Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Apr 3001:30 AM EDT
-02:30 AM EDT
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
-01:30 AM EDT
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
-12:00 PM PDT
Free- full-length test + 15 concept videos + 150+ short videos + study plan!
May 0306:30 AM PDT
-08:30 AM PDT
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.
MBAprep1997
Current Student
Joined: 12 Jan 2020
Last visit: 01 May 2022
Posts: 7
Given Kudos: 4
Location: United States (MI)
Schools: Darden '24 (WA) Sloan '24 (A) Fuqua '24 (WL)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
GPA: 3.6
Products:
22 Dec 2020, 19:12
Kudos
Bookmarks
MY GMAT Online Experience!
Some background:
I dont plan on applying to any colleges till Fall2021, but given the amount of free time - just like everyone else, I wanted to get done with the GMAT.
I started my prep on Sep 1 2020 and my GMAT Online was on Dec 16, 2020. I bought the full e-gmat course as well as OG Textbooks + Advanced and Gmat Prep Test 1-6. I studied about 1.5-2hrs per day during the week and 4-5 hours on the weekends. I missed a lot of weekdays/weekends due to work commitments.
I covered all the basics and concepts from Sep - Dec and took practice tests in the first half of december. I did take 1 test in the middle as well to track my progress.
JAN 2020 - GMAT Prep 1 - 630 Q44,V32 BASELINE
NOV 1 2020 - EGMAT SIGMA MOCK 1 -680 (Q48,V34) - I took this after finishing all the quant concepts
DEC 2 2020 - EGMAT SIGMA MOCK 2 - 670 (Q44,V37) - This was a mistake- I had only done Verbal in the last month, did not refresh quant and I took this after work at 8pm. Big mistake.
DEC 6 2020 - EGMAT SIGMA MOCK 3- 720 (Q49, V39) - I had revised everything and was happy with the improvement - I also noted my weaker areas and attacked them.
DEC 10 2020- GMATPrep 2 - 710 (Q49,V38) - I was just thrown off a little by the change in the software- since I had practiced all along on egmat- Gmatprep testing screen threw me off, but I took away good learnings from this. Noted my weak areas and my silly mistakes.
DEC 12 2020- GMATPrep 3- 750 (Q50, V41) - I took this test in the same setting as my GMAT Online and at the same time as well. I was fresh before the test and performed my best.
Iw as confident going into my GMAT exam.
GMAT Online Experience:
All the prechecks went well and smoothly. I started right on time of my test. I never saw my proctor and did not have any technical diffuclties during the test either.
The Quant Section was very different than the practice tests and that off the bat threw me off. The inherent need in my brain to try and get the first 18 questions right made me stay on the first 5 questions much much longer than required (I spent 15 minutes on the first 5 questions). As a result, I had to hurry through the rest of the quant section- at times skipping questions that I knew how to solve but were PS and would take some time- so i skipped. I some how managed to finish the quant section with 30 seconds remaining- and remember getting a super basic question as the last question and thinking to myself that I have bombed this section.
Having struggled early in the test completely changed my mentality as even during the test I had already started thinking that I wont get my target score and will have to retake the test again. While this mentalility hurt me because it was demotivating- it somehow managed to take a weight off the test since - this test didnt matter anymore and I wasnt scared of it.
This showed in the Verbal section- Verbal is the weaker of my two sections but it was very similar to the practice tests that I had taken, and just like the practice tests I finished the verbal section on time- confident that my performance would be similar to the practice tests.
IR was just like practice tests and honeslty I was trying to finish the IR as soon as possible because I was just done with the test at this point.
After the test i felt really low and my only comfort was the collective disappointment that me and a lot of my fellow GMAT takers felt after bombing the Quant section. I found solace in the fact that I am not the only one who did bad- a lot of people faced the same challenges as I did.
After a day of sulking I decided to take the test again- unsure where to take it (Online or in-person still), I realised I should make a decision after getting my scores back.
Fastforward 3 days and I get my score back: 720 (Q48,V41)
I was amazed- I honestly expected something in the 600's. I was amazed that I still ended up with a Q48 after that horrid performance. This score told me two things:
1. I can do it. I am not dumb.None of you reading this are dumb! We all got this!
2. GMAT Online is probably made to be hard the first few questions but then the questions level out- and even if you dont perform so well in the first few- if you can solve the others properly- your score will reflect that. There is possibly a curve which allows for a higher quant score even after not performing well on it.
This meant that if I dont spend a stupid amount of time on the first few questions- I could have easily achieved the Q50/51 that I am looking for and beat this test.
Here I am preparing again for another go at the GMAT- I take it on Jan 2 2021!
Some background:
I dont plan on applying to any colleges till Fall2021, but given the amount of free time - just like everyone else, I wanted to get done with the GMAT.
I started my prep on Sep 1 2020 and my GMAT Online was on Dec 16, 2020. I bought the full e-gmat course as well as OG Textbooks + Advanced and Gmat Prep Test 1-6. I studied about 1.5-2hrs per day during the week and 4-5 hours on the weekends. I missed a lot of weekdays/weekends due to work commitments.
I covered all the basics and concepts from Sep - Dec and took practice tests in the first half of december. I did take 1 test in the middle as well to track my progress.
JAN 2020 - GMAT Prep 1 - 630 Q44,V32 BASELINE
NOV 1 2020 - EGMAT SIGMA MOCK 1 -680 (Q48,V34) - I took this after finishing all the quant concepts
DEC 2 2020 - EGMAT SIGMA MOCK 2 - 670 (Q44,V37) - This was a mistake- I had only done Verbal in the last month, did not refresh quant and I took this after work at 8pm. Big mistake.
DEC 6 2020 - EGMAT SIGMA MOCK 3- 720 (Q49, V39) - I had revised everything and was happy with the improvement - I also noted my weaker areas and attacked them.
