My path to GMAT has been about a 4 month ordeal. I took the test in 2004 and scored a 620 (can't remember the breakdown). I decided to re-take last summer and bought all of the necessary prep material but decided to put it off until now.
The prep material included the
OG 11, math guide, and verbal guide with the Princeton and Kaplan books along with Manhattan SC and word translations. I am not a great standardized test taker and only got a 23 on the ACT. That's right, a 23. Absolutely horrible score.
My goal at the beginning of prep was a 680. I thought a 680 would get me into a decent school and I could still get the job I wanted. The GMAT club changed my thought process on this. Not only does GMAT matter when applying to schools but it also matters when applying for jobs. So I set a new goal to not be satified and to shoot for 720.
Between doing the GMAT challenges (worth the money) and prepping with Manhattan SC, I got more than enough practice during this process.
I had two quant questions today that were almost identical to two DS questions I had written on flashcards during the GMAT club challenges. They are worth the money. I have heard several people commit on the explanations, but there are multiple ways to solve problems and this must be remembered. I didn't agree with every explanation in
OG, but it's still worth the money.
I would like to thank trahul, kryzak, bmwhype (I don't think anyone has ever posted more SC problems), himalayan, sumande, fig, anonymousgmat, rhyme, Briks 123, UMB, MisterJJ2U, positivesoul (an inspiration to us all) and kevincan. I am sorry if I missed you and you deserved to be on this list-I will add more. Great explanations and support. This is without a doubt the best site for inspiration and prep. There is another site trying to be this site (many of you know it), but it is well behind GMAT CLUB.
Test Prep Results (not in chronological order):
GMAT PREP 1 720
GMAT PREP 1 710 (retake-guessed on two quant question in the first one, got them as repeats in the second, and got them wrong on purpose. This gave me a better idea of my score)
GMAT PREP 2 730 (if only I had some AC)
MGMAT 1 690
MGMAT 2 690
MGMAT 3 690 (recurring theme)
PR 1 650
PR 2 650
PR 3 680
PR 4 720
PR online 700
Kaplan paper test 700
GMAT paper test 690
GMAT paper test 740
GMAT paper test 780 (missed 5 verbal questions...luck!)
Word to the wise on practice tests. PR quant scoring sucks. Don't believe it.
MGMAT is a pretty good indicator although the math is harder than the real thing (too time consuming). You can add about 4 to 6 points on your PR quant score and about 2 to 3 on your
MGMAT quant score.
My quant section today was the easiest quant section of my whole prep. Obviously, I still made stupid errors, but there was only one question that had me sort of lost. I think the reason for this is that my last two weeks of prep have been quant intensive. I wanted a 48 on quant due to knowing that I would get 85% or more on verbal. I am not that great at quant, but I learned my concepts and practiced a ton. Their were ZERO combination/perm questions...I was disappointed after all that prep for them. There were a lot of number properties questions, but no modulus either.
As for verbal, I don't know. My score today was the lowest I have received in any test and it was the hardest verbal section of any test. The RC was comparable, if not harder, than LSAT. I have not been confused on any RC questions until today and today I was lost on several questions and RC has been my strongpoint in prep (only missing a max of 2 per test). The conditions may have accounted for this, but I am not an excuse person and when I first walked in to the center it was humorous that there was no air. I kept thinking of Murphy and that stupid law. The ladies were nice about it and even offered to let me take it with my shirt off (one of them said I had to keep my pants on). I passed on this but everyone in the test center was obviously suffering.
I know someone will ask where I am applying. I sent my scores to Yale, Cornell, NYU, Duke and North Carolina. I may sprinkle some Harvard, U of Chicago and/or Columbia on top for fun (more apps-yuck).
As a conclusion, if I can do this any of you can. I truly mean that. Set your goals high and work to achieve them. Only you can make it happen. This process has tough times and great times. There will be times when you want to quit. Be tougher than those times. Don't let this test beat you, Dammit. I have faith that everyone on this board can reach their potential and their goal. You can get 700. Believe in yourself and your abilities and the sky is the limit. See ya on apps pages.
close
Updated on: 09 Aug 2007, 10:31
i am also a lefty so that is good to know 
