720 (q 47 V41 Awa 5.0)

[rkenge]

Hello all,

Finished my GMAT last week. Got a score of 720. Wanted to share my 2 cents on how prepare for GMAT

First my practice scores

GMAT Prep
CAT1 670
CAT2 700 (Gave 3 days before my real GMAT)

Manhattan
CAT1 690
CAT2 660
CAT3 650.

Preperation startegy

Quantitative

Used Manhattan books and GMAT OG. Started studying appox. 2 and Half months back. I used to study the thoery in the Manhattan Books. Used to solve the problems in Manhattan books. And then use to solve problems from the same topic in the OG. One very important thing is while preparing, donot and I repeat donot look at the answers before solving the problems on paper. If you donot understand how to solve the problem read the theory again donot look at answers (In my case I used to have a strong urge to flip the page and look at the solution). My understanding of GMAT is it loves Algebra(Powers and roots, Inequalities, Variable questions, digits, averages etc). The second most important is word problems (Rates, Overlapping sets, Combimetrics, ) Thrid important is Geometry. Donot worry about probability as the problems that come in GMAT are more simple.

Verbal

Used the same startegy as for the Quantitative. Concenrate more on Sentence correction. You should be able to solve these problems in 1 min. Manhattan SC is the best book available for sentence correction Practice is the key to SC. Also when you mark the right answer also mark why the other choices are wrong(wrong comparison, bad phrasing, wrong idiom etc.) When cross checking the answer make sure that your thinking on wrong answer choices match with the solutions. Then I concentrated on RC. When you acheive speed at SC this will give confidence to solve RC. The most important thing in RC is reading the paragraph thoroughly once and then attacking the questions. I think once you are comfortable with RC, CR is just a piece of cake. As I think CR is also a form of RC with only one question. Also the type of CR questions are very less(Strengthen, weaken, Conclusion, assumption, inference, bold face).

Plan for GMAT

Finished the Manhattan and OG plus few CAT's 1 week before the real GMAT. I started solving the OG again in the week before GMAT. I used to do 15 questions each of SC, CR, RC, PS and DS. Gave the GMAT2 3 days before the exam. Was very confident because of the result and since I had all the OG question solved just a week back I had all the tricks and mistakes fresh in mind. This helped me a lot. Remember do the OG again in the last week. This wil be of tremendous help.

While giving the GMAT

Most important thing DO NOT PANIC. If you see some question in quantitative that you do not understand try to re-read the question. Try simplifying the question. More often then not the answer is just one step away from you.

In the verbal remain cool. Solve the SC fast. (It's simple guys just a set of rules that you can remember with lots of practice). RC read peacefully. You will never run out of time if you solve SC questions fast. CR should be simple.

All the best from me!!!Go and conquer GMAT!!!

[scorpion.ks]

Congrats for great score and thanks for tips.

[krovvidy]

Very Good Score ... thanks for sharing your experience ... all the best for your apps ...

[somu]

Congrats ! Rkenge

[mannu08]

Congrats Rkenge

[gmat09.aspirant]

Congrats!! Great Score..!! I will be taking GMAT in the next 2 weeks. I have heard from many ppl that GMAT question's difficulty level is changing and GMATPrep is not representative of the real thing anymore. How was your experience? Could you share in details? Would appreciate your inputs.

[ares666]

Congratulations for the great score.
Thanks a lot for the tips, specially the ones about feeling more confident with verbal through solving SC hastly.
Good luck on your next step.