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jaybtg
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:18 am
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760 99% OFFICIAL!!! HOW I OUTFOXED THE GMAT
I am very proud to say that I can add my name to the list of all the successful Beat The GMAT posters.
I started my studies with the goal to apply to the Top5 US Schools for Rnd 1. With all the recommended tools (Mgmat books & CATs, GMATprep CATS, OG12&13, then later BTG Forum), I began my studies in June.
Over June/July/August/September, my scores went
520, 530, 490 (bad day), 550, 590, 590, 650, 650, 630
I was making progress and getting close to my goal of 700-730. But I was out of time and wanted to work on the apps before deadline, so I took the GMAT in early September:
630 official (Q46/V30) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
That score was so frustrating for me. I wanted to retake, but felt I missed the Rnd 1 deadlines. I got some advice from one of my older brother's friends that it would look better to Harvard with a better score in Rnd 2 app than a so-so score in Rnd 1 app, and I knew I could score better, so I went back to work.
Next up: Veritas CATs and Empowergmat Scorebooster
Over the next 6 weeks (last 6 weeks of October/September), since my old ways did not get me to my dream score, I focused on doing new things - new strategy, new notes, old questions in new ways, new foods, new CAT times, etc. I used an Error Log and wrote a journal of all little tips/suggestions/advice to refer back to.
Now my score went
630, 670, 700(1st time 7-- that was important to see), 720, 710, 730
I felt really good for test day and it was all like I practiced. I just had to remember how I had worked and do it all again.
Official Score: V6/Q50/V44 760!!!!!!!
I sat there a moment and let it soak in. I actually almost cried.
Here are the 7 lessons I learned that made all the difference:
1 - Follow the map!
If you were taking a long journey and wanted to get to a location, why would you waste time trying to figure out how to get there, especially if you did not know exactly where it was? Get a map and follow the directions. For the GMAT, the right map is the right study plan, and the right resources, and for me the destination was 700+. There are lots of different maps obviously, but I found one that worked really well for me.
2 - Reading Comp is not what you think it is.
Don't be afraid of the passages. Always get into them. The most surprising thing I learned in Empowergmat's RC lessons is that there is no other way to read than slowly, and look for the why (thanks Max!). I was trying to rush through the passages before. Learning the right way to deal with RC helps you deal with anything wordy (Quant, IR, CR). I needed to be taught how to pay attention to what matters and what does not.
3 - There are questions on the test that you have to be ready to Dump.
I dumped 2 hard probability questions because that is what I was told to do (follow the map!). Everything else in Quant was much easier after that. I dumped 1 really hard inference question in CR after barely even reading it.
4 - Taking full tests with AWA and IR in the morning really helped me raise my score.
5 - Do not do work in your head (thanks Rich!).
I chanted that every time I started a section on my CATs and on test day.
6 - Wink.
Before you enter the computer lab, make sure to wink at one of the test center workers. Trust me on this ;0 (thanks for that too Rich!).
7 - This is the most important! You have to change habits.
I was stuck because I kept doing the same things. No matter how hard you study, if you don't change what you do, your score won't go up. If your score is stuck, I can tell you that what that means is that you haven't changed what you do as much as you may think. Triage, test it, reading the right way, dumping questions. All of those new habits and more made the difference. Give yourself the time to change, and be really hard on yourself to actually make those changes. Use the Mistake Tracker, or an error log to learn the patterns of your mistakes. Keep a list of the lessons you learn, and try to read that list everyday
Apps
Now thankfully I have plenty of time to work on apps. I've read a lot already, and talked to people, but since I now have my dream GMAT score, I really want to make the apps as strong as possible. If anyone has advice for admissions officers and help, please share.
Thank you to everyone on this website. You have all helped me in ways that you cannot comprehend.
Ever grateful,
Jay
I am very proud to say that I can add my name to the list of all the successful Beat The GMAT posters.
I started my studies with the goal to apply to the Top5 US Schools for Rnd 1. With all the recommended tools (Mgmat books & CATs, GMATprep CATS, OG12&13, then later BTG Forum), I began my studies in June.
Over June/July/August/September, my scores went
520, 530, 490 (bad day), 550, 590, 590, 650, 650, 630
I was making progress and getting close to my goal of 700-730. But I was out of time and wanted to work on the apps before deadline, so I took the GMAT in early September:
630 official (Q46/V30) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
That score was so frustrating for me. I wanted to retake, but felt I missed the Rnd 1 deadlines. I got some advice from one of my older brother's friends that it would look better to Harvard with a better score in Rnd 2 app than a so-so score in Rnd 1 app, and I knew I could score better, so I went back to work.
Next up: Veritas CATs and Empowergmat Scorebooster
Over the next 6 weeks (last 6 weeks of October/September), since my old ways did not get me to my dream score, I focused on doing new things - new strategy, new notes, old questions in new ways, new foods, new CAT times, etc. I used an Error Log and wrote a journal of all little tips/suggestions/advice to refer back to.
Now my score went
630, 670, 700(1st time 7-- that was important to see), 720, 710, 730
I felt really good for test day and it was all like I practiced. I just had to remember how I had worked and do it all again.
Official Score: V6/Q50/V44 760!!!!!!!
I sat there a moment and let it soak in. I actually almost cried.
Here are the 7 lessons I learned that made all the difference:
1 - Follow the map!
If you were taking a long journey and wanted to get to a location, why would you waste time trying to figure out how to get there, especially if you did not know exactly where it was? Get a map and follow the directions. For the GMAT, the right map is the right study plan, and the right resources, and for me the destination was 700+. There are lots of different maps obviously, but I found one that worked really well for me.
2 - Reading Comp is not what you think it is.
Don't be afraid of the passages. Always get into them. The most surprising thing I learned in Empowergmat's RC lessons is that there is no other way to read than slowly, and look for the why (thanks Max!). I was trying to rush through the passages before. Learning the right way to deal with RC helps you deal with anything wordy (Quant, IR, CR). I needed to be taught how to pay attention to what matters and what does not.
3 - There are questions on the test that you have to be ready to Dump.
I dumped 2 hard probability questions because that is what I was told to do (follow the map!). Everything else in Quant was much easier after that. I dumped 1 really hard inference question in CR after barely even reading it.
4 - Taking full tests with AWA and IR in the morning really helped me raise my score.
5 - Do not do work in your head (thanks Rich!).
I chanted that every time I started a section on my CATs and on test day.
6 - Wink.
Before you enter the computer lab, make sure to wink at one of the test center workers. Trust me on this ;0 (thanks for that too Rich!).
7 - This is the most important! You have to change habits.
I was stuck because I kept doing the same things. No matter how hard you study, if you don't change what you do, your score won't go up. If your score is stuck, I can tell you that what that means is that you haven't changed what you do as much as you may think. Triage, test it, reading the right way, dumping questions. All of those new habits and more made the difference. Give yourself the time to change, and be really hard on yourself to actually make those changes. Use the Mistake Tracker, or an error log to learn the patterns of your mistakes. Keep a list of the lessons you learn, and try to read that list everyday
Apps
Now thankfully I have plenty of time to work on apps. I've read a lot already, and talked to people, but since I now have my dream GMAT score, I really want to make the apps as strong as possible. If anyone has advice for admissions officers and help, please share.
Thank you to everyone on this website. You have all helped me in ways that you cannot comprehend.
Ever grateful,
Jay
