Compliments : Dont want to write all names here, but if you have posted anything that was responded to with a 'Thanks' here on the forum - you have contributed to my learning. If you have proved me wrong on any answers here, then you made me learn a thing or two here .... so thanks to all of you. Story : I had taken GMAT once in Feb 2002 as I was planning to apply for MS program. I was between finishing college and finding a job so had 2 months to study. Studied only Princeton Review and a little bit of Kaplan. Ended up working instead... This time (4 years later), I discovered GMATclub at the beginning of my preparation and learned all the tricks on how to beat the GMAT. Learned about the existence of OG, Challenges and 1000 SC-CR. Although my score from 2002 could have worked with most of the business schools (I think scores are valid for 5 years), I was confident I could do better and improve the score. I had all the weapons and ammunations I needed and was ready to go after the GMAT all out my with missiles firing - OG 11th Edition OG Verbal and Quant Review Manhattan SC book Kaplan Princeton Review and the best one - GmatClub's Members and Challenges Preperation : I studied for 2.5 months (starting mid-April) but it was very difficult as I was extremely busy at work due to getting promoted and managing new projects. Typically I would be at work 60 hrs a week and together with 1.5 hrs of commute - it was tough to find time. I would study over lunch and sometimes 1-2 hrs in the morning before leaving for work. Studied about 6-8 hrs over the weekends when I was home and not working. I started with PR, then moved to OGs and used the Manhattan SC book with works with OG. The exam went ok but realized how it has changed from a few years ago, specially the Quant. The laminated writing pad and pen was ok and I already knew not to lose the cap. There are many posts about the experiences while taking the test on this forum that covers almost everything, so I will just write down some important things that I wish I knew before I started preparation. - Plan Ahead : If you have plans for going to business school, dont wait till the year before to take the test. Start familiarizing yourself with the exam and the books well in advance. You may not feel like studying unless you have a date with GMAT, so participate in GMATClub forums. This will allow you to socialize/interact with others who share a common goal and in the process you will learn new things as well. This way, when its time to get down and dirty you wont fall behind if you get real busy with work. I work for a web startup (no longer a startup now) so work has always been super busy. - GMAT Quant section is totally different from what it used to be during the ETS era. Because it changed recently, the current books do not represent the real exam well. To make your basics strong, work with OG and PR. Then work with Kaplan and GMAT Challenges to build toughness. Finally (in the last 2 weeks) after you have taken the 2 GMATPrep tests, come to this forum and search for GMATPrep and do all the problems. This is most representative of the real GMAT. - GMAT Verbal section - Focus only on OG and the Verbal Review. You may use PR a bit at the beginning for basics (its too easy) and run far, far away from Kaplan. - Taking simulated tests : You can take the PR tests in the beginning, then the online PR and Manhattan Tests and finally GMATPrep. From the Kaplan CD, just used the Quant part to build on toughness - dont waste your time taking the full Kaplan tests - AWA - make sure you write anything but gibberish and used a couple of personal experiences to communicate why you feel or agree with something. 2-3 small paragraphs is not going to get you anything more than 4.0. So if you can write enough so that you need to scroll down to read it from top to botton, you will get 6.0 or something close. - Test day : Dont eat too much and definitely dont drink to much fluids before the exam. Read a newspaper and solve a few problems so that you are in the flow as soon as you start the test. Take all your breaks and be back a minute before it ends. My practice scores : GMATPrep Test 1: 730 Q50 V40 Test 2: 710 Q48 V39 Test 1 (Retake): 750 Q50 V41 skewed Test 2 (Retake): 720 Q49 V39 skewed Princeton Review GMAT: Test 1: ??? Q45 V44 Test 2: ??? Q46 V38 Test 3: 710 Q49 V40 Test 4: 650 Q46 V35 PR Online test: 700 Q50 V37 Kaplan Test 1: 600 Q44 V30 Test 2: N/A Q50 N/A My profile : Indian Male 27 years High School in India -Competing with a lot of smart-ass legends here Bachelors in liberal arts college in Midwest. GPA 3.89/4.0 Founded dot-com while in college with a couple of college-friends that went from boom to bust real quick. Lived broke for 6 months post 911 in Nyc before joining web startup to learn where I failed. I think the company was really in need that they hired me - the economy was so bad here. Working for 4+ years since in Sales, Business development and Technology. Worked on various projects - you guys know everything web related in mission critical - service/server can't be down!! Satisfied with my score : 700 Q-48 V-39 AWA - will update soon! I have never been really good in Quant or Verbal - I dont think this score only is going to keep me out of any school (maybe except the Top 5). But it will certainly be difficult to complete with all my countrymen - like I said they are all real smart-ass people - just checking all the 750+ scores on this forum. Hope I dont have to retake ... what do you guys think. My only disappointment: I scored a 700 4 years back as well!! So there you go....any suggestions or hopes for me? let me know

CONGRATULATIONS gmatmba! You really deserve that score. Good luck with your apps.

Last visit was: 27 Apr 2026, 05:11

It is currently 27 Apr 2026, 05:11

Toolkit

Share GMAT Experience

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Apr 27
Try OnDemand GMAT Masterclass
11:00 AM EDT
-
12:00 PM EDT
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors
Apr 28
Join - GMAT Day!
08:00 AM PDT
-
11:00 AM PDT
Whether you are just beginning your MBA journey or fine-tuning your path to a 700+ score, GMAT Day is designed to give you a competitive edge.

Back to Forum

Create Topic

Guys - I think I'm done!

