690 (q:45 v:39) June 26, 2009 - 88%

[GeneK]

Hi,

I read this forum before the exam and got lots of useful info - thanks to everybody for sharing your experience.

I took my test yesterday (June 26) and my unofficial score is 690.

I am a little disappointed as I planned to get above 700... I know partially what went wrong - I found the quant section to be easy and in the middle of it I, for whatever reason (maybe because of stress), decided that it looks so easy because I am missing something in the questions. So, I started to spend a LOT of time double checking EVERY answer (even the super easy ones). This paranoia cost me 3 last questions as I ran out of time (in practice tests I would finish 37 much tougher questions with 5 min left). I am not sure if this explains 45 on quant, but I blame this 3 last questions for low score (I had to guess them very fast and I am horrible at guessing). This is not an excuse because everybody who takes GMAT is in similar position and has to cope with their own anxiety. So, I believe I did the best I could at that time.

About Studies:
I started to study on May 8 and averaged 3 hours per day until June. Then I got some unrelated problems to deal with in June and my practice was on and off this month (I would study for 2 hours one day and then skip 2 days).

- I solved all quant problems in OG 12 (I actually started from the last question and worked my way to the beginning. After I work on harder questions, the questions from the middle to first one looked very easy)
- Solved all problems in the OG Quantitative Review
- Finished Kaplan's GMAT 800
- Completed all the math questions, studied AWA and completed 2 practice tests in Barron's GMAT

Does anyone know if this is the score that I am going to have or it may change once my AWA essays are rated?

I am planning to apply to INSEAD or IMD and I am not sure if this score is high enough for me to be considered by those schools... Does anyone knows somebody who got admitted into those schools? I wonder what my chances are based on the GMAT (for now I am not planning to retake it).

Thanks for the help to those who took the test and posted comments and good luck to those who is planning to take it!

[svinay]

Hey,

Congratulations on the great score. 99.9% your score will not change. Actually let me corect myself. 100 % your scores will not change

I am taking my Gmat in 4 days. What were your Gmatprep scores. Also, what do you think of the rumors that the Gmat has NOW become a lot harder than the Gmatprep.

Will really appreciate your input.

Thanks,
S.

[GeneK]

Originally Posted by svinay

What were your Gmatprep scores.

Hi, my first Gmat Prep score (I took it even before I started to learn about GMAT) was 570.

3 weeks after studying 2-3 hours a day I took the second test and the score was 640. By this second time I tried it - I was able to solve pretty much any problem in OG, but I was concentrating more on learning how to solve them and completely disregarded time management in my practice, hence I did not pace myself on this second prep test and there were 4 quant and 5 verbal questions I did not have time to answer.

After that I realized how important it was to learn how to pace yourself. The rest of the studies (next 3 weeks) were dedicated not just to solving problems, but to solving problems really fast. My stopwatch became a part of my studies.

When I was solving a problem under pressure of my stopwatch, I realized that there were moments when I looked at the time and at the problem, and then time again, and then back to problem, and back to time... in other words I was not working as efficiently as I could. I believe practice helped get rid of those inefficiencies (but then at the real exam my paranoia, described above, kicked in).

Another thing that I believe is important - it is not to spend too much time on one question. In practice it happened several times that I would spend 8 minutes on a tough question (because I just could not let it go)... and at the end I would have to leave 3-4 really easy questions unanswered just because I ran out of time. So, I would skip the question that takes too much time and instead have some time to solve 3-4 more. Learning how to pace is very important!

About the rumor you mentioned: I did not feel that the test was harder than the Gmat prep. In fact, I think the difficulty level was pretty close.

I hope this helps,

Gene

[sgmat]

Congrations for the score
in verbal you got amazing score
please tell us what you did for verbal and nail the beast...

good luck for your next move
thanks!
sgmat

[Crack the nut]

Good score dood.. Need guidance from you on verbal .how did you improve..?

[GeneK]

For verbal, when I was practicing I would mark every question that I am not 100% sure with a question mark and study it even if I got it right (after all there shouldn't be any doubt which answer to pick).

So, I don't think there is an easy answer - just practice and memorize your mistakes to avoid them in the future.

Thanks for being kind about my score. I was thinking to retake the exam, but now decided to keep it as it is. After all, the Student Profile at the universities I would like to apply (INSEAD, IMD) have an average GMAT for previous year of less than 680. Which means there were people with the score less than 680 - and they got admitted. Another proof that GMAT score is just part of the criteria.
I believe my profile is pretty strong (6 years in Finance industry, currently finance director of a big company) so I'll see if I can get in with a 690.

Good luck in your test!

Gene

[Crack_it!!]

Hey genek,

CONGRATULATIONS for your score. We must not forget that GMAT is just one of the requirements and not the only requirement. Moreover, along with this score you have a great work-ex backing you. So i guess the focus can shift to the apps process now. Wish you good luck !

You mentioned focusing on the tough problems. Apart from OG what other books did you refer for tougher quant ques?One more ques to bother you.

Did you find the verbal level same as that of GMAT prep?

Thank you!!

[GeneK]

Hey Crack_it!!

I finished all quant questions in Barron's (which I think were pretty useful. They also have nice quant review). Kaplan 800 was so so. OG Gmat quant questions was very useful.

I think the exam in general was very close to Gmat prep (including verbal). I got one very long and difficult reading comprehension text, but the rest was the same level as GMAT prep.

Good luck!

[cubicle]

HI Genek,
What is your profile and from which college did you graduate + what kind of work/role do you have ?

For a regular Indian IT Male with role like programmer/analyst and a non-IIT college 690 is not a good score for INSEAD. For IMD I do not know.

But you can pour in some differentiating factors such as :

1. If you ever tried for a start up.
2. If you have any special interest that you can tie with business world.
3. beyond work if you had any chance to show leadership.

HTH

Cubicle.

[GeneK]

Originally Posted by cubicle

HI Genek,
What is your profile and from which college did you graduate + what kind of work/role do you have ?

Hi, Cubicle

I am in my late twenties. I have graduated from a university in Russia majoring in Economics and Management (GPA 4.0). I have worked for a couple years as senior fin. analyst in NYC and the last 3.5 years as a finance director also in NYC (started as senior fin. analyst and was promoted).

Latest extra work: 2 years ago I founded a company here in US and have been running it all this time consistently raising sales and we are already profitable this year (I like being busy and all my free time and weekends I work on this company. I am responsible for all aspects of company operations: accounting, taxes, payroll, supplier sourcing, contract negotiations, strategic planning, marketing, etc).

I have some other successful business projects that I have been working on.
Do you think I might have chances to get admitted? Any recommendations on where I can get more info on application preparation? What's recommended and what's not?

Thank you in advance,