B.E.L.I.E.V.E - 770 (Q51, V44) in one attempt [Debrief]

Question

Hello!

This is my first post on GMAT Club. So, please excuse me if it's a little too long or too short. I'll try my best to incorporate my GMAT experience into a story in the hope that some of you may find it useful.

Background

I'm entering my final year of engineering [B.Tech(Information Technology)] at one of the best private institutes of technology in India. I currently maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of 9.03/10. I'm not sure what that converts to in the US scale, but according to the GMAC, it's somewhere between a 3.9 and a 4. I've been prepping for the GMAT for about 2 months with the aim of scoring above 720. I finally gave the exam on 30th June, 2014 and I was pleasantly surprised by the results - a 770 (Q51, V44).

Books & Test material used

Test Scores

I apologize in advance for not remembering the sectional scaled scores accurately.

Note: I was intending to take the other two. But, for some reason they refused to load for me.

GMAT [June 30th, 2014]: 770 (Q51, V44)

General Strategy

I prepped during the months of April and June for the GMAT.

During April, I would have approximately 4 hours of class everyday. I'd spend the afternoons completing college assignments and focus most of my prep time in the evening. On an average, I was able to spend about 4 hours everyday. Managed to complete the entire Kaplan Premier 2014 book as well as the three Manhattan Verbal Guides. Did it chapter by chapter starting with Verbal and moving to all the Quantitative chapters

In May, I had my semester exams for the best part of 3 weeks. So, I considered it prudent to set aside prep during that time. In June, however, I had vacations. So, it gave me room to plan out an extensive prep schedule.

First Week of June:

I worked for around 8 hours everyday to complete the GMAT Official Guide, Verbal Review and Quantitative Review. After that, and I can't stress this enough, I did each of those books again. I'm perfectly aware that a question that you may have already worked out isn't as challenging as a fresh one. But, I'm a fervent advocate for repeating all the sums because
a) It helps you develop your technique
b) It improves your speed
c) It affords you the opportunity to look at the question in a new and different perspective
When you've got speed on your side and your technique's so good you know what process to apply even when you're reading the question, your accuracy improves as well

Tip #1: Re-do your test material if you have time to spare. If you don't, make space in your calendar to include that.

Second Week of June:

Worked on Kaplan's online resources. They have about 8 Quizzes and a few other tests. Also did the Manhattan Online Question Banks. After finishing them, I was confident the majority of my prep was over and I wanted test taking experience. So, I started working on a few practice tests. But, I didn't see a drastic improvement in my scores. I was definitely expecting more and that left me a little disappointed. I realized that I had no issues solving a series of questions of a particular type, but I found it harder when they appeared in a jumble during a test simulation.

Tip #2: Take practice tests. They really help you identify areas of improvement that are harder to find while prepping. Never skip IR and the Essay though. You don't get the full test experience if you skip them

Third Week of June:

I realized that I was plateauing on my scores and I needed a break. The FIFA World Cup proved to be just the break I needed. Being an avid football fan, the World Cup got me very excited. I also spent my days reading books. A couple of John Grishams, a non-fiction book on Bandits and even a Harry Potter or two for variety. None of what I was reading was with an intention to prep for GMAT. On the contrary, it was to reduce the stress levels I'd been experiencing. When I went back to prep after around 5 days, the results were extraordinary.

Tip #3: Don't be afraid to take a break during prep. It can be more useful than you can possibly imagine

Fourth Week of June:

The break had really helped to recharge my batteries and I was all set to continue my prep with a new vigor and purpose. This time, I timed my tests to coincide with the exact period of time when I was scheduled to write the GMAT test. After every test, I'd spend an hour or so reviewing my mistakes so I could learn where I had gone wrong.

Tip #4: Analyze your test results after you finish them. Work on the questions you got wrong.

On a less serious note, I also utilized this time to figure out my snack preferences during breaks, how long I needed to take a break and so on. So, I bought different candy bars and juice packs to test what worked best for me. Settled on an energy bar for the first break and a 200ml tetrapack of condensed milk for the second break.

