From 620 to 740: My Story :)

[TaTum]

Wow, congrats on your superb score! I am totally thrilled, and I have no doubt that you are on the track to top programs. Good luck !

[star_321]

Originally Posted by cartera

Congratulations Star321, it is really nice to see an active member of this forum scoring above 700.

I also score 620 in my 1st test, hope can improve the next time!

I find CR1000 questions are far easier than those from the real test. What do you think?

thanks Cartera.

From CR1000 if feel first 400 or 500 questions are comparatively easy. But later LSAT questions start and they are a little tricky. But I am sure that in each set (CR1000 is divided into sets of 24 or 25 questions) there are atleast two or three good questions which will trouble you. Your target should be get these correct.
Once you are you to taking these queetions you will find the actual test very easy.
In each question try to apply the approach which BIble wants us to follow.
Keep on Practicing and you will do good.
After one time in your preparation it should not matter to you which question is Difficult or easy.
You should just solve one question at a time. Never thing whether it is difficult or easy.
Understand what it says.
Premises. Argument. ANd what the test maker wants us to answer.
All the best.

[star_321]

Originally Posted by FiF for GMAT

Congrats, star on your score. The struggle paid off.

I'm working on GMAT targeting 750+. For that, I am working on LSAT materials first for reading comprehension and critical reasoning. I think a person's state of mind is very important while taking the test. Twinnsplitter said that its like working like an athlete does while training in a gymnasium. One thing at a time.

But an athlete also works on his diet, his nutrition, his overall well-being to be able to achieve his target. Do you think a person's dietary practice i.e. Can my being a vegetarian be a hindrance to achieving a score around 750?

Thanks.

Thank you FIF For GMAT.

Regarding you question....yes a healthy diet does matter during your preparation for your test, but it is not necessary that you should have non veg food to make your diet healthy. Remember the primary source of energy is Vegetarian food. Each type of food has its own pros and cons but lets not get into those. Yous ultimate aim should be healthy food, good habbits, proper sleep cycle etc. You should do only things that will keep you optimistic and alert during your preparation. Don't get into fights with your friends and relatives during preparation. Use these people to charge you up. Your primary aim should be to improve yourself along wiht keeping others things is such way so that these help you to achieve your aim.
So non veg food should not matter.

Secondly , yes your state of mind is the most critical things during the exam. Be calm and composed.Never compare a familiar problem with any problem you had already solved. If there is little cahnge in problem you might find yourself lost if you are not getting the correct answer.
Always read the given question and try to solve it by applying the concepts that you know about the respective chapter. his way you won't be diverted.
If you feel that you are not able to concentrate properly work on it to improve your concentration.
Remember even if you study for years and learned all the chapters and concepts, but you are not able to keep your composure during the exam you will screw your paper, inspite of knowing all the things.

I am glad you know that your mental state is important during taking the exam.

You have aimed for high marks and I hope you are putting in efforts accordingly. I pray you get the success that you deserve.
All the best.

[star_321]

Originally Posted by TaTum

Wow, congrats on your superb score! I am totally thrilled, and I have no doubt that you are on the track to top programs. Good luck !

Thank you Tatum.
Congrats to you for your achievement.
I have read your debrief many times. Though i never posted anytime there i feel that it is sincere and motivating.
I wish all the very best for your future.

Yes iahve started looking for schools.
If you feel to advice me of any thing that i should pay attention to please share.
As I have just started this process I don't have any queries as such but will appreciate any inputs from your side.
Thank you once again.
Take care.

[hardikrs]

First of all CONGRATULATIONS! you have written a very motivating debrief. I have few things in common with you like working professional, etc.. so your debrief, has definetly inspired me and given me some helpful suggestions on how I should be preparing.

I need your recommendation on which books I should be using which reflects actual GMAT questions difficulty. my target score is 720+

Just to give you breif overview of where I am.
Before I started my GMAT prep, I gave a diagnostic test 6 weeks ago and scored 485. Did very badly on verbal as English is my 2nd language.
Diagnostic test --- 20% correct in SC and 40% in critical reasoning
After that, I started with Manhattan to learn the concepts and practiced OG 10/Official Guide 11
OG 10 -- 55% correct on SC
OG 11 -- 75% correct on SC
OG 11 --- 85% correct on critical reasoning
Is this real improvement, or the questions in OG are not very difficult? I felt that the diagnostic test had lot harder questions that OG. Also, OG 10 was harder than OG 11.
But I also think that I am better with idioms, and basic grammar now after reviewing Manhattan and that is part of the reason why I am doing better, but to go from 20% to 55/75% on SC and 40% to 85% on critical reasoning seems little steep and I have serious doubts on the difficulty level of OG questions.

Under what name have you uploaded all the files, we can search for your username or folder name and hopefully find the files.

I KNOW IT IS A VERY LONG MESSAGE, BUT I REALLY NEED SOME HELP/ADVICE.

Thanks,
Hardee

[star_321]

Originally Posted by hardikrs

First of all CONGRATULATIONS! you have written a very motivating debrief. I have few things in common with you like working professional, etc.. so your debrief, has definetly inspired me and given me some helpful suggestions on how I should be preparing.

