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Apr 3001:30 AM EDT
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At one point, she believed GMAT wasn’t for her. After scoring 595, self-doubt crept in and she questioned her potential. But instead of quitting, she made the right strategic changes. The result? A remarkable comeback to 695. Check out how Saakshi did it.
Apr 2912:30 AM EDT
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Learn how Kamakshi achieved a GMAT 675 with an impressive 96th %ile in Data Insights. Discover the unique methods and exam strategies that helped her excel in DI along with other sections for a balanced and high score.
May 0111:00 AM PDT
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Free- full-length test + 15 concept videos + 150+ short videos + study plan!
May 0306:30 AM PDT
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Verbal trouble on GMAT? Fix it NOW! Join Sunita Singhvi for a focused webinar on actionable strategies to boost your Verbal score and take your performance to the next level.
21 Jun 2015, 20:47
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Hi all! Really appreciate all of the help I've received from the GMATClub community over the past five months; the questions, discussions, and insights were instrumental to my success with the exam.
I recently took the exam for the second time and received a score of 750. While this is above my goal (740+), I am rather concerned about the low IR score. Given that I am exclusively applying to M7/Tuck/Darden, will an IR score of 6 put me out of contention? Moreover, is a 750 enough for a "privileged" applicant (caucasian, Public Ivy undergrad, bulge bracket investment bank & private equity experience) for the top finance programs?
For GMATClub community members interested in my GMAT story, I've detailed it below.
Study Plan
I took the GMATPrep diagnostic test in mid-February and scored an unimpressive 620. With much room for improvement, I bought the MGMAT strategy guides and online practice exams. I went through all seven books, spending 2-3 hours a night and making comprehensive notes for the content. After outlining the materials (5 weeks or so), I shifted my attention to practice exams. While I improved notably over the course of 2 months, I was utilizing the absolute worst strategy for the exam--rote memorization! (Beyond some idioms and the 20*20 multiplication table, there is really no need for memorization). My skewed perception of the GMAT, as if it were similar to most college exams, undeniably led to my lackluster performance on the first attempt.
2/01/15: GMATPrep DI - 620 (Q43 V32)
2/26/15: MGMAT CAT I - 650 (Q43 V36)
3/16/15: MGMAT CAT II - 670 (Q44 V37)
3/28/15: MGMAT CAT III - 670 (Q44 V37)
4/11/15: GMATPrep DII - 730 (Q47 V42)
4/18/15: GMATPrep DI Retake - 760 (Q49 V46)
4/24/15: GMATPrep DII Retake - 760 (Q49 V45)
4/28/15: GMAT - 700 (AWA 6 IR 8 Q46 V40)
After scoring a 700, I knew I would retake the exam under a new study framework. I quickly enrolled in Magoosh's program, confident that a structured online course would guide me to the GMAT promised land. Magoosh's lessons imparted much-needed knowledge behind the concepts tested on the GMAT. In fact, I forced myself to forget 95% of the memorized formulas in lieu of a more comprehensive, grounded understanding of the material. I took my last few timed practice exams, reviewed the missed questions, and embarked on my second attempt.
6/1/15: GMATPrep DIII - 760 (Q50 V44)
6/10/15: GMATPrep DIV - 740 (Q49 V41)
6/17/15: GMAT - 750 (IR 6 Q49 V45)
Prep Material Reviews
MGMAT Guides: Must-have for sentence correction and quant. The guides are a bit more focused on question strategies than mathematical intuition, but if you understand them forwards and backwards, you'll be well-prepared.
MGMAT CAT's: Really a poor investment in my opinion. The CAT's are insanely difficult. I consistently scored 2-3 points lower on IR, 3-4 points lower on Quant, and 3-4 points lower on Verbal relative to GMATPrep. Everything was more "math-y" than the real exam; quant questions are too calculation-intensive and a disproportionate number of CR questions relied on statistical/mathematical inductions. The $75 is better spent on the two additional GMATPrep tests.
GMATPrep: Great tool. Make sure to use these tests wisely the first go-around (timed, simulated test-conditions, etc.).
GMAT Additional Score Summary: Pointless. Paid $25 for one after my first attempt in order to hone in on my test weaknesses. % correct/incorrect gives little insight into room for improvement.
Magoosh Curriculum: Wonderful! Take thorough notes and you will not be disappointed. The administrators are more than happy to assist if you have supplemental questions, though the knowledge base is pretty substantial as-is. If you are retaking the exam, the money-back guarantee is a no-brainer.
Magoosh Practice Questions: Sentence Correction: Great (maybe even better than MGMAT). Critical Reasoning: Okay. Reading Comprehension: Insanely difficult (way too long, hard to parse passages). Quant: Great (again, the questions require an intuition behind the tested a material--a must for the real exam).
