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31 Aug 2022, 14:35
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Hi All
I am finally done with standardized tests (hopefully forever). My final score is 750 (49Q, 42V, AWA 6, IR 8). I have been planning to share my GMAT journey with fellow aspirants for some time now. Hope this adds some value to your preparation. The few topics I plan to handle here are:
1) GMAT vs GRE
2) GMAT preparation strategies
3) GMAT online exam experience
GMAT v/s GRE
I struggled with the GRE for 3 years before deciding to give the GMAT. I gave my first attempt in 2018 and scored 322. I was targetting top colleges in the US and was told that this score will be outright rejected especially for an Indian applicant and anything less than a 330 is going to make things difficult. I then gave three more attempts and the best that I could do was a 326. Anyway, after three years, I decided that something had to change. Everyone told me to give the GRE one more time and go beyond the 330 mark but I didn't have the confidence. The GRE tests your vocabulary which, for me, meant mugging up thousands of words. I had already done that and yet in every mock/real test I faced multiple questions where I had no idea what those words meant. Many people say that GRE tests the context in which the words are used rather than whether the test taker knows the word at all, but then if you have zero clue what two words out of the five options mean, you have no choice but to just take a random guess. GMAT on the other hand tests grammar and your ability to communicate effectively. After I did my research, I felt the GMAT was more suited to my abilities. My base score (without any preparation) on GMAT was 680 while on GRE it was 314. So if you are anything like me ie: not great at vocabulary but good at grammar and have been struggling with GRE, consider taking the GMAT.
GMAT preparation strategies
It took me about 8 months to reach the score I finally got. I also did not put in like 3-4 hrs every day as my job is demanding. I put in 5-6 hours every day on Sat and Sun but over the weekdays I would not be able to put in more than an hour (if I was able to put in any hours at all on weekdays). I used GMAT with CJ to prep. I took up their recorded classes so that I could prep as and when I was comfortable. I strongly recommend you take their course especially if you are from India. Their verbal course is great and their focus on learning and reading effectively (rather than any tricks or shortcuts) is commendable. Personally, during GRE preparation, I used to get extremely impatient and demotivated when my score dipped in mocks. CJ and Aneesh's course instills in you to be patient with your prep and with yourself to achieve the best score. Take additional time if needed, but prepare when you are in a mental state to prepare. If you are extremely tired after work and just sit for three hours in front of a screen with no information actually penetrating, you, my friend, are setting yourself up for failure. Less but focused time is much better than more time with no focus.
Give the base mock and analyze your weaknesses. If you are already on a 48/49 level on quant but say scored a 30 on verbal, it is clear that you need to focus maximum of your energies on verbal. Do this analysis in depth in each of the sections. Identify exactly where you are going wrong in Verbal. In my initial test, I got 2 CR, 2 RC questions wrong and 8 SC questions wrong. I completed the verbal section of the course and spent all energies practicing SC. After giving a mock, I realized that this time I got 4 SC and 4 CR questions wrong because I got more of the weaken questions int CR in this mock. I spent sufficient time practicing just those to increase my CR accuracy. For many people, it is difficult to go beyond the 60-70% accuracy in SCs, so try to maximize accuracy in CR and RCs. Try not to get more than 1 wrong in CR and RC each if you are looking out for a 730+. For AWA, try to write about 500 words but make sure to make valid points and give examples for each point. Do not skip the IR section in the mocks. Please give it and get accustomed to it. Space the mocks out. Giving mocks every three days will probably not boost your score and only dishearten you (you can do it to build stamina but please do not beat yourself up because of the lack of improvement in the score). The only mocks I gave are the official mocks and 1 manhattan prep test.
GMAT online experience
After much deliberation, I decided to give the GMAT online exam. I was super nervous about the setup and missing some instructions mentioned by the GMAC. I think I was more nervous about the online component than the exam itself. On D-day, things went well, and the proctor seemed friendly. However sometime during the quant section when I was using my whiteboard I think I moved a little away from the camera. The proctor asked me to adjust the camera, which I did and that was that. I didn't think too much about it until the next day when I received an email from the GMAC security team stating that my test was under review. I was really heartbroken. I read and spoke to some people on the GMAT club who had really bad experiences after being reviewed. People had their scores canceled while some people were banned. The mail also stated that my score would take 20 business days to arrive. I went into super panic mode. However, I received my score within 4 working days from my test date. But the entire experience was pretty stressful and made me wonder if all the panic could have been avoided by just taking the test at the center. I also read some posts where people said that most high scores in GMAT online are being flagged by GMAC. If that is the case and you are aiming for a high score and have a habit of panicking like me, you might save yourself some stress and just take it at the center.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions. I would be happy to help.
