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RocketScientist
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 10:25 pm
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Hi Guys,
first things first: thanks for this awesome forum. I really appreciate the cooperative spirit of all of you. You helped me a lot during my prep even though i have to admit that i didn't really participate actively in this forum. But I felt I hadn't anything valuable to contribute prior to taking the actual exam.
A couple of days ago I scored a pretty unexpected balanced 740 (50/40)
I am non-native and it was my 1st attempt. The least I can do is to speak some words of encouragement to those who are currently struggling with the exam and maybe to give some advice to who wants it.
Here my thoughts:
1) Don't ever let bad prep results discourage you!! I never(!) scored as high in prep as I did on the actual exam. In my opinion MGMAT prep exams are slightly harder than the real GMAT - especially in Quant (just my perception). In my opinion, once you are fine with mgmat math, you are certainly fine with math on the real GMAT, too.
Verbal was more or less at the same level even though RC texts were considerably shorter for instance compared with MGMAT prep tests.
2) For non-natives: I do not speak english perfectly. I have a TOEFL which is fine but certainly not at a high fligher level. The point is: the gmat is all about RULES!! They are soooo important. Sure, if you want to score really high, you will need to have a certain feeling of how the language works because they give you some idioms you have never heard of. BUT: if you lack the basic rules, the GMAT won't even make you answer a hard question.
The probably most important book in my whole prep was MGMAT sentence correction! It is awesome. You can get so much out of it. Not only for the GMAT. And the rules in it are crucial in my opinion.
The CR bible on the other hand is the most ridiculous book I have ever read in my live. You could write the book on 50 pages. They invented clusters and classes for CR with arrows and information flows and that kind of things that just cost time you don't have. I really don't understand the hype. There are 2 or 3 useful thoughts in the whole book like: Look for the conclusion since most questions are aimed at the conclusion. But that's all. Pls don't waste time identifying the cluster, identifying the direction of information flow and blabla. Just read the question, read the text, find the conclusion and pick the right answer. Do the OG verbal! You will figure out very soon, what kind of answer to look for when asked a certain question.
3) Do timing!!
4) Prep regularly!
5) Schedule an exam and stick to it.
6) One thing for those of you who aim really high: the Math in the OG is low level. In the OG13 there are very few really hard questions. The problem: If you answer the first questions correct you will be asked hard questions throughout the whole rest of the exam (and it is the only way to get a good Quant score). Therefore, if you have prepped math only with the OG13, you will probably have more hard questions in the exam than in all the weeks or months of preparation together.
So: Firstly, do the MGMAT prep exams and review every single question. Secondly, scan the whole internet for hard questions (700-800) Thirdly, do not waste your time with OG math. Its a good start, but you have to move on!! (as I said: only for who wants to have a high score (above 650/700)
7) Most important: Be calm on test day! Sounds easy, I know. But try to think about it: You have done everything you can. Consider that being too nervous really costs you concentration you need for the tasks. Don't panic! Focus on the exam! You don't have anything to lose. It is not an oral. You know more or less what you will be asked and you have covered all areas. So stay calm!!
It really worked for me. Otherwise I would not have been able to achieve a better score than in all my previous prep exams, believe me!
The GMAT is not only about Math and Verbal, guys. In a more subtle way you are also tested on how you work under difficult circumstances. Keep that in mind and make it your advantage! If you enter the exam room all trembling, its going to be a hard time. And you will lose so much time.
Happy to answer particular questions if requested.
Wish you all the best!!
Booyakaaaahh!!!
first things first: thanks for this awesome forum. I really appreciate the cooperative spirit of all of you. You helped me a lot during my prep even though i have to admit that i didn't really participate actively in this forum. But I felt I hadn't anything valuable to contribute prior to taking the actual exam.
A couple of days ago I scored a pretty unexpected balanced 740 (50/40)
I am non-native and it was my 1st attempt. The least I can do is to speak some words of encouragement to those who are currently struggling with the exam and maybe to give some advice to who wants it.Here my thoughts:
1) Don't ever let bad prep results discourage you!! I never(!) scored as high in prep as I did on the actual exam. In my opinion MGMAT prep exams are slightly harder than the real GMAT - especially in Quant (just my perception). In my opinion, once you are fine with mgmat math, you are certainly fine with math on the real GMAT, too.
Verbal was more or less at the same level even though RC texts were considerably shorter for instance compared with MGMAT prep tests.
2) For non-natives: I do not speak english perfectly. I have a TOEFL which is fine but certainly not at a high fligher level. The point is: the gmat is all about RULES!! They are soooo important. Sure, if you want to score really high, you will need to have a certain feeling of how the language works because they give you some idioms you have never heard of. BUT: if you lack the basic rules, the GMAT won't even make you answer a hard question.
The probably most important book in my whole prep was MGMAT sentence correction! It is awesome. You can get so much out of it. Not only for the GMAT. And the rules in it are crucial in my opinion.
The CR bible on the other hand is the most ridiculous book I have ever read in my live. You could write the book on 50 pages. They invented clusters and classes for CR with arrows and information flows and that kind of things that just cost time you don't have. I really don't understand the hype. There are 2 or 3 useful thoughts in the whole book like: Look for the conclusion since most questions are aimed at the conclusion. But that's all. Pls don't waste time identifying the cluster, identifying the direction of information flow and blabla. Just read the question, read the text, find the conclusion and pick the right answer. Do the OG verbal! You will figure out very soon, what kind of answer to look for when asked a certain question.
3) Do timing!!
4) Prep regularly!
5) Schedule an exam and stick to it.
6) One thing for those of you who aim really high: the Math in the OG is low level. In the OG13 there are very few really hard questions. The problem: If you answer the first questions correct you will be asked hard questions throughout the whole rest of the exam (and it is the only way to get a good Quant score). Therefore, if you have prepped math only with the OG13, you will probably have more hard questions in the exam than in all the weeks or months of preparation together.
So: Firstly, do the MGMAT prep exams and review every single question. Secondly, scan the whole internet for hard questions (700-800) Thirdly, do not waste your time with OG math. Its a good start, but you have to move on!! (as I said: only for who wants to have a high score (above 650/700)
7) Most important: Be calm on test day! Sounds easy, I know. But try to think about it: You have done everything you can. Consider that being too nervous really costs you concentration you need for the tasks. Don't panic! Focus on the exam! You don't have anything to lose. It is not an oral. You know more or less what you will be asked and you have covered all areas. So stay calm!!
It really worked for me. Otherwise I would not have been able to achieve a better score than in all my previous prep exams, believe me!
The GMAT is not only about Math and Verbal, guys. In a more subtle way you are also tested on how you work under difficult circumstances. Keep that in mind and make it your advantage! If you enter the exam room all trembling, its going to be a hard time. And you will lose so much time.
Happy to answer particular questions if requested.
Wish you all the best!!
Booyakaaaahh!!!
