Hi,
I need a advice whether i should go for another retake. I have given GMAT test twicely and make out only 590 & 610. I do not have excuses for my poor performance.
I have a very good academic results both in schooling and graduation. And currently, having a experience of 3.5 Years in MNC with 6 months of International working experience.
Please advice what should i do. Currently, i am thinking of giving test again around APRIL.
GMAT Forum
6 postsPage 1 of 1
- amanagg
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
- amanagg
Hi,
I have done the preparation myself and have gone through following books :-
1)OG 11
2)SC, RC, CR -1000
3)Kaplan 800
4)Various GMAT forum materials.
During last GMAT Prep tests, i scored 710 & 720. I was pretty much confident in scoring high in second chance. But the bad luck continued.
Though,i am good in mathematics, but still got confused in few questions in Math section. In Verbal, i found CR section as most difficult.
I belong to a big pool of Indian IT company and face a fierce competition from the same.So,my scores don't seem competitive in any sense. Since, i am thinking of going again for another retake but quite skeptical that my previous scores may provide a bad impression on my application part. So, please advice what should i do.
Thanks.
I have done the preparation myself and have gone through following books :-
1)OG 11
2)SC, RC, CR -1000
3)Kaplan 800
4)Various GMAT forum materials.
During last GMAT Prep tests, i scored 710 & 720. I was pretty much confident in scoring high in second chance. But the bad luck continued.
Though,i am good in mathematics, but still got confused in few questions in Math section. In Verbal, i found CR section as most difficult.
I belong to a big pool of Indian IT company and face a fierce competition from the same.So,my scores don't seem competitive in any sense. Since, i am thinking of going again for another retake but quite skeptical that my previous scores may provide a bad impression on my application part. So, please advice what should i do.
Thanks.
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Thanks for that info. More questions for you (including some I asked before but you didn't answer - I really do need all of this data in order to advise you!).
What are your strengths and weaknesses on each question type and content area? Did your score drop on both math and verbal or mostly only on one?
How is your timing? Do you move steadily through, spending the amount of time you're supposed to spend? (SC - about 60-75 sec; max of 90 sec; CR - about 2m; max of 2.5m; RC - about 2.5m (short) to 3.5m (long) to read; about 1 min for general purpose questions; about 1.5 to 2 for everything else; Quant: 2 min) Are are you moving too quickly or too slowly at times? If you do move too quickly or too slowly, how does this affect you on the test? Do you finish with a lot of time left? Do you run out of time before you're done? Do you make a bunch of random guesses in the middle to catch up? Etc.
I'm not familiar with the content in Kaplan 800. Is it a book of questions or does it contain the actual material you need to study for the test? If it does NOT contain the actual material you need to know, as well as techniques for the different question types, then how did you study math and grammar rules and techniques based on the different question types?
What are your strengths and weaknesses on each question type and content area? Did your score drop on both math and verbal or mostly only on one?
How is your timing? Do you move steadily through, spending the amount of time you're supposed to spend? (SC - about 60-75 sec; max of 90 sec; CR - about 2m; max of 2.5m; RC - about 2.5m (short) to 3.5m (long) to read; about 1 min for general purpose questions; about 1.5 to 2 for everything else; Quant: 2 min) Are are you moving too quickly or too slowly at times? If you do move too quickly or too slowly, how does this affect you on the test? Do you finish with a lot of time left? Do you run out of time before you're done? Do you make a bunch of random guesses in the middle to catch up? Etc.
I'm not familiar with the content in Kaplan 800. Is it a book of questions or does it contain the actual material you need to study for the test? If it does NOT contain the actual material you need to know, as well as techniques for the different question types, then how did you study math and grammar rules and techniques based on the different question types?
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
- amanagg
Hi Stacy,
Thanks for response.
Yes.My score dropped in both maths and verbal. During tests, i scored around V(36~33) Q(48~49) and in the main exam, i scored V(26) Q(47). Yes, in the main exam, i was run out of time in maths section.I attempted last 10 questions in 10 minutes and ironically, in verbal, i had spare 5 minutes.
During main test, i was struggling with calculations in maths and in verbal, with CRs.
Regarding my strengths and weakness
1)i am good in maths but sometimes, i get confused in DS questions. I have observed that many times,in long DS questions, i need to read the questions many times (3~4) to understand the intent of the question. For maths, i have studies OG 11 and other materials collected from friends & internet.
2)In verbal,i find some issue in CR and RC. More clearly in assumption and inference questions. For verbal, i have studied OG 11 and other materials.Yes, kaplan 800 is a book for questions.
