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GMAT in 1 Week and Freaking out

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by ashokkadam » Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:20 pm
Hi vongdn,

Don't worry, you will do well. Just stay focused on each question and move on if you are spending too much time on one question.
vongdn wrote:I have 1 week before my GMAT exam, scheduled this Friday Oct 8 and I am freaking out.

I'm not applying to any top 20 or 50 B-Schools, so I don't think the programs are super competitive. I'm actually applying to the University of Massachusetts Amherst Part Time MBA Program after 5 years in the work force. They say the average GMAT of those accepted is 580. So that is my target.

Below are my practice scores so far.

Kaplan Practice CAT = 430 (ouch!)
GMAT Prep Practice CAT = 550 (better but no cigar)
Kaplan Practice CAT 2 = 470 (ouch again!)

I tried to take a couple more Kaplan practice tests, but for some reason couldn't finish the Quants sections on time, so I find of abandoned the rest of the exam out of frustration.

My problem is, I'm a thinker, though I enjoy math, my satisfaction comes from thinking about the problem and working it different ways to come up with the answer. GMAT doesn't allow such time though, so its tough for me to see how to solve the problem right away. It also doesn't help that I'm rusty.

I've been studying for the GMAT for a couple months now using the Official Guide and the Premier Kaplan book. The Kaplan problems seem tough to me. Studied about 10 hours per week, right now I'm mainly doing practice problems and trying to understand the solutions. Again, I understand the solutions, its just a matter of knowing what to do right away that I'm having problems with.

So now I have one week left, luckily I'm unemployed at the moment so I have a good amount of time during the day to study, even though I feel burnt out after 4 hours usually. What do you guys suggest I spend the week doing?

I am freaking out, I'm aiming for 580, which in reading some of the posts here, is pretty mediocre. But from my studying so far, and my practice test scores, I don't think I will even achieve that. I approach the practice exams with a confidence feeling usually, but after the score, my confidence just plummets.
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by tlt2372 » Sat Oct 02, 2010 7:02 pm
Get an egg timer and set it for 20 minutes, do 10 questions and see where you are in terms of timing. If you are way off (and because your test is in 1 week), explore guessing strategies. A lot of times, you can eliminate 2 or 3 answer choices with guessing strategies.

GoodLuck and dont let test anxiety get the best of you! Be confident!
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by vongdn » Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:46 pm
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by David@VeritasPrep » Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:55 am
The GMATPrep tests are certainly better indicators of your score than unofficial tests. So you are in the range to get the score you are looking for.

You do not only have unofficial tests left. In fact you can take each of the GMATPrep tests twice and even three times. Certainly if you take each of them twice you will only get a few repeated questions. If you take them a third time you may see a few more. However, as long as you work through the problem as if you had not seen it before you will get a good practice.

I would not recommend taking the Kaplan tests that you have such a problem with this close to the examination. You do not need the psychological hit of another 400s score. And as I like to say, "the closer you get to the test date, the closer your practice should be to the test questions." In other words official questions are the best from here out.

Good luck -- you can certainly make it.
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by vongdn » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:21 pm
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by David@VeritasPrep » Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:32 am
Whatever you do - don't take another test on Thursday, the day before your GMAT. A test Wednesday might work, but if you are ending the test with a headache give yourself a few hours off! But then again, 570 with a headache is at least 580 without!

Do review the OG problems and keep yourself focused and in the game. As far as having the test behind you -- all you have to do is stay focused for the next few days and especially a few hours on Friday and you will have it done!

Let us know about your last practice test and we will be looking for you in the "I just beat the GMAT!" forum.

David
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by vongdn » Wed Oct 06, 2010 3:27 pm
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by David@VeritasPrep » Wed Oct 06, 2010 5:38 pm
That sounds about right for a 660 -- a 44 and a 36. Remember that the mean score on verbal is only a 28 so that is a good score even if the number seems lower.

The software does not make those kinds of mistakes. Whatever you did that time, do it again!

Study a bit tomorrow and then rest and be confident going into Friday - you have scored within 30 points of your number on all the GMATPrep tests so you certainly can get your score on the test.

Good luck on Friday!
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by uwhusky » Wed Oct 06, 2010 6:14 pm
Do you know how I deal with freaking out the week before the GMAT? I reschedule so it's 3 weeks instead of 1 =).
Yep.
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by vongdn » Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:15 pm
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by David@VeritasPrep » Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:44 am
Search for the problems and you should find explanations to most of them! You can also google and find other explanations in other places.

If you can post others on the problem solving or data suff. boards here you should get explanations for them today.

Don't be too frustrated. Remember you don't need a 660! Just use today to really figure out what you do right when you get questions right and try to do that more often on test day -- tomorrow.
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by vongdn » Fri Oct 08, 2010 4:00 pm
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by hecubus330 » Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:07 pm
It sounds like GMATPrep is way easy now compared to the actual exam. :-(
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