750 (q50, V42)

[obelixous]

I gave my GMAT on May 4. Althuogh I have not been an active contributor but have read most of the posts made and have benefitted from most of them.

750 - 99%ile

Q - 50 - 95%ile
V - 42 - 96%ile

Materials that I used
1. OG
2. Kaplan 2004
3. Powerprep software
4. Kaplan workshop
5. Kaplan Higher Score CD

Preparation
My preparation is broken into two distinct parts:
1. Jan 2005 till March 2005
2. April 16 onwards

1. Jan 2005 till March 2005
Here Although I was sure that I wanted to take the GMAT, but neither did I form a study plan, nor did I study regularly. I studied on and off in January and early part of February and then stopped studying. During this time:

Tests taken:
Princeton Diagnostic (Online)
Quant 29 out of 37
Verbal 21 out of 41

Kaplan Diagnostic (Online)-
Overall - 620
Quant 29 / 37 (Scaled score 42)
Verbal 28 / 41 (Scaled score 37)

The learning from the results was:
1. Lot of silly mistakes in Quant.
2. Understand of DS questions not good
3. Did very badly on SC

Subsequently, I started studying from Kaplan GMAT 2004 edition. I bought a second hand copy of the book; the worst part was that I did not get the CD along with the book. Subsequently I used Kaplan Higher score CD.

Kaplan Diagnostic (from Higher Score CD)
Scores
Overall - 680
Quant - 47
Verbal - 37

2. April 16 onwards
I fixed the date for May 4 and registered for the test on April 2. I took leave from work from April 16 till May 4; this was the period in which I studied seriously. I made a plan which contained the following:

1. Items to be studied. Along with the time required to study the item.
2. Number of days available and within each day the number of hours available
3. Based on 1 and 2, I made a plan for each day.

Major highlights of my study plan
1. Intention to do all questions of OG, especially Verbal. Even though I had not studied mathematics for a while (around 8 years), I remembered a lot of the information, formulae and tricks that are required for GMAT. This does not mean to say that I did not study for Quant section, but I did not devote a lot of time to it.
2. Monitor mistakes made, both careless errors and concept errors
3. Redo all questions on which mistakes were made
4. One day before the test I redid all questions which I had categorized as concept errors
6. http://daveformba.bravehost.com/GMAT_Study_Strategy.htm this link contains great information. Go through it thoroughly.
7. While practicing questions from OG, I studied in 75 minute blocks. As I was short of time, I typically attempted 50 to 60 questions in this 75 minute slot. I took this approach because I was short of time and I wanted to complete the OG thoroughly (not simply complete it, but do questions thoroughly). Although there are some benefits in following this approach, I would not recommend it to others.
8. One major thing that troubled me in the last couple of days before the test was that I had never attempted essays for AWA. I wrote the essays for the first time during the actual GMAT. Again I would not recommend this to others, but I was short of time and wanted to focus on Verbal I chose to do this.

My study plan centered on the OG and taking full length tests. I made a reasonably detailed plan, but was not very rigid very following it, for e.g. attempting Powerprep 2 earlier instead of attempting in around May 1. In this period I had to go to office on 2 days, this disrupted my study plan slightly.

I think that this has been highlighted by a few others, but I would like to reiterate this point. Improving your scaled score in any section from 25 to 35 is not too hard to do (mind you it is not easy, but it not hard). But, from mid thirties to crossing the forties takes a lot of effort and a lot of attention, i.e. a lot of attention to the mistakes that one makes, lot of attention on the detail.

From April 16 till May 4 I took the following full length CATs

Test name Total Quant Verbal Date

Powerprep1 710 49 35 Apr 18 (Before OG)
Powerprep2 720 50 38 Apr 20 (Some part of OG done)
Kaplan CAT1 580 42 28 Apr 19
Kaplan CAT 2 630 50 32 Apr 25
Kaplan CAT 3 610 50 30 Apr 28
Kaplan CAT 4 640 42 38 May 2
Princeton CAT 1 690 45 41 May 3

Test Experience
AWA
Started off with Analysis of argument. Wrote my first GMAT essay. Followed by Analysis of an Issue. I am not sure how well I have done in the essays, but shall be keeping my fingers crosses (ouch they have already started hurting... can't keep them crossed for so long). I followed Kaplan’s approach of absorbing the question, finalizing on my points, for around 6 – 8 minutes. Wrote the essay for around 20 minutes and took around 2-3 minutes to review, proofread and final editing. This section went off fairly well.

Quant
During my preparation I had noted that even though I was never pressed for time, I still made careless mistakes. Before the start of this section I reminded myself of this point once again.

Started of an easy note, towards the 6th question or so, questions became tougher, and continued to be tough for a while. I was rereading the questions, and rechecking my calculations before confirming on answers to avoid mistakes. Despite of this I wasn't pressed for time. Questions covered a lot of areas, Arithmetic, Algebra, Mixture questions, Geometry, Coordinate Geometry and number properties. There were no statistics or probability questions. Only 1 question pertaining to permutations. Overall I was comfortable during the section, and knew I had done well. I finished with around 6 minutes left on the clock. Used a couple of minutes to relax, and then went for the break.

