simulacra

Just wanted to let you all know that I received my AWA score. I got a 6.0. Looks like everything was ok, except for Verbal. Should have pulled few more points. Anyways, good luck to everyone.

Thanks Bose, Fiver and TaTum for your opinions. I think I'll go ahead with my apps and give it a shot. Thanks for your time once again !

Although a regular at TM to learn more about, I had hardly posted many. However, this time, I really wanted to thank you guys for the explanations each of you provided in Sentence Corrections and Critical Reasonings. Well, I am very bad when it comes to writing. Hence, I will try to keep it short, if not sweet. Started my GMAT preparation sometime after my second anniversary, well, 15th June to be more precise. Started off with the diagnostic test in OG11. Well, I was happy that I was in the Excellent on all of the sections, however, I was on the border-line between v.good and excellent. Two days later, took the GMATPrep Test 1. I was quite shocked to learn that I scored 720. because, I was expecting close to 630-670. Can't really recall the split, but it was Q 49 or 50 and 37/38 ( I guess) in verbal. So, I pretty much made up my mind that 720 to be the base. However, reality bites, isn't it ? Took the first Kaplan Test, I scored 650. Well, I have always liked Kaplan for my GRE preparation, when I took one, seven years ago, when I wanted to apply for Masters, although I never did. Anyway, we are not going to talk about that. So, I decided to study Kaplan comprehensive (checked out at one of the Libraries in Minneapolis, well, if someone has reserved the book, and you haven't got it yet, well you know whom to contact) and Kaplan Verbal. I studied for 5 days, and took a Kaplan test every saturday. The scores, for some reason went South, the more I studied for the test. Ironical ! In the meanwhile, I checked out the ARCO Review. Well, I don't really care if the author is reading this, but I must say, the book SUCKS ! I wanted a book to provide me information about the question and its explanation, but the book wasn't meant to be. I didn't really like the book, and returned the book to the Library in a week. In the meanwhile, I got this invaluable forum TM, 1000SC and of course, economist.com. While going to work, I used to solve few SCs in the bus, during my lunch hour at work, I constantly read one or two articles on subjects that I didn't like such as, Paleontology, History etc. Well, I developed a positive attitude towards reading new passages, and I am happy to see myself appreciating any topic, be it, gender inequality, (an oft repeated passage in any competitive exam, I guess !). Anyway, the other strategy was to do the OG11. I enjoyed working the questions on this book and with time, I got really better on RCs and CRs. The more I solved RCs and CRs on this book, the better I became in them. I had an accuracy rate of almost 90%, but I was pretty bad at time. I flunk under time-pressure. Four weeks later, after I took my GMATPrep1, I took the GMATPrep2, I scored 730. Now, I was becoming confident, and I began to believe in myself. However, when I was doing Kaplan CRs, I was getting stuck and I used several questions wrong. And, this really bothered me a lot. I had a sit-down discussion with my wife and made her watch me do the CRs. I got a real good feedback. She suggested that I follow my instincts. Well, this is not a fool-proof solution. Actually, I realized that, once I got the solution to a CR, I start to think why it is right and why all others are incorrect, and the more I start to analyze all the other incorrect answers, I began to choose those damn, incorrect answers. Keeping this in mind, I took the powerprep tests on consecutive days. Some one week before the exam, I installed the GMAT Prep CD, that GMAC sent in. Well, I had downloaded the software earlier. Since, they sent a copy, my silly assumption was that this could be different. But, I was right, when I took the test this time, I had only 2-3 questions repeat. First time ever, I crossed 750. Two days before the test, took GMAT Prep 2, scored 770. I wouldn't forget this for several reasons. Firstly, I was cool and confident. Secondly, I followed my instincts. Had a neat score of 51Q and 45V. Boy, wasn't I happy ? Following that, I chilled out, did review of OG11 and OG Verbal workbook and a few math review. Pre-Test results: OG11: Diagnostic Test GMATPrep1: 720 Kaplan 1: 650 Kaplan 2: 630 Kaplan 3: 620 Kaplan 4: 650 GMATPrep2: 730 PowerPrep (ETS) 1: 780 Powerprep (ETS) 2: 760 GMATPrep1 (after installation of the CD): 750 GMATPrep2: 770. Following the recent improvement in scores, I began to expect more from my own self. I pushed myself harder to score well in the exam. This started to affect my sleep-cycle, and made me get tired more easily. I mean, I should have remained calm, but I couldn't maintain my composure. Well, the day before the test, I went to the office, came back home early, did a quick review of few Grammar rules, went for a jog (primarily to make myself physically tired so that I could catch a good sleep), came home did the math review and hit the sack at around 10 pm. The test was at 08:00 a.m, the following day. On the day of the test, woke up at 5:00 am, did a few stretching exercise and was at the testing center at around 7:20 a.m. The check-in was really cool and had no problems. AWA: Was quite easy. My General strategy: If it is an argument, find out the conclusion, analyze the causal reasoning, attack the evidence, weaken the conclusion, and provide a few alternatives that might otherwise strengthen the conclusion. In case of an issue, since I went through only the topics that were in the OG, I didn't really practise any of them, but I was confident that I will do OK. So, I developed a strategy: if it is going to be anything business oriented such as what should the company do, then I would usually write about Cost, Employee morale, productivity, customer satisfaction, Ethics etc. If the issue has to do anything with technology, then I will talk about the continous improvement process, why it is necessary, cost-effective etc. So, I had developed a framework on what to write. I hadn't had much problems with this on the day of the exam. Finished the AWA section, went for a break. Took a deep breath. Told myself, well, I have come this far, I can go a little further. MATH section: Supposed to be my strong point. First question took me completely off. Boy, I was really psyched to understand what the question was trying to do. To be honest, when I think about the question, it was nothing great. Well, on any normal day, I would have got it right, but today, I was a little off my usual person, I screwed it up. Took the whole 4 minutes to make a guess at an INCORRECT one. I am pretty confident that the option that I chose was wrong. The second question, was worse. the same topic, but this time, I went from answer choices to select the appropriate answer and it worked. So, I thought, well, now I should maintain my cool. And, I breezed through the section until 21-22, when I encountered some issue, and had to make a guess. Since, during my practise, I focussed more on verbal, lack of practise in math puts you off. I mean, you aren't confident to choose the choice, even when you know, for certain that you have used the right strategy to get the answers. But well, I have got nothing to blame. Had 8 minutes to go, to complete 4 qns. 34 and 35 involved some calculations, and had to guess 36 and 37. So, in short, I think it would have been good if I had practised more of quant. Well, took the optional break, went to the restroom, and said YES. Well, nothing great about the performance, but I was sure that I wouldn't get anything less than 49, because none of my practise tests, however I performed, I had scored 49 or 50 (51 was an aberration in a couple of tests). Practise more of Average, mean, Geometry concepts, especially Co-ordinate Geometry, and of course, atleast get an understanding of permutations and combinations. VERBAL By far, the easiest section that I have ever encountered. That is the reason, why I got 35 !! All the other tests that I ever took were harder than the one I took today :(. Well, never mind ! No matter how good one is at SC, it is always better to practise more and understand the concept no matter one gets all the questions right ! many of the SCs were OK, most of the CRs were very straight-forward, but I still don't understand where I screwed up today. I feel bad about the fact that I was doing well during the most part of the exam, until one particular short-passage RC screwed my happiness. Although, the passage was straight-forward, the questions weren't. I think, this probably would have had a cascading effect on further questions. Well, I got no one to blame though. I did finish the test in time, something I could never manage in any of my previous tests. Clicked on the Report the Score button. Took my eyes off the screen for a second, there it was 690. This, by far, was the lowest score I received in my preparation, (if I discount the Kaplan ones), and I scored it exactly when I shouldn't have. I didn't know how to react after seeing the score. Should I feel happy about it or think about re-taking the test ? Called my wife, informed her of my score, she was of the opinion that I should give it another try, but I am not really sure, whether I will. Not because, I am tired and disappointed, but because, I might rather focus on my application. However, at this point of time, the one thing that is running in my mind is to thank you folks. Few that comes to my mind readily are: Makumajon, Chatru, lesleafes, coolman, dv_dheeraj (for your qns), ssstickler, Queen09 (wonderful math aptitude), krravidy, bose, ,the conqueror 800BOB (Man, this gentleman rocks !) and of course the creator Erin. I am sure I might have referred to other people's explanations, but in failing to mention you, I don't mean to express any disregard. Well, that is about it for now. In case, you guys got questions, that you think I can answer, feel free to let me know. Otherwise, just to ask you guys, is 690 a bad-score to give a shot at some top 15 B-schools ? Well, I am not a H/W/S material, So, I can save myself from the disgrace. Otherwise, is this score enough to apply ? I welcome your opinions. Thanks for your time and of course, this post was't all that short !!