I need your recommendation on which books I should be using which reflects actual GMAT questions difficulty. my target score is 720+

Just to give you breif overview of where I am.
Before I started my GMAT prep, I gave a diagnostic test 6 weeks ago and scored 485. Did very badly on verbal as English is my 2nd language.
Diagnostic test --- 20% correct in SC and 40% in critical reasoning
After that, I started with Manhattan to learn the concepts and practiced OG 10/Official Guide 11
OG 10 -- 55% correct on SC
OG 11 -- 75% correct on SC
OG 11 --- 85% correct on critical reasoning
Is this real improvement, or the questions in OG are not very difficult? I felt that the diagnostic test had lot harder questions that OG. Also, OG 10 was harder than OG 11.
But I also think that I am better with idioms, and basic grammar now after reviewing Manhattan and that is part of the reason why I am doing better, but to go from 20% to 55/75% on SC and 40% to 85% on critical reasoning seems little steep and I have serious doubts on the difficulty level of OG questions.

Under what name have you uploaded all the files, we can search for your username or folder name and hopefully find the files.

I KNOW IT IS A VERY LONG MESSAGE, BUT I REALLY NEED SOME HELP/ADVICE.

Thanks,
Hardee

Materials I used or in general used by Test magians for Verbal are as mentioned below.
OG10
OG11
critical reasoning Bible from Powerscore
SC1000
CR1000
Adhamjon's Notes
Spidy's Notes
Kaplan 800
Test Magic Forum.

About OG10 and OG11 I feel that they don't reflect the exact difficulty level of the question that you will see on GMAT.
Frankly Speaking no material for verbal can be said that reflects exact difficulty level of GMAT question. If you asked me what was closest to GMAT then I woud say GMATPrep Test quetions, Sets (1 to 31) and OG10 and OG11.

Now while studying from OG10 and OG11 your aim should not be how many question I got correct or wrong, or how much progress i did from last attempt. Your aim should be to learn rules and concepts the GMAT test makers will test on GMAT. You should concentrate on why particular answeris correct according to GMAT and why particular answer is wrong accordint to them. This is very important.
You have to use OG10 and OG11 to understand concepts and not to gauge your performance. You won't be getting same questions on the G day but you will get question which will have same concepts. Even if sentences are big and difficult the concept will be present in one or the other question in OG.

Also refer to Test magic form. As I mentioned there are real good people who give there inputs. 800Bob Erin etc people should guide you by their posts.SO go through them.

I have uploaded two maths documents under User Id starmagic321 on esnsips..
The OG document contans all the problem form OG10 which i found nteresting.
The other document contians the collection of all hte problems I found good from various sources i refered to for math during my preparation.
Please let me know if they were helpful.

All the best.
Regard,
Star_321.

[FiF for GMAT]

Originally Posted by star_321

Thank you FIF For GMAT.

Regarding you question....yes a healthy diet does matter during your preparation for your test, but it is not necessary that you should have non veg food to make your diet healthy. Remember the primary source of energy is Vegetarian food. Each type of food has its own pros and cons but lets not get into those. Yous ultimate aim should be healthy food, good habbits, proper sleep cycle etc. You should do only things that will keep you optimistic and alert during your preparation. Don't get into fights with your friends and relatives during preparation. Use these people to charge you up. Your primary aim should be to improve yourself along wiht keeping others things is such way so that these help you to achieve your aim.
So non veg food should not matter.

Secondly , yes your state of mind is the most critical things during the exam. Be calm and composed.Never compare a familiar problem with any problem you had already solved. If there is little cahnge in problem you might find yourself lost if you are not getting the correct answer.
Always read the given question and try to solve it by applying the concepts that you know about the respective chapter. his way you won't be diverted.
If you feel that you are not able to concentrate properly work on it to improve your concentration.
Remember even if you study for years and learned all the chapters and concepts, but you are not able to keep your composure during the exam you will screw your paper, inspite of knowing all the things.

I am glad you know that your mental state is important during taking the exam.

You have aimed for high marks and I hope you are putting in efforts accordingly. I pray you get the success that you deserve.
All the best.

Looks like you are smart with people. But my surroundings are not mellow. I am a son of a businessman who is mercurial and short-tempered. And, he understands one thing that is business. He made a good businessman out of me but I have a certain streak of temper in me which spins out of control sometimes. To calm myself down, I dream of a utopian world by listening to 'Soulful' songs. Ha! Hope it helps for GMAT.

Thank you for your advice, it was pertinent. In your last response to Hardikrs you mentioned that the approach towards solving OG problems should be less towards gauging the accuracy and more towards examining ways of applying the concept. I understand. But, then materials for practice are very less in GMAT. Can you please explain it by using an example of any section of GMAT right from concept to practice to real-time successful application? The approach towards the section and which materials should be used at which stage?

Let me know about any other holistic advice. And, by the way, I am not able to access my private messages. Could you tell me why?

Good luck for your applications.

[nk5514]

Hey Star awsome score, congrats and even awsome debrief. Thanks for that
It surely is one great achievement.

Two things i want to ask,

1. When you said you went through basic grammer books, Wren and Martin, what exactly you went through that? Did you read all the book? or just did selected topics. Also did you solve all the exercises at the end of each topic? (This is problem, because Wren and Martin doesnt provide the correct answers for excercises). Just want to know, because I feel i am also in same boat.
2. Your enips folder cannot be downloaded. I guess when you try to share, share that with public.

Thanks again. hoping to repeat your magic!

[ramiy]

Hi star , i cant acces your esnsips. link can you please check that and re-post the same
Thanks

[galandekapil]

star321, yaar u rock .. You know what, when reading thy blog I felt as if I am reading my own thoughts .. What ever you wrote about thy 1st attempt, almost 95% was true for me.... And my score was very close to you .. My IT carrier, my schedule ..amost everything ..After GMAT I tried all other exams and I almost broke down .. But after reading thy blog, now I am up with new energy .. Thanks a lot yaar ..