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29 Aug 2021, 01:51
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi guys,
I'd like to share with you my experience with the GMAT. I am Italian, 29 years old, and I got a BSc in Business Administration and a MSc in Management, both in Italy (Bocconi University). I have 4 years of work experience in a large manufacturing company, and I'd like to get into MIT Sloan for the MBA program. I have started to study for the GMAT since autumn 2019, working with all the complete guide books from Manhattan Prep and using the GMAT Interact program of the same institution. I put all my simulations tests here with the official attempts underlined:
Date Q V Total
24-Oct 33 32 540
7-Nov 40 35 620
27-Dec 41 36 640
10-Jan 36 36 600
14-Mar 42 34 630
4-Apr 42 33 620
15-May 43 34 630
5-Jun 43 36 650
12-Jun 39 35 610
30-Jul 40 40 660
3-Aug 40 34 610
23-Aug 47 44 740
28-Aug 42 30 590
One important note: the 740 score was "inflated" because I recharged one of the two official simulation that I had taken two months ago, so some questions were familiar to me.
Yesterday I took the GMAT in Switzerland, at San Gallen University (third attempt): the experience at the test center was perfect, better than the previous two past experiences in Milan. Nevertheless, I was able to only score 590 (I obviously canceled it): 30 verbal, 42 quantitative, and 2 integrated reasoning. I was not anxious, but relaxed and calm. At the end of the test I was satisfied, because I was able to finish both verbal and quantitative sections on time (in the previous two exams I was always running, at the end of each section). When I saw the score, especially the verbal score, I was shocked, I couldn't believe it. At this point I really don't know what to do, because I can't understand what I'm doing wrong. I don't know how to plan my preparation anymore. I feel like I am stuck in the low 600, even if I practice every day both quantitative and verbal, putting every wrong answer in my error log, analyzing the question, and redoing it five times after several days and weeks.
Courses used in all this months: The Economist, Manhattan Prep, and a course in Milan held by a GMAT expert.
The investment of money, time, and energy is becoming big, so I really need some advice from you.
Thank you.
I'd like to share with you my experience with the GMAT. I am Italian, 29 years old, and I got a BSc in Business Administration and a MSc in Management, both in Italy (Bocconi University). I have 4 years of work experience in a large manufacturing company, and I'd like to get into MIT Sloan for the MBA program. I have started to study for the GMAT since autumn 2019, working with all the complete guide books from Manhattan Prep and using the GMAT Interact program of the same institution. I put all my simulations tests here with the official attempts underlined:
Date Q V Total
24-Oct 33 32 540
7-Nov 40 35 620
27-Dec 41 36 640
10-Jan 36 36 600
14-Mar 42 34 630
4-Apr 42 33 620
15-May 43 34 630
5-Jun 43 36 650
12-Jun 39 35 610
30-Jul 40 40 660
3-Aug 40 34 610
23-Aug 47 44 740
28-Aug 42 30 590
One important note: the 740 score was "inflated" because I recharged one of the two official simulation that I had taken two months ago, so some questions were familiar to me.
Yesterday I took the GMAT in Switzerland, at San Gallen University (third attempt): the experience at the test center was perfect, better than the previous two past experiences in Milan. Nevertheless, I was able to only score 590 (I obviously canceled it): 30 verbal, 42 quantitative, and 2 integrated reasoning. I was not anxious, but relaxed and calm. At the end of the test I was satisfied, because I was able to finish both verbal and quantitative sections on time (in the previous two exams I was always running, at the end of each section). When I saw the score, especially the verbal score, I was shocked, I couldn't believe it. At this point I really don't know what to do, because I can't understand what I'm doing wrong. I don't know how to plan my preparation anymore. I feel like I am stuck in the low 600, even if I practice every day both quantitative and verbal, putting every wrong answer in my error log, analyzing the question, and redoing it five times after several days and weeks.
Courses used in all this months: The Economist, Manhattan Prep, and a course in Milan held by a GMAT expert.
The investment of money, time, and energy is becoming big, so I really need some advice from you.
Thank you.
29 Aug 2021, 08:41
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hey massimassi,
It might feel terrible to not be able to see the desired result even after you put in a lot of effort. But dont worry. I too kind of am in the same boat and looking at your score, I realize that you are lagging behind in quant which is pulling your score down. Your verbal is above average and I would recommend that you keep hold of your current verbal by regular practice but try to strengthen your fundamentals in quant.
