640 (Q48, V29) Shocked!!

[sankruth]

I still reeling from my GMAT experience. Its been two days and I am unable to get over the shock.

I was a bit nervous to start with and that affected me in the quant section, where I started to take a school-boy approach of solving the problem studiously as opposed to tactically eliminating choices and arriving at the answers. This meant that I had to take some educated guesses on the last few questions.

However, I managed to get my nerves under control and felt like I made a strong start in Verbal. Felt like I could spot the errors in SC or identify CR questions very easily. I was feeling very confident right through the section. Also, I was under no time pressure, which was my biggest worry during my practice tests.

When it came to choose between Report/Cancel score, my only thoughts were "Hope Quant doesnt screw me over" as I was confident about my verbal. When I saw the score, it felt like knock out punch... I sat gazing at the screen for about a minute or two and walked out with a dazed look on my face.

The only thing certain is that GMAT hasnt seen the last of me. I will have another go at it. However the bit Im struggling with is, I do not know which verbal bit (SC/CR/RC) led to my poor score. So, I dont know where to start from... i.e. do I need a different strategy, approach at things differently etc.

Here are a few things that went wrong with my prep though... I felt I was at my peak 2 weeks before the test and it was a downhill from that point on. I used to revise every day for the last 2 weeks but not really know what Im doing but do it just because my schedule says so. That is one thing I would like to do differently the next time i.e. keep myself fresh for the exam (dont know how I will achieve it though!)

I intend to take a break for 3-4 weeks to unlearn a few things and start fresh. Also, I feel quite deflated and cant stand the orange cover of OG11. Please let me know if this is a good idea.

[blue_lotus]

Hi,

I would suggest that you don’t lose your momentum and start preparing again from now.
Meanwhile you can diversify your question bank by studying from other sources.

Please post your scores you attaned in various Online CATS (Kaplay,MGAMT,GMATPrep etc).
Also learnings from your experience.

Good Luck for future.

Cheers,

[smar83]

Sankruth,

To be honest, I am kind of surprised by your score. I have seen your frequent posts, where you have successfully helped people with their questions.
Well, you nailed the quant. I am more than positive, that you will nail the GMAT big time, if you decide to take it again.

Any suggestions on do's and dont's ?

Good luck.

[Yuke]

Hello Sankruth,

One thing that I found helpful was to retake a computerized test to see if I made the same mistake, and keep retaking the test until I was perfect at it. For one, if you make a mistake twice, you will never make the same mistake a third time. Also, since the test is adaptive, you will get to see the hardest questions. Don't cheat though, actually write out all the equations to see how you do on time.

Oh yeah, buy the retired exams, they help.

Hope this helps,

Yuke

btw first time I got a 650, two months later I got a 710 so you should be able to do the same or better.

[Leonard C]

Hey dude,

Sorry to hear about your shock result. No harm trying again I think. I'm in exactly the same position. I've sent you a PM, look forward to hearing from you.

[rajmirra]

I second Smar83. I am observing how actively you are participating in this forum and helping other learn. Your scores are not reflective of your intelligence or subject matter knowledge. Definitely it has to do something with your strategy on the test. Keep fighting mate. You will really beat the GMAT.

[rajmirra]

I am quite sure this question has been discussed already. Yet I couldn't find the discussion. Can any one tell me how the schools view the second attempts to GMAT. Do they only consider the latest attempt or average the score or take the best part from each test. If this has been discussed before plz excuse me and post the link here. I will read from there.
Thanks

~R

Hello Sankruth,

One thing that I found helpful was to retake a computerized test to see if I made the same mistake, and keep retaking the test until I was perfect at it. For one, if you make a mistake twice, you will never make the same mistake a third time. Also, since the test is adaptive, you will get to see the hardest questions. Don't cheat though, actually write out all the equations to see how you do on time.

Oh yeah, buy the retired exams, they help.

Hope this helps,

Yuke

btw first time I got a 650, two months later I got a 710 so you should be able to do the same or better.

[sankruth]

Thanks for your thoughts, guys!

Im suppossed to be on a 3-4 week sabbatical from GMAT and everything to do with it but BTG is additive!! Is there a BTG Anonymous I can enrol myself to??

Regarding the scores from subsequent attempts, heres what someone said to me - The colleges consider your latest score. If you get a low score he 1st time around and manage to get a very good score the next time, it is seen positively. eg. 640/650 to 700+. But if you score 690 and then score 700 the next time, it is not quite the same.

However, all I would say is, one must take such advice with a pinch of salt.