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28 Apr 2019, 17:36
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My Journey
To briefly introduce myself - I am an Indian by nationality, did my bachelors in India then a master's from the USA and currently working in New York from the past 4 years.
Journey to this exam began 1.5 years back and somewhere at the back of my mind I knew that I am weak in English but I can handle maths pretty well.
To start with I gave my GMAT Prep mock test and scored 550, I thought that I would at least score in the 600s, and thinking about this was surely a mistake. I gave another shot and scored 520. I knew I was in no shape for the exam and have to study real hard for a good 6 months before taking the exam. " As Soon As Possible" feeling was killing me and I put myself into the full study zone. Waking up at 4 am, study till 7 am then heading to the office and after coming back from office I used to study till late 10 pm, in short, I had no life. Then, I gave my first real attempt after 1.5 months and scored 640 (V25, Q50).
This really was devastating for me, though to be on the safer side I accepted my score.
I joined classes(not mentioning the name) but I saw every classroom in the USA focus mainly on quant and assumes that you are pretty good in verbal. I gave my next attempt after finishing my class and scored 590. I almost cried that day and thought of quitting my dream but after 15 days of break I realized "Do I remember this struggle after 5 years ", the answer was no rather I will appreciate the effort if I got into good B school. I started again, the same routine but following more harshly. Maybe I was too harsh on myself. Not going out with friends, not talking to anyone but with one goal in mind - I want 700+. Same goes for next 2 more attempts with scores 570 and 610 respectively.
After my last attempt, I thought there is no point in wasting time because I was following all articles and in some of the articles it says "if you are not getting your desired score in 4 attempts after studying then better focus on application". I was feeling lucky that I accepted my 640 from my first attempt and started talking to consultants and had discussions with them about my profile and score and what are the possible options. Later one day, I got a call from one of the consultant and he motivated me to try giving one last attempt as I have nothing to lose. He then connected me to CJ for verbal(I am not doing his publicity, but this guy is a savior for me).
I connected with CJ, after my first session with him I realized that I was totally on the wrong track and this is why I wasn't getting the score. We work together for 2 months focussing on every detail and finally, I got my 720(V35, Q51).
I am a firm believer in hard work, and I know that if I can get a decent score, then almost anyone can do it. I am not a genius or anything, but I have devoted myself and focussed on each detail with error logs. So for those of you who are not hitting your desired scores, or feel like giving up, just keep at it, and you WILL get a score you are satisfied with.
Big Mistake During Exam
During my exam, I decided to go with the verbal section first - because of my weakness. I started my exam, after the first 10 questions I realized my 7th question was wrong and then the 15th question I got was pretty easy. I started evaluating myself and all those attempts I gave previously were also the driving factors. I realized that I won't be able to get 500 itself in this attempt and I don't want to see that score. This feeling of evaluating myself during the exam was pulling me back from my original thought process. I was losing focus but anyhow I finished my verbal. I took my first break and decided to quit the exam, in that case, I will have an excuse for myself that won't let me go in depression. I washed my face and convinced my myself to finish till end.
Due to this, I ruined my IR and AWA - 6 and 5.
I am not being greedy, but I could have scored much better if I didn't do this.
Learning
Never evaluate yourself in mid of exam - It might be possible the question that is easy for you is tougher for another student.
Tips from my last attempt study
Create an Error Log - I know its too boring but you will gradually realize that you are improving
Sentence correction
- I got 90% correct1. For each question you solve - you got 5 options, write why the option is wrong/right. Try to find as many errors as you can in each option. There is a possibility that even the correct option has minor error. You will gradually see your improvement in SC.
2. Read Manhattan Sentance Correction.
3. Do not rush in reading all at once and jump on solving problems.
4. The number of problems you solved doesn't help, rather the number of mistakes you find helps.
5. Why I am saying this - Because if you do this, you will remember the patterns of mistakes you do. And in exam even if you miss one error, other errors you found during your study will surely help.
Critical reasoning
1. Focus on every detail of the question, it will slow you down by 100%. But within a month your accuracy and speed will increase.
2. Ask a question to yourself - why I am choosing the option
3. For each option try to find what will be the question - Most of the time a strengthen question has both assumption and weakner in choice.
Read each and every word of sentence carefully
4. Try to frame the argument in your own word
5. Pre-think answer
6. Go through all choices, even you think option X must be correct
Inferences
1. Focus on words such as: At least, Few, Many, Most, Some, time frame
2. Negation means negating the idea, it doesn't mean that you just put no in-front of word
3. Don’t assume anything that is not given
4. Answer choice should be from information given in the argument
5. The inference must be true 100% on the basis of information given
Assumption
1. Read the argument carefully
2. Find the conclusion, there must be one
3. Find supporting fact for the conclusion
4. Beware of trap words or extreme words - make sure if the argument is talking about some or at least, then your answer choice should not be for Most or all
5. Read answer choice by negating them
6. Whichever answer choice breaks conclusion completely is the right answer
7. Trap choices break supporting fact not the conclusion
8. The assumption must be a necessary condition
Strengthen & Weaken
1. Read the argument carefully
2. Find the conclusion, there must be one
3. The main idea is not to bring another reason to break conclusion or support conclusion
4. Answer choice must increase/decrease your belief in the conclusion
5. There must be a choice that will bring another reason for some cause from which conclusion arise - Beware of that
Reading Comprehension - My weakness
1. Try reading articles daily - I subscribed for economist
2. Take as much time as you want - Timing is not that important initially than accuracy, but try getting all correct.
3. Practice daily
4. RC is very much connected with CR and SC, if you understand verb-ing/modifiers/ what will strengthen or weaken etc, you will feel very comfortable in RC.
5. Try connecting all the sentence in RC. You will be very slow at the start but this will help for building the base.
It took me 20 min to solve 1 passage and still got 1 incorrect. But later took me 5-6 min with 1 incorrect.
Quant
I didn't focus much on quant, but I solve 25 mix problems daily.
1. Focus only on official questions.
2. I read only the official guide and focused only on my weakness - geometry.
“Persistence. Perfection. Patience. Power. Prioritize your passion. It keeps you sane"
28 Apr 2019, 20:10
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Hello MittalM .... welcome to the community. Congratulations on such a stellar score. All the best for the next phase in the application process.
