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Whether you are just beginning your MBA journey or fine-tuning your path to a 700+ score, GMAT Day is designed to give you a competitive edge.
06 Dec 2012, 17:33
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi everyone,
I hope you could give me some advice and motivation... really need it right now. To get started, this is my GMAT history:
My GMAT 2- 520 (Q28, V36). I spent a lot of time on a few problems on the quant and thus I blindly guessed the last five or six questions on the Quant section.
I first took my GMAT a year ago, in September 2011. I left my previous job to work for my family's business, so compared to other people I had a lot time in my hands. I studied on and off for 6 months on my first GMAT attempt, an average of 2 hours a day. However, looking back, I realized the following mistakes from my first GMAT attempt:
1) Used only the Kaplan books: 2009 edition; Verbal and Math foundations and OG12.
2) I did the exercises but I did not time myself - I only started some OG12 questions - one week before the exam.
But I was only focused studying during this time, since I asked some time from work from my family's business.
3) I never did any practice exam or practice from the GMAT Prep.
4) I took a lot of time trying to memorize content vs. learning to apply concepts
It took me year to decide to retake the GMAT again since I got busy with our business and other family matters. I found out about GMAT club and started reading about people's experiences. In particular, I read success stories of people who were able to improve their score from 500 to 700 level. I also read the BB's post about retaking the GMAT. I tried to follow some of the tips which I thought would work best for me. However, I ended up doing the following
1) Made a detailed schedule - I stopped working for 3 mos. (I know, I am luckier than most people on this aspect since I am working for a family business, that's why I get so frustrated all the more since I realized that some of the people here are so busy but they are very efficient in their studying) and just focused on studying - I studied for 8 hours a day - 4 hours in the morning, 4 hours in the afternoon. I went to bed early. I started with the Quant Section since I really struggle with timing on the PS and DS.
2) Got quality material - I bought the Manhattan GMAT Word Translation, Number Properties, Sentence Correction, IR & Essay, Reading Comprehension and Powerscore's CR strategies. I focused on each topic before proceeding to another, I answered the exercises, as well as the suggested exercises on the OG12 after each chapter from MGMAT guides.
3) I answered all the questions and reviewed the answers in the OG12 twice for the math section.
4) I did two practice exams (both 570), answered all the practice questions in the GMAT Prep Software in the last 4 before my actual GMAT
I know my weakness is really the Quant section. I've never really been good with math in my younger days - I wasn't failing, but I just barely passed tests after really studying hard. For the Verbal section - I'm just so-so. Reading the posts here, I know I need to do a lot more. I know that I don't have the right to complain when others are doing a lot more than me. I also realized that for my past preparations - I keep repeating the mistake of focusing and taking a long time on trying to remember contents rather trying to apply them right away via consistently answering different questions types / taking regular practice exams over a certain period. I tended to study one topic, answer the exercises, then proceed to the next one without trying to recap. I ended up forgetting some the concepts I studied early on. In this case the quant section.
I'm really lost and don't know what to do anymore. Maybe I over studied and got burned out, or maybe I wasn't efficient at studying or there's something wrong with my study habits. I broke up with someone, and I had family problems during the months I was studying for the exam - this is an excuse I try to tell myself for my failure, but this really got me distracted during my preparation. I'm sorry for this long post, and I know parts of it, are things that only I could solve. I am just really hoping to get advice from someone who had dealt with a lot of emotional turmoil and was able to overcome the GMAT despite it. I just want to be able get my confidence back or even to get the right motivation to studying. Sometimes, I'm really losing hope that I'll get my scores high to even get to a 600 level.
I hope you could give me some advice and motivation... really need it right now. To get started, this is my GMAT history:
My GMAT 2- 520 (Q28, V36). I spent a lot of time on a few problems on the quant and thus I blindly guessed the last five or six questions on the Quant section.
I first took my GMAT a year ago, in September 2011. I left my previous job to work for my family's business, so compared to other people I had a lot time in my hands. I studied on and off for 6 months on my first GMAT attempt, an average of 2 hours a day. However, looking back, I realized the following mistakes from my first GMAT attempt:
1) Used only the Kaplan books: 2009 edition; Verbal and Math foundations and OG12.
