I just Beat The GMAT!

Instead of beating the GMAT, I decided to join it (if you can't beat it..join it).
I am coming back from my test and happy to report I scored 730 (Q49, V42).

Background: Non native (from Nepal) Engineer, been in the US for last 15 years.

I gave the first test on December 8th, 2011 and scored 640 (Q39, V38). My AWA then was 6/6.
I took a break for few weeks, then started preparing for it again around the second week of January. In this one month I raised my Quants from 39 to 49 and verbal from 38 to 42. Here's what I did:

1. I first realized I cannot beat the GMAT, I have to join it. I tried to understand what it is actually testing, specially on Quants. This also meant accepting that some problems take longer than 2 minutes for few people.
2. Quant-DS was my weakness. I am an Engineer and thought I don't need much practice on Quants. Wrong!! Data Sufficiency is a different beast. I then realized that I was taking easier routes on DS; instead of answering if the choices are sufficient or not, try to answer how to make them sufficient and exhaust all your options before giving up...all within 2 minutes frame. This was the key to my raising points.
3. Practice-practice-practice. I took a week off from my work and practiced all the Sackman's problems. I retook Gmat PREP tests, Power Gmat, FOCUS and paper tests. I made sure I understood what I was doing wrong.

Lastly I think I have figured out the key to AWA section, I scored 6/6 on this last time. I will share it here if there is more interest.

I'd like to that all the people in this forum who made the whole process worthwhile; I got answers to few of my questions promptly. Other materials I used were MAGOOSH (these guys are super helpful) and the free section from e-GMAT (the only reason I didn't buy the full version is because I was already scoring over 85% in verbal). Jeff Sackman's challenge problems are also helpful. For the books, I totally recommend Manhattan series of books, specially Sentence Correction. I had Power Score's book on CR.

One last thing I want to mention is that some resources out there go beyond the scope of GMAT. If you want to efficiently manage your time, you want to concentrate on the types of question GMAT asks.


Good luck and yes, it is possible.

Congratulations! That is an awesome accomplishment.

Hi Pdshah,

Congratulations on your score.

I would like know how got 6/6 in AWA. Can you please help.

hi Pdshah,

congrats for the great score...al the best with application process

Achieve_dream
I wasn't sure if anybody would read the whole post hence didn't put my pointer on the AWA.

I guess the biggest suggestion I can give on AWA is to focus on what is being asked.
Sounds simple, but not many people abide by this rule. GMAT is a really well drafted Computer Adaptive test that requires you to understand what is being asked and to score higher points, you have to really go line-by-line on what is being asked.

Analysis of Argument
You aren't just being asked to support or refute an argument. Let's separate the exact question into three parts:
1. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument.
2. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion.
3. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

I'll summarize these questions into keywords for each part:
1. Premise.
2. Assumption.
3. Counter evidence. How to evaluate its strength better?

In the scratch pad, this is what I'd exactly write:

PREMISE
List all the premises used.

CONCLUSION
Write down the main conclusion of the argument. This is what you will be refuting so focus on this conclusion.

ASSUMPTION
List all the assumptions used, explicit or inferred.

COUNTER EVIDENCE
List the examples you can think of to refute any or all of the three sections above, at the minimum the Conclusion and Assumption.


NOW A rough sketch of your essay, again in your scratch pad:

1. INTRODUCTION
Few words about the subject. Rephrase the conclusion and state why it is weak (because of weak premises and faulty assumptions). "This essay will analyze the faulty assumptions used and present a case to evaluate the validity of the argument....blah blah blah.."

2. Attack the Premise if it is weak.
3. Attack the Assumption. This is almost what everybody else recommends. Listing out the assumption, conclusion and premise before hand helps this process. Give examples.
4. Present counter evidence. Also state how the premise can be evaluated. Such as " a survey of certain demographic should be made before jumping into a conclusion" etc.
5. Summarize everything and re-state that the conclusion is weak at best.

Keep the flow smooth.

One last point: the examples you use are going to be instrumental. Be as specific as you can get. My essay was on how a mining technology company wanted to jump ship to renewable energy. Surprisingly I got the same essay (analysis of the argument only) both time I took the test. One of the example I presented was on Solindra, a renewable energy company that went belly up (stating how renewable energy business is not always the best thing). However, I forgot the exact name the first time and I wrote something else. It didn't matter. Try to be as accurate but don't sweat too much. Be specific and relevant to the topic at hand.

You can take this idea to Analysis of Issue. You might not have to focus as much on premise/assumption there since you are advancing your idea. But do list out any if there are before you start; specifically write the conclusion down.
1. Intro statement.
2. Point (s) to refute the conclusion. Example(s).
3. Your own view point. Example(s).
4. Summary.

Hope this helps.