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Raphi
Joined: 26 Sep 2013
Last visit: 14 Jul 2021
Posts: 16
Location: United Kingdom
Schools: INSEAD Jan 22 intake (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q48 V44
GPA: 3.9
17 May 2019, 00:28
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Bookmarks
Hi all,
I've been browsing this forum for about six months to look up answers and methods, greatly appreciate most threads I read here, but I've never participated. I'm starting a topic now because I will most likely have to re-take the GMAT and if it's ok with the mods here I'll use the forum as my own accountability diary. If there's public encouragement, constructive criticism, or input I'll gladly take that along - I'll keep it short for now, but will try to stick to it.
I started studying in earnest about six months ago, I then went through the Princeton Review quite quickly. I felt, however, that the book was more tailored toward people with a good foundation in maths, which I don't have. I have a political science degree (3.9 GPA equivalent from a school outside the western world) with economics concentrations. I've never struggled with maths at university but I did in high school. I work in business consulting but excel modelling doesn't really require advanced maths. Anyhow, I felt that further the Princeton Review focused on test taking strategies vs. enabling me to pick up the necessary maths foundation. I did solve all problems in the book, but still felt underprepared for most questions I could find for instance on this forum.
I then purchased the official GMAT practice books which immediately helped. From those, for about 95% of the topics, I was actually able to understand how and why methods were applied - I did all the questions in the quantitative one in particular and about 50% of the verbal ones, I have to admit I struggled with the last quarter of the quantitative ones, which were often too hard for me, but thought I had made good progress.
Now, because I'm not in a rush (was planning to start an MBA in either two or three years) I didn't stick to the tightest studying and revising regime, but did continue with a few hours dedicated every week. I booked the test for a couple of weeks into gardening leave due to me changing jobs.
My official practice results were:
710 Q46 V41
680 Q45 V38
710 Q47 V40
710 Q48 V40
with integrated reasoning never lower than 8 and once a 12.
I haven't purchased exam 5 + 6 (3+4 were free due to some sale) yet, but am strongly considering doing so, to get more actual tests. To achieve the above results the first two were taken with a break (lunch/coffee) between Q and V (QVIA) test 3 and 4 were taken in one sitting without actual breaks, but I did allow myself a glass of water on the desk.
As for the actual test, I ended up scoring a 640 (I think it was Q35 V 42, IR 5 haven't received official results yet), which for what I want to aim for (680-710 really, ideally with a 700) is simply too low (I don't mean to appear smug by calling this "bombed" it's just my sense based on the practice tests). On the day before the test and the actual test day everything that could go wrong went wrong. The test centre (which is just 10 minutes from me) where I had my booking at 11am cancelled the test due to network issues - I had to re-book. This majorly affected me already as the only available alternative was a test centre about 90 minutes away with an appointment at 8.15am (later date not possible due to flight...). I couldn't sleep one bit the night before, despite lack of coffee on that day, no screens three hours before sleeping, and food also around 3-4 hours before sleeping. To top it off, the train was delayed and I had to get a different connection for which I had to sprint halfway across town in 20 minutes (my city is clogged up at that time of day to use buses or cabs). I ended up getting a lot of the quantitative questions wrong that, topic-wise, I was confident about before.
I'm not making excuses, I think given that I couldn't sleep and also that I know I made a lot simple maths mistakes and errors I wasn't prepared enough, but I am also quite sure the circumstances around my appointment affected my score a measurable bit.
I am planning to re-take it, but now I'll have work overlapping with it (gardening leave will end before 16 day period) and I'm also extremely frustrated - was close to tears on the day right after the test. I need to pick myself up again and somehow find the motivation to keep what I know fresh in mind and to continue working on some areas of weakness somehow.
That's it for now.. just me jolting it down..
I've been browsing this forum for about six months to look up answers and methods, greatly appreciate most threads I read here, but I've never participated. I'm starting a topic now because I will most likely have to re-take the GMAT and if it's ok with the mods here I'll use the forum as my own accountability diary. If there's public encouragement, constructive criticism, or input I'll gladly take that along - I'll keep it short for now, but will try to stick to it.
I started studying in earnest about six months ago, I then went through the Princeton Review quite quickly. I felt, however, that the book was more tailored toward people with a good foundation in maths, which I don't have. I have a political science degree (3.9 GPA equivalent from a school outside the western world) with economics concentrations. I've never struggled with maths at university but I did in high school. I work in business consulting but excel modelling doesn't really require advanced maths. Anyhow, I felt that further the Princeton Review focused on test taking strategies vs. enabling me to pick up the necessary maths foundation. I did solve all problems in the book, but still felt underprepared for most questions I could find for instance on this forum.
I then purchased the official GMAT practice books which immediately helped. From those, for about 95% of the topics, I was actually able to understand how and why methods were applied - I did all the questions in the quantitative one in particular and about 50% of the verbal ones, I have to admit I struggled with the last quarter of the quantitative ones, which were often too hard for me, but thought I had made good progress.
Now, because I'm not in a rush (was planning to start an MBA in either two or three years) I didn't stick to the tightest studying and revising regime, but did continue with a few hours dedicated every week. I booked the test for a couple of weeks into gardening leave due to me changing jobs.
My official practice results were:
710 Q46 V41
680 Q45 V38
710 Q47 V40
710 Q48 V40
with integrated reasoning never lower than 8 and once a 12.
I haven't purchased exam 5 + 6 (3+4 were free due to some sale) yet, but am strongly considering doing so, to get more actual tests. To achieve the above results the first two were taken with a break (lunch/coffee) between Q and V (QVIA) test 3 and 4 were taken in one sitting without actual breaks, but I did allow myself a glass of water on the desk.
As for the actual test, I ended up scoring a 640 (I think it was Q35 V 42, IR 5 haven't received official results yet), which for what I want to aim for (680-710 really, ideally with a 700) is simply too low (I don't mean to appear smug by calling this "bombed" it's just my sense based on the practice tests). On the day before the test and the actual test day everything that could go wrong went wrong. The test centre (which is just 10 minutes from me) where I had my booking at 11am cancelled the test due to network issues - I had to re-book. This majorly affected me already as the only available alternative was a test centre about 90 minutes away with an appointment at 8.15am (later date not possible due to flight...). I couldn't sleep one bit the night before, despite lack of coffee on that day, no screens three hours before sleeping, and food also around 3-4 hours before sleeping. To top it off, the train was delayed and I had to get a different connection for which I had to sprint halfway across town in 20 minutes (my city is clogged up at that time of day to use buses or cabs). I ended up getting a lot of the quantitative questions wrong that, topic-wise, I was confident about before.
I'm not making excuses, I think given that I couldn't sleep and also that I know I made a lot simple maths mistakes and errors I wasn't prepared enough, but I am also quite sure the circumstances around my appointment affected my score a measurable bit.
I am planning to re-take it, but now I'll have work overlapping with it (gardening leave will end before 16 day period) and I'm also extremely frustrated - was close to tears on the day right after the test. I need to pick myself up again and somehow find the motivation to keep what I know fresh in mind and to continue working on some areas of weakness somehow.
That's it for now.. just me jolting it down..
17 May 2019, 09:15
Kudos
Bookmarks
Raphi
You're in a very good position to get a (really) good score. A drop from Q48 to Q35 is probably just the result of bad luck/circumstances. Keep at it, and all the best for the retake.
17 May 2019, 09:44
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello. I think you are very close to your target score, so you should retake ASAP. V40 is a great vrbal score so maybe brush up the quant part a bit and go for it.
Best wishes!
Best wishes!
