Thread: 730 [Q50, V39] score on GMAT: The 13th warrier on the GMAT land

Gals & Guys gave my GMAT yesterday - 27th Apr 07; well it went just fine. Though probably I could have extracted a bit more but then thats the thing in GMAT +- a few points is always the case.

I tried logging in yesterday late(UTC +0530 hrs) but saw there was some problem with the URL.

OK now back to the GMAT experience.
First the score - 730 (Q50, V39) . AWA awaited. (another fortnight or a little more perhaps).

Preps: 2.5 months prep roughly.
Books used: OG 11, Kaplan Premier 2007, Kaplan 800 (Did not cover all the questions) GMAC verbal, Manhattan SC and quant review. I had referred to princeton review book as well but only in parts - highest difficulty level only and the AWA section.

Scorechase was a definte winner for me. It meant a lot of practice. I like the way the druids are involved. I also got some good suggestions on how to use my last 15 days in preps. Scorechase was something i looked forward to each day as it was live education (a bit different from studing on yr own from the books).

One good thing was that all my study was timed. I used my mobile's stop watch most of the time. This was of great help in that I was able to solve the sections with least ado about time. My biological clock allowed me to solve the questions in time (or before). Ofcourse i made sure I did not put any extra time in any of the questions and kept myself on track.

Kaplan was good for RC and CR basics.

SC from Manhattan (solved a few times)

MGs and VGs - great for practice and are tougher than actual questions (some times). Though this will depend on the difficulty level you are at.

In my test, the last few questions were real toughies and though at one point I thought i will be able to finish my sections much before time but in the end finished with just about a minute to spare.

Test day:

For some reason no sleep in the night. Though I was on the bed through out. Got ready early and took a cab to the center. Carried a bottle of water and few biscuits with me.

Reached a bit early. Just waited a little away from the center. Was the last one to enter. Test center was comfortable. Temp setting just right. Just got through the formality and started. AWA went fine - more or less as I had planned.

Used the break to get composed once again.

Started Quants. First question a tricky one. but read it two times to get the correct info. From there on just kept solving the questions in a flow. Just checked the clock around the half way mark (but this time chk strategy could vary for different people). At one point I had 10 min to spare but in the end took some extra time on the toughies and finished just about a min early. Questions - arithmatic, coordinate, probability, sets, prime numbers, geometry, integers. I think i got a question from almost all the types.

Used the break to compose and catch breath

Verbal section: started with two SCs in a row. Solved them in about two mins. This gave me confidence. Then CR and more SCs. Got the first RC on the 6th question (6th or 7th). More CRs and SCs around 16th Q another RC - - 3 Q, CRs and SCs, next RC around 25th... More CR and SC and then again RC around the 34th Q ... Last two Qs SC.

At one point thought I will finish 5 mins before but then the RC passage took time and finally used up almost all the time.

Then saw the background info stuff and finally hit the score calc button.

Waited for the score the way a bull would.

Presto, -------- and then Just collected my unofficial report and walked out of the test center, took a cab and came back. Just relaxed .

Intend to unwind over the next few days and then start with appl process. Another very important aspect of MBA appl

Originally Posted by 13thbull

Guys just wanted to thank all the guys/gals/druids/Admin: Sneha, Guardian, Hagrid , Zeus, willgetin,Fizzler,BB,AK, KP, Nick, Nauman, Zing, mtas & of course 13thbull.

Its been good to be on SC with yu guys. Keep it up!

I will be logging in to do my bit and will surely seek help frm yu wrt Appl (Thanks Sneha for the tip - Hagrid)

I will answer mtas and bbs query in my next mail.

Perseverance is the key.

(conditions apply)

Originally Posted by 13thbull

Hi guys,

Just thought of putting some more info and strategy. Kind of trying to answer BB and mtas's reqmt as well.


1) Well, MG & VG - I would say that there were may be a dozen questions which we we solve on the forum that gives us enough practice. I do not remember any direct replicas.

2) I suggest that one day in a week you just go through the current and previous months solutions. Just read them. Doing this every week before the exam will reinforce yr learning.

3) Copy and paste in a word file the questions which you had found tricky. These will be good revision questions again.

4) make sure that yu solve all 5 sections ( a few questions ) each day. PS, DS, SC, CR & RC

5) OG 11 and OG quant review are the best for basic prep on the quant section. Solve 25 questions every day. Mark the tricky ones. Review one again after 20 days

6) Verbal - SC - Manhattan SC guide, Princeton review and Kaplan premier excellent stuff. Before attacking the problems, go through the theory and methodology not once but three times. idea is to perfectly understand the right way of dealing with the questions.

7) Manhattan SC guide - do minm three times and read the idioms (about 150) every day once.

8) Prepare well and all the best.

13thbull