Dear all,
I have been a part of this community for almost a year now. I have taken GMAT 2 times. I gave my first attempt in August 2016 and I gave the second attempt a few weeks ago in March 2017. In my first attempt, I had issues with application of concepts and practice. I joined
e-gmat verbal online course and
Gmat club tests for my second attempt and I diligently studied for 2.5 months. I used the scholaranium and did hundreds of question from CR,RC,SC and maths.
My second attempt was on 30th March 2017.
During my preparation, I made sure to regularly take Mocks and analyze my errors. I gave 11 full mock test under exam conditions and I scored fairly well on all of them.
I took all 6 GMAT PREP exams and I scored consistently on them.
These were my mock results:
1. GMAT PREP 1 ( q: 49, v: 31 ) 660 (25th January 2017)
2. GMAT PREP 4 ( q:50, v:35 ) 710 (20th February 2017)
3. GMAT PREP 3 ( q:50, v:35 ) 710 (25th February 2017)
4. GMAT PREP 5 ( q:50, v: 38) 720 (7th March 2017)
5. GMAT PREP 6 (q: 49, v:35) 700 (10th March 2017)
6. GMAT PREP 2 (q:50 , v:38) 720 (24th March 2017)
I took all these mocks with AWA and IR and the proper break. I was pressed under timing in all these mocks for verbal especially. There were times when I had to answer 10 questions in 10 mins. For maths, I improved my timing using
GMATClub Tests.
Before the exam day, I was bit scared about my timing in verbal as I have the habit of sticking to a question and not letting it go. Still, I was feeling confident as I knew that under any circumstances I will score good as I did in my mocks.
But, before the exam day, there was a long power cut in my locality and I couldn't sleep because the backup was exhausted. I slept barely for 2 hours the day before my exam. But I wasn't affected my this. I reached the center and I started my exam. AWA went pretty well (I got a 5.5/6). Then in IR I was stuck in a two-part analysis question for some time but I went ahead. I got 6 MSR questions and I knew I was bad at them. So, I had the feeling that I screwed IR section (I got a 3, even less than my 1st attempt ie was 5).
After the break I started with maths, It was going pretty well till 9th question (ahead of time) but then there was a question (I think 12th) and I got stuck with that one. I didn't realize how much time I had spent on that question. And by the time I was trying to catch my pace up, there was one more question where I got stuck and had to guess and move ahead. I remember I was on 30th question with 7 mins to go and I had to guess 35,36 and 37 in order to complete the exam. After the maths section, I felt I messed up but Still I had the feeling that I will get a 49 for sure.
After the break verbal started with 3 sc and one cr question. Then came in an RC it was a long one and I read it quickly(with
egmat strategies). The first RC question was a main point and I was stuck between three options and I wasn't able to narrow down the answer. I tried to move ahead but somewhat I got frozen and I couldn't. I was trying hard to figure out that question and I wasted a lot of time. I had to complete the first 10 questions in 21 mins but I was 5 mins behind due to my mess up. I messed up with one more RC in the same way in the third set of questions. Then, I tried to catch up the pace but I was on the 30th question with 10 mins left. I had to guess on all CR question that came after that and I knew I had messed up. I wasted so much money and effort. The last 10 questions were stressful, my mind was telling me that you have messed up and I knew RC has taken my life again.
I got a 640 (q: 48, v:29) in my second attempt. I just improved by 30 points from my first attempt.
I had done everything I thought was necessary for GMAT exam. I took a leave from my college, left some placements offers, shifted to the other city just to study for the exam. Moreover, I took mocks in a proper manner in the same kind of conditions but still, I failed in my second attempt. I don't want to apply with this score as I know it;s not representative of my performance.
I have an issue with the competitive exams. I perform well in mocks but when the real exam comes, I am stuck or hold on to a question and I mess up.I think my exam temperament is not good while taking the exam. I don't know ho exactly to move ahead. I am currently giving my final semester exams. I want to improve but I feel like I have given everything that I had to my second attempt. I think that it could be the possibility that even if I improve and prepare for my third attempt, I could mess up again due to my bad temperament during the exam. I couldn't improve in this respect.
Please suggest what I can do and how can I work to improve my exam temperament.
I am attaching my ESRs from both attempts please see and give your valuable inputs.
Thanks a lot.
This is some pretty negative thinking and doesn't help at all. Note that GMAT is about both, aptitude and attitude. First ensure that you are good at the tested topics - then ensure that you know you are good at them!
Also, keep in mind that there is no limit to the number of time times you can take GMAT. If you do not get the score you like, you can just choose to cancel it and no one will be the wiser. Hence you shouldn't stress out unnecessarily.
From your latest ESR, I see that you spend less time in CR and more in SC. Ideally, you don't need more than 1 - 1.25 mins for an SC question. But for CR, people usually take upto 2 mins. The point I am trying to make is, that you might want to increase your speed in SC (say, by focussing on the decision points). Also, in case you are a little more careful in CR questions, you might improve your accuracy. Yes, RC certainly did not work out in your favour but you already knew that. What was the problem you faced in RC during the exam? Was comprehension a problem? Or was time a problem?
I suggest that you write down everything you learnt from this attempt. The sections/topics in which you feel you are weak; those in which you feel you take too much time etc. Then take a break of a few weeks and start with a fresh mind. Since you are in your final year, you have plenty of time.
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12 Apr 2017, 03:18
GMAT_Attempt 2.pdf [424.62 KiB] 
