Well, I have been very relaxed for the past weekend. I finally took my exam on the 11th, Thursday, and took a full weekend off from everything. I wanted to share my experience with everyone as this forum was a GREAT help to me.
Wanted to THANK YOU BTG!
Score: 680
Verbal: 34 Quantative: 49 AWA: 5.5
Target Score: 710
Preparation Length: 3 Months
Study Materials
1. Kaplan GMAT course - Books provided: OG11, Kaplan book
2. OG green and purple book
3. MGMAT number property, reading comprehension (never opened), Sentence correction (didn't get to it)
4. GMAT Prep CD
Background
BS in Industrial Engineering technology
Born in S.Korea
Started my career as an engineer
Currently as logistic/inventory manager
Study Strategy
I started off with Kaplan course because I wanted to make a habit of studying. working full time, it was hard for me to get into that habit of studying every day. I took the 10 week course on Sundays. I think for someone who's going for above 650s, you're better off studying on your own. They provide great materials including online access to quiz banks.
I did very basic studying for few weeks and really started off studying for my exam in November. So I spend majority of my free time studying for GMAT after work and weekends. After finishing up the OG books, I read many recommendations on MGMAT books and ordered SC and RC books which I never really got to...
Then i found number property book at local book store 3 days before the exam and used it to "refresh" my memory.
I used the GMAT prep CD and took the exam 3 times. I scored 600, 630 and forgot the last one. My usual practice scores were in upper 600s, but my brain was just too tired towards the exam. I found the GMAT prep test CD a week and half before the exam... wish I knew about this before.
Essay
I read the the provided examples and wrote 3 mock essays. I was worried that I wasn't going to write well during the exam, but I was more worried about the score at the time.
Humble Recommendation
1. Materials materials materials.. don't overkill yourself with too many materials. ONE at a time and master it. Now I have books that I haven't even opened because I purchased too many. I would start with MGMAT number property and Kaplan verbal guide, but NOTHING else until you actually finish them. Then full practice with OG11 -> Green -> Purple..
just ONE at a time. My own philosophy towards studying was "Learn it before you practice it." Practice is a guidance to learning it, but you NEED to get a full understanding of the material.
2. Make a good habit of studying - Set your goal, now start studying on schedule. Know your priorities and focus on your goal.
3. DO NOT take any other practice exam 2 days before the exam. I took 2 days off from work before the exam so I can take more exams and KILLED my confidence by scoring less and worrying more.
Mistakes
1. Took practice exams 2 days before the test.
2. Didn't focus on one material before moving onto another.
3. Turned the clock off during quantative.....
Exam Day
my exam was at 3:15 on Thursday. I just couldn't get myself to study anymore and I was too tired from everything. I just had a good breakfast and lunch before the exam and went to go shoot some basketball. I just wanted to take the exam! i was so worried that I wasn't going to do well bc of my low practice scores in the later week.. Don't take p.exams the week of the exam!
Once I started off with essays, I was bit worried since I only practiced 3 essays. I was comfortable with my arguments and spent all 30 minutes per essay. I was happy to see my 5.5 score today! Make SURE you check your spelling.. i found numerous small mistakes during my proof read. Kaplan really had a good timeline suggestions for the essay.
Quantative: I always had 10-15 minutes left after the exam, so I turned the clock off for first 40-50 minutes or so.. only to find out I was short on time. I had to make educated guess towards the end and I was mad at myself for spending too much time checking my answers. I still feel like I could have gotten 50 if I just spent little time earlier.
*Granted that adaptive testing is suppose to get "harder" but you CAN'T think about that during the exam. If you KNOW your material, it doesn't feel like problems are getting harder. so get your mind off of it, and solve!
Verbal: I did my best at it.. I have been weak in SC and I practiced and learned the rules. GMAT Prep helped me with verbal. I had 13 minutes left when I finished my exam.
I was VERY nervous at the end yet I was comfortable (does that make sense?) No matter what, i wanted to see my score. Once I finished the surveys, I saw 680 on the screen and I threw my hands in the air with joy. I was happy that I finally took the exam and I scored pretty well.
Although I didn't break 700, I am relieved and happy at this moment. I will do my best with applications and have confidence in what I do!
