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07 May 2012, 10:25
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi all,
I am in need of some serious advice for GMAT. I have been studying for almost a year and a half and have taken GMAT 4 times and yet not able to cross 620!!! Here is a de-brief of my preparation and results. Experts, GMAT Guru's and tutors please advice!!!
Attempt 1 : 540 (Q:43,V21)
Preparation: Had signed up for Manhattan tests and practice. Studied for three months - 100% Manhattan and OG. Took 6 Manhattan tests + 2 GMAT prep and got a score of 700 in one .Took exam date under the impression that a one time 700 score is considered good preparation. Bad Idea.
Attempt 2: 570 (Q:44,v23)
Preparation: Studied for few more months. Took more Manhattan tests, more practice, took all Kaplan tests (4 CD + 6 online) and tried to improve on English by doing more CR/SC questions from verbal review and Manhattan practice questions. Got a 720+ in 3 Manhattan tests and 700 in final GMAT prep both tests. Yet a shocking outcome.
Attempt 3: 620(Q:49,V26)
Preparation: After two attempts, I decided to take online Knewton classes. The instructors were really good and for the first time I was devising a strategy to tackle CR problems, data sufficiency, etc. I was also strengthening my concepts in Quant. So at the point of time just before my third attempt I had already taken four Manhattan tests again( 700,740,750,730), 2 Kaplan tests ( scored 680 and 660) and GMATPrep four times (710,720,720,740)
Attempt 4: 610 (Q:47,v27).
Preparation: After my third attempt I realized that I needed some serious improvement in English. My Quant wasn't much of a worry as the 49 in my third attempt gave me some relief. So I focused more on Verbal. I made it a point to do 10-15 GMAT Prep SC questions everyday and I aimed to do these under 35 seconds, thereby leaving more time for CR and RC Prep. I realized that I was probably doing bad in CR and RC as I am usually not a good interpreter of passages in general - short or long. I tried to improve that by reading 3 passages everyday for about 2 months regularly. After doing some 100+ passages, I was able to get all questions right but only when I allotted 8 mins. per passage. So I decided I would take 32 mins. for RC ( 8 per passage) and try to battle SC questions in less than a minute. After doing 180 GMAT prep SC questions, I was finally able to tackle each SC question under less than 35-40 seconds. I kept on taking GMAT Prep tests and scored a 740,750, 760. I fail to understand why I am unable to perform in the final GMAT but able to get a 700+ easily in practice tests?? Are GMAT tests really that different from the practice ones?? Also having exhausted my material from all the best sources, OG, Manhattan, Kaplan, Newton, it's hard to judge my preparation as most of the question tend to repeat. Please advise me as to how I should move ahead with my MBA prep? Will taking the GMAT 5th time be of any help or will actually look negative in my profile? Should I take some more time with verbal with the help of classes? Or should I just take a date sometime next month and give it my best shot again?? Or should I compromise and apply for the ‘not so good’ MBA colleges.? With 5 years of work experience in the US biotech industry and a Masters in Electrical engineering , bachelors in electronics from Mumbai(India) ,lean six sigma certification and a recent patent filing what are my chances of getting in a good business school in US with a 620 score??? I am also an entrepreneur and have been a ping pong coach in Berkeley University. Since the past 1.5 years I am trying to breakthrough GMAT and get into a good school, but GMAT itself seems to be the biggest hindrance and I feel helpless that I can’t move ahead with my application because I am stuck in this situation!! I had dreams of pursuing MBA in marketing from university of Kellogg or getting into Haas School of business. Unfortunately, all of this looks so far from my reach at this point. Please advice!
Any kind of advice will be really appreciated!!
Thanks a ton for reading people.
Apurva
I am in need of some serious advice for GMAT. I have been studying for almost a year and a half and have taken GMAT 4 times and yet not able to cross 620!!! Here is a de-brief of my preparation and results. Experts, GMAT Guru's and tutors please advice!!!
Attempt 1 : 540 (Q:43,V21)
Preparation: Had signed up for Manhattan tests and practice. Studied for three months - 100% Manhattan and OG. Took 6 Manhattan tests + 2 GMAT prep and got a score of 700 in one .Took exam date under the impression that a one time 700 score is considered good preparation. Bad Idea.
Attempt 2: 570 (Q:44,v23)
Preparation: Studied for few more months. Took more Manhattan tests, more practice, took all Kaplan tests (4 CD + 6 online) and tried to improve on English by doing more CR/SC questions from verbal review and Manhattan practice questions. Got a 720+ in 3 Manhattan tests and 700 in final GMAT prep both tests. Yet a shocking outcome.
Attempt 3: 620(Q:49,V26)
Preparation: After two attempts, I decided to take online Knewton classes. The instructors were really good and for the first time I was devising a strategy to tackle CR problems, data sufficiency, etc. I was also strengthening my concepts in Quant. So at the point of time just before my third attempt I had already taken four Manhattan tests again( 700,740,750,730), 2 Kaplan tests ( scored 680 and 660) and GMATPrep four times (710,720,720,740)
Attempt 4: 610 (Q:47,v27).
