Hi Ron,
I am a non native speaker of english . I am really dissapointed that inspite of taking two attempt at GMAT, I am still unable to achieve my target score. I really need few suggestions from you, which I believe will help to give me some confidence in giving GMAT another go.
I have always read you replies(especially your SC explanations) on the forums and found them really helpful. From your posts I can figure out that you have a knack of helping people with their GMAT issues and that you really give them frank opinions. This is the exact reason why I am �writing to you for help.
I will give you a brief on my GMAT history and on my issues with this test. To start with, I have taken GMAT twice till date. First, I took it on September 2009 and scored a 610(Q46, V28). I was not prepared well first time.After the exam I knew that I need to significantly improve my verbal score in order to achieve my target score(740+). I was confident that with some analysis, I would do well in maths as I am an engineer by profession and consider myself good at quants .Although I rigorously worked on my DS, which was the troubling factor for me in quants,I devoted most of my time in preparing for verbal. I worked religiously on SC from various resources and i worked on my CR and RCs. After I felt confident(more on this later) of my preparation,I took my GMAT for the second time in dec 2010 with a hope of a 700+ score. But when my score popped up, it was 620 (Q49,V26). After so much of preparation my verbal score actually dropped by 2 scaled score(disgusting)
I am really shattered and disappointed with my score and as I mentioned I am really lookng forward to get some help from you.Let me tell you frankly that what I think of myself as a GMAT test taker. I think I am good( though not terrific) in quants and average in verbal. I certainly deserved atleast a 35 if not more in verbal this time around.
I bought all the MGMAT strategy guides before my second attempt and went through all of them(except for RC and CR guides) atleast thrice.For verbal I mainly practiced through OGs(10,11,12) but I didn't use the corresponding verbal supplements.
Tests taken:
Gmatprep1: 690 (Q43,V40) (Around 20/09/2010)
I was rusty in quants when I took this test. After this I bought the gmat club tests and started taking them. After taking around 10 of them I started feeling more confident in quants.
Gmatprep2: 660 (Q47,V34) (Around 05/10/2010)
I was very nervous while taking the test.I don't know that what was the reason but I found the Verbal tougher than Gmatprep1.
I took all the MGMAT CATs under timed conditions and scored as below.
MGMAT CAT 1: 620(Q43,V32) (28/09/2010)
2: 640(Q43,V34) (29/09/2010)
3: 630(Q44,V32) (02/10/2010)
At this point I analysed the previous tests and worked on my timing as I was struggling to finish the quant section till this point of time
4: 670(Q47,V34 ) (06/10/2010)
This time I finished quant on time and that was why there was a score jump but verbal was still not improving. I decided to work on my verbal timings and took the GMAT sets 1-10 as a practice for tuning verbal timing.
5.690 (Q47,V37) (14/11/2010).
There was some improvement in verbal this time around
6:710 (Q49,V37) (19/11/2010)
Crossed the 700 mark and felt really good.
Knewton free CAT:700 (Q45,V40) (21/11/2010)
Gmatprep 1 retake : 760(Q49,V44)
I analysed the test and found that there were exactly 9 repeats from verbal and 3 from quants.
Gmatprep2 retake: 740(Q49,V41)
In Verbal there were 11 repeats and in quants there were 3 repeats.
At this point of time, I thought that I am somewhere around the 700+ mark and I booked the date for my real GMAT. But as already mentioned, I scored a dismal 620.After putting my heart and soul into my preparation for at least 6 months, it didn't pay off for me. I was disappointed and devastated and feeling so was quite obvious.
I would like to give you a brief on my test experience this time around
1> I couldn't sleep well on the previous night of the GMAT. I was full of anxiety and though I booked the 14:30 PM slot for the exam I didn't feel fresh when I reached the exam center. By the time I was at the half way mark in my quants I started losing my concentration. I somehow controlled myself and finished the quant section. After finishing the quant section, I took the much needed break and returned to face the verbal.
