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diegocml
Joined: 22 Apr 2016
Last visit: 22 Jun 2018
Posts: 122
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 392
Status:On a 600-long battle
Location: Hungary
Concentration: Accounting, Leadership
Schools: Erasmus '19
GMAT 1: 410 Q18 V27
GMAT 2: 490 Q35 V23
09 Jun 2016, 06:49
Kudos
Bookmarks
Greetings y’all!
I’ve decided to start a thread at the GMATClub forum with the intent of getting feedback and help from a broader and different audience. So, I thank you all in advance for your time and any help you’d be willing to give.
I have already read several threads over here, still, I would like to share my story so that, perhaps, someone can shed some light on my plans and study plan/path.
My GMAT preparation started officially on January 11th 2016 and I jumped right at it with the Manhattan GMAT Foundations of Math (Math has always been my Achilles’ heel) and spend around 83 hours studying the material and doing all the exercises. By March 10th I had done all the exercises from the book and covered some verbal content here and there, nothing significant.
From March 11th till March 21st I was completely lost and studied random verbal material (SC & RC), attempted a CAT but gave up right at the beginning of the verbal section as I knew where I was heading towards (total failure/disaster).
On March 22nd I signed up for the EMPOWERGmat Course and completed the course by May 11th.
My total study time from January was around 313 hours, and that wasn’t enough to get me anywhere close to the score I needed to have by May 13th. The application deadline for my target school will open again probably in May 2017.
Below you can find the breakdown of my CATs and Official GMAT. I’ve taken all the CATs under complete exam conditions.
Economist - 1st CAT - 380 - (Q22 V23 IR N/A) - January 23rd, 2016
MGMAT - 2nd CAT - 460 (Q27 V27 IR2.4) - March 26th, 2016
MGMAT - 3rd CAT - 450 (Q25 V28 IR2.26) - April 9th, 2016
MGMAT - 4th CAT - 450 (Q25 V28 IR2.4) - April 23rd, 2016
GMATPrep - 5th CAT - 450 (Q27 V25 IR2) - May 9th, 2016
Actual GMAT - 410 (Q18 V27 IR8) - May 13th, 2016
I knew my odds to score above 600 were low. Specially after hitting the same repeated score mock after mock, but I couldn’t push my test date back because my application deadline was on May 15th.
From day one I possessed the 6th edition Manhattan GMAT books and Kaplan Premier 2016 with me, but I felt I needed a more structured and guided plan, so I signed up for the empower course. However, my plan backfired because I still lacked solid foundations in both quant and verbal.
The New Game Plan
Since I can only apply for my master of choice next year, I do believe that I have time to appropriately prepare and reach a decent GMAT score way before May 17’.
I have decided to really improve my quant (Verbal, too!) skills so I signed up for the Target Test Prep program with a 6-month subscription. Frankly, I do hope it’s enough time for me to study and master all the content. I say that because I know myself. I’m slow when it comes to math and I have been going through the course content without rush. Meaning, I’m taking value added notes (at least I hope they are!), doing all the chapter exercises (timed this time while aiming at finishing or guessing them under 2’15’’), and I am doing a thorough review of everything every Saturday before I start studying. Basically, I am trying to do it different this time and not repeat the same mistakes I did when I first studied for the test.
As for the verbal part, I have acquired the complete PowerScore GMAT series and will use those books as pillars for my verbal preparation. I am just struggling to find time to study verbal as quant is eating up most of my study time, but I know I can’t neglect verbal since I was scoring the same thing in verbal as in quant in my past practice tests. Maybe I’ll do 75% Quant 25% Verbal.
As for study time, before taking the GMAT I was studying every day from 4 am to 7 am on weekdays and 5 to 6 hours per day on the weekends while working full time. I have decided to study from 5am to 7 am this time so that I can sleep for one extra hour. I am also more diligent with my body and am doing sports more often. When I started my prep I cut sports for 3 months, only to regret doing so later. I had completely forgotten how sports had contributed to making me the person I am today.
To sum all up:
• Quant: Target Test Prep for 6 months
• Verbal: PowerScore books (CR, RC and SC)
• Study Time: 5 am to 7 am on working days and 5 to 6 hours per day on the weekends.
• CATs: Will take them as the TTP course recommends
• GMAT target test date: Ideally when I’m scoring above 600. Hopefully that will be happening by December.
