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Positive thinker
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First off, I am very sure no-one will call you stupid... you are far from that... you have great GPA and have the realization that you have just a block when it comes to competitive exams.
Here is what I think... everyone to a certain extent is fearful of competitive exams. It depends to what level do you let it affect you. Some people are good at suppressing the fear and work on it... some people are not too good at it and seems like you are one.
The key is to give yourself some time. Take your time when you are preparing for the GMAT. Take a lot .. and I seriously mean a lot of GMAT tests to get yourself used to the idea of solving under time pressure... the key is get your mind working under pressure.
So, in short if you don't have time constraints, and can afford to spend time on preparing, you should take it slow and ramp up to your optimal performance level. Take lots of practice tests under timed conditions (I think between 30-40 tests... approx. 120hrs of testing) to get used to it.
Remember, GMAT is not an IQ test, it is a measure of how well you have practiced solving a certain type of questions.

Good luck.
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haas_mba07
Remember, GMAT is not an IQ test, it is a measure of how well you have practiced solving a certain type of questions.


This is such a true statement.. I should incorporate it somehow into every post of mine.

One major question: Why did you take the exam without studying if you KNOW you are bad at standardized tests?!!?

Can you tell us your breakdown of scores at the 220 level? I'm assuming were are talking raw scores of about 2-7? Was one signficantly higher than the other, or just weak all around?

In any case, if you really did get a 220 (pardon the skepticism), and are looking to push a 500, one month wont come close to being enough time. I know you dont want to hear that, but a jump of 250+ points is very signficant and won't come easy.

How are you scoring on GMATPreps or other exams?

I think the suggestion of 30-40 exams is high, but then again, now that I think about it, I took about 15-20. If you have signficant difficulties with standardized tests, 30 to 40 practice exams is probably not out of the question.

The last post made a good point - the gmat does not test intelligence. It tests your ability to learn how to do a specific task.
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+ve thinker:

If you could phrase in one single sentence, what do you think is your biggest problem when you write tests?

a) You are intensely nervous
b) You get stuck in a question and never move forward unless you get an answer
c) You really do not know how to deal with objective type, quick thinking questions

Since your GPA suggests you have no problem understanding subjects per se, but you certainly have a very serious problem in tests, but why? (Getting a 220 means you probably got almost everything wrong)

Unless you take a really hard look at the problem, INCLUDING asking yourself if you approach to the test is stupid, and then working at remedying it, you will have difficulties. Don't be scared of asking tough questions to yourself, ask help from people here, and then work on it.

Good luck.
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Positive Thinker,

Wow... I wish you the best. I have nothing more to say other than that my suggestion was an attempt to help you. I was being sincere in my suggestion. I could not get a GPA of the sort you describe, yet I got a 710 on the GMAT. So, to me, your radical disconnect between GPA and GMAT tells me that you could BENEFIT positively from getting a special request approved. If you don't feel you need it, I can respect that. But such a defensive "I'm not stupid" reaction is neither desired nor reflective of anything positive about you. My apologies for offending you, but keep this in mind:

Quote from Yale Admissions Director ("How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs" - page 146): "If someone has trouble taking standardized tests, we expect them to deal with this at the test-taking level by arranging (with GMAC) for extra time, for instance, to take the exam."

So there you have it -- a top-20 program telling you it's okay. If you don't need it, then fine, but some people do. BTW, in case you're wondering, I did not get extra time from the GMAC for my 710... but I would have done so without apology if I were faced with your predicament.

Marcus
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You can do this....

I would not be ashamed to take the extra time. In fact, now that I think about it, I know a guy who scored horribly on the GMAT, applied to Kellogg and was denied. Story doesn't end there of course. He was told his GMAT was too low and he should retake. He did, did even worse, reapplied and included an essay about his difficulty with standardized tests. He gradauted from Kellogg last year.

Do not give up. There are so many people here that taken scores and bumped by 200 points. I jumped about 130 points. My other friend jumped by 140 points. I've read stories of people jumping 200 and over too.

Kaplan sucks.

If you are serious about studying, I would suggest ManhattanGMAT. Check them out. They have classes in NY, they also do online courses. Their classes are a maximum of 4 people - and they go nice and slow, stopping for people to ask questions. I took Kaplan, it sucked. I dropped it. Waste of time and money. I tried Princeton. Same problem. I tried ManhattanGMAT, and it was amazing.

