I got 780, believe it or not. I have been hoping for above 700, but didn't think that I could achieve that good of a score. Considering that I only had one and half month to prepare for the test, that I'm working at the same time, and that both of my little boys had been sick in the last two weeks, I have to say I did pretty good. My experience may not be applicable for many of you since I imagine most of you guys are still students and have more times to prepare, but I'll still write a little just in case I could be any help to anybody in any way. I would be happy to share more if any of you have any more questions. Preparation I did not have a lot of time to cover a lot of materials, so I chose to concentrate on one set of books (two Chinese GMAT reviewing books in my case, math and grammar) to get the basic principles. I have not spend time to specifically prepare for reading comprehension and critical reasoning. Once I feel I have got the basic understanding about the math and grammar principles, I did the first PowerPrep test, and started to study the Official Guide. In the mean time, I have chosen to actively participate in this forum, doing almost all questions that are posted in this forum, and try to write down my reasonings and solutions for each question. The forum served a very important role in my preparation for the test. In addition to learning additional methods of solving a math problem and increasing my understanding toward confusing grammartical usages, I have also used it as a daily practise venue. I always tried to form my own answers before I looked at the others' answers. This way I can see where my weakness is and I remember the correct ways of solving a problem better. The most important experience that I have on preparing for the test, is to try to use your own brain everytime you see a question, not only guess a choice, but actually think. Having to write down a post helped with this goal. Test Day I've been having five hours of sleeps in average in the last month, so that I could actually have some time to study. But yesterday, I decided that I will not gain too much more by several hours' studying. So I went to bed with the kids at 9 o'clock, and I woke up at 7:30am this morning and I felt very relaxed. I did not set a very high target for myself. I was thinking as long as I score over 680 I'll feel ok. Considering that my second PP test was 710 even when I didn't do well in the verbal part, I was pretty confident that I wouldn't do too much worse than 680, so I wasn't feeling nervous at all. I finished the two essays just in time. Didn't even have time to re-read my second essay. I took the break, letting my mind prepare for the math part that is coming. Math was relatively easy, I didn't have time to worry if that means that I didn't do well or something, I just kept doing the questions, only breaking to check my pace several times, and to remind myself to be careful not to overlook any traps for the DS questions. I finished the math part 10 minutes earlier. I took about one minute before I clicked on "proceed". It may be better if I could take the 10 minutes to rest a little, but I didn't feel like I would have a good rest with an unfinished section. I did take the 5 minute break again, before I start the verbal sections. The questions in the beginning felt at the right level, not too easy, not too hard. Then when I approach the middle part, the reading comprehension passages became longer (from 40 lines to 70 or 80 lines), and the critical reasoning became harder. I got a couple bold face questions too. I reminded myself to concentrate on the questions off hand, and in one RC question that I didn't understand in the first read, I took the time to re-read it. I was a little worried if I wouldn't have enough time, but I still tried to make sure I do not rush any questions. In the last 8 questions or so I had to remind myself multiple times to calm down and concentrate. In the end I actually finished the section with several minutes left. My mind had been in a state of being exited since the beginning of the test and I only start to feel tired two hours after the test was over. Anyways I'm glad that this is over and I didn't do too badly. There are still so much to do. I need to prepare the other matierials before 1/3, the deadline of UR's PhD program. Whatever result I would get in the end of this endevore, I would never forget this forum and its many participants. I have learnt so much from here and got so much encouragement from the people here. I will try to give back whatever I received in the future days to come. Good luck to all of you that will take your test later! p.s. For those who wanted to take a break from your hard studying, here's something I wrote in the past. Hope it brings you some relaxation in the hard busy days. https://grapefruitgarden.blogspot.com/ (If you read the Love Game, be sure to start from I, and proceed to V.)

