GMAT 1: Q48 V34 ; GMAT 2: Q50 V34; Here's what went wrong.

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu May 09, 2013 9:39 pm
Note: I follow techniques as outlined by all MGMAT books.

First attempt.
1.)Quant was ok, though I was not very confident whether I did well, right after exam, I was not too worried and my score says I did OK.

2.)Verbal was disastrous.
RC: I had my strategy right(3 min passage reading,notes,1min per question), I was good on detail questions, but accuracy was low on general questions, authors intention was not always apparent to me and mostly I was deducing wrongly.

CR: I still dont know if I was good or bad. If I was bad I suspect it has to do with accuracy again.

SC: Did not know anything, though I read the whole SC MGMAT guide. In the exam I could recognize no errors at all, ended up taking help of my "ear".

Second Attempt.

1.) Quant was super easy. PS was easy as hell. DS was good, and quite a few times I changed my answers in the last seconds, suspecting that I was in some classic GMAT trap. There were quite a few "C" traps in DS.

2.) Verbal was disastrous again. I had no timing strategy, only thought that if at 36th minute I was around 21-22 then I was good. I knew my base.

SC was good ( knew about all errors, eg. I knew the answers to all MGMAT flash cards for SC).

RC was OK. Though again on general questions I was not very confident about my answers.

In CR I have no idea how it went. The real disastor: It was like this, the clock was saying 3:58 mins left. I was on 35th question. I am saying in my head " Oh nice end to my exam 3 mins for 36th & 37th question. Then it struck me. 35 of 41!!!!! Guessed that question. Next. RC (3 para). Thought there will be at most 3 questions. Guessed the 3, hoping i will use the 3 mins left for SC. 39th question was the 4th RC question. Now I was scared. I involuntarily started reading the passage in order to fish an answer to NOT guess on 39th. Guessed on it anyway. 1:30 left. 2nd last SC attempted. 30 secs left. Half attempted half guessed the last SC with 6 secs on the clock.



So, Please help me!!!
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Tue Oct 08, 2013 9:47 pm
Hi avik629,

A Q50/V34 would score you in the high 600s (probably 680 or 690, either of which is considered a strong score), so I don't see a problem.

If your goal was to score a 700+, then you've already defined the issues. You have some pacing and tactical problems in the Verbal section. By your own admission, it sounds like you've been studying primarily from books. While this approach works well for some Test Takers, I would argue that it does NOT provide the best possible results for most Test Takers.

If you can answer a few questions, then I'll be happy to provide some advice:

1) What was your score goal?
2) Where do you want to apply to school?
3) When do you want to apply?
4) Other than the MGMAT books, what resources did you use to study?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu May 09, 2013 9:39 pm

by avik629 » Wed Oct 09, 2013 2:54 am
[email protected] wrote:Hi avik629,

A Q50/V34 would score you in the high 600s (probably 680 or 690, either of which is considered a strong score), so I don't see a problem.

If your goal was to score a 700+, then you've already defined the issues. You have some pacing and tactical problems in the Verbal section. By your own admission, it sounds like you've been studying primarily from books. While this approach works well for some Test Takers, I would argue that it does NOT provide the best possible results for most Test Takers.

If you can answer a few questions, then I'll be happy to provide some advice:

1) What was your score goal?
2) Where do you want to apply to school?
3) When do you want to apply?
4) Other than the MGMAT books, what resources did you use to study?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
1.)I scored 680 and 690 in the two exams. I had a goal of 700+ targetting 740.
2.)Top 10 (HBS, STANFORD , INSEAD, ETC.) I am aiming as high as possible. (I am not planning for MBA straight away, I am getting GMAT out of the way so I can concentrate later on bettering my profile)
3.)2015. ( I will have 3yrs work ex by then)
4.)I am enrolled in Economist GMAT and e-GMAT verbal. (Though I admit, I havent used them fully, maybe 60-70 % for economist and only SC from e-GMAT.

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:27 am
avik629 wrote: The real disastor: It was like this, the clock was saying 3:58 mins left. I was on 35th question. I am saying in my head " Oh nice end to my exam 3 mins for 36th & 37th question. Then it struck me. 35 of 41!!!!! Guessed that question. Next. RC (3 para). Thought there will be at most 3 questions. Guessed the 3, hoping i will use the 3 mins left for SC. 39th question was the 4th RC question. Now I was scared. I involuntarily started reading the passage in order to fish an answer to NOT guess on 39th. Guessed on it anyway. 1:30 left. 2nd last SC attempted. 30 secs left. Half attempted half guessed the last SC with 6 secs on the clock.
You definitely need a time-management strategy. This is crucial! Keep in mind that the GMAT is a test of your math and verbal skills AND it's a test of your test-taking skills.

I suggest that you use a Milestone Chart to keep you on track. This is covered in our free GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu May 09, 2013 9:39 pm

by avik629 » Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:53 am
Hi,

Thanks. I had the same time benchmarks for Quant. One problem I faced was, once I had written it. to recheck I was turning the pages to fish out where I had written it.

The verbal benchmark was new. I was under the impression that because the time for SC, CR, & RC are different, this wont work. Only benchmark I had was at around 36 mins I should be at Q#21-22.

Regards,
Avik

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:13 am
avik629,

You're scoring at a nice level right now. By your own admission, you have resources that you haven't fully used yet, so there's no way to know if those resources will help you to achieve your goal or not. If you're not satisfied with your GMAT score (and it is a really good score), then you should continue to study. If these resources don't help you, then you should post back here and I'll offer some suggestions.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:57 pm
Thanked: 5 times
Followed by:3 members

by Elizabeth@EconomistGMAT » Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:27 am
Hi avik629,

I agree with Brent that once you master time management, your score will likely improve. You are oh so close to breaking the 700 barrier. I saw you mentioned that you're enrolled in Economist GMAT Tutor's program, and the one on one Skype sessions may be the perfect feature for you to get some hands on support and tips about time management.

Many times we see students who complete our program on the computer but do not use all of the other features they are offered -- and I just want to be sure you know we are there for you, ready to offer personalized support. :)

Regards,

Elizabeth

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu May 09, 2013 9:39 pm

by avik629 » Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:32 pm
Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies. I have decided to wring every drop out of all the resources I have with me. And the only way I can see, to improve my time management is to apply the strategy on mock exams.

On another note, I want to share something odd that happened to me. I got the same AWA on both the actual GMAT exmas. Gap between the exams was 3 months. Is that very rare?

Regards,

Avik