Big Improvement ---730 (48Q, 42Q)

Question

This is my second time taking the GMAT. I took it in Feb 2004 and got a 640 (low quant).

This time around I studied for a month and a half about 4-6 hours a day. Used Kaplan(general book and flash cards) and PR a first then found this site three weeks before the test. This site made all the difference in the world.

Thanks to every for posting such good questions/problems and even more thanks for the insightful solutions and test taking tips!!!!!!

Brendan.

nero44 · Answer

very nice!! congratulations to your improvement!

Hope I can say the same in the future. I also scored 640 on my first attempt a week ago :S

vikramm · Answer

Great score!!! :punk

Any test day experience/tips for us future test takers??

bsmith75 · Answer

I took both breaks. And thought they made a world of difference. After the essays I left the testing room and got a drink of water to clear my head and prepare for the quant section. After the quant I went back to the locker and got an apple and another glass of water. These breaks really help you clear your mind and should not be understated. I also found the earphones to be uncomfortable and foreign feeling so I did not use them.

In the quant section I did get some perm/comb questions so I knew I was on the right track. Many of the problems were very similar to those in the Math & Intel Disc. forum here. That forum was essential to my quant upgrade. I could only spend 1-2min. on the final two questions.

I found the verbal section to be relatively easy compared to some of the practice questions I had been using. Almost to the point of thinking I was doing terrible. Parallelism was the key to SC, no doubt about it.

Studywise I personally think the best thing to do is take as many practice exams as humanly possible, its like a marathon and you need to train your mind to work within the time constraints of the test. In the week leading up to the test I was taking a minimum of 1 practice exam a day, twice I took two in a night. You need to have an insanely large appetite for practice questions as well. For the past month I did not have lunch in the lunchroom instead I would use the hour to run through problems at my desk. And most of all don't put too much weight what those practice scores tell you, instead focus more on what your weakpoints are and try to discern the pattern of your mistakes. My Kaplan scores were always around 640, My PR was 680, my Pprep was 680, and my CATprep scores were 580.

And as hard as it may be to do you need to stay positive, this is an essential part of any study regimen. If you visualize yourself doing bad it will most likely happen.

Brendan.

ValleyBall1 · Answer

730 - sick score...

Congratulations!

TeHCM · Answer

Great score! Congratulations.

What kind of practice exams did you use?

vivek123 · Answer

Well done!

How did you manage to study 4 to 6 hours a day apart from work?

bsmith75 · Answer

Thanks Vivek.

Well an understanding girlfriend was a big part of the study routine. Over a month ago I sat down with her and asked for her extreme patience over the upcoming month.

I then roughed out a strategy. My daily schedule was to work 8:30-5:30 then study 6:30 to burn-out (usually around mid-night). I would stop for a 30min dinner break around 9 or so. And I would always take my lunch hour at my desk and run though problem sets. On the weekends I would try wake up and study in the morning for a bit so that I could spend the afternoon and evening having fun. I carried my workbooks around with me everywhere though and if I had a few minutes of downtime, start some problems.

It was very draining and I do not think I could have done it for much longer. I looked worn out by the end, and really lathargic, but partying for the past the few days has put some color back in my face.

Brendan.

ValleyBall1 · Answer

B - nice schedule! 6 to midnight? Wow!! I can only get 2-3 hours (closer to 2) max on a weeknight before I crash but I guess it's better than nothing.

Congrats again!

kayser1soze · Answer

wicked score. cheerz bro

vivek123 · Answer

Thanks bsmith, That's really burning, work from 8:30 to 5:30 & study from 6:30 to midnight! But that's what is focus. I always have tough time managing my schedules

I will try to follow you! Congratulations & all the very best with apps process, it's time for you to start bugging Hjort

Cheers,

Vivek

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