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17 Oct 2010, 21:07
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All,
My exam is in a few days.and this is my second attempt. From my first time experience, a few posts and some reflection, I propose a strategy list for the d-day. If anyone agrees/disagrees please let me know so I can modify if necessary (before its too late
)
A few days before EXAM:
a) Go through those questions that you didn't get right during your tests/practice. No new things but just don't repeat those mistakes again in GMAT.
b) Go through fundamentals (like ManG SC or Comprehensive CR guide by Whiplash) to just keep those concepts fresh in the brain.
c) You need to remain very active in the exam, so do some puzzles or some tricky questions each day to flex your brain muscles. Playing some fun videogames can help improve your general skills and keep your mind alert.
d) Visit your test center and also find out how the environment is from your friends (temperature, parking space, seating arrangment, locker facility, near by bus stops etc etc)
e) Go for a small jog or exercise yourself just enough to get a good night's sleep without having aches the next day. If you are not used to such things better not.
f) Go through a few sample AWA's because I am sure many of us have ignored those while taking CATs. If you are in a hurry to take a CAT without the AWA then do yourself a favor and at least jot down the points you would write in the AWA in the answer box. Just the points so you know you have spent your mind time on the topic and will be better prepared on the exam. For me it is easier to write sentences about a few points once those are clear.
g) Keep yourself well hydrated the day before. This will avoid headaches, dry eyes and all sorts of related problems and will also keep your mind active.
On the EXAM day:
a) Go to the test center on time and take the necessary stuff. Take necessary refreshments for during the break time.
b) The most important strategy according to me - Finish your argument essay (I usually take about 25 minutes with proofreading) then move on to the issue essay (I finish this faster but say 25 minutes) and once you have written this down and proofread it, DO NOT SUBMIT. Instead take 2 scratch pads one each for QUANT and VERBAL and write down your basic stuff such as fractions, squares, cubes, any formulae (I would write down the internal angle formula in a polygon, sum of AP, sum of GP), primes in 1-100 etc etc, whatever you feel will help you. Also get your timing strategy in for QUANT and in the VERBAL scratch pad write down the timing strategy - question you should be on and the time when you should be on it. I use - 60 mins - #8; 45 mins- 16; 30mins - #24; 15mins - 33; this will leave you 3 mins per question for the last set and trust me ayou need more time for the last questions because your heart is racing. Always leave extra time for the last questions. Now submit the AWA. In my first attempt I went to the exam thinking that I will prepare my scratch pads after I come back from the break a few minutes earlier. To my disappointment the test guys didn't allow me to sit at the computer during your break time.
c) While taking up QUANT think through a problem for the first 20 seconds. Especially probability, permutations, co-ordinate geometry etc etc and for that matter any thing that does not involve straightforward arithmetic or calculations. Once you get the idea then such questions won't take any longer. If you try and jump on it from the word GO then you will stop getting newer ideas once your initial idea bombs. KEEP extra time for the last questions.
d) DO NOT GUESS CONTINUOUSLY. Instead GUESS...DO..GUESS..DO..DO..GUESS..DO ..GUESS. This gives you a better score.
e) For VERBAL esp SCs, if you can't crack it in the few first few seconds then its probably going to be difficult. Its better you don't spend a whole lot of time on it and then get it wrong. Instead use your sheet to eliminate the obvious choices and then guess according to your guessing strategy.
f) Use your scratch pads well. Mark off wrong choices as this will keep you from rereading the answer choices which you already thought were wrong.
g) In QUANT for DS in number theory, make sure you pick fractions, negatives, ZERO and positive integers. Do not miss any of this. don't forget ZERO.
h) Don't drink too much water as you don't want to twist and turn in your seat when doing problems. And if you have not tried redbull or energy drinks before ..DON't try them on the exam day.
Wish me all the best. I will try and execute my own strategy and hope to come back to give a victory debrief. The above are not all my own. No offence to those who created them but thought a refresher to all can't hurt (this has been good for me).
Thanks and may the force be with all of us
-Hemanth
My exam is in a few days.and this is my second attempt. From my first time experience, a few posts and some reflection, I propose a strategy list for the d-day. If anyone agrees/disagrees please let me know so I can modify if necessary (before its too late
)A few days before EXAM:
a) Go through those questions that you didn't get right during your tests/practice. No new things but just don't repeat those mistakes again in GMAT.
b) Go through fundamentals (like ManG SC or Comprehensive CR guide by Whiplash) to just keep those concepts fresh in the brain.
c) You need to remain very active in the exam, so do some puzzles or some tricky questions each day to flex your brain muscles. Playing some fun videogames can help improve your general skills and keep your mind alert.
d) Visit your test center and also find out how the environment is from your friends (temperature, parking space, seating arrangment, locker facility, near by bus stops etc etc)
e) Go for a small jog or exercise yourself just enough to get a good night's sleep without having aches the next day. If you are not used to such things better not.
f) Go through a few sample AWA's because I am sure many of us have ignored those while taking CATs. If you are in a hurry to take a CAT without the AWA then do yourself a favor and at least jot down the points you would write in the AWA in the answer box. Just the points so you know you have spent your mind time on the topic and will be better prepared on the exam. For me it is easier to write sentences about a few points once those are clear.
g) Keep yourself well hydrated the day before. This will avoid headaches, dry eyes and all sorts of related problems and will also keep your mind active.
