goes for the gmat exam.
Now how did I equate the two :
1. Many participants come to the market with dreams of doubling their money in a few months : Forget it that never happens !..learn market history keep a reasonable target of 10-15% per year and anything over that is a bonus. So yeah I thought I will get a 700+, I was wrongggg ! 540 in year 2011 later on I tempered my expectations after giving lots of mock tests and my mind was really at ease and felt a burden lifted.
2. After the 1st attempt I joined a prep class, was pumped for the 1st few weeks but then all the engineering guys started rattling off answers in split seconds..i was dazed, lost all hope and thought this is just for these genius guys so i gave up and left the exam
3. After having tasted some moderate success in trading i got back to the GMAT in 2014..second attempt : 610 bombed again I left it again.
4. took a month off and sat at it again but this time put my stock market learning to it !
4.1: What you dont understand leave it : I left probablility and I did not pay attention to any of the esoteric formulas at all. De-clutter your mind.
4.2: Stick to your trading plan and keep planned entries and exits : I made a plan A and plan B for some common type of questions and stuck to it. If after those steps I could not zero in on an answer I just did a best guess and moved on.
4.3: Keep a trading log and review mistakes: Yes this is common on all gmat forums but its true and helps
4.4: Psychology-MOST IMPORTANT : Trading is a psychological battle and so is the GMAT. on my 1st 2 tests i was really tense and even in a lot of mocks. BUT when i stepped into the test center for the 3rd time I was psychologically prepared for anything - no matter what, even if the score came at 300 I would have been the same in my head - the stock market humbles you that way
So yeah, its very important that you keep a cool head while giving the exam and in the days leading upto the exam, if you are not then please postpone.
5. Year 2015 : 650-smiled all through the exam (psychology) and I am glad and done with it !
I really do not have the strength to give it again, I am married and have a full time job...so yeah ..gmat no more !
PS: I guess this is the last time i will log into any gmat forum. This is an awesome forum and if this post helps even 1 person to persevere and achieve his/her score then i will be very happy.
Good luck to all. Cheers !
