GMAT Cracked - 740 (Q-49, V-41), AWA 6.0

[p_jez]

Hi Puys,

Been somewhat late in getting this thread started. I took the GMAT on 30th May 2008, and managed to score 740 (V-41/Q-49), AWA 6.0. I had expected higher in Q and lower in V, but the surprise was overall pleasant, afterall.

I admit that I had not viewed PG as a forum for GMAT prep, but turns out that there are lot of people who do so. Will post my prep story and D-Day experience pretty soon.

Whatever questions you may have, please shoot - I will do my best to answer.

Cheers

[IIMblacki07]

Originally Posted by p_jez

Hi Puys,

Been somewhat late in getting this thread started. I took the GMAT on 30th May 2008, and managed to score 740 (V-41/Q-49), AWA 6.0. I had expected higher in Q and lower in V, but the surprise was overall pleasant, afterall.

I admit that I had not viewed PG as a forum for GMAT prep, but turns out that there are lot of people who do so. Will post my prep story and D-Day experience pretty soon.

Whatever questions you may have, please shoot - I will do my best to answer.

Cheers

Thats a great score.Could you please share your perparation strategy and the books which you referred for your gr8 score?

[p_jez]

Preparation Strategy:

I had browsed through the net looking for GMAT prep advice, and based upon what I found, I decided to use the following books for my GMAT prep:

1. Kaplan GMAT Review (I got the 2008 edition)
2. Princeton Review (I got the 2008 edition)
3. Official Guide (OG) (I got the 11th edition - not sure whether this is the latest)

I had a fleeting thought that I would subscribe to ScoreTop. In hindsight, good that I didn't.

I purchased Kaplan and Princeton together, this was in February 2008 I think. However, all of a sudden my workload increased and for quite some time I had to let them go. Finally, in April I managed to start studying again.

Another noteworthy event during this time was that I resigned from my job to take up another one. I deliberately decided to be at home for a month and a half and study. I negotiated my joining date with the new company and then took the last available GMAT slot before this - 30th May 2008.

This is my feedback about the three books:

Kaplan GMAT Review: Excellent for overall study. Got 630 & 650 in their CD companion tests

Princeton Review: Very good for brushing up your basics. The AWA templates part is excellent

OG: Indispensible. Solve it entirely.

All in all, I solved the entire Kaplan and OG twice, analyzing each wrong answer. Princeton - the examples are neither tough, nor enough.

More details in a later post.

Cheers

[mba.journey]

Dude,

Which schools did you choose when you took your GMAT?

Cheers
J

[padfoot]

Congrats!! Wish you good luck !!

[p_jez]

I chose IIMA (PGPX), ISB, Duke, Kellog and Wharton. But I'll be applying to only PGPX and ISB. Not sure about any international applications..

Cheers

[Bunty4Billi]

Congratulations !!! Awesome score..

Need ur advice for one week preparation..I am taking GMAT on 14th Jul.
->To improve on RC...my RC accuracy is very bad..sometimes i get most of them right..but sometimes none!.. pls give some tips
-> CR accuracy is good..
-> DS..my accuracy is 75% ..give some tips here also..
-> PS .let me know.imp topics/concepts to brush up...

I have completed MH Verbal,OG10,Kaplan800...Planning to revise the mistakes done..in OG and Kaplan 800...

Pls help me how to go about utilizing this one week...I have taken 4-6 tests..Kaplan scores are in range 520 - 570 and GMAT Prep 620..Pls post ur Practice test score...Do I have to take more test at this stage?

Thank u in advance for ur reply...
Bunty

Originally Posted by p_jez

I chose IIMA (PGPX), ISB, Duke, Kellog and Wharton. But I'll be applying to only PGPX and ISB. Not sure about any international applications..

Cheers

[USMba]

Bunty4Bili,
First of all relax! The exam is more of how you react to the pressure of the exam rather than testing on your skills.
1. For RC, focus on the different types of questions. There are certain set types of questions like 'Whats the tone of the RC?' etc and you should not make mistakes in such standard questions. If this helps, then try reading the RC after reading the questions. IN this case, you know what you have to skim for in the article.
2. For DS, avoid jumping to conclusion. Ask in your mind, if you are making any assumption about the missing data. If yes, then stop. DS can be mastered in couple of days.
For the rest, go through the tests which you took earlier and revise the mistakes which you made earlier. May be take a test or two... but not more.

In my case, I wasn't getting any great scores either but maintained my cool during the test and managed 750 (99 percentile).
Good luck,
MB
Founder IndusMinds.com
MBA (Hons) -UCLA Anderson

[Bunty4Billi]

Thank u very much ...MB
I was really confused about my next few days plan..esp abt taking tests strategy...Thanks for ur valuable advice....I am bit relaxed now...Will work towards my goal with calm mind.

Cheers.
B4B

Originally Posted by USMba

Bunty4Bili,
First of all relax! The exam is more of how you react to the pressure of the exam rather than testing on your skills.
1. For RC, focus on the different types of questions. There are certain set types of questions like 'Whats the tone of the RC?' etc and you should not make mistakes in such standard questions. If this helps, then try reading the RC after reading the questions. IN this case, you know what you have to skim for in the article.
2. For DS, avoid jumping to conclusion. Ask in your mind, if you are making any assumption about the missing data. If yes, then stop. DS can be mastered in couple of days.
For the rest, go through the tests which you took earlier and revise the mistakes which you made earlier. May be take a test or two... but not more.

In my case, I wasn't getting any great scores either but maintained my cool during the test and managed 750 (99 percentile).
Good luck,
MB
Founder IndusMinds.com
MBA (Hons) -UCLA Anderson

[p_jez]

Thanks USMba... That was a nice post.

Bunti4Billi, for DS keep an important rule of thumb in mind - after you've eliminated "A" as an incorrect choice, you should ensure that you are not using the information in "A" to check if "B" is correct.

For RC, what USMba said is excellent advice. Also note that for questions asking "what is stated in the passage" as against "what is inferred in the passage" - you just need to find that info again. Are you using Kaplan's method - of noting a one-liner info about each para?

Cheers