2> In verbal I started well but around my 6th question there was a RC and it was a difficult one. I think I messed up my test mainly here. By the time I answered the 3 of these Rcs I was running 7 minutes behind the target time. Things got worse from here. I again started losing my concentration. Though I tried my best to answer all the verbal questions, by the time I reached the 31st question there were 09:00 minutes left. The 32nd question was a RC. RC was a long one but I found it easy to answer, but after I finished this RC, the rest of my answers were almost guessed after having only one read to the questions. Overall I just messed up with the timing and also my concentration level didn't help. I found the Sc s to be time consuming for whatever reasons and this contributed in giving lesser time to CRs.
I don't know exactly what went wrong with me on the D-day,but I am sure RON that you could figure it out and give me some suggestions.
According to me (what I can analyse from my practice tests) I shouldn't have performed so badly in the GMAT.
The reason could be or a combination of
1>Having less sleep before the test.
2> Awful time management in the verbal
3>Having the tendency to stick to a particular question and spend more time on it even if I have no clue at all about it. More so when the question is among the first 10-15 questions.
4> overstudying before the GMAT.
Ron, the above reasons are all speculative and I am not sure whether they are the reason of my unexpectedly low score. I still believe that the score is not at all reflective of my capabilities. And the problem has to be more with strategy rather with concepts But these all are my own opinions.
What really matters to me is your frank opinion that what you think of my situation. What is the issue here? Is it more related to strategy rather than the concept or the vice-versa or it is a mix of both? Whether I can achieve my target score? If yes then how much time from now is required to achieve that kind of score. What need to be done to achieve the score. I am also ready to take a few hours of private tutoring from you if it is needed. The budget is a little problem but I will still manage if you say It will help. I have always been a sincere student and I am sure I have given my best effort . Since last 3 months, I have studied for 5-6 hours per day without fail. But I think I lacked some expert guidance, which I hope you will now provide me with.
Let me know incase you need further information.
Waiting for your reply,
Sincere Thanks,
I am a non native speaker of english . I am really dissapointed that inspite of taking two attempt at GMAT, I am still unable to achieve my target score. I really need few suggestions from you, which I believe will help to give me some confidence in giving GMAT another go.
I have always read you replies(especially your SC explanations) on the forums and found them really helpful. From your posts I can figure out that you have a knack of helping people with their GMAT issues and that you really give them frank opinions. This is the exact reason why I am �writing to you for help.
I will give you a brief on my GMAT history and on my issues with this test. To start with, I have taken GMAT twice till date. First, I took it on September 2009 and scored a 610(Q46, V28). I was not prepared well first time.After the exam I knew that I need to significantly improve my verbal score in order to achieve my target score(740+). I was confident that with some analysis, I would do well in maths as I am an engineer by profession and consider myself good at quants .Although I rigorously worked on my DS, which was the troubling factor for me in quants,I devoted most of my time in preparing for verbal. I worked religiously on SC from various resources and i worked on my CR and RCs. After I felt confident(more on this later) of my preparation,I took my GMAT for the second time in dec 2010 with a hope of a 700+ score. But when my score popped up, it was 620 (Q49,V26). After so much of preparation my verbal score actually dropped by 2 scaled score(disgusting)
I am really shattered and disappointed with my score and as I mentioned I am really lookng forward to get some help from you.Let me tell you frankly that what I think of myself as a GMAT test taker. I think I am good( though not terrific) in quants and average in verbal. I certainly deserved atleast a 35 if not more in verbal this time around.
I bought all the MGMAT strategy guides before my second attempt and went through all of them(except for RC and CR guides) atleast thrice.For verbal I mainly practiced through OGs(10,11,12) but I didn't use the corresponding verbal supplements.
Tests taken:
Gmatprep1: 690 (Q43,V40) (Around 20/09/2010)
I was rusty in quants when I took this test. After this I bought the gmat club tests and started taking them. After taking around 10 of them I started feeling more confident in quants.