On the EXAM day:
a) Go to the test center on time and take the necessary stuff. Take necessary refreshments for during the break time.
b) The most important strategy according to me - Finish your argument essay (I usually take about 25 minutes with proofreading) then move on to the issue essay (I finish this faster but say 25 minutes) and once you have written this down and proofread it, DO NOT SUBMIT. Instead take 2 scratch pads one each for QUANT and VERBAL and write down your basic stuff such as fractions, squares, cubes, any formulae (I would write down the internal angle formula in a polygon, sum of AP, sum of GP), primes in 1-100 etc etc, whatever you feel will help you. Also get your timing strategy in for QUANT and in the VERBAL scratch pad write down the timing strategy - question you should be on and the time when you should be on it. I use - 60 mins - #8; 45 mins- 16; 30mins - #24; 15mins - 33; this will leave you 3 mins per question for the last set and trust me ayou need more time for the last questions because your heart is racing. Always leave extra time for the last questions. Now submit the AWA. In my first attempt I went to the exam thinking that I will prepare my scratch pads after I come back from the break a few minutes earlier. To my disappointment the test guys didn't allow me to sit at the computer during your break time.
c) While taking up QUANT think through a problem for the first 20 seconds. Especially probability, permutations, co-ordinate geometry etc etc and for that matter any thing that does not involve straightforward arithmetic or calculations. Once you get the idea then such questions won't take any longer. If you try and jump on it from the word GO then you will stop getting newer ideas once your initial idea bombs. KEEP extra time for the last questions.
d) DO NOT GUESS CONTINUOUSLY. Instead GUESS...DO..GUESS..DO..DO..GUESS..DO ..GUESS. This gives you a better score.
e) For VERBAL esp SCs, if you can't crack it in the few first few seconds then its probably going to be difficult. Its better you don't spend a whole lot of time on it and then get it wrong. Instead use your sheet to eliminate the obvious choices and then guess according to your guessing strategy.
f) Use your scratch pads well. Mark off wrong choices as this will keep you from rereading the answer choices which you already thought were wrong.
g) In QUANT for DS in number theory, make sure you pick fractions, negatives, ZERO and positive integers. Do not miss any of this. don't forget ZERO.
h) Don't drink too much water as you don't want to twist and turn in your seat when doing problems. And if you have not tried redbull or energy drinks before ..DON't try them on the exam day.
Wish me all the best. I will try and execute my own strategy and hope to come back to give a victory debrief. The above are not all my own. No offence to those who created them but thought a refresher to all can't hurt (this has been good for me).
Thanks and may the force be with all of us
-Hemanth
Updated on: 20 Oct 2010, 22:29
Originally posted by akshey2021 on 20 Oct 2010, 22:15.
Last edited by akshey2021 on 20 Oct 2010, 22:29, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by akshey2021 on 20 Oct 2010, 22:29, edited 1 time in total.
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I was under the impression that you get only 1 scratch pad (at a time). They give you a second on request but take back the first at the same time.
nusmavrik
Joined: 26 Nov 2009
Last visit: 03 Apr 2022
Posts: 467
Given Kudos: 36
Status:Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. It's a dare. Impossible is nothing.
Affiliations: University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Location: Singapore
Concentration: General Management, Finance
Schools: Chicago Booth - Class of 2015
20 Oct 2010, 22:46
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Planning to plan to plan to take gmat. I think writing everything on the scrath pad is like not relying on the brain that I believe so much. Ofcourse I will scribble on the scratch pad when the calculations are hefty -
but e.g you want to multiply 1.75 * 40 * 56 = Its better to multiply 80 * 56 and then check the unit digit to match 1.75 * 40 * 56. Instead of doing the exact math. I think that what I learnt from my instructors - think critically and calculate less.
E.g lets take an example of these questions -
Q1. For integers x, y, and z, if (3^x) (4^y) (5^z) = 3,276,800,000 and x + y + z = 15, what is the value of xy/z?
(A) undefined
(B) 0
(C) 3
(D) 5
(E) 15
Q2. Find the remainder when 1^{39} +2^{39} + 3^{39}..........12^{39} is divided by 39.
A) 0
B) 1
C) 3
D) 2
E) 12
I don't think the answer is there in 2 mins if you are not thinking critically or you think the raw math can provide you the answer. High scorers rely on their reasoning than the calculations.
All the best hemanth for the exam!
but e.g you want to multiply 1.75 * 40 * 56 = Its better to multiply 80 * 56 and then check the unit digit to match 1.75 * 40 * 56. Instead of doing the exact math. I think that what I learnt from my instructors - think critically and calculate less.
E.g lets take an example of these questions -
Q1. For integers x, y, and z, if (3^x) (4^y) (5^z) = 3,276,800,000 and x + y + z = 15, what is the value of xy/z?
(A) undefined
(B) 0
(C) 3
(D) 5
(E) 15
Q2. Find the remainder when 1^{39} +2^{39} + 3^{39}..........12^{39} is divided by 39.
A) 0
B) 1
C) 3
D) 2
E) 12
I don't think the answer is there in 2 mins if you are not thinking critically or you think the raw math can provide you the answer. High scorers rely on their reasoning than the calculations.
All the best hemanth for the exam!
in pool or spa or sleep 10 hrs a day for few days. A rested brain is an alert brain. Recollect all the notes e.g. x^3 gets 
. 
