Need help to start the GMAT preparation second time

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Hi Everyone,

I really dont think anyone would be really interested to read the entire story I have written below. This is the whole story how I screwed up at my first attempt. I have been thinking for last 3 months whether I should take the test again as I got 530 in my first attempt. Life has not been same for me after I took the test. Help Needed! please.

I started my GMAT preparation last year. I took Princeton Review classes, which was about 40 hours classes lasting for over 2 months. Worthless I must say because I ended up with a dismal 530 score when I took the test in October. What a waste og HK$ 9000.

I am putting brief history of how I prepared.

Started with with OG math section. Completed each question from OG and OG math practice book.
Took 40 hours classes with PR. Did all the the online drills and questions from OG very religiously, but as the instructor suggested not to take the tests until the course is over, I took my first PR test in early August, thats when I completed the course. I also went thourgh the Manhattan SC.

I could not even complete the test when I took it first time. Then reviewed all the maths and verbal for next two weeks while taking the tests. First 3 tests with PR, I scored somewhere between 570-590.

My date for the test was scheduled for 27th August. I got sick and gave it up for next 2 months. Gave myself a break. In the meanwhile, I changed the job and had to move the stuff and adjusted to new work.

I started fresh with the revision of the concepts from the PR manual that was given with the course and also following the OG. I took the first official GMAT practice test and to my surprise I scored (M47 and V28-though I dont remember exact numbers, but the score showed 640). I also did four Kaplan tests and score in the range of 520-540.

Got the GMAT 800-Kaplan for the penultimate week of practice. Completed the book in a week time. Maths was not tough for me but verbal definitely esp RC. I took the second test from the GMAT official prep test (M48 and V18-score 530) I was really shoked. Anyhow I just had 1 more week to go, so did all the revisions and didnot take any test in last week.

Finally the test day, started the test and AWA went fine. maths first question, the pen didnt work and took me 9 minutes to get the first question done (because I asked to change the pen and in the meanwhiel I just lost it). I was hungry during exam and couldnt find a place to smoke in 3.5 hours. Bad really bad--------530.....(V27 and M35.....AWA 5).
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by beatthegmat » Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:54 pm
Thank you for sharing this experience with us. Sorry to hear that your GMAT didn't turn out so well.

There are a lot of resources available in this community to help you get started on your second round of prep. Check out the GMAT Resources directory. What I also recommend is that you read through some of the success stories in the 'I just Beat The GMAT' section.

There are many cases of people who have gone from scores much lower than yours to very high second-attempt scores. Read these stories and ask questions to the people who have accomplished this feat!

Good luck!
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