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sui generis
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Took the Next Gen GMAT yesterday and got a disappointing 690 (Q50,V33). This was my second attempt and here are my two briefs.
First Attempt:
GMAT 1: 650 (Q50,V29) - Oct 2011
I prepared for about six months on my own. I completed almost every available GMAC material -- OG-10,11,12,VR2, Paper test, GMAT Prep docs (for SC,CR,RC).
For SC I studied from e-GMAT, MGMAT and amazing explanation from BTG and MGMAT forums. Quant was never an issue as I have an engineering background. Hardly did anything other than OG and GMAT Prep.
V-29 was a shocker as the first half went well but in the second half I ran out of time and had to guess on couple of questions. I believe because I mismanaged time I must have been got few questions wrong in a row. Nonetheless, I thought V-29 was way too low compared to what I was getting in practice CAT (verbal ranging 33-37 in GMAT Prep).
Second Attempt:
This time I studied for less than two months. Started with revision of OG - 12, VR2 and GMAT Prep docs and then jumped onto GMAT Prep question bank. I used to make full 3:30 hr tests from these questions banks and practiced them like CATs. My accuracy was approx. 80% in all three verbal sections. This made me confident that at least I would cross 710.
The day experience:
IR - guessed on 2 questions rest I could solve. Let me tell you here guys, IR is much easier than anticipated. The exam questions, I would say, were half in difficulty level compared to those in OG13 and GMAT Question bank. So don't spend more than 2 days studying for this section.
Quant - This was my turf so was confident here. But let me tell you after reaching the 50 level, the test throws weird kind of questions. I pseudo-guessed on two of such questions, which were out of the GMAT planet. Those two questions are hardcoded in my memory but sadly I still don't know how to solve them.
Verbal - This time I really don't know what happened as I was confident in marking answers and had plenty of time towards the end (around 30 minutes for 10 questions: with no RC). I got two very long RCs (4 paragraphs each), of which one was very tough; in fact, I found both tougher than what I did during my preparation. Moreover, I was not very confident on 1-2 RC questions. Besides guessing on 1 CR and 1 SC, I was confident on other CRs and SCs. I really don't know how and where the test adapted to 33 level as I spent ample time on each question to mark confidently. Thats the bloody beauty of this adaptive test it makes one feel confident but in the end a fool.
Future Attempt:
Now the most important part: I am planning to retake the test by end of July and am targeting 720+ with V37+.
Firstly, I don't know how to diagnose my test performance as during past few weeks I solved GMAT prep question bank with 80% accuracy in verbal.
Secondly, what should I study this time for verbal as I have done all the official material at least once and I want to practice on fresh questions.
Lastly, any other suggestions that could help me achieve the target score.
Thanks.
First Attempt:
GMAT 1: 650 (Q50,V29) - Oct 2011
I prepared for about six months on my own. I completed almost every available GMAC material -- OG-10,11,12,VR2, Paper test, GMAT Prep docs (for SC,CR,RC).
For SC I studied from e-GMAT, MGMAT and amazing explanation from BTG and MGMAT forums. Quant was never an issue as I have an engineering background. Hardly did anything other than OG and GMAT Prep.
V-29 was a shocker as the first half went well but in the second half I ran out of time and had to guess on couple of questions. I believe because I mismanaged time I must have been got few questions wrong in a row. Nonetheless, I thought V-29 was way too low compared to what I was getting in practice CAT (verbal ranging 33-37 in GMAT Prep).
Second Attempt:
This time I studied for less than two months. Started with revision of OG - 12, VR2 and GMAT Prep docs and then jumped onto GMAT Prep question bank. I used to make full 3:30 hr tests from these questions banks and practiced them like CATs. My accuracy was approx. 80% in all three verbal sections. This made me confident that at least I would cross 710.
The day experience:
IR - guessed on 2 questions rest I could solve. Let me tell you here guys, IR is much easier than anticipated. The exam questions, I would say, were half in difficulty level compared to those in OG13 and GMAT Question bank. So don't spend more than 2 days studying for this section.
Quant - This was my turf so was confident here. But let me tell you after reaching the 50 level, the test throws weird kind of questions. I pseudo-guessed on two of such questions, which were out of the GMAT planet. Those two questions are hardcoded in my memory but sadly I still don't know how to solve them.
Verbal - This time I really don't know what happened as I was confident in marking answers and had plenty of time towards the end (around 30 minutes for 10 questions: with no RC). I got two very long RCs (4 paragraphs each), of which one was very tough; in fact, I found both tougher than what I did during my preparation. Moreover, I was not very confident on 1-2 RC questions. Besides guessing on 1 CR and 1 SC, I was confident on other CRs and SCs. I really don't know how and where the test adapted to 33 level as I spent ample time on each question to mark confidently. Thats the bloody beauty of this adaptive test it makes one feel confident but in the end a fool.
Future Attempt:
Now the most important part: I am planning to retake the test by end of July and am targeting 720+ with V37+.
Firstly, I don't know how to diagnose my test performance as during past few weeks I solved GMAT prep question bank with 80% accuracy in verbal.
Secondly, what should I study this time for verbal as I have done all the official material at least once and I want to practice on fresh questions.
Lastly, any other suggestions that could help me achieve the target score.
Thanks.