I am finally done with standardized tests (hopefully forever). My final score is 750 (49Q, 42V, AWA 6, IR 8). I have been planning to share my GMAT journey with fellow aspirants for some time now. Hope this adds some value to your preparation. The few topics I plan to handle here are:
1) GMAT vs GRE
2) GMAT preparation strategies
3) GMAT online exam experience
GMAT v/s GRE
I struggled with the GRE for 3 years before deciding to give the GMAT. I gave my first attempt in 2018 and scored 322. I was targetting top colleges in the US and was told that this score will be outright rejected especially for an Indian applicant and anything less than a 330 is going to make things difficult. I then gave three more attempts and the best that I could do was a 326. Anyway, after three years, I decided that something had to change. Everyone told me to give the GRE one more time and go beyond the 330 mark but I didn't have the confidence. The GRE tests your vocabulary which, for me, meant mugging up thousands of words. I had already done that and yet in every mock/real test I faced multiple questions where I had no idea what those words meant. Many people say that GRE tests the context in which the words are used rather than whether the test taker knows the word at all, but then if you have zero clue what two words out of the five options mean, you have no choice but to just take a random guess. GMAT on the other hand tests grammar and your ability to communicate effectively. After I did my research, I felt the GMAT was more suited to my abilities. My base score (without any preparation) on GMAT was 680 while on GRE it was 314. So if you are anything like me ie: not great at vocabulary but good at grammar and have been struggling with GRE, consider taking the GMAT.
GMAT preparation strategies
It took me about 8 months to reach the score I finally got. I also did not put in like 3-4 hrs every day as my job is demanding. I put in 5-6 hours every day on Sat and Sun but over the weekdays I would not be able to put in more than an hour (if I was able to put in any hours at all on weekdays). I used GMAT with CJ to prep. I took up their recorded classes so that I could prep as and when I was comfortable. I strongly recommend you take their course especially if you are from India. Their verbal course is great and their focus on learning and reading effectively (rather than any tricks or shortcuts) is commendable. Personally, during GRE preparation, I used to get extremely impatient and demotivated when my score dipped in mocks. CJ and Aneesh's course instills in you to be patient with your prep and with yourself to achieve the best score. Take additional time if needed, but prepare when you are in a mental state to prepare. If you are extremely tired after work and just sit for three hours in front of a screen with no information actually penetrating, you, my friend, are setting yourself up for failure. Less but focused time is much better than more time with no focus.
Give the base mock and analyze your weaknesses. If you are already on a 48/49 level on quant but say scored a 30 on verbal, it is clear that you need to focus maximum of your energies on verbal. Do this analysis in depth in each of the sections. Identify exactly where you are going wrong in Verbal. In my initial test, I got 2 CR, 2 RC questions wrong and 8 SC questions wrong. I completed the verbal section of the course and spent all energies practicing SC. After giving a mock, I realized that this time I got 4 SC and 4 CR questions wrong because I got more of the weaken questions int CR in this mock. I spent sufficient time practicing just those to increase my CR accuracy. For many people, it is difficult to go beyond the 60-70% accuracy in SCs, so try to maximize accuracy in CR and RCs. Try not to get more than 1 wrong in CR and RC each if you are looking out for a 730+. For AWA, try to write about 500 words but make sure to make valid points and give examples for each point. Do not skip the IR section in the mocks. Please give it and get accustomed to it. Space the mocks out. Giving mocks every three days will probably not boost your score and only dishearten you (you can do it to build stamina but please do not beat yourself up because of the lack of improvement in the score). The only mocks I gave are the official mocks and 1 manhattan prep test.
GMAT online experience
After much deliberation, I decided to give the GMAT online exam. I was super nervous about the setup and missing some instructions mentioned by the GMAC. I think I was more nervous about the online component than the exam itself. On D-day, things went well, and the proctor seemed friendly. However sometime during the quant section when I was using my whiteboard I think I moved a little away from the camera. The proctor asked me to adjust the camera, which I did and that was that. I didn't think too much about it until the next day when I received an email from the GMAC security team stating that my test was under review. I was really heartbroken. I read and spoke to some people on the GMAT club who had really bad experiences after being reviewed. People had their scores canceled while some people were banned. The mail also stated that my score would take 20 business days to arrive. I went into super panic mode. However, I received my score within 4 working days from my test date. But the entire experience was pretty stressful and made me wonder if all the panic could have been avoided by just taking the test at the center. I also read some posts where people said that most high scores in GMAT online are being flagged by GMAC. If that is the case and you are aiming for a high score and have a habit of panicking like me, you might save yourself some stress and just take it at the center.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions. I would be happy to help.
31 Aug 2022, 18:14
Kudos
Bookmarks
Congrats Dreamer8097!
It's interesting how much better suited you are to the GMAT than to the GRE. I've always understood logically why the GMAT would be better for many people, but this is the first time I've such a clear difference in results.
Nice job being patient with your prep, and may all go well for you going forward.
It's interesting how much better suited you are to the GMAT than to the GRE. I've always understood logically why the GMAT would be better for many people, but this is the first time I've such a clear difference in results.
Nice job being patient with your prep, and may all go well for you going forward.
31 Aug 2022, 20:38
Kudos
Bookmarks
Gratz and all the best. The Online scores are being commonly reviewed but it's nice to hear a score become Official in about 5 days. Had a 6-hour student who went from a V41 to a V45 (retake) in about 10 days. It took a further 15 business days for the score to become Official. They went from a 700 to a 760 so there may be some SOP that gets triggered.
