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vishalogy
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:59 pm
- Location: salt lake city
Here is my story:
1st attempt: 12/8/2008 - 640 (I was hoping for 700)
2nd attempt: 8/24/2009 - 690 (I was hoping for 720+)
1st attempt:
I was very unorganized, did not have a study plan, did not have any material. I did not even have the OG. I was just arrogant and over confident. I took the Diagnostic test and got a 650 and felt that timing was my key issue. So I borrowed sample tests from here and there, and bought KAPLAN, MGMAT tests. I kept doing more and more questions without analyzing what I wad doing wrong or picking up strategies. In Kaplan tests I scored between 570 and 650. MGMAT, scored between 640 and 710. GMAT Prep 1, got 720 - so my confidence reached sky high and I ignored my performance in all the previous mgmat and Kaplan tests. GMAT Prep 2- got 670. So I averaged the scores from GMAT prep and was confident that I would get a 700.
The day before my exam a very close aunt of mine expired and I had to make arrangements to go to India after I took the test. I was definitely distracted a little during the test but I do not think I would have scored more than 20 points that what I got.
My score was an eye opener, made me realize how foolish I was being.
2nd attempt:
Learning from my previous debacle, I realized that I had to build strategies and learn the fundamentals. So I bought MGMAT SC, Math textbooks and I did OG 12. I also did KAP 800. I think MGMAT books helped me a lot; especially MGMAT SC. Kaplan 800 was good for advanced strategies. I started picking up strategies for CR and RC by solving more and more questions and carefully reviewing them and analyzing where I was going wrong. Contrary to what some people believe, I think that the skills required for CR and RC can be built relatively easily.
The biggest hurdle I had this time around was focus. I started preparation in April with math and was working about 2-3 hrs on weekdays and ~4 hours on weekends. I had some personal things come up in May and hardly touched book till about mid-June. I got back on track about mid June and started working on Verbal.
I made it a point to spend about 15-20 hours per week. This time around my target was 750.
Mid July -
MGMAT 1 - 720 q 48 v 37
MGMAT 2 - 710 q 50 v 35
GMAT Prep 1 - 730 q 50 v 37 (July last week)
GMAT Prep 2 - 720 q 50 v 37 (August 1st week)
I realized that I needed some more time to get to 750 but at the same time I also wanted to apply in round 1 for fall 2010. So I wanted to finish my GMAT by middle of August so I can have at least 1 month for applications etc. I lowered my target to 720 and booked the date for 8/24/09.
Unfortunately, I got flu on 8/10 and was bed-ridden for about a week. The first few days were just miserable. In midst of the flu I took another MGMAT test and got 690.
I recovered about a week before the test and I retook GMAT Prep 1 and got 730. This kept my confidence high and so I did not reschedule my test.
Last 1 week I did not do any tests. I kept practicing questions, especially verbal and was feeling fairly confident that I will get around 720-730. The weekend before the test I was pretty relaxed. Honestly, I did not spend as much time as I should have in the last week, I lost some focus.
Test day:
Got up, had a shower and ate breakfast. Did a couple of SC, CR, PS Q's to keep my brain kicking. Reached the exam center in time and was feeling pretty good. AWA went alright. I took the optional break after AWA.
Math - I think I completed the 1st ten questions in 15 minutes and was feeling very confident. But after that got a couple of probability questions and it felt like the questions got tougher and tougher. I barely finished the section in time and guessed at least a 2-3 questions towards the end.
Took the optional break again, freshened up a little, had some energy drink and ate a snickers bar. Tried to brush off remnant feelings about Math and went in to finish the rest of the test. Again, 1st half of questions I seemed to do OK, but started falling behind the clock in the second half. Had to guess on an RC passage (between Q's 35 and 38 I think) without even reading the passage. I thought CR passages went fine and the initial RC passages went good. I was not sure about a few SC questions I answered. In all I thought the section went OK and was hoping to get about 37-38.
Final Score: 690 - Q 49 V 35
Based on my prep test scores, I was hoping to get at least 720 and was a little disappointed seeing 690 but I do not think I will retake the test. I have a strong academic background (4.0 GPA in MS and university second in undergrad) and decent work experience (process engineer in a mining firm with some supervisory experience)
Although my GMAT did not go as well as I wanted; hopefully these factors will help me get to one of the top b-schools.
Advice:
"¢ MGMAT and GMAT prep tests are fairly good indicators of performance.
"¢ Do not expect miracles to happen on test day. Your will probably get what you have been getting in prep tests.
"¢ Learn from your mistakes; spend time on reviewing and analyzing your tests.
"¢ Strategy building is the key to crack GMAT. Remember that applying a strategy is as important as learning it.
"¢ No question in GMAT is worth spending more than 3 minutes (not even the first 5 questions.). Know when to guess and move on.
Thanks to all the members of BTG forum!!! Keep up the good work!!!!
