I just Beat The GMAT!

Edit: "GMAT Prep Does Not Lie"_________

I was hoping to post a great success story, filled with basketball references ("Threw it down on the GMAT" "Took the GMAT to school"). Today however, the GMAT humbled me, and so I will remain.

Here is a link detailing my final two-three weeks of prep:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/how-prepared ... 79287.html
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March 6th 2013:

Unofficial Score --- (Q) 49 (V) 41 - 730 (96th percentile)
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If you had a chance to read through the above link, you would have noticed that my score on GMAT Prep 2 was the same as my score on the actual exam (Hence the title).

I'll make it quick...

Tips:

1) GMAT Prep exams (only two real deal shots) --- After your first two attempts, draw out every upper level problem that you can (i.e. Take the test until you get an 800- MOST questions should be memorized). Don't close out your exam, use the "start" button on your keyboard (if you're using only one screen), open a browser, and type each question (First few words of each) into Google (For answer explanations).

**Unfortunately, I only had a week to do the above; it was an invaluable week however.

2) Take a diagnostic under strict conditions (No matter what stage you are at), and focus on your weaknesses. You will have the same weaknesses in a month, two months, six months (however long your study plan may be). If you have time, target specific areas from each section of the exam (i.e. Critical Reasoning - Inference Questions).

**The test (CAT) was able to easily identify my weakness, and take advantage of it.

3) Time your practice.

**My last answer on the verbal section was a complete guess (30 seconds left for last two problems - 10 minutes for last 10 problems (Long passage included).

4) Find time-effective solutions for ALL areas of the exam. I'm sure there are many instructors that can help you.

5) I read an article by "Arun" - I believe I have read his posts on the forum - focusing on the knowledge expected for each level (i.e. 400-500 etc.) of GMAT sentence correction. His message for upper-level problems was "Focus on the meaning of the sentences". --- Hopefully someone can post the article.

Also by unknown; "Stop looking for sentence correction errors that aren't there".

**I believe those two quotes helped raise my GMAT score 20-30 points. My outlook towards the exam changed almost immediately.

6) I can't harp enough on weaknesses; the test will find your weakness. The test is made to do just that.

7) Sleep, eat well, take days off, and never give up.
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Missed my target - decent score. A little upset, will live with it.

It was fun.

Best of luck!

Thanks for your time everyone,

Mohammed Yassen