750 (Q49 V44) - My GMAT Experience (2nd time around)

My first contribution to the GMAT Club! Hopefully this debrief will be of some use to someone.

Background:

I took the GMAT the first time Nov 09, and got a 710 (Q49 V38). At that time, my GMATPreps averaged 730. That time, I used an old OG from the library and that was it. When I got the 710, I was really happy but I also knew I didn't do well on the verbal. What I learned from that experience was that because I didn't do the AWA in my prep, my stamina during the verbal session dropped considerably. I also realized that with about 15 questions to go in the verbal, my mind kept getting sidetracked because I was so close to being done and seeing my score. I'm pretty sure it went downhill there.

I kept going back and forth regarding whether I should retake or not. The reason I did retake was because my performance in verbal was really nagging me for months, and I also learned that even after you get your MBA, employers still asked for your GMAT score and I wanted to ensure that I was competitive 5 years from now, given the scores keep getting higher and higher. I forked over the $ and scheduled a 2nd round with the GMAT.

2nd time around:

I decided to retake the GMAT in Feb and took it in May. My goal was a 750. I bought all three OG books (OG, Verbal, and Quant) and MGMAT SC. I learned from before that SC was my weakness, but it was also the easiest for me to improve. I went through all the questions in all 4 books, and did the ones I got wrong again to make sure I understood them. I started GMATPrep again and averaged 770. Given my past experience of scoring 20 points below my practice, I figured I was about ready. Ironically, I scored 20 below my practice once again. The last 2 weeks of GMAtPrep, I did the AWA as well, which I think was a huge help in building up stamina.

Study Strategies:

Quantitative - I've always been good at math, but not great. I didn't really spend any time studying for this section, just spent a lot of time doing problems from the OGs. Data Sufficiency was my weakness, in particular number theory, so I spent extra time working through those questions. My goal was to maintain the level I was at, and if I got lucky, improve on it.

Verbal - I've been pretty good with Reading Comprehension so I didn't spend much time there, just ran through problems. I focused mostly on Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction.

Critical Reasoning - I didn't have a strategy for this, but what I did realize was that the first time around, I chose answers based on what "felt right." After reading explanations on why an answer was correct, I realized that for me, the best way to understand the question and find the right answer was to think through "this is what the statements tell me" and "this is the argument they're making" and then scan through the answers to find which one addressed the argument (weaken/strengthen it, etc). Before, I would often pick the answer that had to do with the subject, but didn't actually address the argument itself.

Sentence Correction - This was the section I really needed work on, so I got the ManhattanGMAT SC book, which was really good at honing in on exactly what the GMAT tested for. I also liked their idioms section because it provided you with not only the correct way of using it, but also the incorrect ways that the GMAT tests you on. I went through the most questions in this section, and made sure that I knew exactly why each answer was right or wrong.

Test Day:

Same as everyone else I would imagine. The place was quiet. I asked for ear plugs which was helpful because I was right by the door and there was a lot of people going in and out. I tested the markers before the test started. I waited for the proctor to get there to sign me out, so I didn't waste precious break time for them to spot me and log me out. I grabbed a few bites of a granola bar and a soda, splashed cold water on my face, and went back in.

Lessons Learned:

Do the AWAs in your GMATPrep! Don't just skip through it.

Make sure to know why your answer is right AND why the other answers are wrong (especially for CR and SC)

Practice with the OGs - nothing beats this. You never have to wonder whether this question is really a GMAT question

Don't wear yourself out the couple weeks before the exam. At this point, you're going to be as prepared as you can. Just stay sharp and run through some problems every day to stay fresh. I took a GMATPrep every weekend for about 6 or 7 weeks.

Hope this helps!