mst039 wrote:
Well, I feel like I have no business giving anybody advice at the moment, as I've just taken the exam with a poor score of 570. Maybe if someone has advice for me, or if by sharing my experiences it will help someone else realize that not everybody using this board got a 760, had an hour to spare, and is from Barcelona (haha..). Just so you know that I'm no dummy, my SATs were 1350.
That said, I'll try to sum up my experience in three words: environment, experience, and nervous energy.
Environment. First, I'll start by saying that I did not score anywhere near what I got on the ETS practice tests I took (this is atypical). The first PowerPrep I got a 700 and the second PowerPrep I got a 680, so I figured I'd at least be in the higher 600's. I'm not telling this to scare you, just to make sure you have ALL difference perspectives on the exam. I had been taking the pratice computer tests over a stretch of about three weeks in a totally quiet environment when no one was around. I took the real exam in a multiplex testing center here in Chicago called Prometric, and I wasn't expecting people to be entering and exiting the room quite as frequently as they did. It threw me off and I wasn't prepared for that. TIP: Be careful about studying in a completely isolated environment.
Experience. Additionally, looking back, I think that I did not take enough computerized practice tests. I took a total of five computer tests and about ten book tests. When I took the book tests, I was scoring 700-740, not because the questions were easier than the actual, but more so because I had not become accustomed to working with the computer. And looking up and down between the screen and my little sheet of paper on the desk ate up time, again that I wasn't expecting. Even though I had gotten to the point where taking an exam was second-nature with the book pratice tests, I needed more experience with the computerized one. TIP: invest in computerized tests, don't rely on a book tests to accurately reflect your score.
Nervous energy. Lastly, my biggest problem was that, in general, I had a hard time focusing, and trying to get my brain from going everywhere. I think I felt too stressed, and I'm honestly still not sure what I'll have to do to relax for when I take it again. One thing that was mentioned to me was that I had spent the last two months constantly studying and focusing on this test. I wonder now, if my day had been more balanced, if I could have put this exam in a decent amount of perspective, and been more relaxed. TIP: be totally relaxed; if that means postponing the test after you've studied to the max, just so you can relax for a week or two beforehand -do it.
Like I said, I hope this helps someone.
Oh, another thing, I haven't given up hope. I'm thinking about getting the Kaplan Quiz Bank 1000, which is supposed to have some good computerized exams in it. If anyone's used it before let me know what you think.
Also, if you're in a similar situation, I'll tell you a little story that happened to my sister. She took the real exam the first time... got a 570 too... she took it a second time and got a 660... she took it a THIRD time and got a 710. This month, she just started her first semester at Columbia Business School. TRUE STORY.
If this test is worth something to you -don't give up.[/img]
I can guarantee that not everybody gets 760
But that's a good comment.
many arduous and devoted people from GC got under 700 and within 600. You can find Stolyar's post; he probably posted more here than anybody else and he still got 660-680, despite his night and day devotion to the GMAT. IT is a strange phenomenon.
But don't get discouraged - there is a post about a person going from 500's to 700's and I did smth similar.
Let me know if I can be of help in any way,
Bogdan.
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