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pallavmishra
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:12 am
- Thanked: 3 times
- GMAT Score:740
Just returned from the exam center and I still find it difficult to believe I got 740 (97% percentile). I got 87% percentile in Math and 92% percentile in Verbal, so it was a fairly balanced score, though I wish now I'd got more. But no complaints - I started preparing exactly 2 months and 12 days back (15th Jan it was). No preparation prior to that.
Here's what my strategy was:
1. Practice. I am a working professional and cannot afford a lot of leaves. Still, I took a week off early this month to improve my level of preparation. 2 hours in the morning (6 to 8 AM) and 2-3 hours in the evening. Take your full tests preferably in the mornings and get a good night's rest before you take your full practice test.
2. Good course material: Official Guides 10, 11 and 12 (got from some friends): Tons of material for practice, Full practice tests of Kaplan, Princeton Review, GMAT prep.
3. Periodic visits to forums such as Beat the GMAT. This is a good forum because it connects you to the GMAT world, esp. serious takers.
4. Do NOT neglect your AWA. AWA essays may be the most neglected aspects of your preparation, but remember - they are the first thing you face in GMAT. And if you are not satisfied with them, it does psychologically impact you for the rest of the exam. Therefore, whenever you do your full test, do write your essays and not skip them.
The best part is - except for the official GMAT preptests, I NEVER scored more that 620 EVER. And I peaked during the main test. Don't know how it happened. I just had decided that I am not going to prepare ever again. I think that did it for me. The fact that if you feel every day during your preparation that you are not going to write the exam again and wreck your daily regimen, it can help. It makes you focus a little more. And it is good for a lot of people to not score very high in your drill before the main test. It keeps you from getting complacent and overconfident. HOWEVER, do NOT feel psyched at any cost. This may sound contradicting but its simple. You may decide to write an exam once and give it a good shot, but need not panic. Life doesn't end with a GMAT score. There are many other opportunities in life. But, practice enough.
Anyways, I feel quite relieved for a job well done. The road's still long though - there's the essays, sending transcripts, getting recommendations, preparing for interviews, the works. But at least, the exam's over.[/u]
Here's what my strategy was:
1. Practice. I am a working professional and cannot afford a lot of leaves. Still, I took a week off early this month to improve my level of preparation. 2 hours in the morning (6 to 8 AM) and 2-3 hours in the evening. Take your full tests preferably in the mornings and get a good night's rest before you take your full practice test.
2. Good course material: Official Guides 10, 11 and 12 (got from some friends): Tons of material for practice, Full practice tests of Kaplan, Princeton Review, GMAT prep.
3. Periodic visits to forums such as Beat the GMAT. This is a good forum because it connects you to the GMAT world, esp. serious takers.
4. Do NOT neglect your AWA. AWA essays may be the most neglected aspects of your preparation, but remember - they are the first thing you face in GMAT. And if you are not satisfied with them, it does psychologically impact you for the rest of the exam. Therefore, whenever you do your full test, do write your essays and not skip them.
The best part is - except for the official GMAT preptests, I NEVER scored more that 620 EVER. And I peaked during the main test. Don't know how it happened. I just had decided that I am not going to prepare ever again. I think that did it for me. The fact that if you feel every day during your preparation that you are not going to write the exam again and wreck your daily regimen, it can help. It makes you focus a little more. And it is good for a lot of people to not score very high in your drill before the main test. It keeps you from getting complacent and overconfident. HOWEVER, do NOT feel psyched at any cost. This may sound contradicting but its simple. You may decide to write an exam once and give it a good shot, but need not panic. Life doesn't end with a GMAT score. There are many other opportunities in life. But, practice enough.
Anyways, I feel quite relieved for a job well done. The road's still long though - there's the essays, sending transcripts, getting recommendations, preparing for interviews, the works. But at least, the exam's over.[/u]
