From 590 to quitting the exam to a 640

[3timelucky]

Hi all,

Just finished the Exam again and a lot happier then the last time when I quit. My target score was in the 640-660 range so I am very happy.

This time the GMAT was very different in the Quant compared to the last 2 times I took it!

Away to drink a few whiskys back home where they make it the best!

I will share my thoughts and experincea in a day or two.

Cheers

3timelucky

[roborob]

congrats that you hit your goal! that's always a good feeling. where are you thinking about applying to?

[3timelucky]

Sorry for the long delay-Been very busy with applications

Breakdown quant (42) verbal (35) AWA 5 Overall 640


Quant

Seemed a bit harder than the Official Guide and harder than the last 2 times I took it. More averages and standard deviation questions. Although I scored more on quant this time than the last, I only received one combination problem. The previous tests I recieved 2 probabilities and 1 combination. Problems were not hard, they just took longer to solve and my time management could have been better.

My advice - Do not over prepare combs and probability, do not freak if you don't know where to start solving some of the combs/prob questions on this site-they are far more difficult than what I have seen in the tests.


Verbal

2 reading comps in a row - Short and pretty sweet. If you can do all the reading comps in the Official Guide you should have no problem. Same with the sentance correction-these were no harder than the Official Guide.

I did get 2 or 3 boldface questions and generally I though critical reasoning was a bit harder than the Official Guide. I used the system where you spend 13 mins for each 7 questions - It works but for the verbal I think you have to expect the unexpected and adapt according to what is thrown at you



Strategy- Don't panic

If you read about my last experience you will realise that if you panic you are screwed on this test. I got myself so worked up the last time I took the test I could not even focus on the computer screen. I think I really did panic. Also, if you are lucky, and you have found this site before you take the exam for the first time, I say really go for it the first time. Although taking the test as a trial run may work for some people, I was more anxious the second and third time round.


Applications

I am not in 700s club or even in the high 600s- total respect to everybody who is and congratulations! I have applied to 4 European schools that are all in the top 15 in the FT rankings, and I have got interviews with 3 of them - I am waiting the reply of the last. Although I have not been excepted yet, it does show that some schools will consider you, even if you have a lower GMAT score.

Finally, thanks to everyone who has contributed to this forum, it really helped me reading peoples experiences, and a big thanks to Erin for the encouragement when I needed it after my disaster!

[thaiva]

Congradt'z 3timelucky for acheiveing your goal!!

Best Wishes with your applications..