Frankly speaking, regarding that timing sequence, i have never given a thought.I just believed on my senses and they betrayed me. Regarding the techniques concept
1) in constant touch with my friends who were also preparing for MBA.
2)i proactively looked out for various gmat forums.
I know i have missed out various techniques. :(
Thanks for response.
Yes.My score dropped in both maths and verbal. During tests, i scored around V(36~33) Q(48~49) and in the main exam, i scored V(26) Q(47). Yes, in the main exam, i was run out of time in maths section.I attempted last 10 questions in 10 minutes and ironically, in verbal, i had spare 5 minutes.
During main test, i was struggling with calculations in maths and in verbal, with CRs.
Regarding my strengths and weakness
1)i am good in maths but sometimes, i get confused in DS questions. I have observed that many times,in long DS questions, i need to read the questions many times (3~4) to understand the intent of the question. For maths, i have studies OG 11 and other materials collected from friends & internet.
2)In verbal,i find some issue in CR and RC. More clearly in assumption and inference questions. For verbal, i have studied OG 11 and other materials.Yes, kaplan 800 is a book for questions.
Frankly speaking, regarding that timing sequence, i have never given a thought.I just believed on my senses and they betrayed me. Regarding the techniques concept
1) in constant touch with my friends who were also preparing for MBA.
2)i proactively looked out for various gmat forums.
I know i have missed out various techniques. :(
- esledge
- Forum Guests
- Posts: 1181
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 6:33 am
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Hi amanagg,
It's somewhat surprising to me that your math score didn't drop more as a result of the time crunch in the last ten minutes. That's good news for next time--practice your pacing, and the score is likely to bounce back up.
I definitely agree with your assessment that you need reliable techniques for each problem type. This is the main value added by our classes above and beyond the book learning, in my opinion. The OG is the best source for work on your own, but in addition, I would recommend our strategy guides even if I didn't work here. You don't need more problems, you need guidance on the approach.
On verbal, the more dramatic drop indicates that your approach is not consistent, which is usually a bigger problem for people on CR and RC, and you mentioned these specifically. One indicator of consistent thinking is how much/little you write down as you answer verbal questions. If you write very little, you must be processing questions in your head, and the answers you chose will be too dependent on your gut feel on that particular day. The more you write (within reason), the more details you will catch, the more you will see the patterns in GMAT arguments/passages, the more you will resist answers that aren't-quite-right, and the more objective and accurate you will be.
The confusion you mention on long DS (likely word problems?) can be mitigated by good scrapboard usage. Create variables as you read the problem, set up equations sentence-by-sentence, and write down every constraint (e.g. x = pos int). This will reduce the need to read and reread. Before you dive into the statements, simplify the math you have so far, rephrasing the question to its simplest form. [We talk about rephrasing in Session 1 of our 9-week course. You can sign up to attend Session 1 free as a trial student if you are interested.] Finally, draw a line between your workspace for (1) and for (2), so that you don't make the logic error of considering the statements together, unless that is your intent. These approach issues are what you need to focus on now.
It's somewhat surprising to me that your math score didn't drop more as a result of the time crunch in the last ten minutes. That's good news for next time--practice your pacing, and the score is likely to bounce back up.
I definitely agree with your assessment that you need reliable techniques for each problem type. This is the main value added by our classes above and beyond the book learning, in my opinion. The OG is the best source for work on your own, but in addition, I would recommend our strategy guides even if I didn't work here. You don't need more problems, you need guidance on the approach.
On verbal, the more dramatic drop indicates that your approach is not consistent, which is usually a bigger problem for people on CR and RC, and you mentioned these specifically. One indicator of consistent thinking is how much/little you write down as you answer verbal questions. If you write very little, you must be processing questions in your head, and the answers you chose will be too dependent on your gut feel on that particular day. The more you write (within reason), the more details you will catch, the more you will see the patterns in GMAT arguments/passages, the more you will resist answers that aren't-quite-right, and the more objective and accurate you will be.
The confusion you mention on long DS (likely word problems?) can be mitigated by good scrapboard usage. Create variables as you read the problem, set up equations sentence-by-sentence, and write down every constraint (e.g. x = pos int). This will reduce the need to read and reread. Before you dive into the statements, simplify the math you have so far, rephrasing the question to its simplest form. [We talk about rephrasing in Session 1 of our 9-week course. You can sign up to attend Session 1 free as a trial student if you are interested.] Finally, draw a line between your workspace for (1) and for (2), so that you don't make the logic error of considering the statements together, unless that is your intent. These approach issues are what you need to focus on now.
Emily Sledge
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT
6 posts Page 1 of 1