I think the answer should be E.

Queen09: The usage of "reason is that" stands for "because". Would you agree ?

To Queen09: I believe, both Distinguish X from Y and Distinguish between X and Y are correct Idioms. However, in this question, choices A,B and C don't have the right Idiom in place. The usage of two sorts of "Security Council resolution" right after distinguishes makes it clear that, the right idiom to be used should be Distinguish between X and Y. However, to make Distinguish X from Y valid, the choices A, B and C should have been phrased: "UN distinguishes those that deal with peaceful...FROM those that give the council..." Please correct me if I am wrong.

Alright, here is my take on it. Suggestions welcome. IMO, The usage of because in A,C,D & E, is the problem. These choices tend to show that because some studies couldn't establish a causal relationship, the relationship is unclear. However, the sentence wants to convey: Some studies show a causal relationship, and some don't. Therefore, the relationship is unclear. Choice B, tries to explain this.

Thanks guys for your comments.. To be honest, I have asked my wife to apply for Cornell, NYU but not Berkeley...and I think she did...so we are waiting for her results, but I was curious to find if anyone on this forum had/has applied..

Hi, I was searching this forum, and couldn't find a thread or a topic that discussed about Financial Math programs. Hence the reason for this thread. My spouse is applying for Fin Math programs and following is her profile. Graduated with a Chemical Engg degree from Nagpur Univ (top 3 in her department), has a overall work ex of 4+ years at a big IT concern. Her recent GRE score is V 510 and Q 770. Has someone who knows/applied, suggest univs where she has a good chance. Thanks !

At first, I went with B, but I realised that the question clearly indicates that it is because of civil service employees that Gov. is inefficient... CS is part of GOV. It is incorrect to say the opposite.

I took one of the verbal tests of 800score.com. This was one of the questions in them. I was sure that the answer should have been B, and went with it....but the OA was different...

IMO, the answer should be A for the reason stated by Animesh. Animesh, could you post the OA

Although I went for B, the OA says it's A :(

Is the answer to the question E. I think it is Degler who not only summarises the research, but also presents a coherent picture. B and D indicate that it is the study and not Degler. Moreover, before the doer of the action is mentioned, the pronoun 'he' is used.. A and C dont fit in.

Large amounts of moisture and darkness create ideal conditions in home walls that enable the ant populations to grow a. b. for the ant populations to grow c. for growing ant populations d. that enable ant populations to grow e. that the ant populations can grow Can someone explain the correct choice. Referred the link below...but no consensus :( :( http://www.www.urch.com/forums/gmat-sentence-correction/51260-ant-population.html