Hi fellows,
I'll start from the end - Febuary 9th, 2009 - 710 - 49Q, 39V. (first attempt)
For the last four months I have been a more or less a perminant guest at beatthegmat.com and I am thrilled to share with you my experience. This topic goes out to all of you people that fear from the mighty monster. EVERYONE CAN DO IT!!!
Before I start, I want to thank Eric, VPJim and others for helping and answering even the most enoying questions. The material, knowledge and information within this website cannot be translated to money.
Material used:
OG 11
Kaplan course book
Manhattan SC guide 2005 (I know there is a newer edition)
Barron's (don't bother looking at even, use only if you need paper for the fireplace)
Manhattan 6 CATs
All the material in the resource section on this website.
CAT scores:
Princeton Review - 620
MGMAT free online test - 630
MGMAT 1 - 650
Kaplan free online test - 620
MGMAT 2 - 680
Veritas free test - 710 (Quant section is way easier than the GMAT)
MGMAT 3 - 700
Power prep - 650
MGMAT 4 - 710
Power prep - 680
MGMAT 5 - 690
MGMAT 6 - 700
Gmat prep 1 - 700
Gmat prep 2- 720
Tips:
Ok so this is how it went for me. I am not a native english speaker, however, striving for an MBA in the USA, I had to work hard on the Verbal section. I have studied for this test for the past 4 months. In general, I recommand studying as much as possible and doing 10-15 CATs.
I think the big improvement was shown after I had got to understand the english rules of modifiers, subjunctivies etc. once you know where the trap is hidden, it's much more easier to solve the problem.
As for the quant section, I didn't really have a problem because I studied tons of math in my B.A but I recommand first learning the basic rules and solving methods and than focusing on practicing AND ALOT!!!
Now, as for the CATS, I found MGMAT were the best though the math section is a bit harder than the GMAT and the score is a little lower (for instance I got 47-48 on most of the MGMAT's while on the prep I got 49-51 and on the test 49).
GMAT prep tests were of course reflective. Re-installing gives you more questions though do not pay attention to your second time score.
Test Day:
Somebody told me, and he was right, that the general athmospere in the test center is very stressing and not fun. You should approach the test saying: "I'm gonna give it my best shot and in the worst case, I'll do it again".
You have two 10-minute breaks which force you to go through the rediculous in-out procedure, I suggest going out quickly, a sip of water, a bite of a snack and going back inside (The funny thing is you don't know how much time you have got because you are not alowed to bring in a watch).
Anyway, as for the different sections, AWA was OK, don't waste alot of time learning for it, just learn a well-prepared template (if you want, I have some, jst send me a massage). I learned for this section two days.
Quant - Was kinda hard. first several questions were OK but afterwards it became shitty, and I became stressed. DONT PANIC, it seems that I was doing OK. As alot of people mentioned before, you can't know if you are doing well or not.
Verbal Section - Seriously, I thought it was a bit easier than that of the GMAT prep of Manhattan, of course after 20 questions, I was introduced to some tough CR and SC. OK this is my big tip for the verbal section - Dont loose your concentration near the end. It's temtping to end this exhausting burden but stay focused till the last question - this is a pretty tough mission after 3 hours...
I hope my tips helped, if you have questions you can certainly send me a message.
Shalom from Israel,
Ohad
I'll start from the end - Febuary 9th, 2009 - 710 - 49Q, 39V. (first attempt)
For the last four months I have been a more or less a perminant guest at beatthegmat.com and I am thrilled to share with you my experience. This topic goes out to all of you people that fear from the mighty monster. EVERYONE CAN DO IT!!!
Before I start, I want to thank Eric, VPJim and others for helping and answering even the most enoying questions. The material, knowledge and information within this website cannot be translated to money.
Material used:
OG 11
Kaplan course book
Manhattan SC guide 2005 (I know there is a newer edition)
Barron's (don't bother looking at even, use only if you need paper for the fireplace)
Manhattan 6 CATs
All the material in the resource section on this website.
CAT scores:
Princeton Review - 620
MGMAT free online test - 630
MGMAT 1 - 650
Kaplan free online test - 620
MGMAT 2 - 680
Veritas free test - 710 (Quant section is way easier than the GMAT)
MGMAT 3 - 700
Power prep - 650
MGMAT 4 - 710
Power prep - 680
MGMAT 5 - 690
MGMAT 6 - 700
Gmat prep 1 - 700
Gmat prep 2- 720
Tips:
Ok so this is how it went for me. I am not a native english speaker, however, striving for an MBA in the USA, I had to work hard on the Verbal section. I have studied for this test for the past 4 months. In general, I recommand studying as much as possible and doing 10-15 CATs.
I think the big improvement was shown after I had got to understand the english rules of modifiers, subjunctivies etc. once you know where the trap is hidden, it's much more easier to solve the problem.
As for the quant section, I didn't really have a problem because I studied tons of math in my B.A but I recommand first learning the basic rules and solving methods and than focusing on practicing AND ALOT!!!
Now, as for the CATS, I found MGMAT were the best though the math section is a bit harder than the GMAT and the score is a little lower (for instance I got 47-48 on most of the MGMAT's while on the prep I got 49-51 and on the test 49).
GMAT prep tests were of course reflective. Re-installing gives you more questions though do not pay attention to your second time score.
Test Day:
Somebody told me, and he was right, that the general athmospere in the test center is very stressing and not fun. You should approach the test saying: "I'm gonna give it my best shot and in the worst case, I'll do it again".
You have two 10-minute breaks which force you to go through the rediculous in-out procedure, I suggest going out quickly, a sip of water, a bite of a snack and going back inside (The funny thing is you don't know how much time you have got because you are not alowed to bring in a watch).
Anyway, as for the different sections, AWA was OK, don't waste alot of time learning for it, just learn a well-prepared template (if you want, I have some, jst send me a massage). I learned for this section two days.
Quant - Was kinda hard. first several questions were OK but afterwards it became shitty, and I became stressed. DONT PANIC, it seems that I was doing OK. As alot of people mentioned before, you can't know if you are doing well or not.
Verbal Section - Seriously, I thought it was a bit easier than that of the GMAT prep of Manhattan, of course after 20 questions, I was introduced to some tough CR and SC. OK this is my big tip for the verbal section - Dont loose your concentration near the end. It's temtping to end this exhausting burden but stay focused till the last question - this is a pretty tough mission after 3 hours...
I hope my tips helped, if you have questions you can certainly send me a message.
Shalom from Israel,
Ohad
