An Average Student's Story from 590 to 720 - Only Self Study

Question

Hi.

I am living my dream right now. When I became active on gmatclub, I read a few success stories, and at that time I dreamed that one day I would write my success story and that day is today.

As usual, before starting GMAT preparation, I took GMAT prep test. I scored 590. So, I knew that I am not a gifted child and that I need to burn the midnight oil to reach my target score, 700. That's when my journey began and I started collecting my armors to tackle the GMAT Exam. My course book consisted of the following

1. OG 12
2. MGMAT Set of Strategy Guides
3. MR Sentence Correction Guide
4. GMAT Club Tests
5. MGMAT Test Bundle
6. Veritas Prep Free Test
7. CR Bible
8. Error Log

Though I mentioned error log in the end, it was as good as OG. Guys, I just can't emphasize more on the vitality of error log and OG - Consider them the GMAT Holy Books. OG gives a fair idea of what kind of questions are asked in GMAT and what should be our thought process in solving those questions and Error log is actually a mirror of preparedness, and from time to time I needed that mirror. I created Error Log for every thing I did. I ended up creating an OG Error Log, an MGMAT Test error log, a Veritas Prep test Error Log, a Gmat Club Test Error Log. The error log gave me a fair idea of what kind of questions I am getting right / wrong and in how much time.

My study plan execution was as follows:

Month 1 - MGMAT Set of Strategy Guide & Earn Kudos in GMATClub to gain access to Gmatclub Tests

During the first month, I dedicated 2 hours daily (Monday - Friday) to the strategy guides and daily solved 30 OG questions from various sections.

I finished the Sentence Correction Strategy Guide first and then started Critical Reasoning Guide. To be honest, I didn't like the MGMAT CR Guide, I was somehow unable to work according to that guide. I left the CR Guide in between as I was depressed because my CR accuracy was low. To boost my moral, I took up Quantitative guide and completed all the 5 guides in 2 weeks; I love quant. My quant accuracy shot up to 85% from a lowly 70%. I then downloaded the GMAT Club Maths book and kept it handy.

To work on CR, I then used the CR bible. This book was in sync with my line of thoughts and helped me grasp concepts.

After completing all Maths Guide, I started working on DS and RC. I utilized my spare time to hone reading skill. I used to read some good books, such as Lolita, Of Mice and Men, Minority Report and Catch 22 during my travel time - while I used to commute from office to home. For DS, I found that the only good strategy is practice.

While I was busy with books, I kept the error log handy. There was not even a single question, that skipped my Excel error log or the Gmat Club Workbook. These two things came handy in the last 20 days.

I actively participated in Gmatclub forums and posted solutions. Alas, in the first one month I was able to gather only 10 Kudos and the club tests required 25, so I was behind my target kudos.

Month 2 - Free tests, MGMAT tests, GMAT Club tests, Practice, Practice, Practice - Be Positive

The second month started at a positive note, I took Veritas Prep free mock test and scored 680 - Hmmm!!! that was close to the target. I analyzed my mistakes in the error log and realized that I was able to understand the RC passages, but still faltered in the inference questions, apart from that, I was not good at CR and my SC was just at par. On the other hand, I was poor at probability and PnC - didn't get a single question correct - and needed to improve geometry. The next two weeks were spent in learning the topics.

I took up Manhattan review SC Guide - This was an elixir for understanding the SC question pattern. I started following Mike - mikemcgarry from Magoosh and followed every single post on Magoosh website and the posts written by him on GmatClub. Believe me guys, he's a gem. My SC got an uplift largely because of Mike.
At the same time, I found articles from e-GMAT very helpful, the explanations for various CR questions were awesome, those explanations came handy while solving the questions.

To improve Probability and P&C, first I tried the GMAT Club Maths Book, it was helpful, but my accuracy couldn't increase beyond 40 - 50%, I then referred to Totalgadha.com for probability and number system. The theory is comprehensive and the questions and their explanations are worthy spending time on the website. At the same time, I started following Bunuel. Huuhhh... My quest for improving Maths found an accelerated path.

I started posting aggressively on gmatclub and by the 20th of the month, I earned 26 Kudos and then I redeemed the GMAT Club Tests - Target Achieved

I took a free MGMAT Test and scored 650 - the score was below expectations. Once again I made an error log of the test and worked on it. My Maths was fine, but my verbal was weak.

I started dedicating more time to verbal - read a lot of Mike's blogs and e-GMAT blogs and for Quant, I solved questions posted by Bunuel

Eat GMAT, Drink GMAT, Sleep GMAT

I took a 10 days off from office, sent my wife on vacation and just concentrated on studies. During these days, I ate GMAT, drank GMAT and slept GMAT. I solved more than 800 Quant questions, 400 Verbal questions and posted more than 100 comments on GMATclub.

