Test Day It was a beautiful day in upstate NY and I felt at peace with the world. I went out to my car to start the long drive from Ithaca NY to Syracuse and guess what my car wouldn't start! How frustrating!!! I waited a few minutes and it finally started. But this little set back was an omen of how my day would go. I drove 21 miles and got to Cortland. At that time I needed to use the rest room. I stopped at a Sunoco (pronounced Su-no-ko) station. My bladder and bowels were not cooperating. I'm not sure if it was nerves but it was distracting. I decided to buy a soda (Dr. Pepper) to soothe my stomach. Well, my Honda Civic doesn't have a cup holder (weird, huh?) so I jam the cup between the passenger seat and e-brake lever. I pulled out of the station feeling better when I noticed that my cup had slid backwards dripping Dr. Pepper on the carpet. I quickly slid the cup back into place and soda must have accumulated in the straw. In the process of putting the cup back, the straw, serving as a catapult, launched soda all over the inside of my windshield and all over the top of the dash. I got some on my shorts too. I thought to myself "What else can go wrong?" I shouldn't have asked. On the unintentional comedy scale I would rate my experience a 7.5. A little city called Cortland has a college there and is on the way to the 81 freeway. The NY Jets decided to hold training camp on the SUNY Cortland campus. I had planned for this and intended to leave two hours early. However, with the car and bowel problems I was running a little behind schedule. The traffic was horrendous in Cortland because of the Jets and because of construction. This led to more frustration and stress. Once I got onto the 81 freeway things were good. I listened to No Doubt's greatest hits and tried to relax. During the drive I saw a cloud that looked like an equilateral triangle and quickly recited the formula for the area of an equilateral triangle which is s^2\sqrt{3}/4 . All was good. I got to the testing center in East Syracuse with 15 minutes to spare before my 2:00 p.m. appointment. Then BOOM I had to use the bathroom AGAIN! After bonding with the porcelain, I approached the front desk and the girl gave me a list of instructions. Pearson VUE now has palm recognition software. Interesting. I breezed through the two essays. Went to the bathroom again (My dang bowels!) and came back ready to conquer the GMAT. I finished the GMAT and scored a 620 (39Q 53%, 36V 78%). As the last one in the testing center I sat there for a few minutes stunned. I thought, "All of my hard work and the best I can score is a measly 620?" I am extremely disappointed with this score. My diagnostic back in June was a 650 (38Q, 42V). So I expected at the very least a 660-680. Here's how I screwed up the test: 1. My timing was off. I should have practiced this more instead of leaving it for the week before. My logic behind this was that if I knew the content really well then my speed would increase and the time spent on questions would decrease. 2. I don't think some of the fundamentals were as solid as they could have been. As Rasheed Wallace says "Ball don't lie" ... and so it is with the GMAT ... "GMAT don't lie." You either know the stuff or you don't. I got hammered on that probability question and a difficult geometry question. Quant Experience For the quant section I was behind from the beginning. Around the 4th or 5th question I got a difficult probability question followed by 2 equally difficult questions. I spent 6 minutes on the probability question and I think I got it wrong. I keep thinking to myself "Move on, move on." I couldn't bring myself to do move on since I felt that I was close to solving it. The question was really quite difficult to extract the information needed to solve the problem. By question 20 of 37 on the quant section I had approximately 20 minutes left. It was a race to the finish. Verbal Experience Verbal was worse than quant. I had a lot of difficult CR problems and two really difficult reading passages. I was cursing GMAT the whole time because the beginning CR passages were crazy difficult. One particular CR was an LSAT type question with a long passage, at least for the GMAT, with an A-to-B,-B-to-C,-C-to-A,-what-can-you-infer-from-this-type-of-question. On question 21 I checked the time and was shocked to find that I had 19 minutes remaining with one long RC passage to go. The last 7 questions were absolute guesses. The lesson learned from this experience as J. Walter Weatherman would say: "And that's why you don't put off your timing practice." Practice Test Scores I'm providing my practice scores to help guide your advice .... GMATprep 1 650 (38Q, 42V) June 21, 2009 DIAGNOSTIC 670 (38Q, 44V) July 6, 2009 660 (39Q, 42V) July 18, 2009 740 (45Q, 47V) July 30, 2009 - Verbal may have been skewed due to several repeats After my 740 score I uninstalled the software. I had an old CD version of GMATprep so I decided to download the software from MBA.com. I took the test and saw one familiar question in quant and all new questions in verbal (even the reading comprehension passages!). I scored a 710 (45Q, 42V) August 8, 2009. I even made a thread about it: does-anyone-know-whether-gmac-changes-questions-in-gmatprep-82087.html The Wednesday before the test I took GMATprep 1, primarily for timing purposes and scored a 700 (48Q, 38V). I was a little worried because I never scored below a 38 on verbal. I wrote about that here: someone-console-me-has-this-happened-to-anyone-82303.html GMATprep 2 680 (42Q, 40V) June 27, 2009 720 (47Q, 42V) July 11, 2009 720 (45Q, 42V) July 25, 2009 710 (42Q, 46V) August 5, 2009 This was after the reinstall from MBA.com. I saw all new quant questions and some repeats in verbal (mainly RC passages ... I freakin' hate TQM!!!). 730 (49Q, 40V) August 11, 2009 Final Thoughts I think I should retake the test. What do you guys think? After decompressing I realized that, although I screwed up, my score isn't that bad. Plus, knowing what I did wrong is half the battle. My dream school is INSEAD and my current score is not good enough since INSEAD's 80% range is 650-740 or something like that. I am really disappointed with my performance. However, I am optimistic that I can break the 700 barrier. What do you GMATClubbers think? If you think I should retake, how should I prepare, what materials should I use to prepare with and when should I take the test? Any advice is appreciated! Franklin Delano Bluth

