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12 Sep 2017, 01:35
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All of us strive for a perfect score in the test. But there are times we are stuck with one particular score beyond which the going gets tough. It is but human that we then start doubting ourselves as we see our score not improving or even dipping at times. Then what is it really that not lets us reach that target score? Is it lack of practice? Or is lack of test taking? And actually it is then that we either start taking more tests (out of panic) or start practising even more rigorously.
But actually we forget the most important ingredient that we must put in our dish which will not only make it taste good but also make it look and smell the best. This secret ingredient is 'Analysis'. GMAT is one unique exam that not only tests one's content knowledge but also one's test taking/strategy skills. Through the process of Analysis we are able to look at our mistakes very closely and this gives us a new direction to focus our efforts into. It is only through this analysis that differentiates a student who gets 700+ from the one who gets a 650.
(Mind you there is big different between a 600 and a 700!)
Let us take an example here. Suppose we are not able to get more than 60-70% accuracy in reading comprehension, we very conveniently label ourselves 'weak at Reading Comprehension' . However, this labeling does not solve the issue at hand. Now an in depth analysis of the test report can reveal that we may be getting a specific question type wrong most of the times. For instance inference questions or say purpose questions, and it never occurred to us to specifically check our approach in those questions. The analysis also may reveal our discomfort with a particular genre of Reading passage,and now that we are aware, this problem can be improved in a short span of time.
On an average, the analysis time that one can spend on a GMAT verbal section varies from 4-6 hours easily and the same goes for math. The task of analysis not just requires us to look at the incorrect questions but also the correct ones. Analysing very carefully those correct questions in which we took more time than required or those incorrect questions which were actually very easy and could have gotten correct but were wrong because of some silly errors, makes one examine one's progress very closely. This in turn helps one to set the future targets realistically. Usually we give ourselves score targets. 'I am definitely going to get atleast 680 in the next test' is what we say to ourselves. Rather try to set category targets, for example, 'I need to get at-least all modifier questions correct in SC category' or 'I need to get all resolve explain questions correct through the technique that I have learnt'. Such category targets achieved together boost the overall score up and a stable score is equally important by the end to ensure a 700.
Also, taking continuous tests one after the other does not help. We are doing nothing but repeating the mistakes. Till the time we correct those mistakes, it won't make sense to take the next test. Ideally one must spend approximately around 30-40 hours of study time(which includes test analysis, GMAT classes(if any) and self study) between 2 tests. this will ensure that the mistakes don't repeat and will also help push the score up.
So this is how an analysis can help one get out of the the mire which makes one confused and stuck. The 'Analysis' is the silver lining in the dark cloud.
Happy Test Taking!
Sonal Darra
GMAT Verbal Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonaldarra/
But actually we forget the most important ingredient that we must put in our dish which will not only make it taste good but also make it look and smell the best. This secret ingredient is 'Analysis'. GMAT is one unique exam that not only tests one's content knowledge but also one's test taking/strategy skills. Through the process of Analysis we are able to look at our mistakes very closely and this gives us a new direction to focus our efforts into. It is only through this analysis that differentiates a student who gets 700+ from the one who gets a 650.
(Mind you there is big different between a 600 and a 700!)
Let us take an example here. Suppose we are not able to get more than 60-70% accuracy in reading comprehension, we very conveniently label ourselves 'weak at Reading Comprehension' . However, this labeling does not solve the issue at hand. Now an in depth analysis of the test report can reveal that we may be getting a specific question type wrong most of the times. For instance inference questions or say purpose questions, and it never occurred to us to specifically check our approach in those questions. The analysis also may reveal our discomfort with a particular genre of Reading passage,and now that we are aware, this problem can be improved in a short span of time.
On an average, the analysis time that one can spend on a GMAT verbal section varies from 4-6 hours easily and the same goes for math. The task of analysis not just requires us to look at the incorrect questions but also the correct ones. Analysing very carefully those correct questions in which we took more time than required or those incorrect questions which were actually very easy and could have gotten correct but were wrong because of some silly errors, makes one examine one's progress very closely. This in turn helps one to set the future targets realistically. Usually we give ourselves score targets. 'I am definitely going to get atleast 680 in the next test' is what we say to ourselves. Rather try to set category targets, for example, 'I need to get at-least all modifier questions correct in SC category' or 'I need to get all resolve explain questions correct through the technique that I have learnt'. Such category targets achieved together boost the overall score up and a stable score is equally important by the end to ensure a 700.
Also, taking continuous tests one after the other does not help. We are doing nothing but repeating the mistakes. Till the time we correct those mistakes, it won't make sense to take the next test. Ideally one must spend approximately around 30-40 hours of study time(which includes test analysis, GMAT classes(if any) and self study) between 2 tests. this will ensure that the mistakes don't repeat and will also help push the score up.
So this is how an analysis can help one get out of the the mire which makes one confused and stuck. The 'Analysis' is the silver lining in the dark cloud.
Happy Test Taking!
Sonal Darra
GMAT Verbal Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonaldarra/
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