Verbal
I reminded myself that I had done well in Quant and needed to keep up the momentum in verbal. The test started with a couple of SC questions followed by couple of CR questions. I got my first RC package (around 40 lines). After 25 minutes I was on question 16, and was doing well on time, but also realized that I had only got one RC passage till now. Towards the 25 question, my concentration started to flag a little. I stretched a little and reminded myself of the importance of the remaining 15 or so questions. Around the 35th question I got my last RC passage (this was a monster with around 90 lines or so), at this point there were around 11 minutes on the clock and I was pressed for time. I guessed on a few of the questions of RC due to lack of time. Finished off with a few CR questions, and the last question was SC. Finished the test with around 20 seconds to spare. I was not very sure about my performance in this section, but had not lost hope.

I had no doubt in my mind that I want to see the result, so said a little prayer and chose to see the result. I was ecstatic to see the score that popped up.

Conclusions:
1. OG is great; use it as an effective tool. Apart from solving questions from it, review your mistakes (review of mistakes is important for all material that you use).
2. Powerprep tests, if taken before doing questions from the OG are a good indicator of your final scores. But, this does not mean that your actual GMAT score cannot be better than the scores that you got in the Powerprep tests. The increase in the verbal scores that I got are an indicator of this aspect.
3. Kaplan is good for practice, but don't get worked up about the scores.
4. Remain calm during the test. Forget about the question as soon as you confirm the answer, the challenge lies in the questions that remain, not in the questions that you have already answered.
5. Most importantly, believe in yourself.

This post has become very long. If there are points that I have rambled on about, but still have not been able to convey the idea, feel free to ask me.

[assignus]

Originally Posted by obelixous

I gave my GMAT on May 4. Althuogh I have not been an active contributor but have read most of the posts made and have benefitted from most of them.

This post has become very long. If there are points that I have rambled on about, but still have not been able to convey the idea, feel free to ask me.

good one mate....gr8 score and gr8 post

can u tell me how many no. of questions u got right...i mean the raw score...

[sumit82]

Originally Posted by assignus

good one mate....gr8 score and gr8 post

can u tell me how many no. of questions u got right...i mean the raw score...

Hi

Can you give the links to the Princeton Online Test as well as the Kaplan Online Test ?

Regards
Sumit

[rajsher]

Hi ppl.

I think this discussion can be continued at

http://www.pagalguy.com/cat/showthre...ght=GMAT+score (760 - My GMAT experience)

This guy had a similar score like u......and congo for the score.......

cheers.......
rajsher

[chg]

Hai,

Really, very great score man.. Congratulations and good luck for your future.

Iam planning to take GMAT next year. Can you suggest me regarding B-schools.

Iam very particular in making my career in the United States and very keen in pursuing an MBA. So, do you suggest me in pursuing MBA in ISB or in a top notch B-School assuming I get a reasonably good score in GMAT.

Can you also suggest me, if i should attend some good coaching centre which gives CAT coaching so that it helps me in GMAT.

Iam planning to join princeton for GMAT coaching.

Suggestions are awaited...


Thanks in advance
charu

[DesiGuru]

Good job obelix! Looks like you did great without any magic potion, as usual!

Let me know the following...

1. What are the toughest questions in Q like? any from topics out of range?
Do You think you made atleast one mistake in Q. Can you remember?

2. I have the higher score kaplan CD (downloaded from scoretop) Is the book really needed? I have the princeton book on verbal which seems pretty good. Kaplan 800 maybe the only book i might try to get hold of other than OG...

3. Feel free to expand on the verbal score improvement....

have fun and let us know about the apping stage, I will bet you will apply to IIM A PGPX....

best of luck,
K

[sumit82]

Originally Posted by DesiGuru

Good job obelix! Looks like you did great without any magic potion, as usual!

Let me know the following...

1. What are the toughest questions in Q like? any from topics out of range?
Do You think you made atleast one mistake in Q. Can you remember?

2. I have the higher score kaplan CD (downloaded from scoretop) Is the book really needed? I have the princeton book on verbal which seems pretty good. Kaplan 800 maybe the only book i might try to get hold of other than OG...

3. Feel free to expand on the verbal score improvement....

have fun and let us know about the apping stage, I will bet you will apply to IIM A PGPX....

best of luck,
K

Hi

Do you think that the Princeton Book on verbal would be a good idea to go through or would it be better to read Wren and Martin (English Grammar)

Would the princeton CD be sufficient or does the book offer something diff ?

Thanks
Sumit

[rajsher]

Hi DG and sumit..........


I m posting this link again

http://www.pagalguy.com/cat/showthr...ight=GMAT+score (760 - My GMAT experience)
I have gone thru first and 2nd page of this thread and believe me it has answered ur query n much more in the first page itself..........

they r talking about strategy, most imp thing in any test..............
kindly go thru tht thread once and even thn if u hv queries thn post thm on the same thread for the future junta may not miss anything if u ppl discuss smthing important on this thread.....

cheeers
rajsher

[DesiGuru]

Look rajsherji, I/We am/are right now interested in listening to obelix's experience who has given the GMAT in the last few days... Whatever obelix wants to say is better said here than in someone else's gmat experience...
So stop giving us pointers elsewhere which u have done twice already...

K

[insane]

6. http://daveformba.bravehost.com/GMAT_Study_Strategy.htm this link contains great information. Go through it thoroughly.

Oblix, congratulations and thanks a lot for the post, amezing one. Just one concern, the URL u have mentioned doesnot seem to get me to the intended page... could u just verify the spelling...