Dear all,
first, I would like to thank everybody on this forum for the support, motivation, help, etc.
My name is Petar and I’m a non-native English speaker coming from Croatia and I am about to start the last year of the undergraduate study of marketing. I took the GMAT on 4th of August and scored a 570 (Q42, V26). Although, if I hadn't scored a 600 on any of my CAT's (see below), I still hoped for a 600 on a test date. I decided to cancel my score.
HOW I STUDIED? I started studying for the GMAT in the beginning of April. First, I went through the
MGMAT Quant books, SC book and solved all the OG13 problems (approx. 10-15 hours a week of studying). On the 5th of May I took the GMATPrep test and scored a 500 (V19). I haven’t studied neither for CR nor for RC. Then, I decided to take the
e-gmat course. I followed their plan and I have to say that my verbal did improve but not as expected. At the end of May the exam period came so I put my studying for the GMAT on the side in order to devote more time for the exams.
After 16th of June when I was done with the exams, I started studying for the GMAT again and I increased my studying to about 5-6 hours a day. I went through
MGMAT concepts again, finished the
e-gmat course and finished both, the Quant and the Verbal review. To be honest, I didn't read many of english articles and I didn't read an english book as well during my prep time.
I was around 70%-80% accurate when solving official questions under the time constraints. I had an error-log too and frequently reviewed all my errors.
My mocks:
MGMAT #1 7/8 540 (Q39, V27)
MGMAT #2 7/21 580 (Q38, V29)
GMATprep #2 7/28 GMATPrep 550 (V24)
ON THE TEST DAY: I felt a little bit nervous, but not much. The exam went quite OK, which I can't say for the verbal part. Although, I was able to finish it in time, I struggled a lot, especially in SC questions. I wasn't 100% sure on any of the 41 questions I answered. There were some concepts in SC, which I didn't see before. The questions seemed much more different than the ones which I solved during my preparation.
I was comfortable with the passages, but when it came to selecting an answer again, I was always in doubt between two of the answer choices.
In CR part didn’t have any big issues.
I think that the main problem for me are new words, which I faced a lot in the exam and consequently, I have difficulties in understanding the questions.
I’m writing you here, because I need your help. My target GMAT score is 600+, which is a requirement I have to fulfil in order to enrol into a desired university.
MY PLAN (for the next 3-5 weeks)
Study Powerscore CR Bible
take the GMATPill SC course
go through
MGMAT SC again
solve the problems in
OG 10 or redo the problems from
OG 13
read as many of the scientific articles as possibles
read an english roman
do two full mock tests a week
I would like to score a 600 and apply for the Master programme before its first deadline, which is 8th of October. The "problem" is that I am currently doing an internship in Shanghai. I basically work from 7am till 7pm, but I am willing to study early in the morning, during the lunch break, in the evenings, and on the weekends.
But there comes another issue. I can't take the GMAT in between 4th and 23rd of September, which would suit me the most, because there are no dates available for that time in Shanghai. Plus, on the 24th I go for a 2-week holiday, which I "can't" reschedule.
What are your suggestions? Shall try it on the 4th of September or take it later somewhen in November and then enrol before the second deadline which is the 5th of January? By taking it later, I would be able to devote more time for the application essay, my internship assignment would be done, I would have a recommendation letter from the company I work for, etc.
Thank you very much!
Best regards,
Petar
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10 Aug 2014, 05:58