1st attempt: 12/8/2008 - 640 (I was hoping for 700)
2nd attempt: 8/24/2009 - 690 (I was hoping for 720+)
1st attempt:
I was very unorganized, did not have a study plan, did not have any material. I did not even have the OG. I was just arrogant and over confident. I took the Diagnostic test and got a 650 and felt that timing was my key issue. So I borrowed sample tests from here and there, and bought KAPLAN, MGMAT tests. I kept doing more and more questions without analyzing what I wad doing wrong or picking up strategies. In Kaplan tests I scored between 570 and 650. MGMAT, scored between 640 and 710. GMAT Prep 1, got 720 - so my confidence reached sky high and I ignored my performance in all the previous mgmat and Kaplan tests. GMAT Prep 2- got 670. So I averaged the scores from GMAT prep and was confident that I would get a 700.
The day before my exam a very close aunt of mine expired and I had to make arrangements to go to India after I took the test. I was definitely distracted a little during the test but I do not think I would have scored more than 20 points that what I got.
My score was an eye opener, made me realize how foolish I was being.
2nd attempt:
Learning from my previous debacle, I realized that I had to build strategies and learn the fundamentals. So I bought MGMAT SC, Math textbooks and I did OG 12. I also did KAP 800. I think MGMAT books helped me a lot; especially MGMAT SC. Kaplan 800 was good for advanced strategies. I started picking up strategies for CR and RC by solving more and more questions and carefully reviewing them and analyzing where I was going wrong. Contrary to what some people believe, I think that the skills required for CR and RC can be built relatively easily.
The biggest hurdle I had this time around was focus. I started preparation in April with math and was working about 2-3 hrs on weekdays and ~4 hours on weekends. I had some personal things come up in May and hardly touched book till about mid-June. I got back on track about mid June and started working on Verbal.
I made it a point to spend about 15-20 hours per week. This time around my target was 750.
Mid July -
MGMAT 1 - 720 q 48 v 37
MGMAT 2 - 710 q 50 v 35
GMAT Prep 1 - 730 q 50 v 37 (July last week)
GMAT Prep 2 - 720 q 50 v 37 (August 1st week)
I realized that I needed some more time to get to 750 but at the same time I also wanted to apply in round 1 for fall 2010. So I wanted to finish my GMAT by middle of August so I can have at least 1 month for applications etc. I lowered my target to 720 and booked the date for 8/24/09.
Unfortunately, I got flu on 8/10 and was bed-ridden for about a week. The first few days were just miserable. In midst of the flu I took another MGMAT test and got 690.
I recovered about a week before the test and I retook GMAT Prep 1 and got 730. This kept my confidence high and so I did not reschedule my test.
Last 1 week I did not do any tests. I kept practicing questions, especially verbal and was feeling fairly confident that I will get around 720-730. The weekend before the test I was pretty relaxed. Honestly, I did not spend as much time as I should have in the last week, I lost some focus.
Test day:
Got up, had a shower and ate breakfast. Did a couple of SC, CR, PS Q's to keep my brain kicking. Reached the exam center in time and was feeling pretty good. AWA went alright. I took the optional break after AWA.
Math - I think I completed the 1st ten questions in 15 minutes and was feeling very confident. But after that got a couple of probability questions and it felt like the questions got tougher and tougher. I barely finished the section in time and guessed at least a 2-3 questions towards the end.
Took the optional break again, freshened up a little, had some energy drink and ate a snickers bar. Tried to brush off remnant feelings about Math and went in to finish the rest of the test. Again, 1st half of questions I seemed to do OK, but started falling behind the clock in the second half. Had to guess on an RC passage (between Q's 35 and 38 I think) without even reading the passage. I thought CR passages went fine and the initial RC passages went good. I was not sure about a few SC questions I answered. In all I thought the section went OK and was hoping to get about 37-38.
Final Score: 690 - Q 49 V 35
Based on my prep test scores, I was hoping to get at least 720 and was a little disappointed seeing 690 but I do not think I will retake the test. I have a strong academic background (4.0 GPA in MS and university second in undergrad) and decent work experience (process engineer in a mining firm with some supervisory experience)
Although my GMAT did not go as well as I wanted; hopefully these factors will help me get to one of the top b-schools.
Advice:
"¢ MGMAT and GMAT prep tests are fairly good indicators of performance.
"¢ Do not expect miracles to happen on test day. Your will probably get what you have been getting in prep tests.
"¢ Learn from your mistakes; spend time on reviewing and analyzing your tests.
"¢ Strategy building is the key to crack GMAT. Remember that applying a strategy is as important as learning it.
"¢ No question in GMAT is worth spending more than 3 minutes (not even the first 5 questions.). Know when to guess and move on.
Thanks to all the members of BTG forum!!! Keep up the good work!!!!
wish
