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28 Jul 2012, 00:21
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It is very difficult to write this brief for me, but I don’t know what to do and need good advice.
Yesterday I took official GMAT and received 580 (q42, v28), I would not be that devastated if that was not my third attempt and in all attempts I received almost the same result (1-560, 2nd -590).
So my journey started sometime in October 2010 when I applied to one of the US scholarship programs and in January I took the GMAT for the first time and received 560 (distribution of the score almost the same). To be honest I was not very disappointed, because I did not prepared too much and I did everything in a rush. But nevertheless this score was sufficient to win a place in the scholarship (probably my experience at that time I had 7 years of experience, including 2 managerial) and I was offered a place in some US universities to study, but they never tell you the name of the university until you accept the offer. The offer was very tempting, all the costs are included, even the tickets, plus monthly stipend. But I knew that with such score no decent university will accept me, so I refused that offer and decided to prepare more thoroughly to reach my dream of studying in top business school.
I understood that I need a score of min 700 in order to get in, to get 700 I need to prepare exceptionally well. So I have attended a GMAT course for 3 month and did not receive much, well I understood that such courses normally can bring you to the level of up to 600-650 (at least the one that I have attended). The best method was self study, and I have ordered all the necessary books, mainly I had all the series of Manhattan GMAT books, OG 11,12, OG V,Q reviews and couple of others such as Kaplan, Princeton etc. but I did not looked at them much because after reading most of the reviews I found out that the best sources are the one that I have chosen.
I prepared till the February 2011, so one year (although I took couple of month break after the 1st attempt and started to study mainly from august) after first attempt and then took my second GMAT, the result is 590. I could not believe that the score will be that low, because I was receiving around 700 in all mock tests (by the way after first attempt I bought MGMAT’s 6 tests, 800score tests), and I blamed that I could not sleep a night before the test (I slept about 3 hours and felt sleepy and lost concentration.
Nevertheless, I managed to recover and continue on my battle with GMAT. Since then I improved a lot. I started to follow most of the GMAT expert in the forum, I re-read all the books that I had, in average I spend about 2-3 hours during the work days, and about 5-6 hour during the weekends, to be honest there was no single weekend when I did not think about GMAT. I did all the possible mock tests, in all of them I have received more than 700, max was gmat prep 750! two days before the test day (although many repeat questions). I started to understand what question is what level, and moreover I could notice now what is GMAT type question and which not. So I thought I am ready and decided to take exam, and moreover I needed to start application process, additionally I am relatively free now and will be extremely busy in couple of month in my job (which is also very tough). Remembering my previous experience with not sleeping one night before I decided to book exam afternoon, but there was no such timing available in our place so I decided to go to another country (well it sounds far but it took 1 hour flight) just because it offered exam at afternoon, so I booked a test at 13.00.
You would not believe that but I had the same problem again, I could not sleep a night before, and slept about 4-5 hours in the morning. But nevertheless went to the exam place. I was very confident and started exam smoothly, writing went well (I have never had problem in this section, in previous cases I got 5), integrated reasoning – I did not prepared for this section, but surprisingly it was not that tough, and overall I went to break very satisfied with performance. Then I started quant’s section, questions overall were not that tough, and I was responding very carefully, I believe that there were many tricky ones. I started worrying when I realized that I am on the question 15 and I still had not received any really tough ones, so after this section finished I understood that I did something wrong and score will be max 45-46, and need to do extremely well in verbal (overall I score 35-37 in verbal), so I needed more than my average performance. I started verbal, most of the questions were difficult, and was confident that the score will be about 38. Finally I pressed the button to report my score and here we go 580 (42/28). I literally cried, I was speechless, did know what to do, then instructor came and assisted with the rest of the procedure.
I have spent more than one year of efforts, I spent all my weekends and all the free time for GMAT (not for my family, not for my friends, relatives etc), to be honest I know about gmat so much that sometimes I think I can even teach it, I have so much materials. BUT … could not reach 700.
I would not say that I am dumb, I am average minded in quants (after so much efforts I would say that I am quite good in it), although a not a native speaker, I studied in UK, I read in English, I use English in my daily job, with efforts on GMAT I improved my score to the level, when I solve most of the questions in the forums correctly (it was not the case before the preparation).
At the moment I am very devastated, I don’t know what to do, it seems to me that my dream is flying away from me and all I need to do is to concentrate on something else …
Yesterday I took official GMAT and received 580 (q42, v28), I would not be that devastated if that was not my third attempt and in all attempts I received almost the same result (1-560, 2nd -590).
So my journey started sometime in October 2010 when I applied to one of the US scholarship programs and in January I took the GMAT for the first time and received 560 (distribution of the score almost the same). To be honest I was not very disappointed, because I did not prepared too much and I did everything in a rush. But nevertheless this score was sufficient to win a place in the scholarship (probably my experience at that time I had 7 years of experience, including 2 managerial) and I was offered a place in some US universities to study, but they never tell you the name of the university until you accept the offer. The offer was very tempting, all the costs are included, even the tickets, plus monthly stipend. But I knew that with such score no decent university will accept me, so I refused that offer and decided to prepare more thoroughly to reach my dream of studying in top business school.
I understood that I need a score of min 700 in order to get in, to get 700 I need to prepare exceptionally well. So I have attended a GMAT course for 3 month and did not receive much, well I understood that such courses normally can bring you to the level of up to 600-650 (at least the one that I have attended). The best method was self study, and I have ordered all the necessary books, mainly I had all the series of Manhattan GMAT books, OG 11,12, OG V,Q reviews and couple of others such as Kaplan, Princeton etc. but I did not looked at them much because after reading most of the reviews I found out that the best sources are the one that I have chosen.
