Got beaten by the GMAT today

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Got beaten by the GMAT today

by itaker » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:27 pm
Hi guys, I thought it would share my experience to seek guidance, advice and get opinions from the more expert ones.

I have taken the GMAT today and, given my score (470), it is suffice to say that I basically bombed it!!

What staggered me the most was not the score per se, but rather the fact that I underperformed compared to my practice tests (530 and 530), especially on the verbal where I would perform around 35-37, which is a lot higher than 28!

Got to the testing center in time, only to find out that the center had been moved and mba.com had not even sent me an email about it. Anyway, after wandering around streets for half hour, I eventually got to place.

I quickly registered, took the picture and signed the necessary papers to get me started.

So, here I am, in front the screen facing the real thing. The AWA section was harder than I expected. I found myself stuck for 10-15 minutes not knowing what to write and how to approach the question at hand.

I was thinking to myself "great, way to go!". Anyway, I eventually got going and finished both essays in time, although I am not too sure about the quality of writing I managed to deliver.

First break of 8 minutes....went by quicker than I expected and 5 minutes before starting the quant section I felt incredibly tired. I did not think the essays would drain me out of my energies.

I quickly supplied my mind with some chocolates and drinks but that did not seem to help much as I felt I was not thinking straight. It took me a lot of time to crack down the first problems and I already had a bad feeling.

I felt short of time and to guess many of the answers (more than 6), which was already sign to me.

Anyway, the time for the second break came and I tried to keep calm and do some breathing and stretching exercises, which helped some I must admit. I drank some more of my energy drinks and went back to work.

The third and last section was up and I confidently started answering the questions. SC used to be my strength, but do not know what happened but I started to get confused in those too.

At a certain point, I even thought that all answer choices to a CR questions were right!

Overall, I cannot explain my below-standard performance on the Verbal besides recognizing that I was very tired by the time I reached that section. Also, works began within the premise whilst I was engaged in Quant.

I am planning to retake it, any advices and/or suggestions anyone?

E.
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by Jim@StratusPrep » Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:29 pm
Uggghhh. Sounds like a tough day. First thing, I would chalk this up to a tough day, which can happen. Take a few days to regroup before you dive back in the fire. What is your time frame for retaking it?
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Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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by itaker » Thu Jan 26, 2012 12:47 am
It was a tough day indeed. Although I did not feel too ready before test, I never could have imagined scoring even below my usual and below my "constant" verbal alignment. I basically scored as high in the verbal as I did in my first first diagnostic test without study!

As for my time frame....well, I got applications going now and one of them for LatAm I think is out of the way, given my score. Also, given the rule, I will only be able to retake in 31days from now.

I am really shattered and feel like I spent time and efforts in vain, to say the least.