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14 Jul 2017, 18:44
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Hi, I took my GMAT exam today and I just wanted to share my story with you.
Background:
Colombian guy, 32 years old (yes I know), bachelor in Computer Science and a role in Finance.
I took the GMAT on Dec 2014 after 2 months of study because I wanted to apply to the 2nd round of my target schools, which I did. Back then I scored 620 (Q45, V31). and got admitted the every school I applied, however I got no scholarships and, at the same time, I received a big promotion at work, factors that led me to postpone my MBA journey.
Study:
Fast forward, at the start of this year I felt somehow wanting more, I felt again empty and started to consider getting an MBA again. I started my preparation on March 2017, I studied 2 hrs per day Monday to Thursday, Friday I rested, Saturday mock CAT and Sunday CAT review. I followed this process until the start of June, and my CATs were steady, scoring between 650 and 680.
My verbal score was stuck at ~32-36 mainly because of CR (I managed to master SC), and I felt that my performance on test day was going to be a matter of luck. Then, I decided to search for a definite answer to my CR problem, I just refused to believe that I could not score above that threshold, so I watched a lot of videos during a week about strategies for CR, then I found the answer to my questions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJvXLOE526c&t=332s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-L0QXSGO3Q
Those two links made it, it was the difference between a couple of additional correct answers which made me go over the hump.
Study Materials:
1. OG 2015, OG 2016 Quantitative Review, OG 2016 Verbal Review. The official material is the best, I did all the problems in OG, except DS, because I thought that if I dominated PS then I would understand DS, and it was, except for some tircky questions that you just learn after making mistakes. In the Quant review I made all PS problems. and in the Verbal Review I made all CR and SC problems.
2. I studied the concepts using videos from GMAT Prep Now, for both Quant and Verbal (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGgUkA1u-GCMz7wj1mfI2UQ), they have excellent videos.
3. I also used the GMAT Club Math Book, it is extremely useful.
4. For SC, I also used some notes from my first study time. Back then, I bought eGMAT SC module, it was very useful, I really recommend it.
5. I tried Manhattan GMAT guides but there is a lot of text there so I got bored.
6. Use the Veritas Question Bank (free) and CATs (I purchased them at $10 during a promotion), although sometimes the scoring algorithm made me doubt them.
7. After each CAT, just search the explanations in the forums from GMAT Club, and Bunuel or others will explain you the correct answer.
CATs Performance
April 22 - Veritas 1st (Free CAT) - 590 (Q42, V30) - 1 month after studying and learning the concepts
April 29 - Kaplan (Free CAT) - 680 (Q44, V39) & Analysis - I think I just got lucky in Verbal
May 13 - Veritas 2nd - 630 (Q44, V33)
May 20 - Veritas 3rd - 650 (Q46, V33)
June 10 - GMATPrep 1 - 660 (Q47, V34) - I decided to leave the GMAC Official Tests for last
June 17 - GMATPrep 3 - 680 (Q44, V39)
June 24 - Veritas 4th - 590 - Here, the GMAT choice of section order was implemented, I chose to make Verbal (Verbal, Quant, IR, AWA) first since I always was tired when I reached this section and I though that was the problem. Found out that it was not the problem, I almost skimmed through Math so I got a low score.
July 1 - GMATPrep 4 - 650 (Q47, V34)
July 8 - GMATPrep 3 - 700 (Q46, V42) - On this date, I scheduled the exam, I felt more secure.
Final Thoughts
On test day, I finally chose the following order: Quant, Verbal, IR and AWA. I decided that I should go with my strongest section first to warm up, and then Verbal. I think that there is no big difference in the GMAT section order, but you could be just a bit fresher for the "important" sections.
Although my 710 is not in the higher 700s, I feel satisfied, right now I am not sure on whether pursue a FTMBA or an EMBA, since I have a lot of work experience (10 yrs), I want the experience but I feel like a bit old for a FTMBA, however, if manage to get a full ride, then I might consider it.