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780. math 51 verbal 47

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HongHu

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15 Feb 2005, 22:06

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Math is definitely easier than the challenge, easier than a lot of the questions posted in this forum too, I think. If you can solve 9 out of ten questions posted here, I think you won't have a big problem for math in the test. I took a vow before the test that I cannot share the details of the questions even in parts so I can't tell you too much details but there are definitely some combination and permutation questions, percentage of increase questions, work questions, PS questions that test your understanding of the (a^2-b^2) formula that we've encountered many times in the challenges ... It's not out of scope of what we talk here at all.

bozo190101

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15 Feb 2005, 22:50

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Thanks for the tips. Will start focussing on problems here on this forum.

Thanks

venksune

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16 Feb 2005, 01:24

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Gosh! What can I say!

Work, family, interest in studies and great posts - You deserve a standing ovation.

With esteem...

christoph

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16 Feb 2005, 01:30

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congratulations !!!

maaverick

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16 Feb 2005, 02:05

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Congratulations Hong Hu!!! 780 is an awesome score!!! I'm sure you've very hard for it and you definitely deserve it! Your posts have been very insightful and I was very sure of you crossing the 700 barrier!

Good luck with your applications!

rxs0005

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16 Feb 2005, 05:21

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hong hu

congrats for that score i was guessing u r score before u took the exam and i was 100% sure u will get 750+ but i am glad u got more i guess all u r hard work paid off well

well done and all theb best

dont forget to celebrate lady!!

rxs0005

wunderbar03

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16 Feb 2005, 08:25

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HongHu,

Congratulaitons! incredible scores. You are really the one I will follow.

All the best in your applications.

aryan

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16 Feb 2005, 08:39

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Jeeeeez. Its an awesome score. Its toooooo good. I was checking the GMAT experiences everyday and waiting to see your score, as I vaguely remember that you had yours on 12th Feb. You ROCK!!
Excellent Score and your point prove once again that there is no shortcut for Hardwork. Your responses and reasoning says it all. I admire the way you used to answer all the queries.

All the best with your APPS.
Aryan

DLMD

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16 Feb 2005, 09:53

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good job HongHu,

I know you are going to take the test in this week, so I keep checking the board, hoping to see your post. CONGRADULATION!!! You cracked it. I know you will do good, but 780, gosh, what an Awesome score.

I am studying some chinese material too, hope I can score 700+ as you do. :-D

Rupstar

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16 Feb 2005, 10:25

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Thats such an awesome score...I honestly believe along if we all have like one or two good guides at the most and all stay super regular with the forum its very achievable to get 750+ just cause this forum makes u learn new stuff others may see and keeps re-teaching u stuff u knw so u dont forget it...and with everyones opinion in it u see every angle u can on a question...

Praetorian

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16 Feb 2005, 13:18

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Congratulations Honghu. Thats a great score.

Would you be able to comment on the math challenges? Were they useful?
How can we improve them? Do you want to contribute to the premium forum in any way?

thanks
Praetorian

bozo190101

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16 Feb 2005, 14:06

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Praetorian/Hong Hu..Others,

Another quick question. Quants definitely as recommended GMAT club is the focus.
I found this other site. Any thoughts for math from here. Are they representative?

https://questions.ascenteducation.com/ii ... _equation/

Also, I had posted this question previously but how useful is the LSAT CR and RC book?

Thanks

Current Student

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Updated on: 16 Feb 2005, 19:25

Originally posted by FN on 16 Feb 2005, 18:18.
Last edited by FN on 16 Feb 2005, 19:25, edited 1 time in total.

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HongHU

...congrats....I knew you were going to score great.....good luck.! you should take pride not only in your good score but also the fact that you helped us all alot!

Hey...I got to admit, I am not too old. but with my work....I feel like I am 50! I mean the work load is so much, that I cant focus on my prep....I commend you that you pulled thru this while working....kudos to you!

good luck to you in the future...I suggest you should apply to HBS or Wharton Phd prgrams too...remember your GMAT score is valid for 5 yrs...

Folaa3

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16 Feb 2005, 18:52

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Congrats HongHu. I knew you were gonna ace that sucker. Now it's time for me to tap your brain. Please do not leave the forum because i believe you can be of help to peeps like me who are still preparing. Congratulations once again.