I am no verbal expert but I can share some wisdom on quant. One thing in quant is that it is after all about formulas and rules. Once you ace them, you are good to go.
So start with fundamentals and keep revising them before you attack any question. You must realize that your scores are definitely reflective of your practice tests. ( +- 30 is common ) so always aim for your target score +30 on your practice tests.
As you are saying that you were able to finish on time but your scores are low so that means your accuracy is less than what is required. So start practicing each topic separately and analyze what are your weak areas and strong areas and how are the accuracies moving with each practice session.
This way you will learn the tips and tricks and see the hidden patterns in the question types and realize not every question has to be treated differently. After all it's a standardized test.
note down what all patterns you are able to notice and keep revising them regularly so that you get mechanical next time you see a similar pattern in a question.
But remember the official content is very limited so utilize it religiously. There is no point in taking 100 mocks till you are not strong with fundamentals. You need not solve 100 problems to learn a concept. You can solve a problem in 10 different ways and still learn most of the concepts.
Lastly, it maybe the case that you are falling for the trap answer choices so every time you judge an answer choice start double checking whether you have missed any loop holes. You can apply substitution method for many PS questions, you can practice elimination strategies. So keep all of this in mind and think whether you are really able to apply all these concepts or not.
Also there is also GRE if you are targeting for an MBA, GMAT is not the only exam so keep an open mind and validate other options as well. As I heard GRE quant is easier. So might as well look into it.
AS you are targeting SLOAN which is a highly competitive program and you need a score of 730+ at least in my opinion (I am no expert so verify with an expert on what should be your target score for the respective university, given your background).
So your aim should be 750+ in mocks so that you reach your target score in the test. Do not write the exam till you reach our mock target coz you are just wasting your attempts otherwise.
So take time introspect what is wrong and restart your journey.
Good luck!! I am sure you will rock it this time!!
It might feel terrible to not be able to see the desired result even after you put in a lot of effort. But dont worry. I too kind of am in the same boat and looking at your score, I realize that you are lagging behind in quant which is pulling your score down. Your verbal is above average and I would recommend that you keep hold of your current verbal by regular practice but try to strengthen your fundamentals in quant.
I am no verbal expert but I can share some wisdom on quant. One thing in quant is that it is after all about formulas and rules. Once you ace them, you are good to go.
So start with fundamentals and keep revising them before you attack any question. You must realize that your scores are definitely reflective of your practice tests. ( +- 30 is common ) so always aim for your target score +30 on your practice tests.
As you are saying that you were able to finish on time but your scores are low so that means your accuracy is less than what is required. So start practicing each topic separately and analyze what are your weak areas and strong areas and how are the accuracies moving with each practice session.
This way you will learn the tips and tricks and see the hidden patterns in the question types and realize not every question has to be treated differently. After all it's a standardized test.
note down what all patterns you are able to notice and keep revising them regularly so that you get mechanical next time you see a similar pattern in a question.
But remember the official content is very limited so utilize it religiously. There is no point in taking 100 mocks till you are not strong with fundamentals. You need not solve 100 problems to learn a concept. You can solve a problem in 10 different ways and still learn most of the concepts.
Lastly, it maybe the case that you are falling for the trap answer choices so every time you judge an answer choice start double checking whether you have missed any loop holes. You can apply substitution method for many PS questions, you can practice elimination strategies. So keep all of this in mind and think whether you are really able to apply all these concepts or not.
Also there is also GRE if you are targeting for an MBA, GMAT is not the only exam so keep an open mind and validate other options as well. As I heard GRE quant is easier. So might as well look into it.
AS you are targeting SLOAN which is a highly competitive program and you need a score of 730+ at least in my opinion (I am no expert so verify with an expert on what should be your target score for the respective university, given your background).
So your aim should be 750+ in mocks so that you reach your target score in the test. Do not write the exam till you reach our mock target coz you are just wasting your attempts otherwise.
So take time introspect what is wrong and restart your journey.
Good luck!! I am sure you will rock it this time!!
29 Aug 2021, 11:13
Kudos
Bookmarks
sahiba96
Thank you sahiba96 for your words. I will try to reset my mindset, because in this moment I'm frustrated by this situation. I already tried to do what you have written in your post, but apparently I did not work in the right way. I have to try to understand what kind of routine daily practice I need to increase my score, because if there is something that I have learnt from this negative experience is that "quantity is not quality" or, if you prefer, "less is more". Do you have any advice on the material? I have all the Manhattan books, which I think they are sufficient, and both the OG2020 and OG2021.