I encourage everyone to participate in the forum and do their best on exam day!
now.. back to work..
Wanted to THANK YOU BTG!
Score: 680
Verbal: 34 Quantative: 49 AWA: 5.5
Target Score: 710
Preparation Length: 3 Months
Study Materials
1. Kaplan GMAT course - Books provided: OG11, Kaplan book
2. OG green and purple book
3. MGMAT number property, reading comprehension (never opened), Sentence correction (didn't get to it)
4. GMAT Prep CD
Background
BS in Industrial Engineering technology
Born in S.Korea
Started my career as an engineer
Currently as logistic/inventory manager
Study Strategy
I started off with Kaplan course because I wanted to make a habit of studying. working full time, it was hard for me to get into that habit of studying every day. I took the 10 week course on Sundays. I think for someone who's going for above 650s, you're better off studying on your own. They provide great materials including online access to quiz banks.
I did very basic studying for few weeks and really started off studying for my exam in November. So I spend majority of my free time studying for GMAT after work and weekends. After finishing up the OG books, I read many recommendations on MGMAT books and ordered SC and RC books which I never really got to...
Then i found number property book at local book store 3 days before the exam and used it to "refresh" my memory.
I used the GMAT prep CD and took the exam 3 times. I scored 600, 630 and forgot the last one. My usual practice scores were in upper 600s, but my brain was just too tired towards the exam. I found the GMAT prep test CD a week and half before the exam... wish I knew about this before.
Essay
I read the the provided examples and wrote 3 mock essays. I was worried that I wasn't going to write well during the exam, but I was more worried about the score at the time.
Humble Recommendation
1. Materials materials materials.. don't overkill yourself with too many materials. ONE at a time and master it. Now I have books that I haven't even opened because I purchased too many. I would start with MGMAT number property and Kaplan verbal guide, but NOTHING else until you actually finish them. Then full practice with OG11 -> Green -> Purple..
just ONE at a time. My own philosophy towards studying was "Learn it before you practice it." Practice is a guidance to learning it, but you NEED to get a full understanding of the material.
2. Make a good habit of studying - Set your goal, now start studying on schedule. Know your priorities and focus on your goal.
3. DO NOT take any other practice exam 2 days before the exam. I took 2 days off from work before the exam so I can take more exams and KILLED my confidence by scoring less and worrying more.
Mistakes
1. Took practice exams 2 days before the test.
2. Didn't focus on one material before moving onto another.
3. Turned the clock off during quantative.....
Exam Day
my exam was at 3:15 on Thursday. I just couldn't get myself to study anymore and I was too tired from everything. I just had a good breakfast and lunch before the exam and went to go shoot some basketball. I just wanted to take the exam! i was so worried that I wasn't going to do well bc of my low practice scores in the later week.. Don't take p.exams the week of the exam!
Once I started off with essays, I was bit worried since I only practiced 3 essays. I was comfortable with my arguments and spent all 30 minutes per essay. I was happy to see my 5.5 score today! Make SURE you check your spelling.. i found numerous small mistakes during my proof read. Kaplan really had a good timeline suggestions for the essay.
Quantative: I always had 10-15 minutes left after the exam, so I turned the clock off for first 40-50 minutes or so.. only to find out I was short on time. I had to make educated guess towards the end and I was mad at myself for spending too much time checking my answers. I still feel like I could have gotten 50 if I just spent little time earlier.
*Granted that adaptive testing is suppose to get "harder" but you CAN'T think about that during the exam. If you KNOW your material, it doesn't feel like problems are getting harder. so get your mind off of it, and solve!
Verbal: I did my best at it.. I have been weak in SC and I practiced and learned the rules.
GMAT Prep helped me with verbal. I had 13 minutes left when I finished my exam. I was VERY nervous at the end yet I was comfortable (does that make sense?) No matter what, i wanted to see my score. Once I finished the surveys, I saw 680 on the screen and I threw my hands in the air with joy. I was happy that I finally took the exam and I scored pretty well.
Although I didn't break 700, I am relieved and happy at this moment. I will do my best with applications and have confidence in what I do!
I encourage everyone to participate in the forum and do their best on exam day!
now.. back to work..
Last edited by hwiya320 on Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
