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Apr 2808:00 AM PDT
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Whether you are just beginning your MBA journey or fine-tuning your path to a 700+ score, GMAT Day is designed to give you a competitive edge.
12 Aug 2014, 09:12
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I took the GMAT for the first time yesterday and nerves took over.
I scored 690 (Q41 V42) and 700 (Q43 V42) on GMAT Prep 1 and 2 respectively just a few days before the test. I still can't believe that I managed to get 150 points less on the real thing.
I already know that I needed to study more quant, but most importantly, I need to learn how to deal with my own nerves during this exam.
There are several things that do not help:
-I live 2 hours by plane away from the nearest test centre. I didn't want to book a flight the same morning of the test as I was afraid of potential delays, so I thought it would be best to book a flight on the night before. It sounded good in theory, but the lack of a good dinner and a noisy hotel room were worse in hindsight. I end up taking a valium to get some sleep the night before the test.
-I was used to taking the exam in a calm room at home. At the test centre, the administrator left the room about 20 times and I was unable to focus. The computers were not in cubicles like in the GMAT video - you could see everything that was going on in front of you, including the administrator getting up every 5 minutes.
The result? One way below my abilities: a terrible Q31 and V35. (I won't even mention IR) Some might say that Verbal was still really good, but it's not compared to what I tend to score in that section.
I still won't be able to do anything about the fact that I live miles and miles away from the test centre. I'm thinking about taking a shot next time and book a flight for the same day of my GMAT appointment.
Right now, I'm devasted and confused, and I'm unsure of what to do next. I took two weeks off work for nothing. I guess it's goodbye to first round applications now. I'd really appreciate some perspective on this, so I can get prepare my next move.
Thank you.
I scored 690 (Q41 V42) and 700 (Q43 V42) on GMAT Prep 1 and 2 respectively just a few days before the test. I still can't believe that I managed to get 150 points less on the real thing.
I already know that I needed to study more quant, but most importantly, I need to learn how to deal with my own nerves during this exam.
There are several things that do not help:
-I live 2 hours by plane away from the nearest test centre. I didn't want to book a flight the same morning of the test as I was afraid of potential delays, so I thought it would be best to book a flight on the night before. It sounded good in theory, but the lack of a good dinner and a noisy hotel room were worse in hindsight. I end up taking a valium to get some sleep the night before the test.
-I was used to taking the exam in a calm room at home. At the test centre, the administrator left the room about 20 times and I was unable to focus. The computers were not in cubicles like in the GMAT video - you could see everything that was going on in front of you, including the administrator getting up every 5 minutes.
The result? One way below my abilities: a terrible Q31 and V35. (I won't even mention IR) Some might say that Verbal was still really good, but it's not compared to what I tend to score in that section.
I still won't be able to do anything about the fact that I live miles and miles away from the test centre. I'm thinking about taking a shot next time and book a flight for the same day of my GMAT appointment.
Right now, I'm devasted and confused, and I'm unsure of what to do next. I took two weeks off work for nothing. I guess it's goodbye to first round applications now. I'd really appreciate some perspective on this, so I can get prepare my next move.
Thank you.
12 Aug 2014, 12:00
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You are not late for first round applications at many schools. If your list contains schools whose first round deadlines are a month or more away, then it might be a good idea to plan a retake in a month and apply to those schools. If you will miss the first round at your target schools, then your best bet is to schedule the GMAT for a date that allows you to both maximize your score and put in a strong second round application. Bad luck usually doesn't strike twice. I think you'll do much better on your retake.
getsunny
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Last visit: 21 Jul 2023
Posts: 101
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 36
Status:Planning to retake
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Healthcare
Schools: S.P.Jain Institute (A)
GMAT 1: 660 Q48 V33
GPA: 3.24
WE:Management Consulting (Consulting)
12 Aug 2014, 23:36
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Argenbrit
Hi Argenbrit,
Very sorry to hear about your experience. But there's no point in losing hope. You can still make it for R1 applications, but you would have to be very positive and efficient. You can book an exam date after 31 days, and you should do that. As far as the distance to the exam center, the noisy hotel and the exam center issues are concerned, you need to prepare yourself for that. Now that you know all the external factors that can affect your performance, you can prepare yourself for them. Some things that you can do:
1) Flying to the center location - You should travel a day before only. Travelling on the exam day might cause panic, lethargy and exposure to other external factors that can impact your mind.
2) Noisy hotel - Do your research and find a good hotel. There are several online portals where you can search for hotels, and go through their reviews. You can also make calls to the hotels and find out. Another thing that you can do is to buy ear plugs. I use ear plugs myself, and wear them while sleeping before my mocks. That helps cancel out external noises. The best ear plugs are these (and these are the same ear plugs that Pearson Vue centers hand out to exam takers):
https://www.ebay.in/itm/like/3m-1100-foa ... nstruments
Not sure which country you're from, but try searching for them on Amazon or eBay in your country and you should find them.
3) Noise and distraction in the exam center - Again, prepare yourself for it. Write mocks in public libraries or coffee shops to get used to a noisy & shifty environment. Also, find out if the exam center gives out ear plugs. If yes, then write mocks in public areas by wearing ear plugs. This way you would be able to simulate the GMAT environment you would have to face on the main day.
The key to cracking GMAT is to know the enemy and prepare for it. Once you're comfortable with the external factors, you would be in a calm state of mind during the exam. I've shared solutions from my own experience, so I know they work and make a great deal of difference.
All the best!
