brianlange77 wrote:This is amazing (and potentially insane.) What was the source of this exam? Were the questions a repeat of questions you had already seen in the past? I'm all about fast test-takers, but question the mechanics of answering 41 verbal questions in 43 minutes.
Test was a reset GMAT Prep I, but I finished in about the same place with the same time my first go.. the 590. My math was 31st percentile.
I've been in the 75th+ percentile with a substantial amount of time left on every verbal section that I've taken. The critical reasoning clicks for me and I go with first instinct (always have). The reading comp I read through once, then the question, then the answers. I can generally figure out what's going on, and if I can't, I might skim the passage again. If it doesn't flow, I guess strategically. I probably have so much time left because I blow through the SC.. I grew up in the inner city and was never taught grammar. Basically, I look for -ed and -ing at the end of words, and make sure the word after the comma is describing whatever they're talking about (if that applies). After that, *shrug* - I did a MGMAT test (where they show you the question difficulty afterwards) and got 50/50 of the 700-800 SC right but most of the easy ones wrong.
My fear is that without a grammar base, studying SC is going to require a substantial amount of time. I'd have to start with raw basics.. my knowledge goes as far as Noun, Adjective, and Verb. That said, since you've both recommended it, then this is what I'm going to do. I've ordered the MGMAT SC book and have the Veritas already.
I wanted to share a few links that might help you out here. First off, getting rid of those silly/careless errors is a mandatory -- you are truly GIVING UP FREE POINTS here. Take a look at this for some tips/suggestions:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/
Beyond that, I have to ask, with so much time left in each section -- why are you guessing?
Thanks for the link- I'll definitely look into it.
As far as "guessing".. well.. I'm a pretty VROOOOOM kind of guy. My flow is bing, bang, boom. If it's interrupted I get thrown off. I wouldn't necessarily say I was guessing- it's an instinctual thing? It's how I get through the other questions as well. But, that said, I've been working on reeling it in my entire life haha (I'm an accountant, you should see how well that works!)
Slowing down gives me anxiety and takes substantial willpower. It makes me mentally tired. It's a conundrum.
Umm... call this stating the obvious, if you are getting more than 50% of your SC questions wrong -- you need to focus here!!!
Noted
I've kept working math to get it up to par with the verbal. SC is clearly the weakness right now though.
Candidly, worry less about the 80/80 and, for right now, figure out how to maximize your score. Your brain should be able to balance studying both math and verbal -- if you can do as well as you have without much effort taking the exam, you should be able to study in the same way.
Make sense?
Crystal clear Bri.
And just in case I spoke incorrectly or have given the wrong impression, "without much effort"- don't be fooled. This has been one of the most grueling events in my twenty seven years. The test will demoralize, leave you mentally fatigued, hamper your social life, and drain those closest to you.
Quick note for anyone else reading:
I started with a 490. I studied diligently for 28 straight says. I checked my progress- 490 (with the exact same Q/V breakdown). I was crushed.
Fortunately, I landed a new job almost simultaneously. I shifted focus from the GMAT to the new position. Over the course of the next two years, the GMAT lingered in the back of my mind. It had defeated me. I saw a window of opportunity and took it.
After much deliberation I registered for the Live Online Veritas classes. I didn't like flipping from math to verbal and wanted to focus, so I dropped the class (Veritas was very good about this by the way, and even 2 weeks in they refunded me down to the On Demand level). I sat for another practice test- 580. FWEW, maybe I had a shot at this after all. I set my lofty goal @ the 650 mark.
Again I studied diligently, using the same methods that earned me a 3.9 GPA and early graduation. For 28 straight days, I went through a math refresher and some of the Veritas materials. I tested progress- 580. Words can't begin to describe the gutpunch that this was. It was a repeat of my earlier attempt. Sure, I went up 90 points (I prepped by doing mind games and reading again, think it woke up some synpases). But another 4 weeks
wasted. I was.. well, I felt a lot of things.
I was sure about one thing though- the GMAT was not going to best me. It was not going to be something that flashed through my mind from time to time. It was not going to be a source of doubt when attempting other progressions.
I should mention at this point that I'm also an avid weightlifter. Juggling a career, relationships, 4 days a week in the gym (and the nutrition requirements that go with it i.e. I prep all of my own food), and the GMAT was .. tough. Kudos to any of you who do this with children. I refocused my goals at this point- I let my friends know that I'd be a bit absent, I warned my girlfriend that I might be a bit burned out, and I cut the gym down from 90 minutes to 45-60. I also started taking advantage of my lunch breaks (generally work through them, now I force myself to get away) and refocused my diet to include extra calories/carbs for brain function.
First, the math. 31st percentile was embarrassing. I decided that my weakness was interpreting the question itself, and set out to speak the GMAT language. I went through TWO algebra books, the complete set of Veritas quant, and the complete set of MGMAT quant.
I sat for a Veritas practice exam. Things were clicking. The math felt easy, and the verbal seemed a bit more dry. I was hoping to crack the 600 mark this time. I hit 680. My jaw dropped, I went out for my favorite beer, and posted the OP. I assumed it was a fluke.
2 more weeks later I had finished 2/3rd's of the MGMAT Advanced Quant and was burning out. I decided to take a practice test and just learned that I got some with the MGMAT materials. I came home after work with a bit of extra energy, and figured I'd have a go at it.
590. My good score was a fluke. I was already draining, but this really took the wind out of my sails. I decided I was tired after a long day at work, and decided to try again tomorrow (Saturday).
I went through my morning progressions the next day and decided I felt pretty good. I turned the timer off and decided to aim as high as possible as a motivation boost. 4 draining hours later, I posted a score of 650. It let me know that I had made progress, but it was also not what I had hoped for with unlimited time. At this point, the GMAT and I were not friends. I was slipping. I was back at it the next day.
I started OG13 and finished the PS. I'm about half way through DS now. This took another 4 weeks. I decided that I needed to know where I was, and went back to the source. I woke up this morning and sat for a reset GMAT Prep I, and went back to my instinctual test-taking style (I had forced myself to slow tremendously since the GMAT was tricking me left and right).
Quant: 45, 71st percentile, 8 minutes left
Verbal: 39, 87th percentile, 32 minutes left (lol?)
Total Score: 690
.. that's my story thus far. I think I might actually be able to do this.
