I got totally defeated by the GMAT

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zeza: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 15; Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:03 pm

by zeza » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:07 am

I am so disappointed. GMAT defeated me to the ground after months of studying.
I do not know from where to start and what materials to use to get a better score. So far I've been using OG12, Princeton Review and Veritas Question bank and I was doing good (or at least I thought so).
Can someone help me?

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Source: Beat The GMAT — I just Beat The GMAT! | Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:07 am

GMAT Kolaveri: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 287; Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:33 amFollowed by: 6 members; Location: Pune,India; Thanked: 60 times

by GMAT Kolaveri » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:34 am

zeza wrote:I am so disappointed. GMAT defeated me to the ground after months of studying.
I do not know from where to start and what materials to use to get a better score. So far I've been using OG12, Princeton Review and Veritas Question bank and I was doing good (or at least I thought so).
Can someone help me?

I have been thro' a similar thing in my life. Here is my advice. Take a short break, spend time with family, treat yourself with the food you love the most and get your mind off GMAT for a couple of weeks.

After couple of weeks, review your study methodology. Were your study methods and strategies used in preparation/test effective? Did you prepare in the right way? What strategies you were using for time management in the test? Were you aware of your strengthens and weakness? What steps did you take to close the knowledge gaps/weak areas? Google and find out the retaking strategies. There are many advice on retaking strategies.

Here is some more advice from my earlier post.

Prepare in the right way.

Faulty method of preparation:
Solving more and more problems each and every day from multiple sources without reviewing the mistakes will not help you in improving your score. In my first attempt at GMAT I also wasted a lot of time in hunting for resources online.

Right way to prepare for GMAT:
Quality is greater than quantity. Solving a small set of questions, reviewing them periodically and redoing the wrong ones helped me improve 110 points. Stick to retired GMAT questions from OG quesstions and GMATPREP collection. Learn from each and every question. This will definitely help in verbal. In CR and SC you can see that the testmakers use a definite pattern in making the questions. Also work on your stamina. GMAT is 4 hrs long exam. If verbal is your weak area this is even more important as verbal is at the end. Ways to improve your stamina : ensure that your study sessions are 1 hr in length(1 hr of study without any break or interruption), solve 40 questions of one type in 1 hr like 40 PS in 1 hr, 40 DS in 1 hr, 40 CR in 1 hr ( as you are expected to solve 37 in 75 min (quant) and 41 questions in verbal), and take full length tests with AWA and IR. DO NOT SKIP the AWA and IR.

The one thing you wish you knew for taking a test date:

If you are taking the GMAT for the first time, take the test date 3 months ahead.
If you are retaking the GMAT (which you will be doing for considerable point improvement), take the test date only when you feel you are ready. When you feel you are ready take the test date for the next month and use the 3-4 weeks to work on your strategies and to work more on your weak areas.

The one thing you wish you knew for the TEST DAY.

1. Relax the last week before your GMAT Test day. Do small set of questions and work on your strategies. Do not do anything related to GMAT the day before GMAT. Your brain has be fresh and relaxed on the test day. If you are a working professional take a break for atleast 7-10 days before the test day. This is one thing that definitely helped me in my 110 point increase. Also EAT WELL ON THE TEST DAY. In my first attempt I had a light/normal breakfast and took the GMAT. At the start of the verbal session, I was too tired and I just could nt read the words from the screen. My empty stomach was making all sorts of noise and the words were flying on the screen. For a moment I thought that there was some problem with the computer screen. I looked at the ceiling and I knew that it was a problem with me and not the computer screen. On my second attempt I had a heavy breakfast and 1 can RED BULL before the start of Quant section and another can before the verbal session.

Use the 8 min break to relax your mind, write down the time chart for time management, the prime numbers between 1-100. Also the 8 min break is a short break, make sure you return to your desk in time.
Time chart for Quant:
q---Time
0 75
5 65
10 55
15 45
20 35
25 25
30 15
35 5

You can prepare a similar one for verbal with 9 min decrements ( 75, 66, 57 ...)

Regards and Thanks,
Vinoth@GMAT Kolaveri
https://www.facebook.com/GmatKolaveri
https://gmatkolaveri.tumblr.com/

Click the thank you button if you like my reply

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geezer0305: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 3; Joined: Fri May 11, 2012 9:41 am; Thanked: 1 times

by geezer0305 » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:45 am

zeza wrote:I am so disappointed. GMAT defeated me to the ground after months of studying.
I do not know from where to start and what materials to use to get a better score. So far I've been using OG12, Princeton Review and Veritas Question bank and I was doing good (or at least I thought so).
Can someone help me?

you've just lost a battle, the war is still on. Get up and fight again.

Analyze why you were defeated. Analyze your shortcomings and surf through forums to improve upon them. Given that you've been studying for months, you should be in relatively good shape.

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unclesam2013: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 35; Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:42 pmFollowed by: 8 members; Thanked: 28 times; GMAT Score:760

by unclesam2013 » Fri Nov 16, 2012 11:03 pm

Good advice by GMATKolaveri. I think you need to first see what are the areas you need to focus on -say Verbal or Quant and then you should ask yourself what sub areas do you need to focus on in Verbal-SC,CR and RC and then address each area accordingly.

760 in 2 months-Impossible means I am possible

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GMATBomber: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 3; Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:00 am

by GMATBomber » Mon Nov 19, 2012 1:37 am

Well, I too am in the same situation as you are in. I have taken the test twice and have scored pathetically low - in low 500s. I have surely understood one thing that we are not morons who cannot apply the concepts when we are required to. Don't we know the formula of are of a triangle? Don't we know the number systems? We DO KNOW! The only problem is with the strategy and attitude that we are carrying with ourselves. We have to change a lot!

Do identify your weak areas, the strategy that you used to solve the questions, the methodology that you used to study and attack the questions, and finally the attitude!

May God bless us and show the path to us. We are determined to defeat this devil and if God says that He helps those who help themselves, then we are helping ourselves.

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sagar@jk: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 26; Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:43 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 4 times

by sagar@jk » Tue Nov 20, 2012 1:43 am

The best way to prepare for any objective test including GMAT is to know more & more and achieve speed & accuracy in solving questions.

Here is how:
1.Start at least 6 months ahead
2.Know the syllabus
3.Get 1 best book for each section
4.Allot at least 2 hours each, daily to maths and English
5.Go through the text and take up respective exercises
6.Practice a lot, especially maths. Start building speed and accuracy.
7.Build flash cards for reminders and quick revision as you keep going further
8.Start reading vastly - anything and everything
9.Once through with the syllabus, start taking up reputed mock tests timed strictly.
10.Seeking professional help such as joining a coaching can be very helpful and will keep you motivated to stick to schedule. You get lots of practice, tips to build accuracy with speed, and you can take up their mock tests, which are like simulated exams.

Sagar
JK Masters & Career
MBA Admission Consulting for International Applicants

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