My practice test scores kept improving and I was feeling more confident about my prep. Whenever I got time, I'd also work on GMATClub tests for a little bit of extra prep. Their questions are excellent and keep you on your toes. And I never failed to watch that day's football match on TV.

Took GMATPrep tests on the last two days and did their 90 practice questions. I was happy with my scores in both of them - a 740 and a 760. I also spent the last two days prepping for IR and AWA seriously - the OG has a CD with about 50 questions that were pretty comprehensive. There were also some good resources on the Kaplan Student Center.

The night before the test, I reminded myself that I had done everything I could to prep for the test and I was confident that no matter what the result was, I would be proud of myself. I also chose this time to set a higher bar than 720. I told myself I wasn't going to settle for anything less than 750 and went to sleep.

Actual Test Day Experience

It took me a little bit of time to get over my exam day blues when I was doing the AWA section. I had very little time to review my answer. But, after that, it was smooth sailing. The IR questions were much easier than the kind I'd done on Kaplan online. The Quant Section was even better. I managed to complete the entire section 15 minutes before time (a personal record) and I only took a guess on one of the questions. The Verbal questions were slightly tricky, especially the Reading Comprehension and I constantly had to remind myself not to get disheartened and focus on the question at hand.

When I was done with the section with 5 minutes to spare, I was relieved that the ordeal was over. And I was glad to end the test and view my scores. They make you complete a questionnaire first which actually the edge off my anxiety. So, when I got my actual scores, I was pleasantly surprised and very thankful for the good result.

Takeaways FOR YOU

1. The Manhattan GMAT tests are gold. Once you're done with their Quant questions, the actual GMAT questions feel tame in comparison. Training at MGMAT's higher level improves your ability to tackle most questions the GMAT can throw at you
2. Kaplan's strategies, for the most part, are really effective to save valuable time on the actual test. Working on them extensively helps
3. Re-doing prep material has benefits listed previously on this post that you should really consider doing
4. Find out what works for you. Every prep book I read recommended that you read the question first if you're doing CR. I found that my accuracy and speed was better when I read the stimulus first. Sometimes, an unusual method may produce better results
5. And most importantly, it's all in your head. Everything you prepped is going to help you in the test. Stressing out about it makes your chances bleak. It's very important that you truly believe that you are going to do your best because you have prepped very hard and you know that all of that knowledge will come to you when you need it during the test

Conclusion

I apologize again if this is too long and detailed or too short and concise for you. I hope I have been of some assistance to you in your GMAT journey. I know that you're going to do a wonderful job on the test and I wish you all the best. I enjoyed sharing this experience and I hope you feel the same!

Sweety04 · Answer

Do you mean kaplan premier or kaplan 800?

https://gmatclub.com/static/posted_from.png     Posted from    GMAT ToolKit

balajiram02 · Answer

@Sweety04:

I used the Kaplan Premier 2014 and I can vouch for its quality. I'm not sure about the Kaplan 800

Sweety04 · Answer

Thanks for your reply:) i am reading manhattan guides for quants as of now.was looking for some practice questions as i am more comfortable reading with books rather than online( gmat club test)

https://gmatclub.com/static/posted_from.png     Posted from    GMAT ToolKit

trocker · Answer

First of all, Congrats!! 770 is absolutely amazing!

I'd love to get your views on this:

I have been scoring v38-40 but I just couldn't make it go beyond 40 how-much-ever I try. I think I know almost all the CR , SC concepts but I just couldn't score above 40, and I don't want to practice from a lesser difficulty source. These days, I am starting to believe that it really doesn't matter how much ever you practice 'CR'. Anyway, do you have any suggestions on good practice materials (like really difficult but good) ? Or any suggestions in general for Verbal? What other exams did you take?

Also, did you feel real GMAT verbal was more complex (in terms of 'word' usage) than GMAT prep?

Everybody kept on mentioning that MGMAT verbal was at around the same level as GMAT verbal is, but I found that GMAT Prep was significantly different plus a notch higher than the general MGMAT CAT tests.

Also, did you practice IR and AWA when you used to take MGMAT mocks? Or were these scores without AWA IR?

balajiram02 · Answer

@Sweety04: I agree with you wholeheartedly as I am also someone who prefers books over online resources.

