11 weeks - Target: 700+

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11 weeks - Target: 700+

by Juggernaut_86 » Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:24 pm
Hello Everyone,

Want to share my story and seek advise.

I have taken the GMAT twice. I took the GMAT for the first time in August 2009 and scored 670. I took the GMAT again in December 2009 and scored 620.

670 - Quant-47, Verbal-35
620 - Quant-48, Verbal-27

I was in a state of mental fatigue when I took the GMAT in December 2009 (which is clearly reflected by my score). I spent atleast 3 hours a day on weekdays and 6-7 hours a day on weekends. I also took online classes and performed very well in the classes so my confidence was really high before I took the test in December. But a week before the test, my mind just gave up. I started committing silly mistakes in both Math and English. I somehow managed to boost myself up and to mentally prepare myself for the exam (I think I was successful to an extent in doing so).

The day of the test arrived and I was nervous. I did not do well in the essays. However, I performed better in Quant (not a whole lot better but still...). I was confident going into the verbal section but suddenly, something snapped and I started loosing concentration. I somehow managed to concentrate again but to make matters worse, this guy sitting right next to me started typing (probably an essay). That just killed my concentration. I used the headphones to block the noise but it was still too loud for me to concentrate. So a long story short, it was a bad day, I was too stressed and things did not work out me. As a result, my score - 620...

I will be taking the GMAT for the third time in 10-11 weeks.
I have a very demanding job and I have to take the test in 11 weeks. So people, I need guidance as to how to manage the stress and how to beat the GMAT.

Thanks in advance!
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by harsh.champ » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:23 pm
Juggernaut_86 wrote:Hello Everyone,

Want to share my story and seek advise.

I have taken the GMAT twice. I took the GMAT for the first time in August 2009 and scored 670. I took the GMAT again in December 2009 and scored 620.

670 - Quant-47, Verbal-35
620 - Quant-48, Verbal-27

I was in a state of mental fatigue when I took the GMAT in December 2009 (which is clearly reflected by my score). I spent atleast 3 hours a day on weekdays and 6-7 hours a day on weekends. I also took online classes and performed very well in the classes so my confidence was really high before I took the test in December. But a week before the test, my mind just gave up. I started committing silly mistakes in both Math and English. I somehow managed to boost myself up and to mentally prepare myself for the exam (I think I was successful to an extent in doing so).

The day of the test arrived and I was nervous. I did not do well in the essays. However, I performed better in Quant (not a whole lot better but still...). I was confident going into the verbal section but suddenly, something snapped and I started loosing concentration. I somehow managed to concentrate again but to make matters worse, this guy sitting right next to me started typing (probably an essay). That just killed my concentration. I used the headphones to block the noise but it was still too loud for me to concentrate. So a long story short, it was a bad day, I was too stressed and things did not work out me. As a result, my score - 620...

I will be taking the GMAT for the third time in 10-11 weeks.
I have a very demanding job and I have to take the test in 11 weeks. So people, I need guidance as to how to manage the stress and how to beat the GMAT.

Thanks in advance!
Hey juggernaut,
If it was due to exam conditions,that you were not able to concentrate then worry not,maybe next time you can improve on your score.
I would say "Get 1/2 study buddies and practice giving tests simultaneously in the same room.This way you can get accustomed to some common noises that you are prone to encounter on the test-day.
Hope it keeps off the worries and help you build exam temperament.
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by money9111 » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:42 pm
you will undoubtedly be calmer the next time you take the exam... a lot of people underestimate the external conditions with which they take the exam...

lets hope that this time you don't exhaust yourself... make sure you take breaks from studying though. that's what I did this weekend. I didn't even look at a GMAT book.. had to clear my brain
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