Preparation: After my third attempt I realized that I needed some serious improvement in English. My Quant wasn't much of a worry as the 49 in my third attempt gave me some relief. So I focused more on Verbal. I made it a point to do 10-15 GMAT Prep SC questions everyday and I aimed to do these under 35 seconds, thereby leaving more time for CR and RC Prep. I realized that I was probably doing bad in CR and RC as I am usually not a good interpreter of passages in general - short or long. I tried to improve that by reading 3 passages everyday for about 2 months regularly. After doing some 100+ passages, I was able to get all questions right but only when I allotted 8 mins. per passage. So I decided I would take 32 mins. for RC ( 8 per passage) and try to battle SC questions in less than a minute. After doing 180 GMAT prep SC questions, I was finally able to tackle each SC question under less than 35-40 seconds. I kept on taking GMAT Prep tests and scored a 740,750, 760. I fail to understand why I am unable to perform in the final GMAT but able to get a 700+ easily in practice tests?? Are GMAT tests really that different from the practice ones?? Also having exhausted my material from all the best sources, OG, Manhattan, Kaplan, Newton, it's hard to judge my preparation as most of the question tend to repeat. Please advise me as to how I should move ahead with my MBA prep? Will taking the GMAT 5th time be of any help or will actually look negative in my profile? Should I take some more time with verbal with the help of classes? Or should I just take a date sometime next month and give it my best shot again?? Or should I compromise and apply for the ‘not so good’ MBA colleges.? With 5 years of work experience in the US biotech industry and a Masters in Electrical engineering , bachelors in electronics from Mumbai(India) ,lean six sigma certification and a recent patent filing what are my chances of getting in a good business school in US with a 620 score??? I am also an entrepreneur and have been a ping pong coach in Berkeley University. Since the past 1.5 years I am trying to breakthrough GMAT and get into a good school, but GMAT itself seems to be the biggest hindrance and I feel helpless that I can’t move ahead with my application because I am stuck in this situation!! I had dreams of pursuing MBA in marketing from university of Kellogg or getting into Haas School of business. Unfortunately, all of this looks so far from my reach at this point. Please advice!
Any kind of advice will be really appreciated!!
Thanks a ton for reading people.
Apurva
07 May 2012, 21:30
Kudos
Bookmarks
On reading your post two things jumped out at me
1) too many practice tests. Please understand practice tests dont contribute to learning in a big way....its just a gauge of where you stand ....at the most you might get some quick shortcuts out ofthe solutions explanations but it wont contribute to building ur base.
2)Did I read wrong or did you actually take the GMAT Prep tests more than 10 times? Do you really expect to get a fair judgement of your abilities by repeating the same tests again and again? By this time you must have seen 95% of the questions before, if not all....I hate to be rude but what exactly do u think u are doing?
I personally improved from a 570 to 720 so i know it can be done...it needs hard work, but more importantly, it needs 'smart' work...ie. u should know what do study and how to study for the maximum impact....there are many experts with much more experience than I have who will give u similar advice.....
In case you think you need some advice from me , you can contact me at [email protected]
1) too many practice tests. Please understand practice tests dont contribute to learning in a big way....its just a gauge of where you stand ....at the most you might get some quick shortcuts out ofthe solutions explanations but it wont contribute to building ur base.
2)Did I read wrong or did you actually take the GMAT Prep tests more than 10 times? Do you really expect to get a fair judgement of your abilities by repeating the same tests again and again? By this time you must have seen 95% of the questions before, if not all....I hate to be rude but what exactly do u think u are doing?
I personally improved from a 570 to 720 so i know it can be done...it needs hard work, but more importantly, it needs 'smart' work...ie. u should know what do study and how to study for the maximum impact....there are many experts with much more experience than I have who will give u similar advice.....
In case you think you need some advice from me , you can contact me at [email protected]
07 May 2012, 21:52
Kudos
Bookmarks
Agsshah,
I agree with upasanadatta. That's certainly a lot of practice tests you did, and you seemed to just review them and count the 700+ score as your score. Certainly that's just practice and you shouldn't even mark that down as a "score".
Your approach to SC sounds right - you want to answer as quickly and efficiently as possible. Your RC seems really slow - 32 minutes? You're leaving a large chunk to RC and you might not even be getting the questions right when you spend that much time on the question. Then you're forcing yourself to rush on SC - which you should but don't time pressure yourself too much.
Your dreams for Kellogg and Berkeley probably are distant as you suggested - this has to do with the imbalance between quant and verbal. The quant raw score needs to get in the 30s to be competitive. It sounds like you devised a strategy approach for CR for the first time and this helped you jump up a little bit. But you're probably missing a large chunk in RC - what is your strategy here? Do you understand your basic principles for SC or are you just attacking loads of SC questions and picking out whatever "sounds" right?
Based on your history of scores without substantial improvement, I'd venture that the basics haven't been solid even though you've taken some courses. I'd recommend you start with RC Pill strategies and do some research on your own for effective approaches.
I agree with upasanadatta. That's certainly a lot of practice tests you did, and you seemed to just review them and count the 700+ score as your score. Certainly that's just practice and you shouldn't even mark that down as a "score".
Your approach to SC sounds right - you want to answer as quickly and efficiently as possible. Your RC seems really slow - 32 minutes? You're leaving a large chunk to RC and you might not even be getting the questions right when you spend that much time on the question. Then you're forcing yourself to rush on SC - which you should but don't time pressure yourself too much.
Your dreams for Kellogg and Berkeley probably are distant as you suggested - this has to do with the imbalance between quant and verbal. The quant raw score needs to get in the 30s to be competitive. It sounds like you devised a strategy approach for CR for the first time and this helped you jump up a little bit. But you're probably missing a large chunk in RC - what is your strategy here? Do you understand your basic principles for SC or are you just attacking loads of SC questions and picking out whatever "sounds" right?
Based on your history of scores without substantial improvement, I'd venture that the basics haven't been solid even though you've taken some courses. I'd recommend you start with RC Pill strategies and do some research on your own for effective approaches.
