I've read a few of these posts to keep me motivated and I hope my story might do the same for people in the same situation as I was. Quick background:
I took an online Manhattan GMAT course starting in July 2012 and took my first test September 25th. I had taken the GMAT a year prior, but wasn't able to study properly and never delved into any content books, just a few of the OG problems. I felt by getting the content down I would do well, so I was pretty upset when I got a 640 (43Q, 34V). I rescheduled a month and a half later, but this time I received private tutoring again through Manhattan. I averaged a couple hours everyday studying and finally was able to score a 700 (45Q, 40V).
My largest frustration was the lack of payoff from nailing the content down (algebra, probability, grammar, etc.). For me, it took a tutor to hammer the point home that the GMAT doesn't test your content ability, it tests your ability to take the GMAT! Once I started to realize the tricks and pitfalls the GMAT uses, I suddenly realized that I was falling for every single trap and I would only score a 700 if I could beat this.
Bottom line, if you've gone through any content book, you probably know enough math or English to do very well. Don't automatically expect this knowledge to carry you through, though. If you feel that you're pretty competent in math or verbal but aren't getting the right score, you might be like me falling for the tempting answer or other trap under the time pressure. The GMAT isn't about how well you know your equations and such, it's about how well you can master the test.
I took an online Manhattan GMAT course starting in July 2012 and took my first test September 25th. I had taken the GMAT a year prior, but wasn't able to study properly and never delved into any content books, just a few of the OG problems. I felt by getting the content down I would do well, so I was pretty upset when I got a 640 (43Q, 34V). I rescheduled a month and a half later, but this time I received private tutoring again through Manhattan. I averaged a couple hours everyday studying and finally was able to score a 700 (45Q, 40V).
My largest frustration was the lack of payoff from nailing the content down (algebra, probability, grammar, etc.). For me, it took a tutor to hammer the point home that the GMAT doesn't test your content ability, it tests your ability to take the GMAT! Once I started to realize the tricks and pitfalls the GMAT uses, I suddenly realized that I was falling for every single trap and I would only score a 700 if I could beat this.
Bottom line, if you've gone through any content book, you probably know enough math or English to do very well. Don't automatically expect this knowledge to carry you through, though. If you feel that you're pretty competent in math or verbal but aren't getting the right score, you might be like me falling for the tempting answer or other trap under the time pressure. The GMAT isn't about how well you know your equations and such, it's about how well you can master the test.
