Took my exam last week and the end result was a TOTAL DISASTER
Study time: 2-3 months
Materials used: Manhattan for Quant,
Egmat for verbal (CR & SC) ,
OG -13, Gmat prep Question pack.
GMAT Prep # 1: 600 (Q 42, V 30)
GMAT Prep # 2 600 (Q 47, V 25) - Taken after a gap of 20 Days – Focused on Quant a lot as it really hurt my ego & Neglected Verbal – Really dumb!
Actual Exam : 550 (Q 43, V 22) – Taken 3 Weeks after GMAT Prep # 2
Lessons I learnt the Hardway! - I realized why I F**ked up!1) Start giving practice tests early ! – Helps in Time Management A really huge mistake I made was not giving enough practice tests! I took only 2 tests and that too after a gap of 3 weeks each – BIG BLUNDER!!
2) Do NOT think of your previous response! During the exam, I kept thinking of my previous responses. Quant started off well but midway around Q 15, I started getting some tough questions on Sets & Probability. I started getting nervous and took more than the required time but still was not confident of my answer. Towards the end I got some really simple questions on exponents – I figured out that I completely messed up!
During the Break, I was completely shattered and that really affected me psychologically.
3) Do NOT let the performance of 1 section affect the next! I read a lot about this but experienced it firsthand during the exam. Thats why I am going to take good number of tests to control my temperament.
I Gave up midway in Verbal
After Q # 15, I literally gave up as I knew that I was fighting a losing battle. To the extent that I completely skipped 2 RC passages as I was running out of time.
4) Start using the Scratch pad and the actual Staedtler Marker right from the beginning! 
I was fidgeting a lot as I was used to solving questions the traditional pen & paper style. The scratch pad made me very uncomfortable. And the bloody pen kept running out of ink. I had to change the marker 3 times during the exam! (I was enough frustrated already)
I know that I can definitely improve and this score is not a true reflection of my ability.
Anyways, I am taking this exam again in 2 months and will practice and analyze each and every test! I will take atleast 7 – 8 practice tests (Full Length) before the actual exam.
Queries for Experts:
1) QUANT - Are
GMAT Club tests worth it?
I really need to sharpen my Quant skills ! I want to be confident after each and every damn question – Be it complex DS / PS / Geometry / Probablity… Anything the screen throws at me, I want to tackle it!
2) VERBAL – Planning to upgrade to
Egmat Verbal Live prep – I know
Egmat is good , it’s just that I gave up midway in Verbal. I never practiced RC – Foolish mistake!
3) Practice tests – I am planning to buy Vertias as I have read mixed reviews about Manhattan Tests – Can anybody throw some light as to which is better between the 2?
Thanks & Will update you guys in 2 months
Regards
Buddy
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15 Nov 2014, 00:10