However, you have to recognize that the GMAT is a computer-based test. And the GMATClub interface does recreate that experience to a great deal. So, consider using some online resources over none at all.

If you're still set on books, then I think your current choice of Manhattan Quant books is a good idea. You could supplement that with the GMAT Quantitative Review if you need more practice

balajiram02 · Answer

@Trocker: Thank you for your wishes!

I'll take your questions one at a time. Firstly, it seems like you're stuck in a bit of a rut. Your verbal score is plateauing in the 38-40 range, but you don't seem to be able to go beyond that. I hope I've understood your situation properly. Firstly, I think you're spot on in identifying that it's more important to recognize how well you're able to answer questions than how many questions you're able to answer. With that in mind, I'm not sure if the questions you're getting wrong are due to conceptual errors or application errors. You've mentioned that you're thorough with your Verbal concepts. Therefore, if it's the former you're going wrong in, then it makes more sense to review a better explained set of concepts to clarify your understanding. If it's the latter, then you need more practice applying those concepts. But, blindly doing problems either way wouldn't see you greatly improve. On good practice material for Verbal, I think GMAT Verbal Review and the Manhattan tests were of an excellent standard. In addition, Kaplan's got a very interesting set of questions. Yes, I think it's CRUCIAL that you practice all mock tests with IR and AWA. Otherwise, you miss out on the real test experience. I felt the actual GMAT was only more complicated in the RC section, but everything felt of similar or lesser difficulty than I had experienced earlier. A list of tests I've taken is displayed on the post. With regards to suggestions for Verbal, this might sound like a silly suggestion. But, I strongly recommend the activity I pursued during my prep time in the 3rd week of June - which was to take a break from prep for a few days and peruse novels, newspapers and other casual reading material. My reason for the activity is because I think stress affects your performance and constantly forcing you to look at passages with the intent of analyzing them might cause you to experience unnecessary stress. Therefore, I believe that reading something just for pleasure will bring back the freshness you require to do Verbal even better than before. As I've posted above, my scores improved after a break and I'm sure yours will too

trocker · Answer

This is exactly what I have been thinking, I performed much better when I continued reading novels in between the test. This is golden! Thanks!

b2bt · Answer

Hey balajiram02! Kudos for the score and best of luck with your applications.

I have a small query. When you took a break (the fifa one) did you completely stop studying? I mean not even few daily questions?

Also, after resuming the prep from the break how did you start?
Any warm-up? Revised all the books? Or just headed for a mock and then daily practice?

I have completed all the content available for GMAT as in the syllabus..or whatever you want to call it..
I am on a break (10-15 days) for some reasons and would be resuming soon.
I'm not sure if I should read the whole MGMAT Guides again or just spend some time reviewing,,,

What are your suggestions?

balajiram02 · Answer

@Trocker:

I'm glad you concur on this key viewpoint :D

balajiram02 · Answer

@b2bt:

When I took breaks, I made I was completely cut-off from any prep work. So, I didn't do any questions during that time.

When I came back, I attacked all the material I had with renewed vigor. As I was in the last 10 days of my prep cycle, I chose to focus more on practice tests. I did tests in the morning and questions in the evening. If you've got more time before your exam, you can pick an alternate approach.

With regards to the MGMAT guides, I think it's always useful to re-read their 3 Verbal guides. It's good to keep that knowledge clear and easily accessible. With regards to the Quant guides, it's up to you. If you feel like you're confident of a process to solve Quant questions, then you can choose to review only the questions that you find difficult

Ergenekon · Answer

Congrats)) I would like to know how you prepared for SC? I practiced from manhattan, official guide, verbal review, but still think i should practice more, but cannot find any resources. What was your experience? Does kaplan has good sc resources?

AdmitJA · Answer

Hi Balajiram, My approach to GMAT is pretty similar to what you did and seeing your success using this strategy, I am more assertive that my preparations will work. From July 1st I have been studying the whole time and my exam is on July 31st.

