i just banged the gmat.. 730( q-50, v-38)

[ayushman2]

Hey guys...this is all about my GMAT story:-

I started my GMat prep in the month of may this year. Since I had taken CAT( for IIM's) last year, problem solving was not much of an issue, but verbal and DS section was quite a struggle( Verbal in GMAT is the toughest english test, second only to LSAT). I did not take training from any institute but took tips from a relative, who teaches for gmat. I first took a test- GMAT PREP1( official gmat test software available for free at mba.com). I scored a dismal 590( q-47, v-25). I started slogging from the month of May- 5 hours a day.Took gmat in mid July- score 700. NOt satisfied with this score, planned to retake again since applications start in October. Gave gmat again on the 4th sept, banged it 730(( Q-50, V-3.
I refered to the following materials in chronological order:-

1. Manhattan SC, rc and cr guide
2. OG 11
3. Kaplan premier edition 2007
4. Kaplan verbal workbook
5. Kaplan 800( sum good tough questions)
6. questions from websites - gmatclub.com( forum questions) , beatthegmat.com
7. OG 12
8. Manhattan archieve - maths challenge
9. 1000 series SC, RC
10. lsat rc and cr( partly)

I took 6 manhattan tests and 5 kaplan tests apart from 2 official gmat practice tests.Manhattan tests were very good and its score algorithm close to the real gmat one.Kaplan tests are good for practice before manhattan but the scoring is skewed. Please post your questions.If u need more material other than these, I can provide.post ur mail id..with material requirement.

[The Jock]

Hey ayushman,

Congatulations for your good score.
Do you really think that doing extra tough questions(From Kaplan 800 etc.) is going to help in GMAT?I think that GMAT does not test much tough questions.
I am geting 46-48 in Manhattan Prep tests, do you still think that I should do tough problems also.(I have my GMAT date on 25th Sep)

Thanks in Advance and once again congrates.

[ayushman2]

thanks a lot.. well you have around 18 days before the d day.If u aspire to get 50-51, the you should, otherwise dont. Solving kaplan 800 wont guarantee you 50 in quants but will get u a good practice.I would recommend dunt be compacent with ur score. Work harder than what u r doing nw. I was getting 50-51 in manhattan quants but managed only 49 in my first attempt. DS questions are tricky, so work on ds.

[The Jock]

Thanks a lot for your suggestion.

[GMATMadeEasy]

@JackI suggest to go through all DS questions from GMAtPrep roughly around 200 I beleive.

@Ayushman2 : Congrat for takingthe challenge an redoing it.

Could you share please your strategy for verbal especially for RC ? How were you managing time and speed ? What were the maoin things that helped to raise the bar ? Did you have issue with speed or accuracy ?

[ayushman2]

well to be honest, RC is my weakness, which I dont think improved much. For me, choosing between close options was always a problem. My strategy was to focus on the comprehension. It helped me to a certain extent. My strength was quants and cr.

[GMATMadeEasy]

Qunt is evident from your score n is wonderful . .

Your overall time management of RC was distributed good time reading the pasage and then answering questions right ?

I avarge out to 2:50 minutes for RC questions, so wondering what strategy to put in place.