The 700 Pledge : Share GMAT Experience

bb · 2013-09-04T21:13:24-07:00

The 700 Pledge of a GMAT Test Taker I have been asked many times by members who scored 600 after 3-4 attempts (often after years of preparation), two main questions: what should I do and why can’t I improve my score? So here is my answer to all of those questions, PM’s and posts – if you are finding yourself not able to improve, stuck, or lost, join me in taking this 700-pledge. I have to warn you, however, it involves a lot of hard work, it does not have shortcuts, and the consequence of breaking it are depression, inferiority, and apathy. Proceed only if you think you can handle it and only if your MBA dream is something you are very serious about. I pledge to: Learn valuable knowledge and skills from the GMAT. I am not going just to finish a chapeter, book, or course. I will ensure that I learn from my materials as much as I can. Use GMAT to obtain valuable skills I can use for the rest of my life - logical thinking, critical reading, fast math skills, etc Align my priorities with goals and if I may have to make hard decision such as shift my study schedule to be before I go to work or before I go to work out, or instead of a Friday night poker game, I will do it. Keep track of my mistakes. I will maintain an error log for at least the questions I got wrong. Use the timer with every question and exercise Commit to building a study schedule. Ask myself every day if there is anything else that I can do to study/improve/answer/not make mistakes? Is there ANYTHING in this world that can help me? Is it memorizing all formulas? Is it memorizing the question? Is it learning some concepts that are not covered on the GMAT but are important for understanding (verbal or quant), is it stopping before every question and pausing for 5-10 seconds? is it studying at 5 AM? If any of these is yes, no matter how challenging or how painful, I commit to them because I wan to achieve my dream and Set my preparation at the highest priority (right with my health and family) Follow all GMAT leads/concerns/fears I have until they are addressed If I have to, I will create/write my own notes. I will take any notes in a separate notebook so that I can remember better. Do what it takes. If I need to remember the whole book, I will write out the whole freaking book into notes and organize it so that I can memorize it and if it does not work the first time, I am ready to do it again. Not let GMAT rest. I will be obsessed with the GMAT, with critical reasoning, with identifying assumptions, with calculating speeds, etc. Get a 700+ score. I may get it easy or I may have to work hard for it. I realize that if I do not get the score I want, it does not mean I am stupid or hopeless or poor. It just means that I am lazy and GMAT was not my priority. Not skip sections/chapters in my prep and if I skipped any in my past in Quant or Verbal, I commit to revisiting them Not leave a chapter/area/book/test until I can score above 90% of the questions within the time frame. Stand proud because I have and will do everything in my power to achieve my goal. Should I fall short of that score, I will still stand proud of my score because I have done everything in my power and I have not a single doubt in my mind that not a stone was left unturned and I have done my absolute best. I will have no regrets and no retakes. If you agree to follow this pledge, please SIGN it publically so that there is no going back - You can post a reply with your username. - If this is working or not working for you - please share what worked or what failed - it will help others! - You can LIKE THIS PAGE on Facebook or on Google+ (see buttons above this post) - You can Tweet it on Twitter Thank you and Good Luck! https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=32848 If you are lacking motivation and need some ideas how to improve your score, I have a recommendation for you - get this book - it will help you understand a bit more about what it takes to succeed and persevere and potentially lead to some interesting revelations. You can even it get it for free as an audio book and listen during workout or commute. https://amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-C ... 345472322/ -

jaspar

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GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V39 Verified score

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12 Dec 2013, 17:39

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I am glad to report that, after 8 months of perseverance, 28 practice CATs, and 4 official tries, I have finally conquered the GMAT! I even out did my own expectations. I got 730 (96%)! (Q49 (81%) V39 (88%), IR 7 (82%).

After taking the pledge in September I have placed GMAT as my top priority over anything else.
I will write my debrief after I am done with my Apps for round 2.

