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mystavash · 2007 February 7th, 05:55 PM

Hi! I took the GMAT on Feb. 2.

To be honest, I was in study mode in December, but after Christmas, I didn't want to do anything anymore... finally, I had to finish up my applications, so I took the test.

Actually, I didn't have much opportunity to use this forum, but I believe that it's an amazingly helpful forum. There are so many places out there to suck money out of you, this is one place where people are genuinely concerned without a profit motive and a great resource for anyone taking the GMAT. I'd recommend it to anyone.

I took the practice test, and based on it, I figured that my verbal was 'good enough', and focused solely on quantitative. It was not hard math, but I don't like probability, work, or interest rate problems.

I was lucky, I only had one or two probability questions, no interest problems, and a few work problems that I could figure out. My basis for studying was the OG 11 only. I had bought the supplements, but what with me taking a break, I never even finished all the stuff in OG.

Still, I did do the diagnostic test, and most of the 300 quant review practices. When I got something wrong, I tried to figure it out. Maybe that saved me a little.

Percentile, though, a q 42 is kinda low, only 67%. When I actually took the test, it was my first time. There was no one else in the test center, but I kept feeling really pressed for time on the quant section, the noteboards they give you didn't feel like the pencil I had used to practice, and there wasn't really enough space on the table for me to tilt the keyboard and work on the notepad. I was really worried about not finishing, because in the beginning it said something about a penalty for not finishing. I think I could have done better and made fewer mistakes if I had calmed down and paced myself.

For the verbal, though, I kept my eye on the time to make sure I wasn't spending too much time, but I ended up with a lot of time to spare.

As for my background, I was a business major, and now I teach English in Japan. That helped me with the sentence corrections. It's been a while, but I'm not un-used to dense material. Also, I took the LSAT last month, the verbal material on that is a lot more difficult and the time constraints tougher.

What I really wish I had prepared more for was the AWA section. I only got a 4.5, and I deserved it. I couldn't concentrate and develop my ideas enough, I was feeling pressed for time.... what happens if you write two really good paragraphs, but then you've spent so much time on that, you never wrote a conclusion?!...I thought of stuff like that.

I had thought I would do so badly, that I was going to study over the weekend and take the test again, so I'm pretty happy with my score. It was a lot more than I thought I could get, and restored a little of my confidence.

I wish I could have practiced more with the GMAT prep software, but it would never load the questions when I installed it on my main computer, and was really slow on my old laptop, it was just a better use of my time to do the problems in the book.

Anisa.

2007 February 7th, 05:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
mystavash I JUST got here. Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7	720 (q 42, v 47) Hi! I took the GMAT on Feb. 2. To be honest, I was in study mode in December, but after Christmas, I didn't want to do anything anymore... finally, I had to finish up my applications, so I took the test. Actually, I didn't have much opportunity to use this forum, but I believe that it's an amazingly helpful forum. There are so many places out there to suck money out of you, this is one place where people are genuinely concerned without a profit motive and a great resource for anyone taking the GMAT. I'd recommend it to anyone. I took the practice test, and based on it, I figured that my verbal was 'good enough', and focused solely on quantitative. It was not hard math, but I don't like probability, work, or interest rate problems. I was lucky, I only had one or two probability questions, no interest problems, and a few work problems that I could figure out. My basis for studying was the OG 11 only. I had bought the supplements, but what with me taking a break, I never even finished all the stuff in OG. Still, I did do the diagnostic test, and most of the 300 quant review practices. When I got something wrong, I tried to figure it out. Maybe that saved me a little. Percentile, though, a q 42 is kinda low, only 67%. When I actually took the test, it was my first time. There was no one else in the test center, but I kept feeling really pressed for time on the quant section, the noteboards they give you didn't feel like the pencil I had used to practice, and there wasn't really enough space on the table for me to tilt the keyboard and work on the notepad. I was really worried about not finishing, because in the beginning it said something about a penalty for not finishing. I think I could have done better and made fewer mistakes if I had calmed down and paced myself. For the verbal, though, I kept my eye on the time to make sure I wasn't spending too much time, but I ended up with a lot of time to spare. As for my background, I was a business major, and now I teach English in Japan. That helped me with the sentence corrections. It's been a while, but I'm not un-used to dense material. Also, I took the LSAT last month, the verbal material on that is a lot more difficult and the time constraints tougher. What I really wish I had prepared more for was the AWA section. I only got a 4.5, and I deserved it. I couldn't concentrate and develop my ideas enough, I was feeling pressed for time.... what happens if you write two really good paragraphs, but then you've spent so much time on that, you never wrote a conclusion?!...I thought of stuff like that. I had thought I would do so badly, that I was going to study over the weekend and take the test again, so I'm pretty happy with my score. It was a lot more than I thought I could get, and restored a little of my confidence. I wish I could have practiced more with the GMAT prep software, but it would never load the questions when I installed it on my main computer, and was really slow on my old laptop, it was just a better use of my time to do the problems in the book. Anisa.