I prepared till the February 2011, so one year (although I took couple of month break after the 1st attempt and started to study mainly from august) after first attempt and then took my second GMAT, the result is 590. I could not believe that the score will be that low, because I was receiving around 700 in all mock tests (by the way after first attempt I bought MGMAT’s 6 tests, 800score tests), and I blamed that I could not sleep a night before the test (I slept about 3 hours and felt sleepy and lost concentration.
Nevertheless, I managed to recover and continue on my battle with GMAT. Since then I improved a lot. I started to follow most of the GMAT expert in the forum, I re-read all the books that I had, in average I spend about 2-3 hours during the work days, and about 5-6 hour during the weekends, to be honest there was no single weekend when I did not think about GMAT. I did all the possible mock tests, in all of them I have received more than 700, max was gmat prep 750! two days before the test day (although many repeat questions). I started to understand what question is what level, and moreover I could notice now what is GMAT type question and which not. So I thought I am ready and decided to take exam, and moreover I needed to start application process, additionally I am relatively free now and will be extremely busy in couple of month in my job (which is also very tough). Remembering my previous experience with not sleeping one night before I decided to book exam afternoon, but there was no such timing available in our place so I decided to go to another country (well it sounds far but it took 1 hour flight) just because it offered exam at afternoon, so I booked a test at 13.00.
You would not believe that but I had the same problem again, I could not sleep a night before, and slept about 4-5 hours in the morning. But nevertheless went to the exam place. I was very confident and started exam smoothly, writing went well (I have never had problem in this section, in previous cases I got 5), integrated reasoning – I did not prepared for this section, but surprisingly it was not that tough, and overall I went to break very satisfied with performance. Then I started quant’s section, questions overall were not that tough, and I was responding very carefully, I believe that there were many tricky ones. I started worrying when I realized that I am on the question 15 and I still had not received any really tough ones, so after this section finished I understood that I did something wrong and score will be max 45-46, and need to do extremely well in verbal (overall I score 35-37 in verbal), so I needed more than my average performance. I started verbal, most of the questions were difficult, and was confident that the score will be about 38. Finally I pressed the button to report my score and here we go 580 (42/28). I literally cried, I was speechless, did know what to do, then instructor came and assisted with the rest of the procedure.
I have spent more than one year of efforts, I spent all my weekends and all the free time for GMAT (not for my family, not for my friends, relatives etc), to be honest I know about gmat so much that sometimes I think I can even teach it, I have so much materials. BUT … could not reach 700.
I would not say that I am dumb, I am average minded in quants (after so much efforts I would say that I am quite good in it), although a not a native speaker, I studied in UK, I read in English, I use English in my daily job, with efforts on GMAT I improved my score to the level, when I solve most of the questions in the forums correctly (it was not the case before the preparation).
At the moment I am very devastated, I don’t know what to do, it seems to me that my dream is flying away from me and all I need to do is to concentrate on something else …
souvik101990
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Schools: Ross '20 (M)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 740 Q49 V42 (Online)
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
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Expert reply
28 Jul 2012, 03:14
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Hey
First, don't be so ridiculously hard on yourself. GMAT is just ONE way of achieving your dreams, and there are plenty of others if you don't think GMAT is your cup of tea.
Now going to your problem, I think you are an impatient person. I can relate to whatever you have posted, so I will try to figure out whats wrong.
Have you taken the tests simulating the ideal GMAT conditions?
I think your practice GMAT score and your official score vary only because of improper simulation. And since you have exhausted almost all the gmatprep tests, it hardly reflects your true score.
Next, I would like to say CALM THE HECK DOWN. GMAT is not going to make or break your future. Not sleeping may contribute to your score more than you think. Why don't you take your test in the evening so you can surely spend some time of ideal sleep before taking the test?
My point is, think psychological and don't overburden yourself.
All the Best
First, don't be so ridiculously hard on yourself. GMAT is just ONE way of achieving your dreams, and there are plenty of others if you don't think GMAT is your cup of tea.
Now going to your problem, I think you are an impatient person. I can relate to whatever you have posted, so I will try to figure out whats wrong.
Have you taken the tests simulating the ideal GMAT conditions?
I think your practice GMAT score and your official score vary only because of improper simulation. And since you have exhausted almost all the gmatprep tests, it hardly reflects your true score.
Next, I would like to say CALM THE HECK DOWN. GMAT is not going to make or break your future. Not sleeping may contribute to your score more than you think. Why don't you take your test in the evening so you can surely spend some time of ideal sleep before taking the test?
My point is, think psychological and don't overburden yourself.
All the Best
CA88
Joined: 25 Jun 2012
Last visit: 18 Feb 2019
Posts: 127
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 18
Location: United States
Schools: Wharton '18 (D) Duke '18 (A$) CBS '18 (D) Booth '18 (WD) Cnsrtm-Tuck '18 (M) Cnsrtm-Hass '18 (WD) Cnsrtm-Ross '18 (D) Cnsrtm-Anderson '18 (D) Cnsrtm-Yale '18 (A$) Sloan '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V40
GMAT 2: 740 Q48 V44
GPA: 3.48
Products:
Schools: Wharton '18 (D) Duke '18 (A$) CBS '18 (D) Booth '18 (WD) Cnsrtm-Tuck '18 (M) Cnsrtm-Hass '18 (WD) Cnsrtm-Ross '18 (D) Cnsrtm-Anderson '18 (D) Cnsrtm-Yale '18 (A$) Sloan '18 (D)
GMAT 2: 740 Q48 V44
Posts: 127
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28 Jul 2012, 17:23
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The GMAT is only one facet of your application. Don't be so hard on yourself and more importantly don't give up! Since you just recently completed the test, take a break. Take some time to clear your head and not worry about the GMAT for a while.
