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4 Days to Go -Last min tips to maximise score

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4 Days to Go -Last min tips to maximise score

by bsandhyav » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:20 am
Hi

I'm taking the test on 25 Aug at 5:15 pm. Needed some advise on how to maximise my score on the test day. This is my re-take & i do realise from my past eperiences that the MOST important thing for me is to maintain my cool & keep a check on my nerves during the exam.

Current Status:
Just re-took GMAT prep 1 today & scored a 710 (Q49 V38)

Observations:
Quant:I thought i was doing exceptionally well in Quant today & expected to break the Q50 barrier (which i believe does make a huge diff to your score) until i saw the clock: Question:30 Time Left: 1min
I had to guess on all of the last 7 questions.

Verbal: In all my previous tests and same applies for the test today, i generally guess 1 set of questions related to RC (usually the last or the longest RC). Having done this i manage to reach question 37-38 with 1 min left & guess the last 2-3 questions.

Conclusion: The major barrier due to which i am unable to improve my score further is my inability to pace appropriately. I do use the following timing chart but am unable to really keep up to it especially from question 20 onwards which takes the rest of the test for a toss.

Q Time left(Quant) Time left(Verbal)

5 66 67
10 56 58
15 46 49
20 36 40
25 26 31
30 16 22
35 6 13
40 0 3


I know its too late to ask for suggestions now. But can somebody pls help me to tackle this problem or give me a new perspective so that i can maximise my score on the GMAT.
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by gmat_dest » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:41 am
Not trying to make you concerned...

But never try a new strategy in the real exam.

That timing plan is perfect. I followed that in my practice tests as well as main GMAT.

And believe me your internal pace gets adjusted to those times and you can strike the jackpot provided you know the concepts and tricks.

GMAT is more of a mind game than any paper based test.
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by rookiez » Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:56 pm
1. Keep your Calm
2. Don't get too stuck on a question, move on ..cut your losses
2. Spend some quality time with loved ones and totally forget GMAT
4. Watch a movie you like
5. Don't study too hard now, just 10 ques each section per day would be enough
6. On Test Day, before the test, you may take 3-4 ques each section to make your mind into the groove.


All the best...you will score 730+....
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by capnx » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:08 pm
if it's your first real exam at the center, i'd suggest cutting your fingernails (if they're relatively long that is, lol). I have no problem with my home keyboard when I type (not saying that I have long nails), but when i was at my test center, it was one of those small DELL keyboards, so it was a little awkward, especially for the essay part.

also, you can cheat a little with the time in the beginning. I noticed that after you write your first essay, there's an OK button that pops up that tells you you've just finished the 1st essay, and hit OK to continue to the 2nd essay, but there's no time :p so take a half minute break, hehe
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by OGMATTERS » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:20 pm
I agree with #2 from Rookiez. Don't marry a question. If you do not know it, guess and move on. Even if you get it right, the time lost from the correct question may cost you even more points down the road (especially if you do not get to answer one or more).
Please use the underline and spoiler buttons when posting SC questions.
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by bsandhyav » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:27 pm
Thanks a lot guys for all those encouraging words & valuable advice !!! I just pray everything goes right on the BIG day & i manage to keep my timing in check.

My plan for the next 4 days goes like this:

22 Aug(Today): Analyse previous days test performance & mistakes; Go over concepts (weak ones) like Rate & Work, Mixtures & solutions in Quant & Manhattan SC (again)

23 Aug(Sun): Go over all my previous mistakes in Practice Tests & OG. I think this will keep the mistakes i'm likely to make on top of my mind so that i dont repeat them again during the final GMAT Test

24 Aug(Mon): Just relax and have a good time. Watch a good inspiring movie. Go over set of flash cards I made which is a collection of all concepts new to me that i came across during my course of study. (About 1 hour)

25 Aug(Tue): Relax the whole day & sleep well both during the night & afternoon. Go to the test (5:15 pm) with a fresh & positive mind and BEAT THE GMAT !!

P.S: Daily morning i would be doing Yoga (to keep my mid & body fresh & positive) & mimic a schedule that would be identical to my G-Day. i.e: Sleep cycles, Lunch & Snacks & Study time.

I know that i should not stress myself out too much before the exam & need to relax. The most important thing on the G-Day is to have a fresh & healthy mind. Thats the reason why i've kept the last 2 days totally off any heavy G-MAT study.
Any comments/suggestions my road leading to the G-Day?
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