710!!! Holy *^*^*- IR 7 AWA 5.0
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Updated on: 08 Aug 2013, 03:27
I always knew I would be posting here one day... It was simply when. This is the best feeling...
First Attempt - June 2012
I had been studying since February of 2012. When I walked into this test, my quant was rock solid. I knew every formula in and out. I knew the test cold and was scoring in the 700-740 range. Because of natural constraints, I knew this was my max. I was never the guy to get a 760 let alone a 700 without working insanely hard.
I walked into the test ready to pounce. Went through the test, saw a 610 flash on the screen 38/35.
I was shocked. I didn't know what to think of that. I spoke with a few people who I'd been studying with they said this made no sense what so ever. I was so upset I threw my books away and forgot about the gmat.
2nd Attempt- September 2012
You can only hide for so long. I knew the 38/35 didn't make sense. Something happened and i wanted to understand what. I had never been a good test taker. When I was taking practice tests at home, I was relaxed, calm, didn't think twice about my answers, skipped questions when I had to, and just went with the place. When I went in for the test, i was nervous, bugging out, and thought maybe this was it. I told myself you already got a terrible score by trying too hard. Now, this time, try and relax and not give a crap about the score.
So I sign up on a whim, after not studying at all for three months, and go to take the test. I walk in, obviously still remembering most things as 3 months isin't enough time to forget all that drilling. Before I start quant I make sure to sit back, pretend I'm at home, relax, and not give 2 ^%^* about what happens. A 630 comes across the screen with a 48/28.
How the hell does someone go from a 38 after studying hardcore for 5 months to a 48 after not looking at the material for 3? That is how big of a role nerves play in this game. It plays a 10 point difference. You cannot get more tangible than that.
This was probably the best feeling I'd had in a while. Knowing nerves was the issue, not my knowledge, gave me hope.
3rd attempt Today- July 2013
I took a break from the gmat a after that test. I was working and simply didn't have the time. Literally 3 days ago, Friday, I had some free time and decided to give this baby one more shot. I didn't look at the material since last September, but I still remembered most of the stuff. I took a gmat prep to see where I was starting at again. I got a 710 (47/41.) I was ecstatic. I took the 2nd on Saturday just to make sure I was at the level- I got a 700 (48/38.) I, on a whim, said &%&$ it and signed up yesterday for the test today.
I walked into the test center and I cant tell you how less prepared I was than last time. I cannot do a single work/rate problem nor was I nearly as fast as I was last year.
I sat down and again, the most important thing I did was relax. I started off with IR and awa- bsing my way through the sections. I didn't put much effort into those because I was told not to get tired by those sections. Quant started- I literally had to guess on the first 3 questions- they made no sense. I said o man- i'm screwed. I kept on going, guessing and skipping when I needed to, never looking at the clock till the end. Questions at the end seem tedious so I thought maybe I didn't do so bad?
Verbal started-
The RC and CR were very easy compared to my others. I think this was because I had prepared for the LSAT before this. Doing the CR and RC on the lsat and coming to it on the gmat was a joke. So many of the answers had no relevance to the topics, they were pretty simple. I am positive I lost points on the SC. However, all the SC questions I got were very short, a few words highlighted.. so I thought the whole time I was doing terribly. I was still relaxed and didn't care...
Waited for that screen and clicked report... saw the 710 47/41 and freaked out. I couldn't be happier. The guy at pearson saw me freaking out and said I had to calm down, ha...You'll all get there!
Lessons Learned:
1) For me, I did terribly when I looked at the clock. I scored the best when I relaxed, forgot about the test, and just answered the questions.
2) Skip Questions! I cannot tell you how many questions I skipped that I simply didn't know or didn't have the time to figure out. I loved the DS questions since they simply test logic.
3) On ds questions- the most important thing is asking yourself, what are they asking me? Really clarifies everything..
4) DO NOT GIVE UP. I don't care how many times I would have had to take it. You can take the gmat an unlimited amount of times. Many schools don't require you to submit all scores in your application. Keep going until you get the score you want...
Still cannot believe I'm posting in this section. Thanks to everyone for posts and getting us through this stuff!
Just got back my awa and ir scores. Got a 5.0 awa IR 7 . Note- during the essay I was basically asleep. This was pure strategy. The awa doesn't really matter unless you bomb it and so don't put effort and energy into this section... your going to need it for the rest of this test. A 5.0 is exactly what I was going for and am happy with it. I cannot believe I got a 7 on the IR. The last time I got a 5. I've never practiced any IR questions and I completely guessed on a few of them.
MOST IMPORTANT LESSON: I was just as prepared for this test as I was for my previous two tests. It was this test that I did well and got the score I deserved. If you are scoring in a certain range and know you are capable of a better score DO NOT SETTLE! You will get there! Good Luck everyone and keep pushing!
Originally posted by
finished on 22 Jul 2013, 19:29.
Last edited by
finished on 08 Aug 2013, 03:27, edited 2 times in total.
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