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My Botched Attempt at 700+ (Kinda Long)

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Franklin

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26 Aug 2009, 08:34

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snipertrader

Franklin,

Definitely Retake!

Hopefully, you can share some tough CR problems in the forum and we can all learn from it.

Thanks for the support sniper! I will definitely share. The CR probs I saw on the real thing were much more difficult than those in the OG or even GMATprep. I just wasn't prepared for those longer more difficult CR probs. I'm sure those probs contributed to my timing blunders. The most difficult CR probs I saw on the GMAT were assumption probs. I saw them early and often.

I had my sis dig up all of my Official LSAT tests from storage. I hope those tests get here by next week. I will definitely share questions that I feel will benefit GMATClubbers.

Quote:

A log might definitely track your preparation. And you can also expect some good suggestions from the fellow GMATClub members. All the best for your preparation.....

Thanks mrsmarthi!

Quote:

Completely support your decision to retake. Wish you all the best!

Thanks AceofSpades!

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26 Aug 2009, 08:59

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Franklin,

Can you append the link for the CR thread you would be starting in your signature. That way we don't have to look high and dry for it!

Cheers!

Franklin

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26 Aug 2009, 09:14

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snipertrader

Franklin,

Can you append the link for the CR thread you would be starting in your signature. That way we don't have to look high and dry for it!

Cheers!

I really hadn't thought of making a thread but that is a splendid idea. I'm waiting for my LSAT materials to come from my sister (she had to dig them out of storage). As soon as they arrive I will create a thread and will put a link in my signature. I'll send you a PM when I create the thread!

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26 Aug 2009, 19:09

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thanks

Also, i wanted to comment on your writing skills. They are great.... keeps the reader engaged.
i am sure they will come in handy for your apps!

Cheers!

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26 Aug 2009, 20:08

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I'm with you. Retaking on 30 sep. good luck!

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30 Aug 2009, 16:30

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I would retake if I were you. You know what they say "If first you dont succeed, try try again"

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31 Aug 2009, 20:31

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boeinz

I'm with you. Retaking on 30 sep. good luck!

I'll be retaking by end Sept as well!

I feel encouraged that I'm not alone in my retake journey. My score was worse. I got a 510 Q31 V28 after scoring 640-720 in my practice tests, with no score below 35 in verbal. In fact only a 35 in my diagnostic and consistent 40-42 after. I don't even know how I got a 28

perhaps it was the nerves (was very very nervous) and the two sleepless nights before the test.
I hope to break the 700 barrier in my next attempt.

If you guys do start the CR thread, count me in!
For quant, I've started the gmat club tests. Very challenging indeed! I'm getting low scores but I actually feel happy learning from my mistakes! Surprising!

Best of luck to us!!

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Updated on: 02 Sep 2009, 23:37

Originally posted by shadow on 02 Sep 2009, 06:11.
Last edited by shadow on 02 Sep 2009, 23:37, edited 3 times in total.

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Hi Frank,

Sorry to hear about your terrible day on the way to your test. Just remember that each day starts anew. Although I'm far from an expert, I think you should re-take as well and focus on your timing. For me, timing was the most important element in my preparation for the GMAT. Note that timing doesn't necessarily mean to work quickly all the way though (as I had originally done with verbal, leaving me with 7 mins to spare but only an average score).

