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Orla M
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Having obtained an underwhelming GMAT score yesterday of 570 (shudder - Q:39; V:29)- significantly lower than on my practice tests - I now need to focus on boosting that score within 2 months to 700 minimum. I've highlighted some of the issues from yesterday's exam where I would really value your expert advice. I would also love to hear how I can better structure my study to boost that score with max 2 hours study possible on weekdays and unlimited at the weekend.
A bit about me that could help understand where I'm coming from: business professional with 10 years working experience and a successful marketing management career. Last time I sat a formal exam it was at least that long ago back in business school, although my high-school exams appear more similar in format to the GMAT and that was 15 years ago. I was excellent at Maths back then but with dedicated full-time study spanning several years � Exams didn't fase me back then, and while I can present to any level of my organisation currently or speak to a conference room of several thousand people, I seem to have lost those exam-taking skills and was completely overwhelmed by the GMAT experience yesterday.
Issues from yesterday's attempt where I need your help:
Poor time management in verbal: I am at ease with verbal content and strategy. I was scoring in the 99% percentile on all prep tests and while I struggled somewhat with time, I always managed to finish by skimming through earlier questions. Something went disastrously wrong with my verbal time management yesterday. I was rolling along and feeling I was killing the verbal when I looked at the timer and noticed I have 13 questions to answer in roughly 10 minutes remaining! I do not know how I lost track of time or didn't catch the timing issue earlier when I looked at the clock - anxiety, fatigue perhaps? Regardless, I would appreciate expert advice on how to become more effective in verbal time management specifically.
Anxiety-Fatigue:
I literally crashed yesterday energy-wise. It was a morning exam (9:30am) when my energy is usually ok, though perhaps not optimal. I didn't want to plan the GMAT for the afternoon as I'd probably increase the anxiety level the hours beforehand. Nervousness usually boosts my adrenaline and, therefore, my performance in my business life, but yesterday I tipped over the edge into pure exhaustion before even stepping into the room, already pre-thinking I would have to re-sit the exam. So my mindset was definitely not the best one to get me through the exam. How can I work on this aspect to prevent this from happening again 2nd time around?
Generally poor quant (Q: 39)
I wasn't terribly surprised by my Quant score. I have taken 5 weeks of preparation for the GMAT and have never improved my Quant drastically in that time, despite having taken 4 group tutoring sessions. Major issues in word translation - I can understand the language but cannot translate to algebraic solutions with ease - probability and combinatorics. So, I can only conclude that my method of studying quant is not an effective one. Here is what I did - I studied the concepts in-depth, I practiced the questions in the MGMAT books and did around 60% of the OG questions. However, truth be told, I wasn't comfortable with all the questions and didn't have time to go through all the OG questions, let alone a second time. So practicing these questions in a way the learning sticks is most probably something I need to focus on rather than prep exams. I could recite all rules off by heart and explain concepts but the "doing" is not following with the same ease strangely - lack of practice perhaps? What are your thoughts on how I could improve quant?
Advice for appropriate 2-month study plan:
With the above in mind, my time available to study, what are your suggestions for a 2 month study plan to improve my score from 570 (grrr, again) to 700 minimum?
Thanks
A bit about me that could help understand where I'm coming from: business professional with 10 years working experience and a successful marketing management career. Last time I sat a formal exam it was at least that long ago back in business school, although my high-school exams appear more similar in format to the GMAT and that was 15 years ago. I was excellent at Maths back then but with dedicated full-time study spanning several years � Exams didn't fase me back then, and while I can present to any level of my organisation currently or speak to a conference room of several thousand people, I seem to have lost those exam-taking skills and was completely overwhelmed by the GMAT experience yesterday.
Issues from yesterday's attempt where I need your help:
Poor time management in verbal: I am at ease with verbal content and strategy. I was scoring in the 99% percentile on all prep tests and while I struggled somewhat with time, I always managed to finish by skimming through earlier questions. Something went disastrously wrong with my verbal time management yesterday. I was rolling along and feeling I was killing the verbal when I looked at the timer and noticed I have 13 questions to answer in roughly 10 minutes remaining! I do not know how I lost track of time or didn't catch the timing issue earlier when I looked at the clock - anxiety, fatigue perhaps? Regardless, I would appreciate expert advice on how to become more effective in verbal time management specifically.
Anxiety-Fatigue:
I literally crashed yesterday energy-wise. It was a morning exam (9:30am) when my energy is usually ok, though perhaps not optimal. I didn't want to plan the GMAT for the afternoon as I'd probably increase the anxiety level the hours beforehand. Nervousness usually boosts my adrenaline and, therefore, my performance in my business life, but yesterday I tipped over the edge into pure exhaustion before even stepping into the room, already pre-thinking I would have to re-sit the exam. So my mindset was definitely not the best one to get me through the exam. How can I work on this aspect to prevent this from happening again 2nd time around?
Generally poor quant (Q: 39)
I wasn't terribly surprised by my Quant score. I have taken 5 weeks of preparation for the GMAT and have never improved my Quant drastically in that time, despite having taken 4 group tutoring sessions. Major issues in word translation - I can understand the language but cannot translate to algebraic solutions with ease - probability and combinatorics. So, I can only conclude that my method of studying quant is not an effective one. Here is what I did - I studied the concepts in-depth, I practiced the questions in the MGMAT books and did around 60% of the OG questions. However, truth be told, I wasn't comfortable with all the questions and didn't have time to go through all the OG questions, let alone a second time. So practicing these questions in a way the learning sticks is most probably something I need to focus on rather than prep exams. I could recite all rules off by heart and explain concepts but the "doing" is not following with the same ease strangely - lack of practice perhaps? What are your thoughts on how I could improve quant?
Advice for appropriate 2-month study plan:
With the above in mind, my time available to study, what are your suggestions for a 2 month study plan to improve my score from 570 (grrr, again) to 700 minimum?
Thanks
