-
bcdilley
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:55 am
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Thanked: 6 times
- Followed by:1 members
- GMAT Score:740
Two weeks ago, as I sat contemplating my applications to business school, I wondered whether or not an overall score of 660 would even give me a chance to attend a program of my choice. I was frustrated, to say the least, and disappointed that I had worked so hard to score 700+ and had fallen short each of the three times that I had taken the exam.
Early in the fall of 2009, having received an undergraduate degree from a prestigious private university in the USA in the spring of 2008, I decided to set a date and to begin studying for the GMAT. I worked hard for the next several weeks striving to review every bit of content that I could in preparation for my exam at the end of January 2010. Leading up to the exam, I had taken few practice exams (650, 660, 680, and 640) and had done only a few of the OG practice questions. This proved disastrous when I took the actual exam; finding myself with very little time remaining and lots of questions to go. My main sources of studying were the Manhattan GMAT books. I was very pleased with them and found them very helpful throughout the entire process. There just came a point, however, that I had to set them aside and start practicing.
In the end, I scored a bleak 540/46% (V: 27/42%, Q: 38/50%, Essay: 5.5) on 23 Jan 2010. I learned from that first experience that I needed to benchmark my timing throughout the exam and that I needed to practice, practice, practice; not just review overall content. In addition, I learned that it is not the hours of studying that you put in, but the studying that you get in those hours that count.
After taking several months off, I began studying once again for the exam in the fall of 2010. I did not set a date, but just spent several weeks taking practice tests and practicing the problems found in the Official Guides. My practice scores improved a bit but mainly revolved around 700 (680, 710, 710, 660, 700, 670, 720, 710, 710, and 690). These exams included taking the GMATPrep exams twice as well as all of the Manhattan exams. In addition, I used Manhattans online study companion and found a great deal of use out of the reports that it generated. It was very helpful. Furthermore, I enlisted the help of a not-so-cheap, but excellent tutor to aide me in my quantitative struggles. He was very helpful and helped me to realize that the GMAT doesn't care if you know how to do all the steps to every problem, so long as you get the answer right.
I scheduled the exam just days before taking it. I felt that I did well but knew that I didn't achieve the score that I wanted. I scored a 660/82% (V: 38/83%, Q: 44/68%, Essay: 5.0) on 4 Mar 2011.
Upon achieving the 660, I was determined to keep working hard to achieve my goal of 700+. I was very confident that I could score above 700. So I continued to study and rescheduled my exam. Again, I waited to schedule the exam until just a couple of days before the actual date of the test. I liked this because I felt most prepared. In fact, I had taken several more practice exams before my third exam (680, 710, 650, 710, 760, 720, and 710). The last three practice tests I did the week of the exam. I was very excited for the exam and knew that I would score well. Then, the unthinkable happened. I scored worse on the third exam than on the previous exam. I was devastated. How could it be possible?! I scored a 620/70% (V: 36/78%, Q: 39/52%, Essay: 5.5 on 11 May 2011. I really did not know what to do. All that work, all that effort, to do worse?!
So, back to two weeks ago... I sat with my amazing wife contemplating what to do. We decided that if I did not give the exam one more shot, then I would regret it the rest of my life. I knew what I was capable of and I knew what I wanted. I rescheduled the exam for today, 9/10/11. It was the only available opening for a Saturday between then and application deadlines at the nearest testing center. I purchased a copy of the Advance Quant Guide from Manhattan and got to work. I totally ignored anything related to the verbal portion of the exam and focused on the quant for two straight weeks. I took one last practice exam on Labor Day (so much for a day off) and scored a 750 (V: 44, Q: 48).
I tried to approach this exam as relaxed as possible. I knew that I was ready and I was confident in my ability. What ever happened, happened. I sailed through the essays and went to work on the quant section. I felt that I did well other than a couple of monster questions that devoured a ton of time. I began the final question with 2:30 left. The verbal section went smoothly. As I mentioned, I did not spend any addition time studying for the verbal preceding this exam. I had decided just to let my ear do the work. Similarly, I began the final question with 2:30 left. I clicked through the final background questions, clicked submit, and buried my face in my hands. I knew that I had to look at my score. I slowly opened my fingers... 0... 4... 7..., 7?! A 740! I was elated. I scored a 740/97% (V: 44/97%, Q: 48/80%, Essay: TBD. Not only did I score I 700+, but I achieved the 80/80 split that I was looking for.
In the end, I proved to myself that great faith and effort will prevail. As Emerson said, "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
This is just the beginning of the road... it is now time to get to work on essays and applications. Thank you so very much for those who have posted their truly motivating war stories. And best of luck to you all as you chase your dreams!