It sounds from your debrief that you've already pinpointed where you could improve (nerves and timing). Just know that feeling nervous is entirely normal on test day, no matter how much you try to prepare yourself for it (I had a few seemingly humorous situations myself in the hours before my test - ever sit in an elevator by yourself for 5 mins and wonder why it's taking so long to get to your floor? oh right, push the button... ) .

Is there any way you can reschedule for one closer to where you live? 21 miles is an awfully long way to travel for your test. If there's nothing closer, maybe you can get a hotel room near your test the night before so that you don't have to travel as much on d-day.

Good luck on your retake!

(not sure why my post got deleted when i tried to edit one word)

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Updated on: 18 Feb 2013, 17:17

Originally posted by creeks on 02 Sep 2009, 16:40.
Last edited by creeks on 18 Feb 2013, 17:17, edited 1 time in total.

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Franklin

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Updated on: 02 Sep 2009, 18:04

Originally posted by Franklin on 02 Sep 2009, 18:01.
Last edited by Franklin on 02 Sep 2009, 18:04, edited 1 time in total.

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shadowsjc

Hi Frank,

Sorry to hear about your terrible day on the way to your test. Just remember that each day starts anew. Although I'm far from an expert, I think you should re-take as well and focus on your timing. For me, timing was the most important element in my preparation for the LSAT. Note that timing doesn't necessarily mean to work quickly all the way though (as I had originally done with verbal, leaving me with 7 mins to spare but only an average score).

It sounds from your debrief that you've already pinpointed where you could improve (nerves and timing). Just know that feeling nervous is entirely normal on test day, no matter how much you try to prepare yourself for it (I had a few seemingly humorous situations myself in the hours before my test - ever sit in an elevator by yourself for 5 mins and wondering why it's taking so long to get to your floor? oh right, push the button... ) .

Is there any way you can reschedule for one closer to where you live? 21 miles is an awfully long way to travel for your test. If there's nothing closer, maybe you can get a hotel room near your test the night before so that you don't have to travel as much on d-day.

Good luck on your retake!

Thank you for your support! I really do appreciate it.

Unfortunately, I live in Ithaca and attend Cornell. You'd think that with two colleges in Ithaca that Pearson would have a test center since there is such a large student population. But no. No one comes to Ithaca. There is a facility in Binghamton but that place is scary. The facility in Syracuse is really nice.

Franklin

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02 Sep 2009, 18:03

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cseid

Love the arrested development references. I wish that counted on the test. I took the gmat today and after studying hard for 700+ I ended up with a 670. I'm going to retake it and study SC!!!

GOOD LUCK!

Thank you! A 670 is a really good score. SC seems to be the easiest to improve. Good luck to you!

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10 Sep 2009, 20:56

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Hey Franklin,

Just my two cents:

Keep your confidence up on your second go-around. The first time I prepared, I worked through three books and completed about 10 practice exams. I scored 650 and 680 on the first two, and over 700 on the rest. These were the same exams that my brother practiced with. We scored roughly the same on these practice exams and he ended up with a 740 on test day. I felt confident going in.

I scored 600 on my first attempt. I was a bit sick but I wrote anyways. I thought being sick wouldn't affect me much, plus I didn't want to lose my stupid $300. I pretty much ended up in a mental mess during the test. I took me four and a half minutes to finish the first Quant question, then I started thinking about being behind on the timing, then I started thinking that I shouldn't have sat to write the test while being sick, then about how much work I put into prep, etc. It was a disaster and I was devastated afterwards.

I knew right away that I would re-take the test, but I didn't feel confident at all. I went through all of the prep material again, and started ordering and purchasing all sorts of practice exams. I scored well on all of the practice exams, as I did during my first prep, so I really didn't know how to gauge my capabilities. Needless to say, I was very nervous when I wrote the second time. It ended up going well though. I just stayed calm, and ended up with 750, which was on the high end of my practice scores.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the practice tests seem to be pretty accurate. If you can legitimately score over 700 at home, you can probably do it on test day. Don't let one bad day mess you up too much. Stay confident and you will do well.

Cheers

Franklin

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12 Sep 2009, 09:27

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arv

Thank you! I really appreciate the support. Kudos to you!

GMAT888

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25 Sep 2009, 09:33

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Good luck pal!!! Retake the test, I'm sure you'll score higher.

GMAT888

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25 Sep 2009, 09:34

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AT least 90% of retakers score higher!!!!

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