GMAT Official Review 12th Ed.: Good repository of questions. However, even the hardest questions don't surpass the 750+ difficulty.
Bunuel's GMATClub Quant Guide.: Everything you need to know, but again, it can be a crutch if you tend to over-memorize formulas and material rather than the underlying intuition.
CR Question Bank by Carcass: Great resource for CR. Answer several questions, consult with GMATClub to understand where you went wrong. Rinse & repeat for the different CR categories therein.
Personal Strategies
Data Sufficiency: Take a clear mental note of the constraints given (integer, nonnegative, etc.). When you come up with a deduction from each statement, double check the answer with the prompt's constraints! The A/D+B/C/E elimination process is a great way to improve your odds if you are confident in the implication of only one statement. By doing practice problems, you'll develop a knack for whether a given question is better handled using random numbers or algebraic manipulation--capitalize!
Problem Solving: Make sure you understand what is being asked. Often times, the spacing of the answers will indicate whether precise solving or a back-of-the-envelope approach is required. (For example, 4.8*6,700/1,400*1.145: if the answers are fairly spread out, you might be able to simplify the calculation.
Sentence Correction: Don't fall for pronoun ambiguity--there is some tolerance for it on the GMAT. Have a very strong understanding of noun & verb modifiers (touch rule, subject-less verb modifiers, etc). If you can find a split for redundancy (example: a "aquatic... swimmer"), this is an easy elimination. MEANING IS VERY IMPORTANT! When you read the prompt, make sure you know what it is saying; often times, alternative answer choices will distort the intended meaning. If you are still unsure among several remaining answer choices, know that off-sounding sentences are usually incorrect.
Critical Reasoning: I usually read the question type before reading the prompt (helped channel my thought process). As you read through the passage, criticize the argument in the back of your mind (ex. "XYZ assumption is needed" or "the argument collapses without premise ABC"). Once you identify the conclusion, hold onto it! The conclusion is the most important part of the argument, as other portions of the argument can distract you from the true answer, which directly ties to the conclusion.
Reading Comprehension: MGMAT's diagramming techniques are helpful. Always have author purpose in mind and don't get caught up in the minutiae of a dense passage. Take key notes of transitions and statements that indicate the author's opinion. Ex. "....THESE CRITICS ARE WRONG insofar as they discount more important factors in the North Highland Bee reproductive cycle."
Thank you again! Happy to field any other questions--best of luck!
I recently took the exam for the second time and received a score of 750. While this is above my goal (740+), I am rather concerned about the low IR score. Given that I am exclusively applying to M7/Tuck/Darden, will an IR score of 6 put me out of contention? Moreover, is a 750 enough for a "privileged" applicant (caucasian, Public Ivy undergrad, bulge bracket investment bank & private equity experience) for the top finance programs?
For GMATClub community members interested in my GMAT story, I've detailed it below.
Study Plan
I took the GMATPrep diagnostic test in mid-February and scored an unimpressive 620. With much room for improvement, I bought the MGMAT strategy guides and online practice exams. I went through all seven books, spending 2-3 hours a night and making comprehensive notes for the content. After outlining the materials (5 weeks or so), I shifted my attention to practice exams. While I improved notably over the course of 2 months, I was utilizing the absolute worst strategy for the exam--rote memorization! (Beyond some idioms and the 20*20 multiplication table, there is really no need for memorization). My skewed perception of the GMAT, as if it were similar to most college exams, undeniably led to my lackluster performance on the first attempt.
2/01/15: GMATPrep DI - 620 (Q43 V32)
2/26/15: MGMAT CAT I - 650 (Q43 V36)
3/16/15: MGMAT CAT II - 670 (Q44 V37)
3/28/15: MGMAT CAT III - 670 (Q44 V37)
4/11/15: GMATPrep DII - 730 (Q47 V42)
4/18/15: GMATPrep DI Retake - 760 (Q49 V46)
4/24/15: GMATPrep DII Retake - 760 (Q49 V45)
4/28/15: GMAT - 700 (AWA 6 IR 8 Q46 V40)
After scoring a 700, I knew I would retake the exam under a new study framework. I quickly enrolled in Magoosh's program, confident that a structured online course would guide me to the GMAT promised land. Magoosh's lessons imparted much-needed knowledge behind the concepts tested on the GMAT. In fact, I forced myself to forget 95% of the memorized formulas in lieu of a more comprehensive, grounded understanding of the material. I took my last few timed practice exams, reviewed the missed questions, and embarked on my second attempt.
