GMAT BACKGROUND (460)I first took the GMAT two years ago and scored a depressing 460. It was the summer before senior year, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do afterward. Find a job or go from undergrad to grad school? I decided to take the GMAT that summer and review my options from there. I knew that I wasn’t a very good standardized test taker – not to be confused with not being a very good student, which I am. I opted to hardly study for the exam. I familiarized myself with the general layout (AWA, quant, verbal) and that was the extent to my studying. In retrospect, probably one of the poorest decisions I have made. I ran out of time on the quant, leaving two questions unanswered. I then adjusted by rushing through the verbal section, finishing with 20 minutes to spare. I hesitated to report the score or cancel it. I knew it was going to be bad but was overly confident in myself. I hit the next button and was devastated. 460. I left the building with a sigh, knowing I wanted to eventually get an MBA and vowing to return, just like Frosty the Snowman so eloquently said, “… don’t you cry/ I’ll be back some day.”
GMAT ROUND 2 (540)I began anew two years later. Again, determined to get my MBA and ready to put in the time to study, I signed up for the GMAT with a month to prepare. I purchased, Cracking the GMAT by the Princeton Review and read that book for the first three weeks of my preparation. That book was the second biggest mistake I have made. It was designed more to help individuals learn test taking strategies, rule out X because of …, than actually learning GMAT specific types of questions. I’m not sure why it took me so long to realize the folly in trying to study in this fashion, but it did. With just over a week to go before my test date, I scoured the internet for better resources and stumbled upon the GMAT Club. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE EVER DONE! Thank you so much GC for all your help. Students posted materials they used, study plans, and inspirational stories to help you stay motivated. Ah! What a Godsend. Unfortunately, it was too late for my second GMAT. I quickly purchased the read reviews on different books, made my purchases, and attempted to skim as much as possible before my test date. I took a GMAT prep and scored a 550. The following day I took the official GMAT and scored 540. I left that trip slightly happier. I had gotten that miserable 460 after-taste out of my mouth. While a 540 isn’t anything exceptional, it was a step in the right direction.
MATERIALSOfficial Guide 10th Edition
Manhattan Guide – Sentence Correction
Manhattan Guide – Reading Comprehension
PowerScore – Critical Reasoning Bible
GMAT FINALE (680: 47q, 35v)After leaving the test center, I took a couple of days off to devise a better approach to tackle the GMAT, having just acquired new books and new recommendations for studying. I rescheduled the GMAT for one month later. I wanted a deadline, a reason to sit down and really grind through those hours of study.
A typical week for me went as follows:
Day 1 – Read half of a prep book
Day 2 – Read the second half of a prep book
Day 3 – Review my notes taken, skim over sections I wanted to more thoroughly examine
Day 4 – Work on practice problems in the
OG. I spent half my time in the quant section and the other half in verbal
Day 5 – Take a practice GMAT.
Day 6 – Take a second practice GMAT.
Day 7 – Review mistakes made on the two GMATs as well as
OG mistakes and notes taken from previous prep books.
Typically I spent 2 hours a day studying during the week and 5-7 hours on the weekend. You might have noticed that the majority of prep books I purchased related to verbal. I currently work in finance and have always been gifted in math. I only needed a refresher in statistics as well as a few other question types, which I spent a few days reviewing before my test day. The GMAT Club allowed for me to supplement
OG questions as well as provided me with in depth explanations of similar problems I missed. I sprinkled the GC into my life everyday. After studying for two hours I would relax the rest of the night but with a nagging feeling that I should be studying more, despite needing a break from it all. The GC allowed for me not only have a better conscious, as I would sprinkle in reading a question or two off your website while relaxing before bed, but also helped to keep me motivated. I was verging on two months straight of studying for 2+ hours a day. I had hardly seen my friends and my family, which was started to take its toll on me. But I found resolve in the results. Each week my practice GMATs reflected an upward swing. I went from consistently scoring 550 to 570, 600 (exciting day for me), 610 and so forth.
The week before my test, I reviewed my notes, studied quant heavily for the first time, and took one last practice GMAT. I focused a lot on the mistakes I made, trying to pre-empt similar mistakes.
I walked into the test center smiling. I knew I had properly prepared for the GMAT this time and was hopeful for a big score. I felt confident about the AWA and quant sections. The verbal questions felt easier toward the end. I wasn’t being asked any abstract questions or bold sections, but easier types (I took the test 4+ months ago so pardon my ambiguity). I finished the test smiling. I knew my prior 540 was going to be an after thought. Ho ho ho! 680 (47q, 35v). FINALLY! A much more satisfying score. I would have liked to break the 700+ mold, but 680 is close enough. It’s still in the 85% and is a long way up for the 23% (460).
I hope my journey will inspire others as I have been motivated by others’ stories. I am writing this late because after scoring my 680 I have been busy with R1 apps. It’s been a busy half a year, but it’s nice to be done with everything. GMAT done. Apps done. And my interviews are done. Now it’s just time to wait. I’ve already received one acceptance letter (1/1) and look forward to receiving many more. Thank you for all your help GMAT Club and for the great posts by your great members.
Have a Merry Christmas folks!
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16 Dec 2010, 07:51
