Hi all
I have been in the GMAT Journey for the past two year and still unable to beat it. I am sharing my experience till now so that I can get all the suggestion required to improve my score to 740.
My Background:
I am working in POWERGRID (India's Central Transmission Utility), a PSU, Navratna Company for the past 8 years looking after Extra High Voltage (220 KV) Substation Operation and Maintenance and Contracts department at my location.
GMAT Journey part 1: I first contemplated about GMAT in September 2016. I gave the GMAT prep Exam 1 in September 2016 and scored 650 (Q48, V31). I was happy and felt that I can definitely achieve score of 740. I started my study using Beat the GMAT 60 Days study plan (used GMAT Prep Now Free Video). Everything was going fine till I encountered Sentence Correction section. I had no clue about it. I got frustrated. I switched to Manhattan SC book (5th edition). Tried my level best to get the idea on how to solve SC question. I gave GMAT prep Exam 1 second time in Mid October 2016 and scored 680 (Q49, V33). Even though my score improved by 30 points, I had no clue while solving SC question but felt confident with CR and RC.
At this point of time (October 2016 end), some family commitments took my mind away from GMAT. I was able to come back to study only in February 2017.I started once again with my preparation following the Beat the GMAT 60 days study plan. This time I realised that even though I felt confident in CR and RC, my accuracy was same for RC and SC and slightly better for CR. I used
POWERSCORE CR Bible and felt that I have got hang of things for CR. I gave following free Test from different companies as follows:
Manhattan on 26th July 2017 - 630 (Q46, V31)
Kaplan on 2nd August 2017 - 710 (Q49, V36)
Veritas on 2nd September 2017 -690 (Q49, V34)
I gave GMAT prep exam 2 on 5th September and scored 660 (Q49, V31). I thought that lets give GMAT and see what happens as I was sort of ideas on how to improve my score. I gave GMAT on 17th September 2017 and got 680(Q50, V32).My ESR showed that I was 34 percentile for SC, 60 percentile for RC and around 80 percentile for CR.
GMAT Journey part 2: I then researched for GMAT course for SC and enrolled in
e-GMAT SC only course. I started getting hang of things in SC. However, this time I was unable to give regular time to studies as my job took chunk of the time. I was only able to pull things back together by June 2017. I purchase EP 1 and 2. I got 720(Q50, V38) in GMAT prep Exam 3 on 22nd June. But I couldn't take exam before August as I was away on work assignment. I took following prep exam leading upto my scheduled GMAT on 4th August 2018.
Prep Exam 5th on 22nd July 2018 740 (Q49, V40). This time I was confident taking exam.
Everything was going to the plan on the test day. However, tragedy stuck, Internet connectivity at my test centre was hampered with around 6 mins and 3 question left in quant section. I panicked, even though internet connectivity returned and i lost only 1 minute. I got all the three question wrong. I finished the exam and saw the score of 690 (V37, Q48) pop up. I was annoyed and complained to GMAC with ESR (attached). However, they did not agree with me regarding the score getting hampered due to internet connectivity.
GMAT journey part 3:I scheduled the GMAT exam once again for 15th Septmber 2018. I gave prepGMAT Exam 6 on 11th September 2018 and I got 750 (Q51, V39). I was really confident and looking towards finally overcoming the GMAT.
My GMAT exam on 15th September 2018 was going well according to me, however, I was apprehensive that I was not seeing the type of question (such as boldfaced CR) one gets when the exam is going well. I finished my exam and to my shock I saw the score of 650(Q48, V31). I cancelled the score. I am unable to comprehend what went wrong. I have done full circle. Started with exact score on GMAT prep exam 1.
Road Ahead: But I won't give up and plan to take GMAT once again in one month time. I am looking to register myself with
e-GMAT (Verbal online) or EMPOWERGMAT course to improve my score to 740. My target schools are shown in my profile. Requested to provide suggestion on the course of action (and the course I take) that I take in my 4th attempt of GMAT....