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14 Jul 2011, 11:06
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Hi Guys,
I am Manikanth from Hyderabad, India. It all started in March 2011 after a holiday trip to GOA (had loads of fun
I started my preparation for GMAT in mid march. My target was some 690, when I started my prep as I heard my friends giving applause to another friend for 690 on GMAT and thought that was pretty cool
I first booked my GMAT on AUG 31st, then I looked for various GMAT coaching and attended a couple of demo classes. I actually learned a lot from one demo class, on how they calculate GMAT score and what all it contains and sectional breakups etc etc.. Seriously I was not aware of any of these till then. As that prof in the GMAT coaching said that taking test in the first days of month and last days of month will have some effect on the final score, I rescheduled my GMAT to Jul 12th and had to accept to participate in the new section for extra 30 mins at the end (I really wanted to avoid it. But despite of all the demo classes, I decided to give first attempt on my own I collected materials from some other friends who had earlier given the GMAT. I got used Kaplan books, MGMAT books and few of the useless Kaplan CDs (Useless in the sense that they were all scratched and were not working 
) and scanned copy of OG 12th edition.
I first took the diagnostic test from OG, all sections were below average and poor, except for maths which were above average in both PS and DS. So decided to first start with Verbal part and started with MGMAT material on CR. Completed it in 10 days time and felt completely satisfied with my results on CR, they were always 70% correct... I was like 'YES, I DID IT!!!'.
Then started with SC MGMAT, I was like WTF!!!!
((( I couldn't understand why always only one choice was right, where in my senses always vote for all 5 :D. It really took me 3 days to point out why some choices were wrong and some were not, still my senses suggest me a min of 3 every time and I started looking online for some good discussion forums, then fortunately found GMAT CLUB where many people were discussing many things ranging from GMAT questions to MBA Applications... I registered and started receiving 1 question each day both from Maths and Verbal. When I first got the success story mail of a 780 guy, I was like WATTTT, some body scored a 780!!!! That's when I decided to write my Success Story (for what ever score it may be one day. I intensified my work outs on SC, I took it very seriously and tried to understand what exactly they were trying to say and why do my senses get so many things positively :D, then they all started to unravel themselves. I could clearly see why only one is correct and rest all are not... since then, they were always 70% correct... then I was again like 'YES, I DID IT AGAIN!!!'. BTW, this whole process took 20 days 1 month already gone and then I realized that I haven't took any full length GMAT tests yet, and finally on one fine sunday took my first GMAT Prep test, and scored a whooping 620, I felt like yes I'm very close
Then I started with the final section RC, I couldn't understand a bit of any passage, they were all like some alien language. I was able to read every alphabet of it and could understand every word (not really every word, but yes most of them), but when all the words put together, its all gone!!!!! After reading the passages for 10 - 15 mins, when I saw the first question I was like "WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY ASKING? and HOW IS IT RELATED TO THE PASSAGE at all"(( I tried very hard to relate questions to the passages, apart from 1 or 2 questions rest all were aliens to the passage information. This happened for almost like 15 days and I thought enough of it....
I also did OG once by this time (only SC and CR, but RC no way!!!)
And here I started with Maths for the remaining 15 days, and since I was already above average on Maths, it took less time for me to be in Excellent range I took two full length GMAT tests and scored 640(Q49,V28) and 650(Q50,28), I was on Cloud 9 by this time as I was way too close for my target...But I realized that I'm already done with all the sections and there is nothing left to improve (( I had revisited the sections and identified that I screwed all the RC questions very badly. Then I started going through MGMAT RC again and started realizing that though the language is alien, its a part of our Universe and need to have a picture of universe and not earth level details :D The passages were only meant to be understood by structure and content but not by details. This made it all very clear. I had only 1 and half months left with me and started practicing as many questions as possible, I learned a lot during these practices. All my basics are becoming clear and I eventually started feeling ease with the questions. I took a GMAT exam again after 10 days and found that my score was 690(Q50,V32). I was like OMG!!!!! there must be something wrong with the system or this software and I reached my target so easily. But I was so habituated by then for solving questions that I just couldn't stop myself from practicing, I still had 1 month left and I donno wat to do with all this time, then I started with practice tests and scored consistently 690 and one day suddenly my score was 710!!!!! That was when I decided to read back the basics and achieve more, and despite of all my efforts I could never score anything above 700 in all the tests... I finally took the second GMATPrep exam just 1 week before the final exam and scored 700, i thought thats fair enough. I took a complete 1 week off from my work and started looking in to basics and doing the OG questions that I answered wrongly earlier (This is really useful . In the last 2 days, I prepared for AWA, which I completely forget and neglected. Though the time was less, I got some useful and nice AWA tips and samples from NET and prepared from them.
