Hi Guys,
I owe a post to this forum as it has been a constant source of support and motivation through my preparation.
Just finished with my GMAT a few days back and got a 740 (49|41). Though was hoping for atleast a 50 on Math, I am quite glad with an overall 740. I'll try and keep this as precise as possible:
Materials Used:
OG 12 - complete
MGMAT SC Guide - complete
Verbal Guide - Partial
OG 10 - partial
Kapan Verbal - Theory only
Tests:
MGMAT tests (4)
Princeton CD tests (old version) (2)
All the free online tests from the various websites (Kaplan, Princeton, Knewton...) (3-4)
GMAT Prep (2)
Sectional Tests (A bunch of PDFs I got from a friend..I believe they are ScoreTop)
I started about 2 months before the final exam, but took quite a few intermediate weekends off. So I would say about 50 days of preparation was what I put in.
Started of with the MGMAT SC and Kaplan Verbal theory. This took about a week and I then dived into the practice questions. Did my OG 12 completely before hitting the PDF sectional tests. I started off rather poorly, able to complete only 30 out of 41 questions in 75 minutes in Verbal. Math I usually finished comfortably in time.
Petrified, I really worked hard on the pacing in Verbal and after about 2 weeks was just about able to finish the 41 questions in Verbal.
I then started with the CATs. The free ones available online were helpful. I never went beyond 680 in any of them, and was starting to get a little concernce with only 3 weeks to go.
Following are my test results:
(3 weeks before the exam)
Princeton 1 -680
Princeton2 - 680
(2 weeks before the exam)
GMAT Prep1 - 760 (Helped my confidence) (50|42)
MGMAT1 - 740
MGMAT2 - 740
MGMAT3 - 680 (this was a week before and scared the shit out of me)
MGMAT4 - 740
GMAT Prep2 - 760 (50|42)
GMAT Prep1 (Retake) - 770
Actual GMAT 740 (49|41)
The only real tip I could give people still reading this is "Being Calm". I have read this on a lot of posts on this forum but this can't be emphasized enough. After I finished my Math section (which I had thought I had done well, but didn't really turn out that well), I came out happy in the break. Went into Verbal all pepped up telling my self that I wouldn't freak out. I started off well, but hit the panic button around the 20th question. I hit a really difficult and long passage, and my mind went blank. I couldn't gather head or toe of the passage, and just wanted to quit. Suddenly time seemed very little, questions too many and too complex. I almost raised my hand wanting to tell the admin that I wanted to quit.
But thanks to all my friends who advised me to never give up, I went through all the questions. I never expected a 740 and was pleasantly surprised. So guys, no matter how bad you think you are doing, never lose your calm, cause it ain't that bad. I somehow fell that if I hadn't panicked I would have probably scored a few more points.
Anyhow, let me know if you have any questions and I'll try me best to answer them.
A Personal thanks to BTG forum and the Instructors who helped me build some good concepts.
Cheers,
Neo
I owe a post to this forum as it has been a constant source of support and motivation through my preparation.
Just finished with my GMAT a few days back and got a 740 (49|41). Though was hoping for atleast a 50 on Math, I am quite glad with an overall 740. I'll try and keep this as precise as possible:
Materials Used:
OG 12 - complete
MGMAT SC Guide - complete
Verbal Guide - Partial
OG 10 - partial
Kapan Verbal - Theory only
Tests:
MGMAT tests (4)
Princeton CD tests (old version) (2)
All the free online tests from the various websites (Kaplan, Princeton, Knewton...) (3-4)
GMAT Prep (2)
Sectional Tests (A bunch of PDFs I got from a friend..I believe they are ScoreTop)
I started about 2 months before the final exam, but took quite a few intermediate weekends off. So I would say about 50 days of preparation was what I put in.
Started of with the MGMAT SC and Kaplan Verbal theory. This took about a week and I then dived into the practice questions. Did my OG 12 completely before hitting the PDF sectional tests. I started off rather poorly, able to complete only 30 out of 41 questions in 75 minutes in Verbal. Math I usually finished comfortably in time.
Petrified, I really worked hard on the pacing in Verbal and after about 2 weeks was just about able to finish the 41 questions in Verbal.
I then started with the CATs. The free ones available online were helpful. I never went beyond 680 in any of them, and was starting to get a little concernce with only 3 weeks to go.
Following are my test results:
(3 weeks before the exam)
Princeton 1 -680
Princeton2 - 680
(2 weeks before the exam)
GMAT Prep1 - 760 (Helped my confidence) (50|42)
MGMAT1 - 740
MGMAT2 - 740
MGMAT3 - 680 (this was a week before and scared the shit out of me)
MGMAT4 - 740
GMAT Prep2 - 760 (50|42)
GMAT Prep1 (Retake) - 770
Actual GMAT 740 (49|41)
The only real tip I could give people still reading this is "Being Calm". I have read this on a lot of posts on this forum but this can't be emphasized enough. After I finished my Math section (which I had thought I had done well, but didn't really turn out that well), I came out happy in the break. Went into Verbal all pepped up telling my self that I wouldn't freak out. I started off well, but hit the panic button around the 20th question. I hit a really difficult and long passage, and my mind went blank. I couldn't gather head or toe of the passage, and just wanted to quit. Suddenly time seemed very little, questions too many and too complex. I almost raised my hand wanting to tell the admin that I wanted to quit.
But thanks to all my friends who advised me to never give up, I went through all the questions. I never expected a 740 and was pleasantly surprised. So guys, no matter how bad you think you are doing, never lose your calm, cause it ain't that bad. I somehow fell that if I hadn't panicked I would have probably scored a few more points.
Anyhow, let me know if you have any questions and I'll try me best to answer them.
A Personal thanks to BTG forum and the Instructors who helped me build some good concepts.
Cheers,
Neo