Thanks BB for encouraging us to take this pledge!

kamy1702

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14 Dec 2013, 18:27

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I want to achieve the goal

a2m786

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Location: United States

Concentration: Finance, International Business

Schools: CBS '16 Cornell NYC EMBA"17

GMAT 1: 610 Q34 V40 Verified score

GPA: 3.45

WE:Consulting (Insurance)

Schools: CBS '16 Cornell NYC EMBA"17

GMAT 1: 610 Q34 V40 Verified score

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14 Dec 2013, 18:38

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In! Ready to annihilate this test.

psharath05

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30 Dec 2013, 10:25

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I am in ......... I pledge that I work for GMAT 700 score..........

SStirling

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GMAT 2: 640 Q40 V38 Verified score

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09 Jan 2014, 14:10

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I am in... Next test date is Feb 8th, need to bump my score to 700+

anikoli3

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10 Jan 2014, 23:58

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Sign me up!! Just finished my first week of studying. Good luck everyone.

tarunk31

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GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38 Verified score

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GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38 Verified score

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27 Mar 2014, 07:32

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Thanks BB for creating this page. I think the most important is to stay motivated and obsessed about your goal unless you achieve it and never give up. I sign the pledge and I'm going to make this one of my default page whenever I open the browser. Kudos to you for this. Each and every point of the pledge means a lot. Thanks.

usmabama

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Concentration: Strategy, Marketing

Schools: Kellogg '17 (D) Duke '17 (WA) Yale '17 (WL) Tepper '17 (A$) Ross '17 (A) Darden '17 (M$) HBS '17 (D)

GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35 Verified score

GPA: 3.25

WE:Military Officer (Military & Defense)

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Schools: Kellogg '17 (D) Duke '17 (WA) Yale '17 (WL) Tepper '17 (A$) Ross '17 (A) Darden '17 (M$) HBS '17 (D)

GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35 Verified score

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01 Apr 2014, 11:11

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Thankful to say I accomplished the goal...700! I'm thinking of retaking it as I think I'm capable of a higher score, but I'm happy!

usmabama

Joined: 20 Mar 2012

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Location: United States

Concentration: Strategy, Marketing

Schools: Kellogg '17 (D) Duke '17 (WA) Yale '17 (WL) Tepper '17 (A$) Ross '17 (A) Darden '17 (M$) HBS '17 (D)

GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35 Verified score

GPA: 3.25

WE:Military Officer (Military & Defense)

Products:

Schools: Kellogg '17 (D) Duke '17 (WA) Yale '17 (WL) Tepper '17 (A$) Ross '17 (A) Darden '17 (M$) HBS '17 (D)

GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35 Verified score

Posts: 109

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01 Apr 2014, 14:09

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usmabama

Thankful to say I accomplished the goal...700! I'm thinking of retaking it as I think I'm capable of a higher score, but I'm happy!

I do want to say also that I appreciate this thread. I actually thought about it a couple weekends when I felt like doing something, anything, other than study for the GMAT.

AmiGMAT

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07 Apr 2014, 18:10

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i took my GMAT exam date today. Its 18 days from today. I pledge to be sincere for this. I'm definitely IN..

Azpire

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11 Apr 2014, 21:17

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I'm in. I'm three months away from the exam and I've appeared twice over with a miserable 580. It's a deal breaker this time.

chets999

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12 Apr 2014, 20:05

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I am definitely in...!!!! Great push to get a 700+ which is not at allllll easyyy..!!!

Posted from my mobile device

Sweety04

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02 Oct 2014, 10:41

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I am in. I will get 700+. And will do whatever it takes
Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

theconsulguy

Joined: 17 Jun 2014

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Schools: ISB'22 (A) HEC (D)

GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V42 Verified score

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Schools: ISB'22 (A) HEC (D)

GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V42 Verified score

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02 Oct 2014, 10:46

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I am in!

700+, here I come..

mohua

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Location: India

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GMAT 1: 610 Q39 V34 Verified score

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GMAT 1: 610 Q39 V34 Verified score

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02 Oct 2014, 11:04

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This is my first post and I pledge!

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Giants2014

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02 Oct 2014, 11:50

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A very timely pledge for me to sign. I am proud to sign it and understand the sacrifices that will be made to achieve at least a 700 score.

sarangab

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02 Oct 2014, 12:06

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My aim is 700 & above and I will leave no stone unturned to fulfill my aim.

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