With all this preparation, the D-DAY has finally arrived. My test was at 9-AM and I was at center by 8AM, so that I shouldn't have to rush and take all unnecessary tensions before exam, people suggested to be as peaceful as possible. They allowed us inside at 8.30 and at 8.40 my turn came and they asked to show my passport. I said WHAT!!!! why do you need a passport when I have my Driving License? They said its mandatory and only passport will be accepted, I said no its no where written and this is unfair Then that lady has shown me GMAT booklet in which it was written with a * saying "in countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, India... only passport is allowed" (((((( I was very tensed and that lady spoke to some center supervisor and gave me 1 hr extra time i.e., till 10 AM and asked to get it by that time and even if its late by 1 min, she can't help (( My house was some 15 kms from center and since its in the morning hours took me some 25-30 mins to go at lightning speed. I came back to the center by 9.54 AM and was allowed into the exam hall. I thought "PEACE???? Screw IT"
I had some water and sat down and sighed out all the tension and started with all the confidence with AWA, it went well. I don't know that score yet
Once done with AWA, I took a 8 mins break and I didn't noticed in all this tension that I was very hungry and was literally shivering. I took some food stuff and energy drink to the exam, had both of them and went back to attack Quant. The first question was an easy kill and gave me confidence, but after 5-6 questions there was some dirty DS question, it took me some 4-5 mins for that question only to mark it wrong Then I became conscious and started answering questions with utmost care and concentration. I was sure its going good, but after few more questions suddenly I started feeling like questions are getting easier which gave me a chill (as questions get easy only when you answer wrongly). I was tensed feeling that my Quant was screwed
I then took another break only to finish up the remaining fruit cake and energy drink I went back and started with Verbal, the first one was SC. This time my senses were stuck with 2 and finally came up with 1 choice. Then another SC, then CR CR CR and its getting tough, I felt happy that yes it must be going in the right direction, then all the way came a little RC which is short but tough too, about some liberalization but since it is small I could answer some of the questions correctly, not sure about the remaining though. After 75 mins, its all over. I was expecting to see my score as soon as I click the Next button. Then it prompted me to take the 30 mins survey test, I thought WTF!!!! then I realized that I had signed up for this and was not in any mood to take it (I tried to answer it seriously though)... When its done, system prompted me to either Send or Cancel the scores, I was like "YOU MUST BE KIDDING, Ofcourse I want to see my hard earned score ". Then a blow on my face, it was showing 730 (Q51, V38). I just couldn't feel it, I was completely dumb shocked and thought for a moment closed my eyes and raised my hand, when the instructor came, I asked her to double confirm if its the real score. She said yes its ur final score. I was like "GOD MUST BE CRAZY!!!!" )) I thanked them for letting me into the exam after 1 hr and left the center with a huge smile on my face.
So, that's it guys. My journey of GMAT. I'm not planning to take it ever again in my life, whether its sufficient or not
Take aways:
------------
1) Hardwork always pays off!!!
2) Its all fun and just keep it that way, no need to worry too much, just realize and work out.
3) Work on ur strengths (Mine was maths)
4) Practice a lot and stick to the schedule, the more you practice the more you learn.
5) No need to by-heart anything, the more you practice, they will naturally come to you. like IDIOMS and maths formulas
6) Once you get the right node, its all so straight forward.
Final suggestion: NO, ITS NOT TOUGH!!!!!! WHEN I CAN, YOU CAN))
All the best my friends.
And my special thanks to GMAT CLUB, for giving me an opportunity to write my SUCCESS STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers,
Manikanth.