Next, I started taking the GMAT Club tests - I did good in Maths, scored 50, 48, 49, 49, 40, 41, 49, 48
My Verbal was below par - 31, 30, 32, 35, 33, 32

After every test I analyzed it well and made sure that I solve every question.

My MGMAT Test results were pretty disappointing - 650, 610, 540, 630, 630, 640, but I made sure that I solve every question twice. After test analysis, I referred back to my Flashcards, notes, added new concepts along with the questions I did wrong, and Error Log.

Finally, I took the second GMAT Prep and scored 690.

Test day

My moral was always high and I always believed that I'll do well in final GMAT test. My Exam was in the evening at 5 PM. I chose this slot, after I analyzed that I do well in the evening tests than in the morning test. On the test morning, a bit nervousness crept in. I meditated for few minutes, had light breakfast and started solving some questions, then I took a small nap for 2 hours and then had a light lunch and again solved some questions.

I took home made lemonade, oranges and couple of apples with me to the test center, to have them during the breaks. The environment in the test center was pleasing. I started feeling a bit nervous, since guys next to me still hogging some maths concepts and English rules. I went to the peon and had a small banter with him, to make the moment light. I kept all my belongings into the locker and proceeded for the palm scan. I asked the coordinator for ear-plugs and few tissues.

The Test

After writing AWA essay, I proceeded with IR, which I messed up. I realized that since I ran out of time in IR. I didn't let that lower my moral and enjoyed the 8 minutes break, by having some lemonade and an apple.

Quantitative Analysis - The test started well, I realized that I was doing well, since I got 2 geometry and 2 probability questions early in my test. By question number 18, the geometry questions were so difficult that I had to guess them and move forward, by the end, I got easy probability and geometry questions. By the end I was sure that I did fine.

Verbal - First was CR, then SC and after 5th question, I got RC. My third long RC passage was quite difficult, I hardly understood anything in the first read. I just read the questions and started scanning for answers, by the end, the verbal question were easy - something which daunted me - and I ended with a Sentence Correction question, which I know I marked correct, because I solved a similar question in MGMAT Test.

I thought that I would score somewhere close to 35 in verbal. After verifying all my information, I was asked to clicked on Next to view my score. I prayed to God that He must listen to my parents' prayers. 720 50Q 38V

Finally all the hard work, my parents' prayers, assistance by all friends paid and I got a decent score. My IR score was poor 2, so I am looking for good colleges which would accept my score, irrespective of the IR.

There are a few points, I would like to concentrate on.

1. GMATClub Tests - The Quant. questions are just awesome and the real GMAT questions would look like a cake walk

2. MGMAT Test Maths - The level was exceptionally high. This would actually demoralize someone. Thanks to GMAT Club, my confidence in Maths was restored, because I constantly scored 48 - 50 in Gmatclub test and finally scored 50.
MGMAT Tests English - The level of Verbal was at par with the actual GMAT Level

3. Test Environment - I always preferred a hostile test environment because, I never expected that an examination center could actually be sound proof. I guess, this thing worked my way during tests - I was able to concentrate like never before.

4. Meditation - A daily 2 minutes meditation helped me a lot. My concentration level shot up dramatically since I started meditating. P.S. I have been meditating for the past 3 years

5. Jogging - I made sure that every second day, I go for a jog and my mind felt better every time. it helped me in concentrating and kept my mind fresh

6. Eat & Drink - During the preparation, I stopped consumption of Alcohol, minimized my non-veg intake and had a lot of Fruits. I am indebted to Mike, for posting this suggestion on his blog, which I followed. I was suggested by some test takers to, take some Energy drink / chocolates with me - something which Mike asked never to do.

7. Newspaper - I am an ardent follower of The Hindu, an India newspaper, and added NY Times, The Economist, and RealClear group articles in my daily reading list. RealClear provides a conjugation of one of the best editorials across US Newspapers.

8. Positive Attitude - Except when I scored 540, my moral was never down, I knew that a 50Q and 36V would take me to 700, and I was intermittently scoring 34 - 36 in mocks and I knew that since I am taking the tests under hostile conditions, I would score more on the test day.

9. GMATCLUB - Last but not the least, had it not been GMATclub I might have not scored this much. Bunuel and mikemcgarry have been very helpful throughout my journey and my sincere thanks to both of them for helping me out in quant. and verbal respectively. A big round of applause for bb, for maintaining such a nice platform.
:wave

In the end, I guess, its a lot about one's luck. I was lucky to get a good test environment and some easy questions.

Cheers!!!

In the end, I guess, its a lot about one's luck. I was lucky to get a good test environment and some easy questions. Cheers!!!

earnit · Answer

I think its a combination of your Hardwork, temperament and Luck.

Way to go!! Nice post +1

ray3232 · Answer

Hey! Congratulations

That a really awesome score! I do hope you get into IIMA or ISB!