The classes are more $ than Kaplan or Princeton, but the difference is in the material and the quality of hte professors. Every ManhattanGMAT prof must score 750 or better to teach. Thats not true of Kaplan or Princeton.

Also, for me, Manhattan was what I needed because Kaplan and others assume you know the material already, at least a little bit, and focus on teaching you tips and tricks... they dont teach you the material again from the ground up. Manhattan does. Their philosphy is that if you don't get the material - at a fundamental level - no amount of tips or tricks will save you.

Dont' despair. I'm always here to help, just ask.

If I were you I would sign up for a Manhattan course - in person. Barring that, I'd do the online version. If you can't do the online one, buy the Manhattan GMAT book set. The whole set. You can buy them used here - a lot of people are selling the set, myself included (not a sales pitch). Don't buy the set if you are taking the class, it comes with. The set includes 7 manhattan guides, the official guide and two supplements on Verbal and Math.

I also strongly recommend the course over just buying hte books because you get access to some great testing software AND videotaped online versions of EVERY CLASS so you can review them as many times as you like.
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One thing that I would suggest is to take as many tests as you can get a hand on while adhering to strict timing conditions. Don't look at the scores...try to get over your nervousness and anxiety. Once you are over the mental "bump", your scores will automatically jump.

Positive thinker
Hi, a little about myself before i jump into details. I graduated from a reputable university which is accredited and my major was Finance.

GPA:

3.38 B+(Cumulative)
3.44 B+ (Finance GPA)
3.93 A (Economics GPA)

I was part of an honors finance programs investing and managing the universities money into various stocks. Was on the Deans list and have work experience working in Europe for a freigh fowarding company as a Finance/Marketing consultant. Currently I work in a law firm.

I was never really good at standardized tests and did horrifcly poor on the SATS. I have taken the GMAT twice and the first time i didn't study and the second time i studied more and got a score of a 220. I know i must be the dumbest person on GMAT club. Im so lost, so afraid of failing. The schools im interested in would accept a score of 350 and up. My target GMAT score is 500, because i want to prove that i can do it. I am aiming to take it again, most likely in a month or two.

I live in the New York area and was wondering if anyone could suggest to me what to do because self study for a magnatude as something like this doesn't seem to work. I took Kaplan and was not a good choice. Didn't help. Meanwhile im studying by myself with the books i have at home brushing my math skills up. There are so many out there that i don't what else to buy or study.

I have read the reviews about Testprepny, and was wondering if anyone can provide me with feedback regarding it. If anyone has tried them out please let me know. I could use all the advice i can get.
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I would say i really get nervous and i need time to think over the questions
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Positive thinker
I would say i really get nervous and i need time to think over the questions

Here is my 2 cents. The more confident you are on the subject, the less nervous you will be. Confidence, you'll get only with practice.
PRACTICE - I think, the very fact we so easily say and use this word really undermines its importance. When you know your stuff, nothing can beat you - not even nervousness.
With enough practice (w/hardwork), you don't really need to think over much on most questions on GMAT. So just work hard, you'll get there. Aim for much higher than 500, believe you can do it and you will.
Nobody is stupid. If there is anyone stupid, it is the lazy one.
Good Luck.
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gsr
Nobody is stupid. If there is anyone stupid, it is the lazy one.


Well said..
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Well +ve thinker... what can I say... I got a 420 the 1st time, 390 the 2nd time and 490 the 3rd time. I have not given up.... And to top it all, I do not even have the GPA you have.... And guess what.... I am aiming for a top notch school!!! I have a Computer science degree from US with a chemical engineering undergrad from India and 6 years of experience (3 of them in product management). I am still aiming for the high 680s to 700. I know the path is not easy but you know what "I DON'T CARE". I will work till I get a score that is decent enough to get into the school of my dream. I am aiming for Chicago GSB (Weekend MBA program). I will defend myself for poor scores. I have no excuses but will work through it. It is like a Math Problem... You want to get from point A to point B, whether you go at different speeds or variable speeds or take different routes does not matter. What matters is "DO YOU GET THERE??". So don't give up... :-D
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okay. im in NYC too. i hate the gmat. i am retaking it. i scored a 49 Q on one test, then a 39V on the other, i need both those scores on the same test.