DEC 10 2020- GMATPrep 2 - 710 (Q49,V38) - I was just thrown off a little by the change in the software- since I had practiced all along on egmat- Gmatprep testing screen threw me off, but I took away good learnings from this. Noted my weak areas and my silly mistakes.
DEC 12 2020- GMATPrep 3- 750 (Q50, V41) - I took this test in the same setting as my GMAT Online and at the same time as well. I was fresh before the test and performed my best.
Iw as confident going into my GMAT exam.
GMAT Online Experience:
All the prechecks went well and smoothly. I started right on time of my test. I never saw my proctor and did not have any technical diffuclties during the test either.
The Quant Section was very different than the practice tests and that off the bat threw me off. The inherent need in my brain to try and get the first 18 questions right made me stay on the first 5 questions much much longer than required (I spent 15 minutes on the first 5 questions). As a result, I had to hurry through the rest of the quant section- at times skipping questions that I knew how to solve but were PS and would take some time- so i skipped. I some how managed to finish the quant section with 30 seconds remaining- and remember getting a super basic question as the last question and thinking to myself that I have bombed this section.
Having struggled early in the test completely changed my mentality as even during the test I had already started thinking that I wont get my target score and will have to retake the test again. While this mentalility hurt me because it was demotivating- it somehow managed to take a weight off the test since - this test didnt matter anymore and I wasnt scared of it.
This showed in the Verbal section- Verbal is the weaker of my two sections but it was very similar to the practice tests that I had taken, and just like the practice tests I finished the verbal section on time- confident that my performance would be similar to the practice tests.
IR was just like practice tests and honeslty I was trying to finish the IR as soon as possible because I was just done with the test at this point.
After the test i felt really low and my only comfort was the collective disappointment that me and a lot of my fellow GMAT takers felt after bombing the Quant section. I found solace in the fact that I am not the only one who did bad- a lot of people faced the same challenges as I did.
After a day of sulking I decided to take the test again- unsure where to take it (Online or in-person still), I realised I should make a decision after getting my scores back.
Fastforward 3 days and I get my score back: 720 (Q48,V41)
I was amazed- I honestly expected something in the 600's. I was amazed that I still ended up with a Q48 after that horrid performance. This score told me two things:
1. I can do it. I am not dumb.None of you reading this are dumb! We all got this!
2. GMAT Online is probably made to be hard the first few questions but then the questions level out- and even if you dont perform so well in the first few- if you can solve the others properly- your score will reflect that. There is possibly a curve which allows for a higher quant score even after not performing well on it.
This meant that if I dont spend a stupid amount of time on the first few questions- I could have easily achieved the Q50/51 that I am looking for and beat this test.
Here I am preparing again for another go at the GMAT- I take it on Jan 2 2021!
23 Dec 2020, 15:24
Kudos
Bookmarks
MBAprep1997 – congratulations on scoring 720. A 90-point improvement in a few months is no mean feat, especially when you have been putting in about ~18 hours per week. You definitely have the potential to score 750.
To excel, attribute causality and create an improvement plan
I am glad that you took the Sigma-X mocks. Your score seems to match up. Also, I like how your attributed causality to your drop in performance in Mock 2. Many students do not do the same. Consequently, you improved post your corrective plan.
Similarly, you have done the same on your actual attempt. You can improve to 750 with little effort. My first advice – take the GMAT in 20 days. Do not delay. My second advise – don’t second guess the GMAT algorithm. It does not do anyone any good.
We have had many students who have done the same. Aastha – one of our former students (a current Kellogg student) did the same in her second attempt and ended up with a 710. Her story below will probably resonate with you.
Plan your application post your GMAT
Spend time building your profile since you will have a few months post your GMAT. Watch how Jim strengthened his profile (added extracurriculars, added leadership experience, reached out to current students) post his 770 score. These activities were instrumental in him securing an admit from Columba and Booth.
There are many such journeys on our YouTube channel. Good luck for your next attempt. Let me know once you succeed of if you need help.
Cheers!!
Rajat
To excel, attribute causality and create an improvement plan
I am glad that you took the Sigma-X mocks. Your score seems to match up. Also, I like how your attributed causality to your drop in performance in Mock 2. Many students do not do the same. Consequently, you improved post your corrective plan.
Similarly, you have done the same on your actual attempt. You can improve to 750 with little effort. My first advice – take the GMAT in 20 days. Do not delay. My second advise – don’t second guess the GMAT algorithm. It does not do anyone any good.
We have had many students who have done the same. Aastha – one of our former students (a current Kellogg student) did the same in her second attempt and ended up with a 710. Her story below will probably resonate with you.
Plan your application post your GMAT
Spend time building your profile since you will have a few months post your GMAT. Watch how Jim strengthened his profile (added extracurriculars, added leadership experience, reached out to current students) post his 770 score. These activities were instrumental in him securing an admit from Columba and Booth.
There are many such journeys on our YouTube channel. Good luck for your next attempt. Let me know once you succeed of if you need help.
Cheers!!
Rajat
23 Dec 2020, 16:43
Kudos
Bookmarks
Thanks for sharing. Curious, why did you want to solve the first 18 questions? Is that a personal goal or was that a suggestion from someone?
PS. The goal is really to use your time order my on the GMAT and maximize it so that you don’t spend too much on any questions and really don’t have to skip any questions without a crack at them (it is totally OK to skip
A question you don’t know how to solve after 90 Seconds of trying)
Posted from my mobile device
PS. The goal is really to use your time order my on the GMAT and maximize it so that you don’t spend too much on any questions and really don’t have to skip any questions without a crack at them (it is totally OK to skip
A question you don’t know how to solve after 90 Seconds of trying)
Posted from my mobile device