Thoughtosphere · Answer

Dear  ray3232 , Thanks for the appreciation. I hope I get into some good college.

I'll choose to reply to your PM here since it would help others too, after all that's the motive of this forum.

You should not leave Probability. It is tough initially, but once you spend some time on probability, you'll find it interesting. The GMAT questions on probability are not very difficult. Moreover, leaving probability means that you are doing away with your chances of high score in quant.

I would suggest you to visit totalgadha.com and gain some probability and PnC tricks. Follow the probability posts by Bunuel and spend some time on probability.

One month is a lot of time. You can learn probability in 2 - 3 days, at max.

Good Luck..

ynk · Answer

Hi Thoughtosphere,

First of all congratulations on your great score.I want you to ask how you improved your verbal score?
I am having some difficulty in RC.my scores for MGMAT CAT's are:

Test 1:640(Q 44,V33)
Test 2:600(Q 45,V30)

I have practiced OG's.But in real test I find verbal very difficult.Maybe because I get completed exhausted till the verbal part.
Please any tips.I have already read souvenik's blog of how to improve from V30 to V40.and It's not helping me a lot.

Thoughtosphere · Answer

Hi ynk , When I look back at my MGMAT scores, I find that the MGMAT tests are pretty difficult in terms of the questions and, probably, in terms of the algorithm. I didn't do anything fancy during the tests, apart from that, I used earplugs to concentrate better in tests. The MGMAT Quant. is exceptionally difficult. Keep you moral high. If you can get the GMATClub tests, it would be beneficial. The Quant level is at par or just above the real GMAT level and the Verbal level is just above Real GMAT. I see that most of my GMAT Club tests results were just 3 - 5 points below the real GMAT results. If you want to improve Verbal, I would suggest you to first and foremost, start reading some good newspapers and some good books along with your normal studies. These books automatically build a standard level of accepted English in your subconscious mind. Apart from that, I would recommend you to start following mikemcgarry . His explanations, specially for SC, are worth your time. Till date, I have read every article posted by him and the articles, as I have earlier mentioned, are worth their value in Gold. For CR you may refer to CR Bible, if you don't find your current book useful. I believe that if you ace CR, you can also ace RC or the vice-versa For RC, there are only 3 things - Reading, Reading and Reading. Above all, don't get demoralized by the Mock scores. The mocks are designed to make you work hard and keep your feet grounded.... :-D

Good Luck

Ergenekon · Answer

Congratulations)) And thanks for the comprehensive debrief. I would like to know your raw scores in manhattan cats and gmatprep cats, if it won't be trouble for you. And you said real exam's SC section was on par with manhattan tests. It makes me glad, because I make one mistake in SC in manhattan, but 4 mistakes in gmat prep cat. I notices that gmat prep cats test idioms and some uncomprehensible ( such as style) topics for non-native speakers, unlike manhattan cats. Some people say gmat prep cats are old and do not look like the real exam (SC section). I would like to hear your opinion. By the way I scored 700 ( Q45 V40) And 690 (Q45 V38) in last manhattan cats. What do you think my verbal score can be? Sorry for so many questions. Your explanataions are just awesome))

aert06 · Answer

Congratulations! I have the same 700 target, I'm @ 680 in GMATPREP test Q44 V40, hope to do as well as you did. I will follow your suggestions to improve in quant and verb. Thank you!

Thoughtosphere · Answer

Hi  Ergenekon ,

My GMATPrep score was, 670 Q49, V32 and in Manhattan, my Quant score varied from 43 - 46 and verbal score varied from 33 - 36. I personally think that Manhattan level was just above the real exam level. If you are scoring 700 and 690 in Manhattan, you seem to be close to your target score, but scoring low in the GMATPrep is a point of concern, after all GMATPrep is from the actual test makers. I would say that you take an average of GMATClub tests score. My current score is closest to the GMATClub average score. Moreover the GMATPrep test is also a good indicator of your preparation.

What I realized is that more than the question level, the scoring algorithm is important, Manhattan has an algorithm which tends to keep your score in check. I would suggest you to take a Veritas Prep free test too, because even their free test was similar to the real GMAT.

Cheers!!!

Thoughtosphere · Answer

Dear  aert06 ,

Thanks. Your score is quite impressive. 40 in V is amazing. If you put some extra effort in QA and bring it close to 49, you may easily touch 740 - 760

Good Luck..

Klenex · Answer

Congrats!! You have got a good score.

Your experience is really motivating. I like the way you emphasized on Error logs. Though many people told me to make one, I never really cared. After reading your post, I decided to make one. Can you kindly share your error log with me for a start.

