Hello All,
My name is Amrith and I joined this board today. I've been reading a lot of posts here and I thought I'd contribute a little.
Background Info:
I graduated from college in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering. During my last semester, a major Engineering and Construction Company visited campus to recruit fresh graduates and I was offered employment. I joined the company a week after graduating and I worked with the company for a span of two years, during which I had the privilege to work in two countries. All in all I got a very good exposure. However, I felt the time was right for me to broaden my horizon and spread my wings. Thus, I resigned my job, returned to my country and started to prepare for GMAT.
De-Brief
Test Date: 28th December 2010
Score:
Verbal – 37/80 %ile
Quant – 43/65 %ile
Total – 650/79 %ile
AWA – 5.0
Preparation Time Frame:
I must have studied for a period of 4 weeks give or take a couple. I spent 2 to 3 hours a day. I had a lot of things going so I couldn’t really focus.
Study Material:
MGMAT – SC, CR and RC
Princeton Review
GMAT
OGStrategy:
To be absolutely honest with you, I didn’t have any strategy!
MAJOR PITFALL!
I did not follow a structured pattern of study. Just read a few chapters from one book and few chapters from another. Never took it seriously.
[Why? Coz my friend who had taken it gave me the impression that GMAT was a piece of cake! <<< This is where you get to say “Foooooolish Mortal!”]
So after weeks of random study, I decided to take the tests. I downloaded the prep set and took ‘Test 1’ thrice and received the following score:
1st attempt: 620
2nd attempt: 680
3rd attempt: 720
At this point, I had completed solving all the Problem Solving Questions from GMAT
OG and all the Sentence Correction Questions as well. [Just one round]
I hadn’t touched RC, CR and Data Sufficiency!!!
Problems Faced and Lessons Learned:
1.This test is not easy!!! Underestimate it to your own peril!!!
2.Time Management: I finished the quant and verbal section with 10 minutes to spare and I actually gave myself a little pat on the back for that. However, I now know that this foolish act must have pulled down my score by at least 30 points or so; Learn to make optimal use of the time available.
3.Develop a strategy. Attempting the GMAT without one would be like running around like a headless chicken.
4.Do a lot of practice problems
Future Plans:
1.Retake the test in Feb
2.Create a solid study plan based on inputs from this forum and then execute the plan
3.Maybe.... just maybe... I’ll start a journey thread in this forum. Just to get to know you all better and it will help record my progress too!
Target Score: +750
Wish me luck Ladies and Gentlemen!
Regards,
Amrith