I did it! I beat the GMAT

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I did it! I beat the GMAT

by jennysbelly » Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:33 am
After 2.5 months of studying, a Kaplan course, and some dismal practice tests (including a 570 2 weeks ago), I just took the GMAT and scored a 700 (Q44,V42).

Just so everyone else knows it can be done, and even if you aren't scoring high on your practice, it will be ok. The highest I scored on my practice tests was a 690 and there were plenty of scores in the 500s and low 600s in there.

So happy to be done!

Jenny

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by beatthegmat » Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:19 am
Congrats, what an incredible improvement! Good luck with the next steps in your b-school app--this community is here for you. :)
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by jennysbelly » Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:46 pm
Thanks Eric --
I've been smiling since I left the test center this morning. I do think that I could have done better if I had more time (I got married and went on a honeymoon in the last month and didn't study for 2 weeks -- don't recommend that), but 700 is more than good enough for where I'm applying.

So much of it is stress and confidence. I was freaking out when I took my Kaplan Ultimate Practice Test (which was a great thing to do) and my score was lower than my first diagnostic. 2 weeks later, and not THAT much studying and I was up 130 points.

The trick for me in the last week or so was to realize that I wasn't going to learn anything new. For me, math is my weakness as I didn't take math in college and haven't studied it of used it since 1998. So I just practiced with timed quizzes and worked on strengthening my strengths. While driving to the test center this morning, I knew that I had the skills to get every verbal question right -- I know how to read, I'm a good critical thinker, and I have an excellent grasp on grammar. My verbal was at the 95th percentile, which was much higher than I had been testing.

My math is good, but that's where I could have improved if I had more time -- there were some concepts that I still have trouble with around permutations, combinations, and probability. Luckily there weren't that many questions on the exam that tested those concepts. I had to guess at a couple on the math, but my Verbal held me up while my math was still solid.

Anyway, I'm done thinking about the tests, and have to focus on the apps. I just wanted to post the note, as this was the kind of post I could have used over the weekend!

Cheers,

Jenny

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by beatthegmat » Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:13 pm
Awesome work Jenny! And big props to you too for being able to focus on the test, even when you had a wedding/honeymoon last month! I got married myself earlier this year, and I know what a huge time commitment planning a wedding can be.

Good luck with your apps! Be sure to stick around--we're making some changes on BTG over the next week or two that should really help with your MBA apps. More to come. :)

All the best,

Eric
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