GMAT in Aug End - Urgent Hlep Needed pls

[vyom.bagda]

Hi,

I am appearing for the GMAT in Aug End to appear for the 1st round of apps in UK. I have around 6 years of IT experience with Engg background (obvious now-a-days). Excellent acads, good management experience (20-25 member teams), good international experience ~ 5 years and a decent dip in finance world because of my IT projects like trading, funds, treasury etc etc.

I started GMAT prep about 1.5 months back with no background of any other practice earlier like CAT for IIMs, etc..

Did all the OG Qs in 1.5 months (for all five sections). Me working n married as well so couldn't give more than 2-3 hours on weekdays and 5-6 on weekends

While doing OG I had a consistent 80% accuracy (with SC a lil low 70% ) with approx 2 mins time for each Q. I checked every question which was wrong to understand why, but did not revise each wrong question again and again (to remember the mistake). Just wanted to complete one round of OG once, before going back. I did section by section, rather than 10Qs of each everyday.

I gave GMATPREP tests yesterday, but was shocked and devastated to get only 620.
Obviously me doing some basic mistake. Got 47 in Quant but 27 in Verbal. Verbal is weak obviously.
Wot i realised was that GMATPREP was giving me those 20% Qs which I couldn't solve in OG.
(now I understand da f%%%kin pareto principle!! )

Further I found that I didn't particularly had any probs with RC and CR, but in the test I did. Dunno why !!

My target is 720+ and must appear in Aug End. Further due to some personal issues, this year is my "do or die" chance or probably "now or never". Completely depressed since yesterday. Scolded some poor juniors in office as well. Don't know what is wrong. Pls help

[Stacey Koprince]

You've got some work ahead of you - but if you want to, you can do it!

First, go back to that GMATPrep and get some data down (unfortunately, GMATPrep doesn't give us assessment reports). Create an Excel file and list out the type of question and whether you got it right or wrong. See what the patterns are (a) across question type, and (b) from start to finish (chronologically through the test.

You don't have timing or difficulty level data, unfortunately, so you'll only get part of the picture. Also write down anything you remember about when you felt pressed for time, when you felt you had to rush, when you realized you'd probably spent too much time on a problem, etc.

GMATPrep is the best in terms of simulating the real test but for future practice tests, also try to take some from a test prep company so that you can get more useful data. (We offer one free test and I'm sure at least some of the other companies do too - check out all the company web sites.)

As you discovered, percentage correct out of a static book (like OG) isn't going to mimic what happens on the real test. On the real test, you're going to get about half wrong - that's just the way the test works (unless you're scoring above about 720 - and, even then, you're still getting a lot wrong).

Anyway, you're not done with OG. Go back and do them again. This time, go over every question, not just the ones you got wrong (there are still lots of things you can learn from questions you got right). Here are some questions to think about:

For ones you get right:
1) Did I really know what I was doing or did I get lucky? If I got lucky, review all of the "wrong answer" questions
2) If I did know what I was doing, did I also do it in the best way (for me)? If not, figure out the best way for you.
3) How will I recognize problems of similar type in future so that I can either repeat my original success or apply my new "best way" to the problem?

For ones you get wrong:
1) Why did I get it wrong (as specifically as possible)?
2) What could I do to minimize the chance of making that error (or those errors) again? How will I make whatever that is a habit so that I really do minimize chances of making the same error again?
3) What are the right ways to do it?
4) Of the right ways, which one is the best way for me (combining both efficiency and effectiveness) given my strengths and weaknesses?
5) How will I recognize problems of similar type in future so that I can apply that "best way" to the problem?