Thanks to all this community, I really found it very useful.
Background:
Colombian guy, 32 years old (yes I know), bachelor in Computer Science and a role in Finance.
I took the GMAT on Dec 2014 after 2 months of study because I wanted to apply to the 2nd round of my target schools, which I did. Back then I scored 620 (Q45, V31). and got admitted the every school I applied, however I got no scholarships and, at the same time, I received a big promotion at work, factors that led me to postpone my MBA journey.
Study:
Fast forward, at the start of this year I felt somehow wanting more, I felt again empty and started to consider getting an MBA again. I started my preparation on March 2017, I studied 2 hrs per day Monday to Thursday, Friday I rested, Saturday mock CAT and Sunday CAT review. I followed this process until the start of June, and my CATs were steady, scoring between 650 and 680.
My verbal score was stuck at ~32-36 mainly because of CR (I managed to master SC), and I felt that my performance on test day was going to be a matter of luck. Then, I decided to search for a definite answer to my CR problem, I just refused to believe that I could not score above that threshold, so I watched a lot of videos during a week about strategies for CR, then I found the answer to my questions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJvXLOE526c&t=332s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-L0QXSGO3Q
Those two links made it, it was the difference between a couple of additional correct answers which made me go over the hump.
Study Materials:
1. OG 2015, OG 2016 Quantitative Review, OG 2016 Verbal Review. The official material is the best, I did all the problems in OG, except DS, because I thought that if I dominated PS then I would understand DS, and it was, except for some tircky questions that you just learn after making mistakes. In the Quant review I made all PS problems. and in the Verbal Review I made all CR and SC problems.
2. I studied the concepts using videos from GMAT Prep Now, for both Quant and Verbal (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGgUkA1u-GCMz7wj1mfI2UQ), they have excellent videos.
3. I also used the GMAT Club Math Book, it is extremely useful.
4. For SC, I also used some notes from my first study time. Back then, I bought eGMAT SC module, it was very useful, I really recommend it.
5. I tried Manhattan GMAT guides but there is a lot of text there so I got bored.
6. Use the Veritas Question Bank (free) and CATs (I purchased them at $10 during a promotion), although sometimes the scoring algorithm made me doubt them.
7. After each CAT, just search the explanations in the forums from GMAT Club, and Bunuel or others will explain you the correct answer.
CATs Performance
April 22 - Veritas 1st (Free CAT) - 590 (Q42, V30) - 1 month after studying and learning the concepts
April 29 - Kaplan (Free CAT) - 680 (Q44, V39) & Analysis - I think I just got lucky in Verbal
May 13 - Veritas 2nd - 630 (Q44, V33)
May 20 - Veritas 3rd - 650 (Q46, V33)
June 10 - GMATPrep 1 - 660 (Q47, V34) - I decided to leave the GMAC Official Tests for last
June 17 - GMATPrep 3 - 680 (Q44, V39)
June 24 - Veritas 4th - 590 - Here, the GMAT choice of section order was implemented, I chose to make Verbal (Verbal, Quant, IR, AWA) first since I always was tired when I reached this section and I though that was the problem. Found out that it was not the problem, I almost skimmed through Math so I got a low score.
July 1 - GMATPrep 4 - 650 (Q47, V34)
July 8 - GMATPrep 3 - 700 (Q46, V42) - On this date, I scheduled the exam, I felt more secure.
Final Thoughts
On test day, I finally chose the following order: Quant, Verbal, IR and AWA. I decided that I should go with my strongest section first to warm up, and then Verbal. I think that there is no big difference in the GMAT section order, but you could be just a bit fresher for the "important" sections.
Although my 710 is not in the higher 700s, I feel satisfied, right now I am not sure on whether pursue a FTMBA or an EMBA, since I have a lot of work experience (10 yrs), I want the experience but I feel like a bit old for a FTMBA, however, if manage to get a full ride, then I might consider it.
Thanks to all this community, I really found it very useful.
Moderators:
196 posts
