GMAT from 650(Q47 V 32) to 730(Q49 V41) in 36 days.......

Hi Friends… The GMAT thread in puy has helped me boost my morale throughout my preparation. The experiences shared are worth a ton…So i thought I should put in mine too… I had been preparing for GMAT since July 2011. My targe…

Hi Friends.........
The GMAT thread in puy has helped me boost my morale throughout my preparation. The experiences shared are worth a ton......So i thought I should put in mine too......
I had been preparing for GMAT since July 2011. My target was to clear it in a single attempt with a 700+ score. But destiny had other plans for me.....
Before I start my story let me put down the study materials used
Quant: OG 12....I think for an average Indian this is more than enough...
Verbal: OG 12, Manhattan SC Review, Power Score CR Bible (The sole reason for my 40+in verbal)..1000SC, 1000CR(Good practice material)
Mock Tests: Manhattan Tests...all the 6....
I started off by solving the problems in OG 12.PS in quant was more or less easy.I was having issues with DS,especially problems related to modulus, probability...But since l I was able to solve 70-90% of questions I attempted, and I did not put in much effort in quant. My advice for the quant section would be
1. Do not spent more than 3 mins on any question
2. For DS read question carefully.
3. Treat modulus and probability questions with respect...
Verbal was my problematic area.Initially I was solving sc questions based on my instinct. But later I realized that this wouldn't help me. So I purchased Manhattan SC Review...And it was a real life saver...Believe me.....The book is well laid out and so easy to understand....Just learn the basics....and do the practice questions....Ur sc score will improve...I was gettin 7-8/15 in my mocks prior to using Manhattan review....Post MG review...my score jumped to 13-14/15.....
CR was my Achilles heel....However much I practiced....I was able to get only 50% of my CR correct. I went through MG CR Review...But its crap...cannot help you much.....
I dint do any practice for RC as my RC skills were pretty good....
I was consistently scoring 680-700 in my MGMAT... So when I went into the Test Center on 31 Dec I was pretty confident of scoring around 700...
GMAT 1
AWA went on well...Score a 5.....
Quant also went on good...I had to leave some questions....But I could attempt all questions towards the end
Verbal started off well...But once the CR questns started to come...I lost my timing....To make it worse I got a tough RC in qestns 33-37. So I ended up just guessin my last 4 questions (3CR :wow:and 1 SC)...I knew I was doomed...When the score flashed it was 650(Q 47 V 32):banghead:
GMAT 2
I knew I had doomed my GMAT jus becos of my CRs...I wanted to attempt GMAT again...So I scheduled a date for Feb 6 (Thought of Jan 20....But u need to keep min 1 month gap...) I set down to task....Most of the forums advise against going through Powerscore GMAT Bible as its too lengthy....I just went through one chapter...and I knew I had stumbled upon manna....The concepts are well laid out and it gives you the wrong answer types...Practice questions are less...Hardly 50....But the show you how to apply the concept learnt...Really good book.... I finished the book in 10 days...I utilised the balance 20-25 days to practice only CR questions....And voila....my efficiency jumped...I was able to answer 10-12 correctly...
On Feb 6 i went in with full confidence and vigour...
The AWA was a bit lousy...(cud score only 4)...
Quant went on well......Too many calculation intensive problems...
Verbal: I dint waste too much time on any question...sc was a cakewalk....left some questions in the middle...got enough time to answer the last 4-5 questions...CR seemed okay.....
But when the score flashed......730 (Q49,V41) I had hit the jackpot...

Some tips on GMAT and Mock tests
1. MGMAT are the only reliable tests in market..GMAT quant is easier than MGMAT quant....MGMAT test your concepts....while GMAT test how fast you can do calculations...MGMAT verbal is more easy compared to GMAT....But on the whole a good indication of where you stand...
2. Learn to leave out questions in GMAT...Make an educated guess and move on...Never leave out the 5-7 questions in the end...In my second attempt I left15mins for the last 5-7 questions in Verbal and Quant...Yes I did guess some in the middle....Bu my scores show my efforts paid off....

Hi,

Congrats for such an amazing score.
Its my 1st gmat attempt. I have just started preparing. Please guide me through this.
I am equally good/bad in both verbal and quants. I will be giving gmat in the new pattern since i have just started preparing and dnt have sufficient time to appear before June.

Hi,

Congrats for such an amazing score.
Its my 1st gmat attempt. I have just started preparing. Please guide me through this.
I am equally good/bad in both verbal and quants. I will be giving gmat in the new pattern since i have just started preparing and dnt have sufficient time to appear before June.


Hi
Thanx...I have taken GMAT in the old format so I don't have much idea regarding IR.. For quant you can start by solving OG problems...PS in quant shud be easy for an Indian...Its DS you should concentrate on.....As you solve the questions,go through the explanations and analyse your faults..
For verbal,go through Manhattan SC Review and Powerscore GMAT bible...Since you have got enough time,it will be useful...First work on your concepts and then start solving problems........

Congratulations Jaisraju! Excellent score you got there! btw which business schools are you targeting?

Cheers
KD

Congratulations Jaisraju! Excellent score you got there! btw which business schools are you targeting?

Cheers
KD


Thanks KD.......Am planning to apply for IIMA,IIMC,ISB for course starting in April 2013.....Also am tryin my luck with HKUST in R3 this month....just strtd with the essays......