Thanks and best wishes for your applications.

sachinjain1990 · Answer

Hi, 
I am Sachin and i am CA with 3 years work ex. I took the GMAT on 31/10/2014 and Scored 640. This was my 1st attempt. I scored 48 in Quant and 29 in Verbal. I am not satisfied with my score, so i am planning to take GMAT again in Dec with a target of 700. 
I really need your guidance. I am planning to apply in Round 2. But what else is required other than GMAT score? and what are the due dates.. I wanted to get into one of the TOP 30 college of the World only and my preference is US. I also preferred ISB, but its due date is Nov 30, so that is now out of my reach

Thoughtosphere · Answer

Dear  Klenex ,

Thanks, its a pleasure to know that you are inspired from the above post. Error logs would definitely help you a lot in overcoming mistakes. You can download the error log from GMATclub forum. if you click on this Error Log link, you'll be guided to a page with various error logs. You may download anyone of them. I used the one for OG12.

I created the Manhattan / GMATClub Test Error log, by downloading the summary excel and filtered the excel to display only the question number, whether right or wrong, time taken and the concept asked.

Its not the error log which matters, but the usage of error log which matters. After 4 - 5 tests I realized that I tend to spend a lot of time in questions I do wrong and thus run short of time by the time I reach the end of the test and thus my last few questions go wrong because of time pressure, so that was a double penalty for me. I then started analyzing whether I would be able to solve the question or not and after 1 min. I would be in a position to answer whether I should invest the rest 45 seconds in the question or not. This strategy helped me a lot.

Since the error logs are quite big files, I am attaching a snapshot of the error log.

Hope it helps you.

Thoughtosphere · Answer

Dear  sachinjain1990 ,

You need to work on your Verbal score. I would suggest that you start following  mikemcgarry . I personally benefited a lot form him. His explanations are awesome.

I am still coming in terms with the other requirements of GMAT Colleges, apart from score. What they look out for is a good profile, extra curricular activities etc. I think, an admission consultant would be a much better person to answer these queries, since I am still at a nascent stage in terms of College applications.

Good Luck.

Thoughtosphere · Answer

Dear ptiwari08 , I would choose to answer your question in the forum, so that it may benefit all the members. Manhattan Strategy guide don't have much questions. You can get a very good question bank - free of cost - at Veritas - https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#-question-bank/ Apart from this, GMATclub forum has thousands of questions and their amazing solutions. These two were my question banks. Whenever you get a question from either of the two sources, do verify the question at Manhattan forum too, since there you would come to know whether you really need to spend extra time on the question or not. After getting some questions wrong, I realized that the questions have been discussed at MGMAT Forums and the Manhattan staff has suggested not to go after such questions. You may get hundreds of Quant questions by following Bunuel and there are some uploaded questions in Verbal Forum. Once you search the form, you'll find them. Hope it helps you.

Ankur9 · Answer

Hi Thoughtosphere,

Congrats on that fantastic score. great inspiration from your success.
I wanted to use an error log...i even tried to make one in the past but failed to do so.
As i am about to start giving the gmat club tests so thought why not try to create an error log and see if it helps.
so can you please guide me how did you use the error log specially the one for gmatclub tests.

Thanks in advance!!

kushwahanuj28 · Answer

Hi "Thoughtosphere :wave:

Congratulations on scoring 720 . :wave :woohoo

I'd like to know a bit more about you profile , your work experience & how you've been studying over this last year. 1) What were your Scaled Scores on your Original GMAT? 2) Over the course of the last few months, how many practice CATs did you take? And which "brands" of CATs were they? 3) How did you score on each of your practice CATs (please include the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)? 4) Was there anything about Test Day that was different from your practice? Think about the details. The time of your Test? What you did the night before? Did you skip the Essay/IR during practice? Etc. 5) If you weren't close to your goal score during your practice, then why didn't you push back your Test Date and continue studying? Are you on any deadlines? Thankfully, the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Exam, so we should be able to define what went wrong, then correct it before you retest. In addition to the above, I also want to ask you a few questions that will help me in understanding your case in a better manner. Mocks 1. Which mocks have you taken? What was your score in the mocks? 2. Were there any repeats in the mocks? Approach – Sentence Correction 1. How do you solve SC questions? Kindly present the thought process that you go through. 2. What has been your SC accuracy in mock tests? Approach – Critical Reasoning 1. How do you solve CR questions? Kindly present the thought process that you go through. 2. What has been your CR accuracy in mock tests? Approach – Reading Comprehension 1. How do you solve RC questions? Kindly present the thought process that you go through. 2. What has been your RC accuracy in mock tests? Time Management 1. What was your time management strategy in mocks? 2. Were you able to execute on the strategy? Looking forward to your response. Best Regards, ANUJ SINGH

GMATBarcelona · Answer

Congratulations on your great score,Thoughtosphere! Thanks for sharing your story it was very inspiring. 
We wish you all the best with your applications.

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