So here's the story.
It was Jan-Feb 2012. I decided that I gotto apply to TAS and that needed a GMAT score. But I was so busy with my work that I hardly got any time to go thru
the
OG( I didn't know that the Holy Grail of GMAT is called the
OG) that I got from my office library.
May: Work reduced. Started searching for GMAT coaching classes in Bangalore. Joined CrackVerbal only for Verbal. Didn't study much. Wasn't serious. Rather,
didn't know that GMAT would need serious dedication.
June: Went thru Jeff Sackmann's book. Again, wasn't serious.
Took a mock test from old gmatprep software.
Result: 560 Q 39, V 28
Was depressed.
July: Seriousness increased. Started going thru
MGMAT Quant and solving
OG Quant easy questions.
Took 2nd mock test from old gmatprep software.
Result: 570 Q 44, V25
Had forgotten all the rules in SC when I took the test.
Was shattered.
August: Badly bruised, joined another coaching class. Started solving Tough GMATPrep Quant Questions.
Took a Kaplan Free test. Scored 580.
Then took a
MGMAT CAT1: 630 Q 40, V36
Realised I did a mistake solving GMAT PRep questions without having a firm foundation in Quant and I needed to fix my timing issues in Quant.
September: No study. Lot of work in office.
October:
OG Quant. 20-40 Questions a day +
MGMAT Strategy Guides
November: No Study. Lot of work in office
December: Quant review + Verbal review.
January: 1 month study leave.
GMAT Prep New software mock 1: 650 Q 47, 33
GMAT Prep New software mock 1: 640 Q 47, 31
GMAT 1: 31st Jan 2013 640 Q 43 V 34
Shattered. Q dropped by 4 points.
Redemmed kudos for GC tests.
taxed my brain; started realising that tough questions are within my reach; made a log; analysed my mistakes; saw a pattern of mistakes; fixed them.
A week before the exam :
MGMAT 5: 670 Q44 V37
MGMAT 6: 660 Q45 V35
GMAT 2 : 630 Q 47 V 29.
Encountered the weirdest SCs ever. SC Questions in
OG/Verbal Review/GMAT PRep SC/Question Pack 1 are no longer representative of what you see on GMAT.
I am very strong in SC. I could solve 12/15 hard SC questions from PAck1 correctly but on the GMAT, SC questions were the weirdest bunch of questions I ever saw in my life.
I have learnt a lot of things in this journey. I used to think that I am weak in Quant; thought that I couldn't analyse well and couldn't solve tough Quant Questions.
But the last 1 and half months have been extremely satisfying. I practised with GMAT Club CATs and I realised that I am able to solve tough questions.
All that was required was a bit of thought process. I taxed my brain to respond and it did and I saw myself solving tough questions with ease. I analysed my mistakes by maintaining a log and by forming new habits to counter silly mistakes.
Bitten twice by GMAT ( Quant reduced in first attempt and Verbal in Second) , I guess there are other than GMAT, more things that I need to work on in my life as far as
applications is concerned. This for sure is a positive sign of a better future. Over the last 10 months, I have hardly done anything else in my free time
apart from studying for GMAT.
With a 640, I am gonna face a lot of competition when I apply to my target school. But I am flexible with my MBA plans and have ample time to work on my profile.
If I take GMAT again , I may get 660-680 or 620-650. You never know. But, I have no enthusiasm left after studying for 10 months. I am moving on and hopefully I make it to my target school 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 years from now.
I would like to thank Karishma Bansal ( VeritasPrepKarishma), Charles Bibilios(GMATNinja), Bunuel, jumsumtak, Souvik,Vercules, bb, carcass, Ron Purewal, Stacey Koprince, Sandeep Gupta and many others, names of whom I may have missed for all their help throughout this journey.
Was happy to see my name featured in last week's GC News Letter.
Thanks bb.
Thanks to Arun Jagannathan, CrackVerbal for all the information on the world of MBA and GMAT.
So, this is the end of my GMAT journey!!!
_________________
hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.Who says you need a 700 ?Check this out :
https://gmatclub.com/forum/who-says-you-need-a-149706.html#p1201595My GMAT Journey : https://gmatclub.com/forum/end-of-my-gmat-journey-149328.html#p1197992