I just Beat The GMAT!

Hi Forum,

This is my first post here, just got back from my test and got beaten very bad as you can see. It's a long post as an attempt on introspection and psychoanalysis by you experts:-

My Gmat Score
Quantitative - Scaled Score 39; Percentile 53
Verbal - Scaled Score 33; Percentile 66
Total - 590; Percentile 62

The major disappointment is in Quants, I used to scored 47-45 in the full length tests without any study so I was confident of getting 45+ in Quants. (will come to reasoning later)
I am more or less satisfied on Verbal as I got hugely disappointed in verbal 3 weeks back, so although I was "targeting" 40+ , but my subconscious was "hoping" 34ish in verbals anyways.

When I look back to today - my "wish" was to get 700+ [48Q+ 38V+] score like most ppl here are rooting for - and that is still my ultimate target - but in reality today I think I was targeting 640+ (45Q+ 34V+)

Something in me tells me that 640+ will be my target the next time I appear (probably November 2010) - just to restore faith in me. It's like baby steps. If I am able to dodge 640 next time, then probably need to appear third time for 700+ ... else I will need to say good bye to Gmat.

Being a programmer, I can put my thoughts in If/Else-
* If next_score less than 640 --> give up, say good bye to GMAT
* If next_score greater than 640 and less than 700 --> study more and schedule one more last appointment when ready. (possibly Feb/March2011)
* If next_score greater than 700 --> give up as mission accomplished.

Lastly, I feel I have in me what is needed to get 700, it's just perseverance that is needed.


--- my_background Alert, you can skip ---
Since this is my first post here, probably it will make sense to post a full background -
I am a software engineer from India (Delhi) with 6.5+ years experience (4+ years in US) - a hardcore techie, I just loooove programming - and that is one of the major reason I am always putting off my GMAT plans (because there is not much MBA/GMAT motivation). My GMAT story actually started at least 4-5 years back when I started working and although satisfied with work and money but "heard" I will need MBA to rise in career.

So I gave my first full length test GMATprep1 around August 2007 - without any preparation, just to see where I am and got 640. (dont remember specific QV scores - if I remember correctly Quant was ok 45ish, verbal was horrible 30ish or lower). I was satisfied with the first score, and based on what I heard/read somewhere - "book a GMAT date, as that will give you sufficient motivation, and force you to study" - I scheduled an appointment for GMAT and started studying. But soon I got derailed and decided to reschedule later (paying 50$ reschedule fee). Between 2007 and 2010 I think I rescheduled it 5 times (every time rescheduling 6 months later) - the main reason was to keep pressure on me to study for GMAT. But that didnt work as we can see, all I learnt was how to reschedule GMAT.
Looking back, the reasons and excuses I can quote-
A) Personal reasons of getting transferred here and there.
B) Critical projects I got assigned to
C) Not much motivation to do MBA / satisfied with current work

So somewhere last year I gave up and cancelled the appointment.

Come 2010, I got motivated again (possibly because many of my friends have done or are doing MBA), but this time I started studying first rather than booking an appointment ... and here is how it went-

1st April 2010 - started studying

4th April 2010
GMATprep1 - 650 (47Q, 34V)
My conclusion and planned actions-
* I am a champion in Quants. Need no study. FLT will suffice.
* I am horrible in verbal. Need to study. Study verbal all time.
* Based on section analysis - SC is weakest (50% accuracy), CR is ok (66%), RC is good (80%)
* Read a post by 790 scorer, found that Manhattan SC may help. Bought that and read that.
* Planned to give one more FLT in two weeks.
* Target score = 700 (47Q, 40V)

My real actions-
* I completed verbal both from OG and Kaplan. Focussed on SC and then CR.
* Did Manhattan SC
* Did no other FLTs in April

1st May 2010
MGMT1 - 630(47Q, 30V)
After seeing the score, got demotivated on Verbal, my conclusion-
* I am a champion in Quants. Need no study. FLT will suffice.
* Verbal is not working, redo Manhattan.
* I booked Gmat Appointment for 2nd June

8th May 2010
MGMT2 - 640(43Q, 34V)
I really expeced to "up" the verbal score.
Although it did went back up to 34, but something told me my verbal is hopeless. I WILL NEVER REACH 40 NO MATTER WHAT I DO - is a thought that sunk in ... and it still is.
From that point onwards, I lost the motivation and DID NOT READ much in remaining 3 weeks.

I sound like an idiot in above post, but I just wanted to be honest for once and for all and wanted to open up by writing it - how I reached to 590!


--- background Ends ---


Future plan of action-
* The worst part is I am not sure if I will be able to study next 2 months, have other engagements (although I know it is recommended not to have any gap as everything will be gone by the time I start next) ... but come to think of it I already have a 3 weeks gap behind me, i.e. another excuse I am giving myself.
* I hope to do little study in next 2 months and then be committed again around 1st August.
* Go through the same material "n" number of times till they are by heart.
* OG
* Kaplan
* Mahattan SC
*MGMT FLT
* Any other FLT
* Give the test till the point I start scoring 700+ on each FLT
* When ready, then schedule appointment (possibly November 2010)

Others-
* follow beatthegmat more closely
* keep an error log?
* start using/making flash cards?
* keep a diary/blog?


Let me know any/all comments you have. Let me be your punching bag if needed!

regards,
[Vishu]