740 - First Attempt: 740 (V 42, Q 49)

[vineetdixit]

Here we go.....................

Profile
I live in Hyderabad, India. Currently working with a multinational Indian Company. I am chartered accountant by profession (something like CPA in US an ACCA in UK). I completed by CA in 2004. Married for two years now (going to completed 2 years on Jan 23rd). Life is as busy and normal (as per Indian standards) as it can get.
Purpose
I think anyone who is preparing for GMAT should have a clear idea why is he doing so. No – one excluding the geniuses out there will be able to score well unless he puts in the necessary focus. So I also went on a soul search along with my boss & friends. I understood that MBA is necessary to complete my dreams. It will give me the necessary skill, knowledge; exposure and brand to jump start my career as well as increase scope of my career. Currently, the profiles that I can get will be junior level Finance jobs and in most cases the job will be of back office.

GMAT is a marathon. Each skill has to be patiently crafted. Stamina has to be built. We have to be focused, sincere, steady & consistent (last one being the most important attribute – something I struggled a lot with). It definitely tests one’s commitment towards oneself. During my preparation I kept reminding myself why am I doing the preparation, why am I sitting at my house when my colleagues are busy enjoying themselves and why my wife is sacrificing her good time with me. Clear purpose helped me maintain focus.

Game plan
I came to know about GMAT from my boss (nice guy, encouraged me). Researched through the internet to have a through understanding of the exam (what is it that I am playing against). I started off my preparation by giving a diagnostic) test (OG 11) in august with D - Day on 3rd Dec. I had scored 580 (three months to D Day). Amazed, yup, I was more. Just could not believe my eyes. I just shut my book and went to sleep. When I analyzed, I found that I was miserable in nearly all the areas except CR & PS – which I had done exceptionally well. The areas in ranking – most miserable to least were
1) SC
2) DS
3) RC
4) PS
5) CR
The route was clear – started of with SC and DS

SC
Started of by Kaplan SC – got my basics (such as parallelism, modifiers, etc., etc.) corrected. Then I moved to Manhattan SC – very comprehensive book, read it twice. I prepared my notes, which were combination of Kaplan, Manhattan, Spidey notes and Sahil Notes. I read my noted every day morning without thinking whether I will learn or not (quite a powerful technique, I was able to recall all rule by the end of third week). As I went along with my preparations, I also amended my notes specially making note of the “exception rules”, Idioms & anything that I could put in form of a rule.

[vineetdixit]

DS & PS
Reason I am taking these both together is because they have same conceptual base For PS I applied the pareto rule (80:20). I had left maths in 10th class, since I had taken commerce stream in my 11th class (it had been nearly 10 years since i last studied maths). So I was very weak in geometry, permutation combination and probability. For geometry I took a decision to leave coordinate geometry (for this topic I had knew only two formulas, if the question fits in it – fine, I answer – otherwise I take a guess). Permutation and combination – I practiced and at the end I was able to do to a fair level. Probability – well, if you are clear in permutation and combination I don’t think you will have problem in this topic as the formula for probability per se is very simple. I had prepared a detailed list of formulas – from various sources and used to read it every morning along with my verbal notes. In DS I had two problems
1) Inequality questions: real nightmare. I read inequality for the first time in my life. Practice is the only solution for it. But for 80% questions I used sample set - -3,-2,-1, -0.5, 0, 0.5,1,2,3. Although time consuming but helped me answer most of the questions
2) Keeping both sentences separate: the rule that we should use the sentences separately is easier said than done. It is difficult to keep one sentence (once you have evaluated) out of mind while evaluating the other. But practice helped me get in to habit enough to get at least 90% questions correct.


RC
I got into practice of drawing conclusions after each Para. Towards the end I was able to summarize the whole Para with its relation to purpose and other paras in 5 sec to 7 sec. I observed that I saved a good deal to time in SC and CR questions. So I had altered the time budget for RC questions. For each question I used to budget 2 minutes, usually RC questions have 4 questions each hence 8 minutes for each RC question. Out of which I used to use 4 min – 6 min to read and understand the passage. My strategy – If I am clear about the passage – central idea, purpose, contradictions, supporting evidence etc., then I will not take more than a minute for each question. – mostly it worked


CR
Never a problem. My strategy was to draw a cause and effect relationship in my mind from the data provided. Usually I used to visualize – as movie going on in my head and then evaluate the impact of each statement on the whole. When in doubt I used re – phrase the question with the statements in if then format. Practice is the only solution for CR questions.


I used GMAT grid to practice. It helped to keep track of the questions I got wrong as well as detailed notes that I kept for them.


Timing
I had real issue with it. But it was the other way round. I used to finish 20 – 30 min early. This was mostly due to anxiety and impatience. It may look great but it was costing me some real points as I was making careless mistakes. I started reading each question twice. Second time slowly. I used to speak loudly (in my mind, of course) every limiting word (words that limit or specifically provide applicability of data or condition in the question) esp. in case of PS, DS, CR. In order to check my timing while giving exam I used to multiply 2 with remaining number of questions in case of quant and 1.75 for verbal. This I used to do after every ten questions. That showed the time required fro the remaining question, needless to say that it should not be more than “time left” shown my Prep Software.