2) I did the exercises but I did not time myself - I only started some OG12 questions - one week before the exam.
But I was only focused studying during this time, since I asked some time from work from my family's business.
3) I never did any practice exam or practice from the GMAT Prep.
4) I took a lot of time trying to memorize content vs. learning to apply concepts
It took me year to decide to retake the GMAT again since I got busy with our business and other family matters. I found out about GMAT club and started reading about people's experiences. In particular, I read success stories of people who were able to improve their score from 500 to 700 level. I also read the BB's post about retaking the GMAT. I tried to follow some of the tips which I thought would work best for me. However, I ended up doing the following
1) Made a detailed schedule - I stopped working for 3 mos. (I know, I am luckier than most people on this aspect since I am working for a family business, that's why I get so frustrated all the more since I realized that some of the people here are so busy but they are very efficient in their studying) and just focused on studying - I studied for 8 hours a day - 4 hours in the morning, 4 hours in the afternoon. I went to bed early. I started with the Quant Section since I really struggle with timing on the PS and DS.
2) Got quality material - I bought the Manhattan GMAT Word Translation, Number Properties, Sentence Correction, IR & Essay, Reading Comprehension and Powerscore's CR strategies. I focused on each topic before proceeding to another, I answered the exercises, as well as the suggested exercises on the OG12 after each chapter from MGMAT guides.
3) I answered all the questions and reviewed the answers in the OG12 twice for the math section.
4) I did two practice exams (both 570), answered all the practice questions in the GMAT Prep Software in the last 4 before my actual GMAT
I know my weakness is really the Quant section. I've never really been good with math in my younger days - I wasn't failing, but I just barely passed tests after really studying hard. For the Verbal section - I'm just so-so. Reading the posts here, I know I need to do a lot more. I know that I don't have the right to complain when others are doing a lot more than me. I also realized that for my past preparations - I keep repeating the mistake of focusing and taking a long time on trying to remember contents rather trying to apply them right away via consistently answering different questions types / taking regular practice exams over a certain period. I tended to study one topic, answer the exercises, then proceed to the next one without trying to recap. I ended up forgetting some the concepts I studied early on. In this case the quant section.
I'm really lost and don't know what to do anymore. Maybe I over studied and got burned out, or maybe I wasn't efficient at studying or there's something wrong with my study habits. I broke up with someone, and I had family problems during the months I was studying for the exam - this is an excuse I try to tell myself for my failure, but this really got me distracted during my preparation. I'm sorry for this long post, and I know parts of it, are things that only I could solve. I am just really hoping to get advice from someone who had dealt with a lot of emotional turmoil and was able to overcome the GMAT despite it. I just want to be able get my confidence back or even to get the right motivation to studying. Sometimes, I'm really losing hope that I'll get my scores high to even get to a 600 level.
07 Dec 2012, 23:45
Kudos
Bookmarks
Sorry to hear about it.What were ur practice scores? GMATPREP mimics the actual test very well.Did u give Manhattan tests as well?
Thanks,
Shreeraj
Thanks,
Shreeraj
08 Dec 2012, 04:50
Kudos
Bookmarks
Oh i'm really sorry man...
As you said you were lucky enough to prepare for GMAT with dedication. But when it comes to score GMAT it was unfair to u..
You had gut to leave ur job and prepare for ur GMAT. Hats off for that.
ya when all your effort was ruined it will hurt u..
But dont get depressed try again...
Even i'm in same boat..
I quit my job 3 months before dedicated to GMAT, at least this time will hit it hard...
dont lose ur hope... Only hope will take you higher...
As you said you were lucky enough to prepare for GMAT with dedication. But when it comes to score GMAT it was unfair to u..
You had gut to leave ur job and prepare for ur GMAT. Hats off for that.
ya when all your effort was ruined it will hurt u..
But dont get depressed try again...
Even i'm in same boat..
I quit my job 3 months before dedicated to GMAT, at least this time will hit it hard...
dont lose ur hope... Only hope will take you higher...
I will really consider the tutor too, as I have limited time. I'm going back to work and I want to be efficient at studying this time. 