Gmatprep2: 660 (Q47,V34) (Around 05/10/2010)
I was very nervous while taking the test.I don't know that what was the reason but I found the Verbal tougher than Gmatprep1.
I took all the MGMAT CATs under timed conditions and scored as below.
MGMAT CAT 1: 620(Q43,V32) (28/09/2010)
2: 640(Q43,V34) (29/09/2010)
3: 630(Q44,V32) (02/10/2010)
At this point I analysed the previous tests and worked on my timing as I was struggling to finish the quant section till this point of time
4: 670(Q47,V34 ) (06/10/2010)
This time I finished quant on time and that was why there was a score jump but verbal was still not improving. I decided to work on my verbal timings and took the GMAT sets 1-10 as a practice for tuning verbal timing.
5.690 (Q47,V37) (14/11/2010).
There was some improvement in verbal this time around
6:710 (Q49,V37) (19/11/2010)
Crossed the 700 mark and felt really good.
Knewton free CAT:700 (Q45,V40) (21/11/2010)
Gmatprep 1 retake : 760(Q49,V44)
I analysed the test and found that there were exactly 9 repeats from verbal and 3 from quants.
Gmatprep2 retake: 740(Q49,V41)
In Verbal there were 11 repeats and in quants there were 3 repeats.
At this point of time, I thought that I am somewhere around the 700+ mark and I booked the date for my real GMAT. But as already mentioned, I scored a dismal 620.After putting my heart and soul into my preparation for at least 6 months, it didn't pay off for me. I was disappointed and devastated and feeling so was quite obvious.
I would like to give you a brief on my test experience this time around
1> I couldn't sleep well on the previous night of the GMAT. I was full of anxiety and though I booked the 14:30 PM slot for the exam I didn't feel fresh when I reached the exam center. By the time I was at the half way mark in my quants I started losing my concentration. I somehow controlled myself and finished the quant section. After finishing the quant section, I took the much needed break and returned to face the verbal.
2> In verbal I started well but around my 6th question there was a RC and it was a difficult one. I think I messed up my test mainly here. By the time I answered the 3 of these Rcs I was running 7 minutes behind the target time. Things got worse from here. I again started losing my concentration. Though I tried my best to answer all the verbal questions, by the time I reached the 31st question there were 09:00 minutes left. The 32nd question was a RC. RC was a long one but I found it easy to answer, but after I finished this RC, the rest of my answers were almost guessed after having only one read to the questions. Overall I just messed up with the timing and also my concentration level didn't help. I found the Sc s to be time consuming for whatever reasons and this contributed in giving lesser time to CRs.
I don't know exactly what went wrong with me on the D-day,but I am sure RON that you could figure it out and give me some suggestions.
According to me (what I can analyse from my practice tests) I shouldn't have performed so badly in the GMAT.
The reason could be or a combination of
1>Having less sleep before the test.
2> Awful time management in the verbal
3>Having the tendency to stick to a particular question and spend more time on it even if I have no clue at all about it. More so when the question is among the first 10-15 questions.
4> overstudying before the GMAT.
Ron, the above reasons are all speculative and I am not sure whether they are the reason of my unexpectedly low score. I still believe that the score is not at all reflective of my capabilities. And the problem has to be more with strategy rather with concepts But these all are my own opinions.
What really matters to me is your frank opinion that what you think of my situation. What is the issue here? Is it more related to strategy rather than the concept or the vice-versa or it is a mix of both? Whether I can achieve my target score? If yes then how much time from now is required to achieve that kind of score. What need to be done to achieve the score. I am also ready to take a few hours of private tutoring from you if it is needed. The budget is a little problem but I will still manage if you say It will help. I have always been a sincere student and I am sure I have given my best effort . Since last 3 months, I have studied for 5-6 hours per day without fail. But I think I lacked some expert guidance, which I hope you will now provide me with.
Let me know incase you need further information.
Waiting for your reply,
Sincere Thanks,