you have to overcome whatever mental block is keeping you from scoring high. do whatever it takes. the admissions committee doesnt care about excuses, because everyone has a million of them. i have some really good ones too. trust me, they just see the score and move on if its too low. fact of life. sucks.

if you get obsessive about a question and spend 20 minutes on it then rush through the rest of the test, you have to train yourself to give up on a question you cannot answer and move on. its the hardest thing in the world to do that, but it must be done. I always get #4 wrong. on every test. always. why? because i trained myself to freak out about how easy the test it, and convince myself #4 is the end of the world. that was stupid, and i am paying for it, financially, emotionally, and more. I fixed that problem by retraining myself to not look at the clock or the question # until the middle of the test.

the people who score the highest are not the smartest. realize that. the people who score the highest know how to manipulate the system. some people have systems, other people are just really good at the question types. dont pressure yourself by comparing yourself, just focus on that one little mental block that is killing your score. since you bombed the test the first time, if you can ace it the adcom will see that you overcame an obvious mental block and will look highly upon your ability to overcome personal issues an succeed.

Just focus on winning, the big picture. dont stress over each and every detail, because it will fill your mind with clutter and anxiety. You are just just as smart as everyone else, you just have to find out what the issue is and treat it like a cut on your finger- tend to it, fix it, and forget about it.

Good luck.
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I never felt that GMAT can gauge the true ability of one. What it tests is how well one can undergo a pressing condition. Without paying attention to the timing ( although i can still allocate time quite well for each question), I have no problem to crack difficult questions, but once i sense some pressure, I easily switch my calmess to a panic status and get dumb in even easy questions.

IMO, GMAT can gauge efficiency of one's but can't measure how well one can fathom a knowledge.

US-styled tests are really different from a more redundant, yet comprehensive testing style of other countries such as UK.
What i'm trying to say is that you shouldn't lose confidence on your own ability and that you just focus on getting yourself adapted to the test. That's all and a lot practice will work :)
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You can do it, you just need to spend more time practicing.

A friend of mine got 220 in her first try. After studying for 3 months, she got a 640 in her 2nd try. A +420 improvement!!!!!!!!!

Just become an active member of this site. Take the math challenges and be involved in solving some of the questions posted. Take your time to learn the concepts because this is important to improve your speed and accuracy.
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Nervous about tests? I know that type lol. Hubby took the road test for driver's license three times, and only barely passed it the last time. ;) (Considering he is my teacher for driving and I got a 97 on my test. :-D)

Anyways, if you ask me, I say you've got a good situation at hand. The best thing about a low score is you can only go up. And from 220 I expect you'll go up a lot.

If you don't have a lot of time, I suggest you stick with the OG for practice questions. First review the basics and study each area thoroughly. Then divide the OG into small patches. Do each patch, and spend three times of the time to analyze your mistakes and doubts. Make sure you study each option, not only the one stated as OA. Do a full test after you've finished all areas, see how you have improved, and where is your weak area. You don't have to work on the most difficult questions. For example, some questions in the challenge is in a higher level that not everybody needs. Only by mastering the more basic type questions you'd already get better scores. Get used to the GMAT style. How the questions are asked and what you are expected to think about a question.

Feel free to discuss in the forum. There are lot of talents here. I'm confident that with proper preparation you'll get a much higher score, nervous about tests or not.
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gsr
Positive thinker
I would say i really get nervous and i need time to think over the questions
Here is my 2 cents. The more confident you are on the subject, the less nervous you will be. Confidence, you'll get only with practice.
PRACTICE - I think, the very fact we so easily say and use this word really undermines its importance. When you know your stuff, nothing can beat you - not even nervousness.
With enough practice (w/hardwork), you don't really need to think over much on most questions on GMAT. So just work hard, you'll get there. Aim for much higher than 500, believe you can do it and you will.
Nobody is stupid. If there is anyone stupid, it is the lazy one.
Good Luck.

This gives me great hope and belief in myself, thank you for your input. And thank you Marcus for posting such a question because many of us are swimming in the same boat but are afraid to voice up and seek help because we are afraid of "looking stupid" or embarrassing ourselves in the face of the whole world. It feels relieving to know that I am not alone.
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