I am Manikanth from Hyderabad, India. It all started in March 2011 after a holiday trip to GOA (had loads of fun
I started my preparation for GMAT in mid march. My target was some 690, when I started my prep as I heard my friends giving applause to another friend for 690 on GMAT and thought that was pretty cool I first booked my GMAT on AUG 31st, then I looked for various GMAT coaching and attended a couple of demo classes. I actually learned a lot from one demo class, on how they calculate GMAT score and what all it contains and sectional breakups etc etc.. Seriously I was not aware of any of these till then. As that prof in the GMAT coaching said that taking test in the first days of month and last days of month will have some effect on the final score, I rescheduled my GMAT to Jul 12th and had to accept to participate in the new section for extra 30 mins at the end (I really wanted to avoid it
. But despite of all the demo classes, I decided to give first attempt on my own I collected materials from some other friends who had earlier given the GMAT. I got used Kaplan books, MGMAT books and few of the useless Kaplan CDs (Useless in the sense that they were all scratched and were not working ) and scanned copy of OG 12th edition. I first took the diagnostic test from OG, all sections were below average and poor, except for maths which were above average in both PS and DS. So decided to first start with Verbal part and started with MGMAT material on CR. Completed it in 10 days time and felt completely satisfied with my results on CR, they were always 70% correct
... I was like 'YES, I DID IT!!!'. Then started with SC MGMAT, I was like WTF!!!!
((( I couldn't understand why always only one choice was right, where in my senses always vote for all 5 :D. It really took me 3 days to point out why some choices were wrong and some were not, still my senses suggest me a min of 3 every time and I started looking online for some good discussion forums, then fortunately found GMAT CLUB where many people were discussing many things ranging from GMAT questions to MBA Applications... I registered and started receiving 1 question each day both from Maths and Verbal. When I first got the success story mail of a 780 guy, I was like WATTTT, some body scored a 780!!!! That's when I decided to write my Success Story (for what ever score it may be one day. I intensified my work outs on SC, I took it very seriously and tried to understand what exactly they were trying to say and why do my senses get so many things positively :D, then they all started to unravel themselves. I could clearly see why only one is correct and rest all are not... since then, they were always 70% correct... then I was again like 'YES, I DID IT AGAIN!!!'. BTW, this whole process took 20 days 1 month already gone and then I realized that I haven't took any full length GMAT tests yet, and finally on one fine sunday took my first GMAT Prep test, and scored a whooping 620, I felt like yes I'm very close Then I started with the final section RC, I couldn't understand a bit of any passage, they were all like some alien language. I was able to read every alphabet of it and could understand every word (not really every word, but yes most of them), but when all the words put together, its all gone!!!!! After reading the passages for 10 - 15 mins, when I saw the first question I was like "WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY ASKING? and HOW IS IT RELATED TO THE PASSAGE at all"
(( I tried very hard to relate questions to the passages, apart from 1 or 2 questions rest all were aliens to the passage information. This happened for almost like 15 days and I thought enough of it....I also did OG once by this time (only SC and CR, but RC no way!!!)
And here I started with Maths for the remaining 15 days, and since I was already above average on Maths, it took less time for me to be in Excellent range
I took two full length GMAT tests and scored 640(Q49,V28) and 650(Q50,28), I was on Cloud 9 by this time as I was way too close for my target...But I realized that I'm already done with all the sections and there is nothing left to improve (( I had revisited the sections and identified that I screwed all the RC questions very badly. Then I started going through MGMAT RC again and started realizing that though the language is alien, its a part of our Universe and need to have a picture of universe and not earth level details :D The passages were only meant to be understood by structure and content but not by details. This made it all very clear. I had only 1 and half months left with me and started practicing as many questions as possible, I learned a lot during these practices. All my basics are becoming clear and I eventually started feeling ease with the questions. I took a GMAT exam again after 10 days and found that my score was 690(Q50,V32). I was like OMG!!!!! there must be something wrong with the system or this software and I reached my target so easily. But I was so habituated by then for solving questions that I just couldn't stop myself from practicing, I still had 1 month left and I donno wat to do with all this time, then I started with practice tests and scored consistently 690 and one day suddenly my score was 