[vineetdixit]

Practice tests
I started practice test from 15th Nov. I used to give 1 test each day and if possible 2. Thoroughly analyzed the mistakes and amended notes if required. I was very comfortable on D – Day because I gave so many practice tests – Kaplan (5) + individual section practice, Princeton (4), GMAT Prep (4), & Sets 21-31


Kaplan : Questions are really tough as compared to real GMAT. I scored between 620 and 670 in all the tests. But I find them really good to practice since they usually put two to three concepts in one question or apply a concept in a novel manner, resulting in good practice of individual concepts. Anyway a good grid did bring the best out of me. Gave me confidence.


Princeton – In term of hardness, they are in between the GMAT and Kaplan. But good to practice. But my software had a problem, couldn’t score above 650 in any of the test. With similar scaled score as Kaplan I was scoring low.


Sets 21 – 31 – excellent resource to practice. Although I found them simple as compared to real GMAT. Scored between 690 and 720 in most of the tests.


GMAT prep™: The best resource to practice. Get used to it. I must have given 5 – 6 tests on that. Real test is exactly similar to it. Once or twice in the real exam it felt as if I am giving another mock test. It helped in keeping the nerves under control on the D – Day. I always scored between 680 and 710 in all the tests.

Resources
1. OG -10 & 11 –mostly last 100 questions for each section
2. Kaplan Preimer – CD tests
3. GMAT Preptest
4. Kaplan 800
5. Manhattan Sentence Correction
6. Sets 21 – 31
7. Brutal SCs
8. 800 Score test
9. Spidey and Sahil Notes
10. Testmagic

D –Day

Normal day except the splash of excitement, tension and anxiety ;-). Well I woke up at 6.45 (exam scheduled at 9). Went through my notes. I had same routine as I normally had for the past two weeks (I deliberately lived this routine for two weeks prior to exam). I went to the center by auto (hired taxi) instead of my own car – wanted to avoid tension of driving. Took three chocolates. Experience at the centre was nice, staff was really courteous and helpful.

AWA was a breeze. I had prepared for only three days. I had a ready format for each section. My strategy was to prepare points – both pro & con – for the issue section, take a position and then prepare the Para. For the argument I used to make list of assumptions and weak points I used CR techniques here to prepare my points

Quant: it was similar to GMAT prep software. Fortunately I did not get any question on probability and simple questions in permutations. Got three questions on coordinate geometry, I think I was able to solve at least two.

Verbal: I think SC was tougher than OG level. I mostly used to end up with two options which looked equally good. RC was of same or simpler level. CR was ok.
Used all the breaks that were available. I had my chocolates and smoked during the breaks. I never ever thought about the sections once completed.

Well, GMAT is over I fared well. Scored 740 (V 42, Q 49, AWA 5) – highest of all the scores that I have scored in all the tests yet. I hope I will get admission in ISB, Hyderabad. I will also try for IIMA but I have less experience. Let’s see. I hope I will achieve that for which I gave my exam.

Can someone suggest me how can I share my files with all of you. Must me 270 Mb material – only relevant material that I used for preparation incl. my notes

[sgmat]

Thanks a ton for that indepth analysis of the exam....Vineetdixit could you please shed some light on the fact that if you were asked to prepare for the GMAT again...what material you would have followed.....I mean material for verbal and quant separate.........cheers and good luck! btw please post your material on this id ampa899@gmail.com

Thanks & Regards,
Amit

[missionpossible]

congratulations man.

awesome score and detailed debrief.

Good luck in your applications.

[vineetdixit]

If were to give my GMAT again here what i would do
1. Give diagonostic GMAT from OG (not kaplan - I think had igiven the one in kaplan i would have left GMAT)
2. Understand the pain areas - go for the two at the top
3. Keep my cool (i lost my cool couple number of time - wasted two to three days each time)
4. Give more test - i would start giving test from 1st Nov rather from 15th

Material
SC - Manhattan SC --> OG 11 (questions are better approimation of real test) --> Kaplan premier --> Kaplan 800 --> Brutal SCs --> tests
(definitely not 1000 sc - it si just the collection of the above sources that too with wrong answers)
CR - OG 11 --> Kaplan premier --> Kaplan 800 --> Tests
RC - OG 11 --> Kaplan premier --> Kaplan 800 --> Tests

PS - OG 11 --> Kaplan premier --> Kaplan 800 --> Tests
DS - OG 11 --> Kaplan premier --> Kaplan 800 --> Tests

Tests include Set 21 - 31, Kaplan CD, Princeton, GMAT Prep, disgonostic tests at the end of each book and 800 score test.

I will spend more time with the mistakes that i made. (that is why i am starting from 1st Nov)

[sgmat]

Thanks for your prompt response....could you please email your material on the below id..

ampa899@gmail.com

cheers!

[borntowin]

Congratulations !!
Great debrief..
could you kindly post your materials in esnips and post the link...

Thanks

[vishnuisb2008]

hi...Congratulations........

[vishnuisb2008]

Hi... Vineet

It was nice to see your message...One management quote i am getting in my mind that...successful people "dont do different things" "They do things differently". Congratulations to your success once again...

I am also from Vizag, done my MBA-HR from GITAM. Present, i am working in Mumbai with Renault India (Logan Car) as an Asst.Manager (HR).

I am planning to appear for GMAT.. perhaps this is new challenge because it is almost 6 years after i am planning for further studies. I think i need to start from scrap.

It would be a great help to me if you can send your material on vishnu.diwakar@renault.com

Thanks & Regards,
Vishnu - 09867348720