I have been using this forum for the last month or so and found it of tremendous value. I just took the GMAT today- scored 720 (Q49, v38).
During the GMAT I encountered a real incompetent center tech. When I chose to take the break between the AWA and Quant sections he put me on an unscheduled break instead of a scheduled break. This lopped off 5 mins. off my quant. I had to do my quant at double the speed and still made out OK. I was still able to answer all questions. I guess those 5 mins could have sent my score up by 10 but I am still a OK. Tip: between sections get to the break screen, choose break and then ask to walk out.
Its been a while since I graduated from school. I guess had I taken it then (when my quant was stronger and my verbal was grammatically pure- years of living in the US degrades your English) my scores could have been better.
Preparation: OG 11th edition cover to cover.
OG quant review and OG verbal review.
MGMAT sentence correction
GMATfocus quant bought 3 used 2.
Scores while practicing(chronologically in a 15 day time frame):
GMAT prep test1 : 660
GMAT prep test1 retake : 700
Kaplan free test: 640
Princeton free test 610!!!!
GMATfocus 1 45-50 scaled score
Gmat prep test 2 660
GMAT focus 2 47-51 scaled score
Gmat prep test 2 retake 700
Final GMAT 720.
I did the bulk of my study in a 15 day time frame. For about 3 months I would study aboout 3 -5 hours a week.
IF I HAD to do it again:
1) I would take the Diagnostic test in OG seriously, get a handle on my strengths and weakness. Work on it for a month and then take the GMATpreptest1. Your preparation does not start till you get a feel for your performance under live conditions. This includes taking the AWA sections.
2) After this go back to work on areas of weaknesses. At the same time do not let your strengths go wasted. An improvement of 1 in the scaled score can move up your score by 10. My strength used to be quant. When I took the diagnostic test I sucked. However a couple of months and I got it back. My bugbear then was verbal. I only wish I had seen this forum earlier. I got a tip from here that the MGMAT sentence correction was the bible. I got it 3 days before the test and it helped immensely! I would take the MGMAT series seriously as they seem to be well researched. Its a pity I did not see them earler. Anyway no regrets!
3) Even if your Quant is good, (as mine was) I would strongly suggest looking into the GMAT focus. It gives you some realistic test questions (I found the ones in the GMAT easier). Also it gives you your potential weaknesses. I found mine was Data sufficiency (even before the GMAT focus). Working with the GMAT focus gave me more practice in this area. Also you can expect quite a few DS questions in the actual GMAT.I think I faced about 15 questions.
Finally thanks to all the regulars and instructors in this forum. You might not know me but your approach to solving some problems gave me a fresh perspective. Some names like LOGITECH and DanaJ keep popping.
All the best in your endeavors.
During the GMAT I encountered a real incompetent center tech. When I chose to take the break between the AWA and Quant sections he put me on an unscheduled break instead of a scheduled break. This lopped off 5 mins. off my quant. I had to do my quant at double the speed and still made out OK. I was still able to answer all questions. I guess those 5 mins could have sent my score up by 10 but I am still a OK. Tip: between sections get to the break screen, choose break and then ask to walk out.
Its been a while since I graduated from school. I guess had I taken it then (when my quant was stronger and my verbal was grammatically pure- years of living in the US degrades your English) my scores could have been better.
Preparation: OG 11th edition cover to cover.
OG quant review and OG verbal review.
MGMAT sentence correction
GMATfocus quant bought 3 used 2.
Scores while practicing(chronologically in a 15 day time frame):
GMAT prep test1 : 660
GMAT prep test1 retake : 700
Kaplan free test: 640
Princeton free test 610!!!!
GMATfocus 1 45-50 scaled score
Gmat prep test 2 660
GMAT focus 2 47-51 scaled score
Gmat prep test 2 retake 700
Final GMAT 720.
I did the bulk of my study in a 15 day time frame. For about 3 months I would study aboout 3 -5 hours a week.
IF I HAD to do it again:
1) I would take the Diagnostic test in OG seriously, get a handle on my strengths and weakness. Work on it for a month and then take the GMATpreptest1. Your preparation does not start till you get a feel for your performance under live conditions. This includes taking the AWA sections.
2) After this go back to work on areas of weaknesses. At the same time do not let your strengths go wasted. An improvement of 1 in the scaled score can move up your score by 10. My strength used to be quant. When I took the diagnostic test I sucked. However a couple of months and I got it back. My bugbear then was verbal. I only wish I had seen this forum earlier. I got a tip from here that the MGMAT sentence correction was the bible. I got it 3 days before the test and it helped immensely! I would take the MGMAT series seriously as they seem to be well researched. Its a pity I did not see them earler. Anyway no regrets!
3) Even if your Quant is good, (as mine was) I would strongly suggest looking into the GMAT focus. It gives you some realistic test questions (I found the ones in the GMAT easier). Also it gives you your potential weaknesses. I found mine was Data sufficiency (even before the GMAT focus). Working with the GMAT focus gave me more practice in this area. Also you can expect quite a few DS questions in the actual GMAT.I think I faced about 15 questions.
Finally thanks to all the regulars and instructors in this forum. You might not know me but your approach to solving some problems gave me a fresh perspective. Some names like LOGITECH and DanaJ keep popping.
All the best in your endeavors.