710!!!!! That was when I decided to read back the basics and achieve more, and despite of all my efforts I could never score anything above 700 in all the tests... I finally took the second GMATPrep exam just 1 week before the final exam and scored 700, i thought thats fair enough. I took a complete 1 week off from my work and started looking in to basics and doing the OG questions that I answered wrongly earlier (This is really useful . In the last 2 days, I prepared for AWA, which I completely forget and neglected. Though the time was less, I got some useful and nice AWA tips and samples from NET and prepared from them.With all this preparation, the D-DAY has finally arrived. My test was at 9-AM and I was at center by 8AM, so that I shouldn't have to rush and take all unnecessary tensions before exam, people suggested to be as peaceful as possible. They allowed us inside at 8.30 and at 8.40 my turn came and they asked to show my passport. I said WHAT!!!! why do you need a passport when I have my Driving License? They said its mandatory and only passport will be accepted, I said no its no where written and this is unfair
Then that lady has shown me GMAT booklet in which it was written with a * saying "in countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, India... only passport is allowed" (((((( I was very tensed and that lady spoke to some center supervisor and gave me 1 hr extra time i.e., till 10 AM and asked to get it by that time and even if its late by 1 min, she can't help (( My house was some 15 kms from center and since its in the morning hours took me some 25-30 mins to go at lightning speed. I came back to the center by 9.54 AM and was allowed into the exam hall. I thought "PEACE???? Screw IT" I had some water and sat down and sighed out all the tension and started with all the confidence with AWA, it went well. I don't know that score yet
Once done with AWA, I took a 8 mins break and I didn't noticed in all this tension that I was very hungry and was literally shivering. I took some food stuff and energy drink to the exam, had both of them and went back to attack Quant. The first question was an easy kill and gave me confidence, but after 5-6 questions there was some dirty DS question, it took me some 4-5 mins for that question only to mark it wrong
Then I became conscious and started answering questions with utmost care and concentration. I was sure its going good, but after few more questions suddenly I started feeling like questions are getting easier which gave me a chill (as questions get easy only when you answer wrongly). I was tensed feeling that my Quant was screwed I then took another break only to finish up the remaining fruit cake and energy drink
I went back and started with Verbal, the first one was SC. This time my senses were stuck with 2 and finally came up with 1 choice. Then another SC, then CR CR CR and its getting tough, I felt happy that yes it must be going in the right direction, then all the way came a little RC which is short but tough too, about some liberalization but since it is small I could answer some of the questions correctly, not sure about the remaining though. After 75 mins, its all over. I was expecting to see my score as soon as I click the Next button. Then it prompted me to take the 30 mins survey test, I thought WTF!!!! then I realized that I had signed up for this and was not in any mood to take it (I tried to answer it seriously though)... When its done, system prompted me to either Send or Cancel the scores, I was like "YOU MUST BE KIDDING, Ofcourse I want to see my hard earned score ". Then a blow on my face, it was showing 730 (Q51, V38). I just couldn't feel it, I was completely dumb shocked and thought for a moment closed my eyes and raised my hand, when the instructor came, I asked her to double confirm if its the real score. She said yes its ur final score. I was like "GOD MUST BE CRAZY!!!!" )) I thanked them for letting me into the exam after 1 hr and left the center with a huge smile on my face.So, that's it guys. My journey of GMAT. I'm not planning to take it ever again in my life, whether its sufficient or not
Take aways:
------------
1) Hardwork always pays off!!!
2) Its all fun and just keep it that way, no need to worry too much, just realize and work out.
3) Work on ur strengths (Mine was maths
)4) Practice a lot and stick to the schedule, the more you practice the more you learn.
5) No need to by-heart anything, the more you practice, they will naturally come to you. like IDIOMS and maths formulas
6) Once you get the right node, its all so straight forward.
Final suggestion: NO, ITS NOT TOUGH!!!!!! WHEN I CAN, YOU CAN
))All the best my friends.
And my special thanks to GMAT CLUB, for giving me an opportunity to write my SUCCESS STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers,
Manikanth.
14 Jul 2011, 12:11
Kudos
Bookmarks
Awesome score! Good luck for apps!
gmatkoopa
Joined: 04 Jun 2011
Last visit: 16 Apr 2015
Posts: 123
Given Kudos: 40
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: HBS '16 (D) Stanford '16 (M)
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V47
GPA: 3.8
14 Jul 2011, 12:21
Kudos
Bookmarks
How did you "totally screw up" the day then? Congrats on a great score!
