Hello again folks!
I have already added my debrief after scoring a 760 here:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-760-50-q-42-v-satisfied-124675.html.
Have decided to add another discussion thread, capturing some more random thoughts, once the bubbly excitement of a 760 score has settled down now.
So here goes:
Things they tell you to do, but I didn't:- Take no tests in the last few days, just revise: I had taken 3 full tests in the last 3 days leading to the GMAT - this was primarily because I had set myself a timeframe of only 10 days for my second attempt as I was going on vacation after that and it was not possible to take the GMAT later. Also, for me specifically, getting accustomed to the test taking mindset just prior to the actual test works - keeps me mentally agile and on my toes. I think, given the more than one month of inaction after my first attempt, taking a host of tests leading into the G-day helped me get over my rustiness.
- Always include the AWAs in your mock tests:In all my mock tests, I have never, ever done that. A 4 hour ordeal, including the one hour taken for the AWAs, would have been very stressful and would not have allowed me to take 5 practice tests in the last 7 days. Despite many pieces of advice to the contrary, I believe that, for people who are comfortable expressing themselves cogently in English, leaving out the AWA sections during the practice tests could actually be beneficial. In fact, in the actual test, writing the two AWAs in a relaxed mode helped me enter the quants section in a comfortable frame of mind.
- Maintain an error log:I have never maintained an
error log, though I have revised my incorrect solutions post taking a mock test in detail. Revising the problems that I got wrong and those that I got right accidentally have been very helpful in improving my overall accuracy and performance. However, I am not a very organized person by nature and maintaining an
error log of all questions I had gotten wrong across all mock tests would have been too tall a mountain to climb. For me, learning from my mistakes after taking a mock test largely offset the need for a specific
error log.
- Take your time when going through the RC passages, and take detailed notes:Well, this strategy did not work for me. It led to significant time leakage and did not improve my accuracy. For me, quickly browsing through the passages to have an overall idea of the structure (occasionally spending a bit more time on sentences that are more dificult to comprehend) and then diving into the requisite portion when answering a specific question worked better than taking detailed notes. It ensured that I spent time on questions that actually needed spending more time on.
I must mention here that many other pieces of advice here at the forum have been real gems and have helped me achieve the score I have.
A couple of key ones are:- Keep track of time - give yourself a minute max to evaluate whether you can solve the problem - if you think you cannot, make an educated guess if possible else a random one, and MOVE ON!This worked like a dream for me - I had spent more time than I should have on some obstinate quant problems and ended up with a rushed and panicked quant score of 48 in my first attempt - followed the advice to the tee the next time and got a sweet 50 on the next attempt.
- The problem sets on DS and PS by Bunuel, strategies, tips and solutions by Walker and Bunuel:A mere thank you is not enough to express how much the problems and solutions have helped me. To all ye future test takers - please go through these freely-available documents and include them in your test prps.
- The various verbal threads, verbal guides by Whiplash, Gayathri, TestMagic, RC guide by Rhyme etc:Apart from the Manhattan SC guide, these documents and discussion threads were invaluable - had gone through all these documents and the SC, CR and RC discussion threads on GMATCLub. Would have, without doubt, gotten a lower verbal score if I had not gone through them.
Cheers and wish you a very happy new year!
Santanu