6/1/15: GMATPrep DIII - 760 (Q50 V44)
6/10/15: GMATPrep DIV - 740 (Q49 V41)
6/17/15: GMAT - 750 (IR 6 Q49 V45)
Prep Material Reviews
MGMAT Guides: Must-have for sentence correction and quant. The guides are a bit more focused on question strategies than mathematical intuition, but if you understand them forwards and backwards, you'll be well-prepared.
MGMAT CAT's: Really a poor investment in my opinion. The CAT's are insanely difficult. I consistently scored 2-3 points lower on IR, 3-4 points lower on Quant, and 3-4 points lower on Verbal relative to GMATPrep. Everything was more "math-y" than the real exam; quant questions are too calculation-intensive and a disproportionate number of CR questions relied on statistical/mathematical inductions. The $75 is better spent on the two additional GMATPrep tests.
GMATPrep: Great tool. Make sure to use these tests wisely the first go-around (timed, simulated test-conditions, etc.).
GMAT Additional Score Summary: Pointless. Paid $25 for one after my first attempt in order to hone in on my test weaknesses. % correct/incorrect gives little insight into room for improvement.
Magoosh Curriculum: Wonderful! Take thorough notes and you will not be disappointed. The administrators are more than happy to assist if you have supplemental questions, though the knowledge base is pretty substantial as-is. If you are retaking the exam, the money-back guarantee is a no-brainer.
Magoosh Practice Questions: Sentence Correction: Great (maybe even better than MGMAT). Critical Reasoning: Okay. Reading Comprehension: Insanely difficult (way too long, hard to parse passages). Quant: Great (again, the questions require an intuition behind the tested a material--a must for the real exam).
GMAT Official Review 12th Ed.: Good repository of questions. However, even the hardest questions don't surpass the 750+ difficulty.
Bunuel's GMATClub Quant Guide.: Everything you need to know, but again, it can be a crutch if you tend to over-memorize formulas and material rather than the underlying intuition.
CR Question Bank by Carcass: Great resource for CR. Answer several questions, consult with GMATClub to understand where you went wrong. Rinse & repeat for the different CR categories therein.
Personal Strategies
Data Sufficiency: Take a clear mental note of the constraints given (integer, nonnegative, etc.). When you come up with a deduction from each statement, double check the answer with the prompt's constraints! The A/D+B/C/E elimination process is a great way to improve your odds if you are confident in the implication of only one statement. By doing practice problems, you'll develop a knack for whether a given question is better handled using random numbers or algebraic manipulation--capitalize!
Problem Solving: Make sure you understand what is being asked. Often times, the spacing of the answers will indicate whether precise solving or a back-of-the-envelope approach is required. (For example, 4.8*6,700/1,400*1.145: if the answers are fairly spread out, you might be able to simplify the calculation.
Sentence Correction: Don't fall for pronoun ambiguity--there is some tolerance for it on the GMAT. Have a very strong understanding of noun & verb modifiers (touch rule, subject-less verb modifiers, etc). If you can find a split for redundancy (example: a "aquatic... swimmer"), this is an easy elimination. MEANING IS VERY IMPORTANT! When you read the prompt, make sure you know what it is saying; often times, alternative answer choices will distort the intended meaning. If you are still unsure among several remaining answer choices, know that off-sounding sentences are usually incorrect.
Critical Reasoning: I usually read the question type before reading the prompt (helped channel my thought process). As you read through the passage, criticize the argument in the back of your mind (ex. "XYZ assumption is needed" or "the argument collapses without premise ABC"). Once you identify the conclusion, hold onto it! The conclusion is the most important part of the argument, as other portions of the argument can distract you from the true answer, which directly ties to the conclusion.
Reading Comprehension: MGMAT's diagramming techniques are helpful. Always have author purpose in mind and don't get caught up in the minutiae of a dense passage. Take key notes of transitions and statements that indicate the author's opinion. Ex. "....THESE CRITICS ARE WRONG insofar as they discount more important factors in the North Highland Bee reproductive cycle."
Thank you again! Happy to field any other questions--best of luck!
23 Jun 2015, 06:04
Kudos
Bookmarks
This question is better posed to the admissions consultants here: ask-admission-consultants-124/
You have done a fantastic job on the GMAT and your IR score is above average. I don't think your score would limit you at all, but you should ask the consultants to see what the most recent feeling is on IR scores at the top finance schools.
KW
You have done a fantastic job on the GMAT and your IR score is above average. I don't think your score would limit you at all, but you should ask the consultants to see what the most recent feeling is on IR scores at the top finance schools.
KW
23 Jun 2015, 08:00
Kudos
Bookmarks
Thanks, Kyle. Will do!
