GMAT score down 100 points from median KAPLAN, Manhattan, Princeton

[ashman3in]

Hi Guys ,

This mail may help you on what not to do on your GMAT test and what worst may happen . I would tell more about myself but first about my GMAT experience. I got the following scores during my prep (took all tests)

GMATPrep1 - 700
GMATprep2 - 760

KAPLAN 8 online tests :- 720,790,740,760,730,770,680,750

Princeton (during my early prep days) :- 690(diagnostic) , 680, 660 , 690 and 730

Manhattan:- 700 and 47 (verbal) missed maths in the second test.

Actual GMAT :- 650 (49Q and 29V)

Test day mistakes committed :- Thought of relaxing the day before and so assigned only a limited no. of questions to self . But , then attempted some reading comprehension questions and got them wrong . It was 8:00 PM in the night and in anxiety I continued to attempt RCs one after the other , did it till 11:30 and went to bed .I thought of sleeping till 9 - 10 in the morning but could not get any sleep until 4- 5 AM and slept for 3-4 hours . In the morning ate burger sandwich from Mc Donalds and bought 2 packs of cookies and 2 cans of red bull . First essay was fine but in the second essay got a little nervous . In the break I ate cookies , drank red bull, washed my face and smoked a cigarette, and went back to notice that I had overshot my time . Quant section though I thought I was doing well , but when did not encounter a single probability or P & C I thought that something is wrong ,though I had less then 73 minutes to finsh quant I still finished 2 minutes early. My quant reported score was 49 (lower side of average tests taken) .
Again repeated the activities (cookies , red bull and ciggie , but faster then previous time) . I am not sure I got first few questions correct . But the reading comprehension that folllowed them contained a key word(perhaps cannot disclose due to confidentiality) which I did not know . I almost guessed all the 3 questions there . Then I had to go to the loo ( I do not know that red bull did it ). When I returned back close to 37 minutes were remaining , then came the worst blow , there was a deafning noise in the room as some people were celeberating ganpati down stairs (drum beats and whistling) . The sound continued for 40 minutes , iand was so loud that even the desk was shaking

I could not retain my composure and also started panicking . I am not sure but perhaps , since it was almost impossible to read question, I began to mark answer choices that were looking like correct answer types for example an alternative reasoning for weakining questions .

I thought that since the disturbance was in the later 40 minutes , I would loose only 20 - 30 marks but when the screen showed 650 I was almost in tears . It is not that it is good score or bad , but rather a complete shocker.
I reported the issue to proctor who said that the sound was an outside disturbance, and such influences are outside their control .

I am so much in influence of alchohol after this incident that happenned yesterday that I won't be able to pick a book for the next 2-3 days .

Will take the GMAT again for sure . But what I am not sure is that whether I should strengthen 600 - 700 question types in verbal for an improvement over 650 to 720 or so or should I remain aggressive and try to tackle the 780 and 800 types .

I have completed all material and don't have much of anything now. I did KAPLAN, princeton , manhattan verbal guides. I am left with 4 manhattan tests and GMAC paper tests that I am planning to buy.

I prepared on war scale ,but for sure , I have lost the first battle for a virgin high GMAT , but will fight again for a tainted high score , after I review the strategy again.

I belong to the pool of typical software engineers (with some usual 'exceptional rating' and awards,each of which I cannot repeat next year due to preparation toll) who are expected to have exceptional scores because they are perhaps childeren of a lesser god, thy name may sound like Ashish.

[rick21]

it wasn't your day ... I highly recommend people to avoid redbull if you are not a regular drinker of it ..your prep scores are really good ...i suggest just take 2 days break and do bit of preparation again..and go for it ..you are already prepared ..dont loose it ..

[LeVas]

rick21, I think you are right regarding red bull...I loose my concentration after red bull...

[Zealot]

Don't worry Ashman3in, it might just be a bad day. Your prep scores are really good and you will surely score in those lines in real GMAT as well. Just relax for 2-3 days and brush up your knowledge to re take GMAT soon.

Best of luck!!

[RHYME800]

RED BULL --- Discussion --- the popular "chicken Salad" again

[ashman3in]

Thanks everyone, your words have given me some cofidence again and saved hours when I would be searching for stories on the net, looking for evidence that improvement is possible in a short amount of time .

Will soon update you about my next gmat score.

[barira1]

Go for it again ! i m sure you will get your desire score ! All the best

[gmat_thingie]

Hi Ashish

Would you have any Manhattan GMAT stuff 4th edition - you could share with me . Pls email the same to malhotra at the rate ruchi dot gmail dot com. Would be a great help and I hope and wish best of luck to you for a better day

Thnx!!

[krishnakumarhod]

Your prep score looks promising.

I would look at your position as this way.

INSPITE of the problems you got a score of 650 hatsoff

I think if you took the test in another 4 days .U will clearly end up with u r desired score

[ashman3in]

I bought Manhattan original from Pune ,and I am using the same at present for my next attempt.