Background Info:
- 27-year-old male
- Born and raised a Washington State country boy
- Undergrad: Construction Management and Business Management
- Happily married with two wonderful little girls
Early in the fall of 2009, having received an undergraduate degree from a prestigious private university in the USA in the spring of 2008, I decided to set a date and to begin studying for the GMAT. I worked hard for the next several weeks striving to review every bit of content that I could in preparation for my exam at the end of January 2010. Leading up to the exam, I had taken few practice exams (650, 660, 680, and 640) and had done only a few of the OG practice questions. This proved disastrous when I took the actual exam; finding myself with very little time remaining and lots of questions to go. My main sources of studying were the Manhattan GMAT books. I was very pleased with them and found them very helpful throughout the entire process. There just came a point, however, that I had to set them aside and start practicing.
In the end, I scored a bleak 540/46% (V: 27/42%, Q: 38/50%, Essay: 5.5) on 23 Jan 2010. I learned from that first experience that I needed to benchmark my timing throughout the exam and that I needed to practice, practice, practice; not just review overall content. In addition, I learned that it is not the hours of studying that you put in, but the studying that you get in those hours that count.
After taking several months off, I began studying once again for the exam in the fall of 2010. I did not set a date, but just spent several weeks taking practice tests and practicing the problems found in the Official Guides. My practice scores improved a bit but mainly revolved around 700 (680, 710, 710, 660, 700, 670, 720, 710, 710, and 690). These exams included taking the GMATPrep exams twice as well as all of the Manhattan exams. In addition, I used Manhattans online study companion and found a great deal of use out of the reports that it generated. It was very helpful. Furthermore, I enlisted the help of a not-so-cheap, but excellent tutor to aide me in my quantitative struggles. He was very helpful and helped me to realize that the GMAT doesn't care if you know how to do all the steps to every problem, so long as you get the answer right.
I scheduled the exam just days before taking it. I felt that I did well but knew that I didn't achieve the score that I wanted. I scored a 660/82% (V: 38/83%, Q: 44/68%, Essay: 5.0) on 4 Mar 2011.
Upon achieving the 660, I was determined to keep working hard to achieve my goal of 700+. I was very confident that I could score above 700. So I continued to study and rescheduled my exam. Again, I waited to schedule the exam until just a couple of days before the actual date of the test. I liked this because I felt most prepared. In fact, I had taken several more practice exams before my third exam (680, 710, 650, 710, 760, 720, and 710). The last three practice tests I did the week of the exam. I was very excited for the exam and knew that I would score well. Then, the unthinkable happened. I scored worse on the third exam than on the previous exam. I was devastated. How could it be possible?! I scored a 620/70% (V: 36/78%, Q: 39/52%, Essay: 5.5 on 11 May 2011. I really did not know what to do. All that work, all that effort, to do worse?!
So, back to two weeks ago... I sat with my amazing wife contemplating what to do. We decided that if I did not give the exam one more shot, then I would regret it the rest of my life. I knew what I was capable of and I knew what I wanted. I rescheduled the exam for today, 9/10/11. It was the only available opening for a Saturday between then and application deadlines at the nearest testing center. I purchased a copy of the Advance Quant Guide from Manhattan and got to work. I totally ignored anything related to the verbal portion of the exam and focused on the quant for two straight weeks. I took one last practice exam on Labor Day (so much for a day off) and scored a 750 (V: 44, Q: 48).
I tried to approach this exam as relaxed as possible. I knew that I was ready and I was confident in my ability. What ever happened, happened. I sailed through the essays and went to work on the quant section. I felt that I did well other than a couple of monster questions that devoured a ton of time. I began the final question with 2:30 left. The verbal section went smoothly. As I mentioned, I did not spend any addition time studying for the verbal preceding this exam. I had decided just to let my ear do the work. Similarly, I began the final question with 2:30 left. I clicked through the final background questions, clicked submit, and buried my face in my hands. I knew that I had to look at my score. I slowly opened my fingers... 0... 4... 7..., 7?! A 740! I was elated. I scored a 740/97% (V: 44/97%, Q: 48/80%, Essay: TBD. Not only did I score I 700+, but I achieved the 80/80 split that I was looking for.
In the end, I proved to myself that great faith and effort will prevail. As Emerson said, "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
This is just the beginning of the road... it is now time to get to work on essays and applications. Thank you so very much for those who have posted their truly motivating war stories. And best of luck to you all as you chase your dreams!
Background Info:
- 27-year-old male
- Born and raised a Washington State country boy
- Undergrad: Construction Management and Business Management
- Happily married with two wonderful little girls
Last edited by bcdilley on Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