HongHu

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16 Feb 2005, 19:39

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Praetorian

Thanks Praetorian! I have already commented on the 16th challenge after I did it. I think the challenges are great and definitely should continue. It gives the forum members great benefit in many aspects. Some of the questions actually are good prediction questions for the real tests, and the fact that they are much harder gives people the chance to feel what under pressure feels like.

I have benefited from the forum a lot, and I will definitely try to keep around. If there's anyway I could contribute more in the regular forums as well as the premium forums, I would love to do so.

saurya_s

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17 Feb 2005, 05:54

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First of all, tons of congrats. Awesome score mate!!
Hong hu, can you suggest what is the best way to crack CR and RC for Gmat?
S

HongHu

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17 Feb 2005, 09:29

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Unlike math and grammar, I believe RC and CR depends more heavily on ones accumulated skills over a long period. One gets better with these things naturally when you use the language more often. Read different materials, write out your own opinions, participate in forum debate, all of these will help you getting the sense of the language.

However, most of us are preparing to take the test within several month, so long term strategy may not work. To get immediate short term improvement, I would suggest you focus your reading and practise on GMAT materials. (In other words, don't go read a novel or magazine etc.) I personally believe that the passages that were used in previous GMAT tests, such as those included in the OG, would be what I'd be focusing on.

I still remember a long long time ago, when I was in high school, my teacher asked me to read a part of a fiction to my class. I didn't like descriptions of environments at the time. When I read a book I would usually skip all those about how sun was coming up and trees were green and stuff, and jump to the interactions among people. I read the passages word by word, and my heart went into it when I read it. I enjoyed reading it, and the story made my classmates laugh at several occasions. When I finished it, my teacher said that I didn't read the first paragraph well where the author described smokes rising from a river and such. That was when I first realized the difference between reading a passage word by word and reading a passage using my heart.

The reason I went to such length to talk about reading is that I truly believe that it is very important. In a test it is very likely that you'd read the words, without taking them in. Then you'd go look at the questions, and try to come back to find your answer. But your time is tight, so you don't have time to re-read the passage, therefore you have to find something that sounds close, and choose it. Often, it would be the wrong answer.

What you should do, is to really read the passage, using your heart. Practise this, you'll know what I mean. You'll feel the difference yourself. When you read it, you'll truly understand what the author is saying. When you look at the questions, you can almost answer it already, without having to go back to the passage. You only need to go back to it to get a confirmation, or get the details that you omitted when you read it.

Critical reasoning is the same thing. You must truly understand what the author is arguing. Then you'll see his logic, and be able to find his assumptions and missing links, and what would weaken and strengthen his arguments. I'm not a native speaker so I'm not very good at grammar, but I feel that trying to understand the sentence is as important as learning all the grammartical rules and idomatic usages in helping me to find the correct answer.

Sorry that I have rambled so long. Hope this could be of a little help to you.

vprabhala

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17 Feb 2005, 12:16

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Congratulations HongHu.. amazing.. too good..

jpv

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17 Feb 2005, 12:19

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Many many (much much, more more all +ve comparatives.. :-D

) congratulations to you for such a wonderful score (780 gashh.. awsome).. :band

Best of luck for ur applications...

U have been so much an inspiration for us. I was always looking at ur freaking number of posts which almost always was greater than next six putting altogether. I was/am also a fan of ur RC skills where ur percentage accuracy was almost 100%.

Ur inputs will be much more helpful. I have also adopted that reading from heart approach (for RC) and I am really observing the improvement but in doing so, I am loosing the grip on my timing. I am loosing alot of time in solving the RC questions. Will you suggest how I can improve the timing while I am reading cautiously at the same time?

Thanks for all your suggestions and again Best of luck for ur apps.

anirban16

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17 Feb 2005, 15:38

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Many many congratulations Hong Hu. You really deserved it. I had been checking on your way of answering and solving at the forum, pretty impressive to say the least. And that too you managed to study against all odds and pressure is really credible.
So what is your back ground? Are you going for PhD. Is UR University of Rochester? I have a friend there doing PhD. Just wanted to know.
Anirban

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