I am planning a CAT marathon just like what you did. There are lots of discussions on forums that the scores of Kaplan are not accurate and I notice an increase in your Kaplan CATs followed by a dip when you took Manhattan CATs and a jump once you took the GMAT Prep tests. I have access to Kaplan's 6 CATs and no access to Manhattan CATs. 1. How was your experience with the Kaplan and Manhattan CATs? 2. Questions from which CAT are more similar to test like questions? 3. Is it worth buying Manhattan CATs now? Which one would you suggest and why? Regards, Joseph Hello! Test Scores I apologize in advance for not remembering the sectional scaled scores accurately. Kaplan CAT 1 (Diagnostic Test) : 680 Kaplan CAT 2 : 720 Kaplan CAT 3 : 750 Note: I was intending to take the other two. But, for some reason they refused to load for me. Manhattan CAT 1 : 680 (Q46, V36) Manhattan CAT 2 : 690 (Q45, V38) Manhattan CAT 3 : 710 (Q48, V39) Manhattan CAT 4 : 680 (Q46, V37) Manhattan CAT 5 : 720 (Q47, V40) Manhattan CAT 6 : 730 (Q45, V45) GMATPrep CAT 1 : 740 (Q50, V40) GMATPrep CAT 2 : 760 (Q51, V42) GMAT : 770 (Q51, V44)

balajiram02 · Answer

@Ergenekon:

My SC theory preparation was almost wholly based only on the Manhattan SC guide and lots and lots of practice questions from the OG, Kaplan Premier and Verbal Review.

Since you've already finished these resources, consider doing them again. Like I explained in my post, I think there's a lot that can be learnt in your second attempt at the same questions.

Otherwise, Magoosh has some extra Verbal prep questions you can do. The link's available on GMATCLub.

Additionally, I think you'll gain a lot of practice once you start taking practice tests

balajiram02 · Answer

@joseph0alexander:

1. Kaplan tests: In hindsight, these tests were more accurate in their scoring and more akin to the real GMAT questions than I could possibly imagine. However, I took these tests at the beginning of my test marathon. I did do a lot of work in between those days and the final exam. So, there is some merit to the argument that Kaplan's scores aren't as accurate as they should be.

With regards to the Manhattan CATs, it's like practicing running in 10 times Earth's gravity. Their quant section is insane. And their verbal is excellent too. You may or may not share this belief too, but I truly believe that facing the difficulty level of Manhattan CATs prepared me on a mental level to take on any question in the GMAT. And with the exception of a few questions, none of the actual GMAT questions challenged me more than the Manhattan CATs.

2. All tests do a wonderful job of mimicking the question style, but the question difficulty is what varies. GMATPrep was most accurate in that aspect. If I had to put a marker, I'd say Kaplan's questions are a tad bit easier and Manhattan harder.

3. I'm a huge fan of Manhattan's CATs because of the belief I've stated in Answer 1. But, I think there's more to it than just that. To me, I think a lot of people get complacent after they get good practice test scores. With Kaplan, that's highly likely to happen. Overconfidence is detrimental to performance.

On the other hand, the Manhattan tests could break you mentally if you don't respond well to score decreases and the heightened difficulty. The lower scores kept me grounded and motivated. It also kept my expectations realistic. Additionally, I think the gradual improvement in my CAT scores with every Manhattan CAT until I hit the fated 720 mark in the Manhattan CATs eventually boosted my confidence further.

Depending on which approach you prefer, you can decide your test of choice. Alternatively, you can purchase more GMATPrep tests if you'd like very accurate results and questions.

toan3390 · Answer

So you plan to study MBA shortly after finishing you undergraduate programmes? it seems similar to my situation. Thus which school do you apply for? Thanks for sharing

balajiram02 · Answer

@toan3390:

I'm sorry for the late reply.

I'm not trying to be modest or anything, but I don't have enough of a profile yet to attract one of the top B-schools in the US. I think it's more prudent in my case to gain some serious work experience in the next few years and apply abroad once I'm confident I can justify with empirical evidence why an MBA would help my career develop

TheFloridian · Answer

Your post was very helpful for me when I took the GMAT last week! THANK YOU!

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