semant wrote:
Hi,
I am a student in Sweden and I am currently studying for the GMAT. I am in my final month out of three and I have scheduled the exam on the 14th of December. I am not at all unfamiliar with the english language as I have a Bachelors degree in International Business from a school here in Sweden, but I am not accustomed to the way exams in the US (i.e. the GMAT) are made.
To assess where i stood i first did a GMATprep test and got 370 (didn't write down cores on Q and V). After studying for 2 weeks I got 490 (Q30 and V27). After studying another 2 weeks I ended up with approximately the same score 490 (Q29 V28). This was after I made another GMATprep test and one of the test on the
Manhattan GMAT website, where I got 490 on both.
I have primarily used the 8
Manhattan books and the
OG 12th, but I can't seem to increase my scores further than 490. The school I want to apply for has a minimum of 600, while 660 is recommended.
I therefore turn to the experts on this forum for advice on how to increase my scores further in order to (hopefully) reach my goal of at least 660!
It's ok - keep your head up. There are lots of non-native English speakers who have to take the GMAT every year. Come in with a positive attitude.
Remember, a large part of the GMAT exam is actually psychological.
Bad thoughts:
1) I suck at math.
2) There’s no way I’ll finish the exam.
3) English is not my first language, I can’t do it.Good thoughts:
1) Math is not my strong point, but this math isn’t rocket science. Sure, I get some wrong, but looking back at them–the questions are actually pretty easy. I just need become familiar with the different ways that the GMAT can test me on these relatively simple concepts that I learned in high school. I can do that! No problem!
2) GMAT is a timed test. I’ve had tons of timed tests before. I just need to come in with the right thought process and get enough practice that I have the confidence to know when I am positively sure about a GMAT question. By being super confident in an answer in as little time as possible, I know know I’ll be able to nail the super easy ones in less than one minute and the harder ones in less than 2-3 minutes. Confidence = less double checking/rereading = less time.
3) Although idioms are a part of the GMAT, a lot of the questions actually don’t test the idioms. A lot of times there are other concepts tested alongside the idioms and as long as I focus on that portion of the question, understand the key frameworks, and recognize how those concepts can show up in test questions, I’ll be fine.Hope that helps! There have been other students (
including this Chinese student) who were not fluent with English either - but who came in with a positive attitude and were able to reach their goals. It's not easy, but it's possible.