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Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Boston/Cleveland
720 - but what is this break down. plus what I used.
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Updated on: 07 Mar 2009, 15:54
First of all, before people start saying wah wah why are you complaining about a 720, I will say that I'm not. I'm complaining about the break down, which is just about the oddest and last thing I expected when I got my score.
To not make this post all about myself, I will help all those still studying by explaining my process.
Alright, so I started with OG11, as most do most people. I think its a good start as it gets you accustomed to the types of questions, but the questions in it rarely go to the hardest difficulty. The math part is pretty basic, and might have only a few things you shouldn't know or have forgotten. Alright so I did all the problems in the OG11, they were pretty soft minus a few.
Took the two GmatPrep back to back: 690 (49, 35), 690 (49,34) or so. I honestly thought I'd be ready, but these two tests told me I need to work on my verbal big time. Note the math scores, and note I think I finished each one with like 8 min to spare (seriously), this would be crucial to my complaint. BTW, forgot to mention my goal was 710+.
Alright I looked around and decided to go with the Princeton Verbal, just for no real good reason. I actually liked this book for the reading portion (fyi, they try to teach you a method of reading the passages, but I wouldn't learn it, just do what you usually do). They have some good strategies of how to approach different question and who to find the correct answer. Then I moved on to the classic Manhattan SC, and this really is essential book without a doubt. Its a short, to the point, well structured, just overall good book. A must for anyone taking the GMAT, I'm sure everyone says this.
Alright so after this point I was like, I'm set. I understand SC like a million times better, and I'm just better at reading passages, and my math well its always been good. I took two free practice tests: the kaplan and gmatclub. All good tests I think. Anyway, ran out of time for both sections each time each test. My scores didn't change, but my break down did: 690 (46, 40) both times. I was really happy about verbal, 40 was the number I really wanted to hit and I did it. The math part obviously surprised me. I attributed this score to a low understanding in probability, which both of these tests HEAVILY relied on. So I was like nice, I can learn probability/combinations, no problemo. Plus I continued to do some verbal problems to make sure my Verbal stayed or hopefully increase at least by one. By this point, the score I really was aiming for was a 50-49 on Quant and 40-41 on Verbal.
Alright (as I begin all my paragraphs), so I'm studying now mostly quant and verbal (about 75, 25 respectively), but not too heavily. Using the gmatclub forums a lot at this point, and they are really helpful, good stuff. So now I reinstall the GMATPrep and retake the first test. Score: 730 (46, 44). I was freaking out. why? First I didn't improve math at all, second I thought 44 was like impossible for me (I have always been horrible at verbal, going to back to ACT/SAT). So i thought in reality my score was probably more like (46, 41). Next few days I only study math, using mostly gmatprep since I had no more money for books. ALright Thursday runs around and I take my second test. Score: 750 (51,40). I was extremely happy to say the least. 51 seems like a too high quant score, probably an anomaly. But it was a score that I thought reflected very well of my abilities. I suck at verbal, but worked hard to get it up to the 41/40 range, always good at math and did some work to bring it up to about 50. This exactly what I wanted, score that reflected my talents. I really thought 44 was just absurd for me, and I also knew 51 was to high, but I always thought 46 was too low for my skills. I really though I would get (49,40) on the test, which is like 720-740 or so.
Alright (got keep this going), Friday, I review, do problems in each section, take it easy really. Not the person to stress too much. As long as I put some effort into it, and I try my best, I am a big believer that I will get what I will get. Saturday, I sleep alright, wake up 930, rested. Get to the center aroundish 11:30. Take honestly the biggest deuce in my life, it was a bit crazy, honestly if they didn't take my phone I would've taken a picture of it. Everything going well, not too nervous (going back to my philosophy). Essays: I mean whatever, I reviewed the one guide to getting a 6 on AWA, but that will be my only practice for it. They went, never really thought writing or verbal was my strong point to whatever. Math comes around, get the first one wrong, have noooooo idea what they are asking, random guess really (root of an equation, I already forgot what that meant). The rest of the math, I believed was alright though, until the end. A few hard one come around, I spend a bunch of time on them, and I think I get them right though. Had to pretty much guess on the last 2-3 problems though because of time limit. Verbal, I thought these were a lot harder, first 5 I spend a bunch of time on. But I start getting in the groove in the middle, and like always I just barely finish/guess the last question. At this point I just wanted my score, didn't even reflect on the test, I just skipped through all that information stuff.
Score: 720 (44,45). I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. I got a what and a what on the quant and verbal? I didn't think I was capable of scoring that low and that high. Man I got a higher score on quant the first time I took, with no studying at all. I was pissed, honestly. 44 is 70% percentile, I don't think I ever got below 90% percentile on any math test (not trying to brag). On the other hand, I am sure I never got above 90% percentile above any verbal test (English was my second language). The score was a 720, but honestly I knew I'd be a bit upset if I didn't get at least 730. Honestly I am just a bit confused, I get the last think I expected. I was really going to sell myself as a scientific mathematical person, who is just decent at verbal. Because this is the truth. Though I'm not upset with the score, I'm really confused what I will do at interviews (if I get any).
In conclusion, Use Manhattan SC -> Princeton Verbal -> Gmatclub to increase Verbal. Don't ask me about math because I went -5 on it after I put in work, so don't do what I do.
Yes mad. Yes don't know how to sell myself now, if I even get that opportunity.. Yes happy about overall though. More mad, than happy, unfortunately. Would trade for 49, 40 and same score any day. Obviously happy its done.
EDIT: Totally forgot to thank gmatclub for helping me, especially on verbal. I give a lot of credit to gmatclub for the jump in my verbal score. Thanks everyone who posts and answers questions. Sorry for the bad language in the title.
Originally posted by
vladmoney on 07 Mar 2009, 15:44.
Last edited by
nink on 07 Mar 2009, 15:54, edited 1 time in total.
edited foul language in the thread title