• Target Score: 600 plus
• Dream Score: 700 plus (Let me dream, will you? )
• Extra material IF I happen to need any:
o Magoosh: For extra questions and videos (sometimes I manage to watch some videos at work)
o GMATClub Test: For extra questions. I plan to attack its verbal questions after I am done with the PowerScore books
o Manhattan GMAT books
o Kaplan Premier 2016
I didn’t expect to write so much. My apologies for that. Since I can only apply for school next year I just want to make things right this time and make the most out of everything.
Thank you all.
I’ve decided to start a thread at the GMATClub forum with the intent of getting feedback and help from a broader and different audience. So, I thank you all in advance for your time and any help you’d be willing to give.
I have already read several threads over here, still, I would like to share my story so that, perhaps, someone can shed some light on my plans and study plan/path.
My GMAT preparation started officially on January 11th 2016 and I jumped right at it with the Manhattan GMAT Foundations of Math (Math has always been my Achilles’ heel) and spend around 83 hours studying the material and doing all the exercises. By March 10th I had done all the exercises from the book and covered some verbal content here and there, nothing significant.
From March 11th till March 21st I was completely lost and studied random verbal material (SC & RC), attempted a CAT but gave up right at the beginning of the verbal section as I knew where I was heading towards (total failure/disaster).
On March 22nd I signed up for the EMPOWERGmat Course and completed the course by May 11th.
My total study time from January was around 313 hours, and that wasn’t enough to get me anywhere close to the score I needed to have by May 13th. The application deadline for my target school will open again probably in May 2017.
Below you can find the breakdown of my CATs and Official GMAT. I’ve taken all the CATs under complete exam conditions.
Economist - 1st CAT - 380 - (Q22 V23 IR N/A) - January 23rd, 2016
MGMAT - 2nd CAT - 460 (Q27 V27 IR2.4) - March 26th, 2016
MGMAT - 3rd CAT - 450 (Q25 V28 IR2.26) - April 9th, 2016
MGMAT - 4th CAT - 450 (Q25 V28 IR2.4) - April 23rd, 2016
GMATPrep - 5th CAT - 450 (Q27 V25 IR2) - May 9th, 2016
Actual GMAT - 410 (Q18 V27 IR8) - May 13th, 2016
I knew my odds to score above 600 were low. Specially after hitting the same repeated score mock after mock, but I couldn’t push my test date back because my application deadline was on May 15th.
From day one I possessed the 6th edition Manhattan GMAT books and Kaplan Premier 2016 with me, but I felt I needed a more structured and guided plan, so I signed up for the empower course. However, my plan backfired because I still lacked solid foundations in both quant and verbal.
The New Game Plan
Since I can only apply for my master of choice next year, I do believe that I have time to appropriately prepare and reach a decent GMAT score way before May 17’.
I have decided to really improve my quant (Verbal, too!) skills so I signed up for the Target Test Prep program with a 6-month subscription. Frankly, I do hope it’s enough time for me to study and master all the content. I say that because I know myself. I’m slow when it comes to math and I have been going through the course content without rush. Meaning, I’m taking value added notes (at least I hope they are!), doing all the chapter exercises (timed this time while aiming at finishing or guessing them under 2’15’’), and I am doing a thorough review of everything every Saturday before I start studying. Basically, I am trying to do it different this time and not repeat the same mistakes I did when I first studied for the test.
As for the verbal part, I have acquired the complete PowerScore GMAT series and will use those books as pillars for my verbal preparation. I am just struggling to find time to study verbal as quant is eating up most of my study time, but I know I can’t neglect verbal since I was scoring the same thing in verbal as in quant in my past practice tests. Maybe I’ll do 75% Quant 25% Verbal.
As for study time, before taking the GMAT I was studying every day from 4 am to 7 am on weekdays and 5 to 6 hours per day on the weekends while working full time. I have decided to study from 5am to 7 am this time so that I can sleep for one extra hour. I am also more diligent with my body and am doing sports more often. When I started my prep I cut sports for 3 months, only to regret doing so later. I had completely forgotten how sports had contributed to making me the person I am today.
To sum all up:
• Quant: Target Test Prep for 6 months
• Verbal: PowerScore books (CR, RC and SC)
• Study Time: 5 am to 7 am on working days and 5 to 6 hours per day on the weekends.
• CATs: Will take them as the TTP course recommends
• GMAT target test date: Ideally when I’m scoring above 600. Hopefully that will be happening by December.
