ttd500 wrote:
Hi everybody,
I can't say that I am new to the forum, as I have been reading posts on here for sometime now. But this is my first post.
About two weeks ago, I did the GMAT for the nth time (actually, 4th time). I scored an embarrassing 520 (Q37 V24). I did the GMAT in 2011 and my score was 600 (Q44 V29). It was a surprise and not much of a surprise for me this time, because I spent about 4 months preparing for the GMAT, but I also over-prepared in terms of a few days before the exam. I guess is that in the week before the exam, I had a motorbike accident and injured the my leg so I was a bit mentally affected. Then I also slept so little in the last few days before the exam (about 5-6 hours/ day) trying to remember all the GMAT facts, so maybe during the exam I was burned. I finished Quants and had about 20 minutes left - I thought that must not be a good sign! After that, I went home, rested for a few days and tried to retake the GMAT with GMAT prep and scored 640 (Q47 V31) - I just could not believe it! Before the GMAT exam, I scored around 42-47 for Q and 31-36 for V.
I am planning to retake GMAT in one month and aiming for 650+. I just tried one of the
Manhattan CATs and scored 570 (Q42 V27), quite a different from GMAT Prep, so I am so confused about where I stand right now. Before the GMAT exam this time, I have already exhausted the
MGMAT verbal series and did ALL the questions in
OG 13, so I am just not sure what more I could do now to improve my Verbal score. I already downloaded some more novels and subscribed 'The Economist' to improve my RC. For CR, seriously, sometimes I disagree with the real answer and I guess that is my problem. I read on some of the debriefs that I should utilise the GMAT forum and I am trying to do that now. What is the most frustrating thing for me now is I feel that I am lost on the GMAT. I read stories of people getting 700+ and I really have no idea how they did it. I have been trying to tackle the GMAT for so long now I think my biggest weakness at the moment is my attitude towards the GMAT - I can't have the positive attitude and therefore can't bring myself back to re-do the whole process of doing the GMAT.
What I am planning to do now:
1. Do
OG Verbal Review
2. Watch the rest of Ron's videos that I have not had the chance to watch
3. Use GMAT forum (although I really don't know how to start)
4. Do all the
OG Quants again to improve accuracy ( I realise most of the mistakes I made in Q are due to carelessness, and for preparation of Q this time I only used the Advanced Quants of
MGMAT, I guess that was my biggest mistake)
5. Read The Economist and the novels recommended by bb
All of the time I was preparing for the GMAT I was doing it by myself. Classes are often expensive so I dismissed that option. I realise this time around I really need help from outside, and I would appreciate any advice to boost my GMAT attitude as well as GMAT score. I have one month left to get 650 as required by the program I wanted to get into.
Many thanks!!!
Hi,
Will like to shell out my 2 cents
First I empathize your situation. Though I did not appear GMAT earlier, but most of your situations replicates mine and thus I went through same syndrome.
Few tips:
1. Its hard but force yourself to believe in yourself (read through breath taking journeys in forum)
2. If possible, re schedule GMAT not in 1 month but at least 2-3 months
3. Analyze your mock and earlier GMAT scores, and post them in forum, if you can for more detailed expert opinion
4. Dont rush into some courses - they cant teach you nothing more than what you already know. They cant change your attitude.
5. Forum has extremely well laid out consolidate materials - do use them. Verbal consolidation by Debayan, Vercules, Souvik and Quant is in my signature - these are qualitative materials for brush ups, detailed study, practice all possible ways to hit the iron
Few questions:
1. Where are you from?
2. What is your profile background?
3. What do you assess as your personal weakness?
4. Do you study better alone or in groups?
5. Which schools are you targeting?
These replies, if posted, many experts can advise you on remedies and courses that might suit you - again those will be pure recommendations but not sacrosanct rules.
With that, I hope you can maintain your statute, composure and passion for the exam.
Trust me, most in this forum have some story to tell about their difficulties. But 99% of them never gave up.
Hope these few pointers can give you some strategic directions to your NEW APPROACH TO GMAT....
Do feel free to PM to write posts for further detailing.
ALL THE BEST