I gave GMAT on 21st Sept and scored 750 (Q50/V40).
I would like to thank everyone associated with beatthegmat.com. This is a great place to get answers. Thanks a lot guys.
beatthegmat ROCKS!!!
Though I have been an active reader on this forum, I never wrote anything. This is my first post. I never actually needed to post anything. So much has already been discussed that I just used to go though the historial posts
.
Background: Quants Analyst in an Investment Bank (still in job, but don't know for how long!). Good Quants and weak Verbal (non native speaker).
Prepration:
1) OG 10, 11
2) Kaplan
3) LSAT material
4) Manhatten Sentence Correction
Prepration Time - 2.5 months
Prep Test Scores:
Kaplan 1 – 600
Kaplan 2 – 600
Kaplan 3 – 630
GMATPrep1 – 690(Q50/V33)
GMATPrep2 – 730(Q51/V37)
Regarding GMAT (real thing):
AWA - I didn't take this section seriously. I prepared an essay template and used it in one GMATPrep and GMAT. That’s it!.
Quant - Compared to GMATPrep exams, I found quant on the real GMAT to be much easier. I don't know whether the questions were actually easy or I couldn't spot the trick. Anyways, I was very depressed after the Quants section as I needed atleast 50 to have a fighting chance for 750. Since I didn't see any tough questions even towards the end, I was left wondering, "No probability, no permutations ... I must have badly screwed up....". I finished my quants section 15 mins before!. This never happened even in the GMATPrep.
Verbal - Took a full 10 min break after the quant section and tried to regain my concentration. Verbal started with a couple of easy SCs followed by a complicated CR. I think I managed to get it right. After that I got a RC. I took 25 mins to complete first 10 questions and I'm confident that I must have done a lot of them correctly. I increased my pace after that but towards the end I was left with 2min20seconds and 3questions. I guessed two of them and completed the last question (SC). I would have to say that Verbal was exactly GMATPrep level.
Some Tips from my side:
1) I don't know why some people curse books like Kaplan that provide questions of superior difficulty level. I my view, you should always try to do tough problems. This way, you will not only strengthen your "brain muscles" but also develop them. I still don't understand why would you want to do easy questions? If the question can make your brain stretch, it qualifies to be studied. I would highly suggest book like Kaplan and LSAT material for RC and CR.
2) Practice your weak areas thoroughly. Do as many questions as possible.
3) Please please please read Manhatten Sentence Correction book.
4) Do not neglect RC and CR. Do atleast 3-4 RCs everyday and 10-20 CRs everyday.
5) A lot of other people have already said this, but still I will repeat ... GMAT is truly a mind game. If you are cool, you will nail it. If you panic, anything can happen (remember, what happens when panic grips stock market!).
I wish very best of luck to everyone giving GMAT. Hope you succeed in your mission
I would like to thank everyone associated with beatthegmat.com. This is a great place to get answers. Thanks a lot guys.
beatthegmat ROCKS!!!
Though I have been an active reader on this forum, I never wrote anything. This is my first post. I never actually needed to post anything. So much has already been discussed that I just used to go though the historial posts
.Background: Quants Analyst in an Investment Bank (still in job, but don't know for how long!). Good Quants and weak Verbal (non native speaker).
Prepration:
1) OG 10, 11
2) Kaplan
3) LSAT material
4) Manhatten Sentence Correction
Prepration Time - 2.5 months
Prep Test Scores:
Kaplan 1 – 600
Kaplan 2 – 600
Kaplan 3 – 630
GMATPrep1 – 690(Q50/V33)
GMATPrep2 – 730(Q51/V37)
Regarding GMAT (real thing):
AWA - I didn't take this section seriously. I prepared an essay template and used it in one GMATPrep and GMAT. That’s it!.
Quant - Compared to GMATPrep exams, I found quant on the real GMAT to be much easier. I don't know whether the questions were actually easy or I couldn't spot the trick. Anyways, I was very depressed after the Quants section as I needed atleast 50 to have a fighting chance for 750. Since I didn't see any tough questions even towards the end, I was left wondering, "No probability, no permutations ... I must have badly screwed up....". I finished my quants section 15 mins before!. This never happened even in the GMATPrep.
Verbal - Took a full 10 min break after the quant section and tried to regain my concentration. Verbal started with a couple of easy SCs followed by a complicated CR. I think I managed to get it right. After that I got a RC. I took 25 mins to complete first 10 questions and I'm confident that I must have done a lot of them correctly. I increased my pace after that but towards the end I was left with 2min20seconds and 3questions. I guessed two of them and completed the last question (SC). I would have to say that Verbal was exactly GMATPrep level.
Some Tips from my side:
1) I don't know why some people curse books like Kaplan that provide questions of superior difficulty level. I my view, you should always try to do tough problems. This way, you will not only strengthen your "brain muscles" but also develop them. I still don't understand why would you want to do easy questions? If the question can make your brain stretch, it qualifies to be studied. I would highly suggest book like Kaplan and LSAT material for RC and CR.
2) Practice your weak areas thoroughly. Do as many questions as possible.
3) Please please please read Manhatten Sentence Correction book.
4) Do not neglect RC and CR. Do atleast 3-4 RCs everyday and 10-20 CRs everyday.
5) A lot of other people have already said this, but still I will repeat ... GMAT is truly a mind game. If you are cool, you will nail it. If you panic, anything can happen (remember, what happens when panic grips stock market!).
I wish very best of luck to everyone giving GMAT. Hope you succeed in your mission