• Target Score: 600 plus
• Dream Score: 700 plus (Let me dream, will you? )
• Extra material IF I happen to need any:
o Magoosh: For extra questions and videos (sometimes I manage to watch some videos at work)
o GMATClub Test: For extra questions. I plan to attack its verbal questions after I am done with the PowerScore books
o Manhattan GMAT books
o Kaplan Premier 2016
I didn’t expect to write so much. My apologies for that. Since I can only apply for school next year I just want to make things right this time and make the most out of everything.
Thank you all.
09 Jun 2016, 10:13
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi diegocml,
In your prior attempt at the GMAT, the application deadline forced you to try to do a lot of work in a relatively short period of time. For example, most of our Clients hit their 'peak' scores after 3 months of consistent study, whereas you tried to complete the entire EMPOWERgmat Course in well under 2 months. With this next attempt, you've given yourself far more time to study and succeed, which you should find beneficial.
On Test Day, you scored considerably lower on Quant than you were scoring on your practice CATs, so I'd like to know a bit more about the lead-up to Test Day and Test Day itself:
1) What did you do in the 3 days before your GMAT?
2) How did you sleep the night before your Test?
3) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
4) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
5) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
6) Did you finish any sections early?
7) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
In your prior attempt at the GMAT, the application deadline forced you to try to do a lot of work in a relatively short period of time. For example, most of our Clients hit their 'peak' scores after 3 months of consistent study, whereas you tried to complete the entire EMPOWERgmat Course in well under 2 months. With this next attempt, you've given yourself far more time to study and succeed, which you should find beneficial.
On Test Day, you scored considerably lower on Quant than you were scoring on your practice CATs, so I'd like to know a bit more about the lead-up to Test Day and Test Day itself:
1) What did you do in the 3 days before your GMAT?
2) How did you sleep the night before your Test?
3) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
4) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
5) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
6) Did you finish any sections early?
7) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
diegocml
Joined: 22 Apr 2016
Last visit: 22 Jun 2018
Posts: 122
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 392
Status:On a 600-long battle
Location: Hungary
Concentration: Accounting, Leadership
Schools: Erasmus '19
GMAT 1: 410 Q18 V27
GMAT 2: 490 Q35 V23
09 Jun 2016, 11:14
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi Rich,
Answering to your questions:
1) What did you do in the 3 days before your GMAT?
On the last day before the exam I checked the AWA and IR parts and watched some videos, totaling about 3 hours of study time in the morning.
On the other 2 days I was focusing my energies on verbal so I dedicated around 6 hours each day for exercises.
2) How did you sleep the night before your Test?
I had a very good night of sleep and slept for more than 8 hours without interruptions.
3) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
The Test Center happened to be in front of my work place, so it took 40 min to get there.
4) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
There were people coming and going as the facility handles other tests. Plus, there were people starting their GMAT tests at different times. One person who sat by my side even bumped into my chair.
5) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
I drank water and had a snack. The person who was handling the check in and out was supper slow and she was not at the reception when I needed her. Also, the 8-min break went by super fast and I lost 3 minutes in the quant. However, I didn't let that get into my head. The same thing happened before the verbal and I lost 1 min.
6) Did you finish any sections early?
I did not finish any section early.
7) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?
I did that in the quant. Approximately for the last 10 questions.
Answering to your questions:
1) What did you do in the 3 days before your GMAT?
On the last day before the exam I checked the AWA and IR parts and watched some videos, totaling about 3 hours of study time in the morning.
On the other 2 days I was focusing my energies on verbal so I dedicated around 6 hours each day for exercises.
2) How did you sleep the night before your Test?
I had a very good night of sleep and slept for more than 8 hours without interruptions.
3) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
The Test Center happened to be in front of my work place, so it took 40 min to get there.
4) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
There were people coming and going as the facility handles other tests. Plus, there were people starting their GMAT tests at different times. One person who sat by my side even bumped into my chair.
5) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
I drank water and had a snack. The person who was handling the check in and out was supper slow and she was not at the reception when I needed her. Also, the 8-min break went by super fast and I lost 3 minutes in the quant. However, I didn't let that get into my head. The same thing happened before the verbal and I lost 1 min.
6) Did you finish any sections early?
I did not finish any section early.
7) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?
I did that in the quant. Approximately for the last 10 questions.