1 2

HongHu

Joined: 03 Jan 2005

Last visit: 25 Apr 2011

Posts: 962

Own Kudos:

798

Posts: 962

Kudos: 798

03 Jul 2006, 14:10

Kudos

Bookmarks

Let me add my congratulation too! It's a great job!

gmatmba

Joined: 16 Aug 2005

Last visit: 14 Jun 2008

Posts: 515

Own Kudos:

115

Location: France

Posts: 515

Kudos: 115

04 Jul 2006, 05:43

Kudos

Bookmarks

Sorry for the late reply.... was headed to Atlantic City - needed the break after GMAT 8-)

HongHu, sgrover, biggamejames, selene, shobhitb, buzzgaurav, zoom612, X&Y, Paul, iced_tea, MA, ipc302, acfuture, ps_dahiya, u2lover - all you guys have helped me with Quants and verbals so thanks again.
Rhyme - your legendary inspirational post worked for me and im sure will work for many others!!
giddi77 - thanks for explaning those quant devils so many times..
haas_mba07 - thanks ... and I will stick around so that we can get to know each other and help out more.
laxieqv - thanks for your help with everything...like I said earlier CR in gmat is a bit different from lsat but provide good practice. please PM me if I can be of any help.
vivek123 - you are the inspiration for attacking SC, so thanks.

I'm concentrating on school selection now and this is almost as hard as GMAT...I dont want to pick the top schools blindly and move on....What kind of questions to you guys ask yourself or others when you are selecting schools??

shampoo

Joined: 14 Mar 2006

Last visit: 29 Aug 2006

Posts: 96

Own Kudos:

Posts: 96

Kudos: 14

04 Jul 2006, 07:16

Kudos

Bookmarks

congrats buddy! that is a great score. goodluck with you apps.
I would appreciate if you could elaborate on the quant section a little bit. thanks

gmatmba

Joined: 16 Aug 2005

Last visit: 14 Jun 2008

Posts: 515

Own Kudos:

115

Location: France

Posts: 515

Kudos: 115

04 Jul 2006, 07:24

Kudos

Bookmarks

shampoo

congrats buddy! that is a great score. goodluck with you apps.
I would appreciate if you could elaborate on the quant section a little bit. thanks

Quant is quite different and harder than the current books make it appear to be (this includes OG). The Kaplan full length CAT tests will offer good practice and so will the last 40-50 questions in the OG and Quantative Review books. After that, you want to solve all the GMATprep problems, so search this forum's Math section for 'GmatPrep'. More important than practicing hard problems is to manage time. If you get the problems right, the problems get harder so at some time you will either guess and move on, or spend too much time on a problem which in turn will affect your ability to finish on time. ..if you are not a math genius...just guess and move on so that you can get the rest (or most of the rest) of the problems correct. 1 problem I got in my exam - I had no clue what to do after reading the problem 3 times - and im no no math legend, but im not a math dud either !!

Let me know if you have any questions.

chiragr

Joined: 05 Jan 2006

Last visit: 06 Jun 2007

Posts: 227

Own Kudos:

318

Posts: 227

Kudos: 318

04 Jul 2006, 23:05

Kudos

Bookmarks

your done and in style... congrats.

gmatmba

Joined: 16 Aug 2005

Last visit: 14 Jun 2008

Posts: 515

Own Kudos:

115

Location: France

Posts: 515

Kudos: 115

05 Jul 2006, 12:22

Kudos

Bookmarks

chiragr

your done and in style... congrats.

Thanks chirag...you did awesome...which schools are you targeting? And more important - what are the top 3 criteria you are using to select schools? Please let me know ... im kinda lost here.

Joined: 08 Jun 2004

Last visit: 17 Sep 2006

Posts: 193

Own Kudos:

218

Location: Europe

Posts: 193

Kudos: 218

05 Jul 2006, 22:36

Kudos

Bookmarks

CONGRATULATIONS gmatmba!

:woohoo

You really deserve that score. :-D

Good luck with your apps.

gmatmba

Joined: 16 Aug 2005

Last visit: 14 Jun 2008

Posts: 515

Own Kudos:

115

Location: France

Posts: 515

Kudos: 115

07 Jul 2006, 11:23

Kudos

Bookmarks

CONGRATULATIONS gmatmba!

:woohoo

You really deserve that score. :-D

Good luck with your apps.

Thanks M8 - how is your preparation coming along?
All the best..

gmatmba

Joined: 16 Aug 2005

Last visit: 14 Jun 2008

Posts: 515

Own Kudos:

115

Location: France

Posts: 515

Kudos: 115

14 Jul 2006, 16:03

Kudos

Bookmarks

just an update, my AWA is 6.0

1 2

Moderator:

Founder

43163 posts

Prep Toolkit

Announcements

GMAT Inequalities - The Concepts You Must Know

Subscribe to GMAT Club for New Videos on GMAT Strategies, Expert Sessions, and Debriefs

How to Build your Target MBA Business Schools List?

Subscribe to MBA Club for New Videos on Essays, School-specific Strategies, & Insights Every Applicant Needs

Get Free GMAT Tests by Registering for GMAT Day!

AGSM at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE

Top GMAT Focus Debriefs

An Emory MBA Powers Growth

Emory powers growth—professionally and personally. Built on a foundation of interdisciplinary learning, leadership development, and career readiness, our top-20 MBA program delivers a high return on investment with top-5 career outcomes.

Tuck at Dartmouth

Step Inside the Tuck Experience: Discover Tuck Events This Fall
Current Tuck MBA students and Discover Tuck co-chairs share advice for prospective students and reflect on why they chose Tuck for their MBA.

Read More

My Rewards

What are Rewards?

My Tier

(1 points)

HOT DEALS FOR APRIL

	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

Guys - I think I'm done!

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards