getsetgo

I tried Kaplan, Princeton and MGMAT tests. IMO MGMAT is best among those, both in term of quality and scoring algorithm. I find MGMAT's quant tougher than the real stuff, but Verbal is of similar level. I'll wait for your debriefing man, I know you'll rock.

Thanks Dear... it's a good idea to revise the elementary maths from the school textbooks,but I would suggest not to waste too much time on those. just learn the basic principles. GMAT embeds those basic principles with advance logics. you may try this plan after you finish revision of textbooks . Level 1: Only PS of Princeton and OG 11 first 100 qstns Level 2: Both PS and DS of Kaplan, SETS,OGs(all qstns) Level 3: Quant section of MGMAT tests download an excel sheet named "TestGrid4GMAT" from enips(don't remember exactly). You can time your practice sessions using it. If you are not able to locate it, provide me your mail id,I'll forward it to you.

Finally 710: Q(50,94%) [clap],V(35,74%) :( I finished my GMAT journey today. Although my score is not gr8,but I am happy with it :D. I'll post my debrief soon. Now too busy with beer :crazy: ______________________________________ Friends, Just came back from office, I would like to share ups and downs of my GMAT journey I am just an average Joe, whatever I have achieved so far, namely, an undergraduate degree from India’s most prestigious engineering institute (IIT), 96 percentile in CAT exam (IIM exam: Indian institute of management) and my recent GMAT score (710) are all through hardwork. I don’t have the brilliancy factor in me. My proficiency level in written English is just average (you’ll, anyway guess that from my debriefing :D.). First Attempt: Oct 2007 ,Score: 600 (Q47, V26),GMATPrep scores: 600, 610 References: Princeton’s cracking the GMAT, OG 11 Preparation duration: 3 weeks, 2 hrs /day I wanted to rush for ISB’s application, so gave my shot at GMAT. As my GMATPrep scores revealed, nothing short of miracle could have saved me from a disaster, but miracle happens only in fairy tales and this is real materialistic world, a GMAT world. Lessons learnt: (1) It is just wastage of money and time giving GMAT without proper preparation (ofcourse “proper preparation” is a relative term and varies person to person). (2) I can manage Quant, but require lot of practice in verbal. Comments on reference materials: (1)“Princeton cracking the GMAT” is good for beginners, if you are starting your preparation down from scratch, Princeton is a good bet, but if you already have a head start, don’t waste your time and money on it. (2)OG11: It’s a bible for GMAT. Second Attempt: Aug 2008 ,Score: 580 (Q45, V25), GMATPrep scores: 690,720 References: 1000 series, OG11, Kaplan tests Preparation duration: 2 months, 3-4 hrs/day I got motivation from one of my colleague, who was preparing for GMAT then. I downloaded 1000 series (SC, CR and RC) from esnips and REALLY worked hard. I work as a consultant (full time employee) in a European Telecom company, along with that I have to manage my daily chores (cooking, cleaning….curses on bachelors); 3-4 hours / day on studies really taxes life. Anyway, I forgot my social life and drowned myself into studies. In coherence with my GMATPrep scores, I was expecting a score between 680 and 710, but what I got was a complete disaster. Lessons learnt: (1)Some days are bad, but that’s not end of world. Comments on reference materials: (1) 1000 series are excellent resource. But you should know the logic behind considering or rejecting an answer choice. Working on 1000’s of question without a clear understanding won’t help. (2) Kaplan’s test: Quant is too simple to be merited for >Q45 range. Verbal is good. Scoring algorithm is way far from realty. Third Attempt: Jan 26, 2009 ,Score: 710 (Q50, V35), GMATPrep scores: 720,720 References: OG10, OG11, Manhattan SC, Kaplan 800, PowerPrep CR,TestMagic forums Preparation duration: 2 months, 2 hrs/day, Saturday (Test +evaluation, 21/2 hrs+4 hrs), Sunday revision (2 hrs) I was completely shattered because of my second attempt’s result . I didn’t know what to do. From somewhere I got hold of “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, the novel motivated me for another try. Anyway under that situation, I didn’t have anything to loose. So after remaining in dilemma for three months, I decided to give another shot. This time I wanted a different approach. I went through the success stories of other people on TestMagic forum and jotted down the invariably common things among those. (1) OG10, OG11 (2) Manhattan SC guide (3) GMAT prep (4) Keep your nerve cool during the exam OG gives wonderful explanations on why a choice is wrong or right. Earlier I used to focus only on correct choice, but this time I gave equal attention to the explanation of wrong choices. Along with OGs and other materials, I participated in TestMagic question forums. I used to check the question, solve it and submit explanation, before scrolling and checking other people’s explanation. This really helped me as I learned from my mistakes and shortcuts given by other people. guys such as Effective_factor, genius, bear & bull, Makumajon provide good explanations and witty shortcuts. No need to mention Erin and bob are gods of the TestMagic forum. I am thankful to these guys. Test Experience: (1) Got easy topics in AWA, wrote 4-5 indented paragraphs, deliberately added heavy words such as jeopardy, juxtaposition etc :D.. (2) Quant: Till Q10 it was an easy cake after that ETS started throwing bouncers, got few probability questions, I got bowled on one or two of those, just made a guess and moved, finished the section 1 min before time. (3) Verbal: Till Q8, all went fine, then ETS threw a RC passage, which was directly from queen’s palace. I took 10-12 mins to solve it, there started my pitfall. Anyway I gathered my concentration and moved forward, got a bold face CR, some strengthen or weaken CRs(normal), a long passage and two average (3 paras), SCs of OG10 standard. This is all about my GMAT journey…. all the best!

Salt deposits and moisture threaten to destroy the Mohenjo-Daro excavation in Pakistan, the site of an ancient civilization that flourished at the same time as the civilizations in the Nile delta and the river valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates. (A) that flourished at the same time as the civilizations (B) that had flourished at the same time as had the civilizations © that flourished at the same time those had (D) flourishing at the same time as those did (E) flourishing at the same time as those were OA is A,I agree A is the best choice, but shouldn't it be with "as did the civilizations" ?..Plz help

Although she had signed a pledge of abstinence while being an adolescent. Frances Willard was 35 years old before she chose to become a temperance activist. (A) while being an adolescent (B) while in adolescence © at the time of her being adolescent (D) as being in adolescence (E) as an adolescent OA is E...I am not so convinced with the explanation,whats wrong with B?

While Jackie Robinson was a Brooklyn Dodger, his courage in the face of physical threats and verbal attacks was not unlike that of Rosa Parks, who refused to move to the back of a bus in Montgomery,Alabama. (A) not unlike that of Rosa Parks, who refused (B) not unlike Rosa Parks, who refused © like (Rosa Parks and her refusal (D) like that of Rosa Parks for refusing (E) as that of Rosa Parks, who refused I selected E over A ,because action(his courage....) is compared...but OA is A...lets discuss

..C a) if x>1 x+1=2x-2 x=3...N If -1 x+1=2-2x x=1/3...Y If x -1-x=2x-2 1=3x x=1/3...wrong ....Insuff b) It disqualifies x=3 option...Insuff a&b together only solution is x=1/3 which is (-1,1)..so suff

..B a) b(2/3-2b)>0 sol:b>0...Its anyway true as qstn says a and b are positive b b)a+b>1 means ab/a+b

e)436 amount available=48 million-48/16million=45 million after 88th purchase amount left=45 million -8.8 million= 36.2 million cost of house after 88th purchase=104,000 ->number of house that can be purchased after 88th purchase=36.2 million/104,000 ~348 total purchase=348+88=436

..A.. I am not sure ...D is passive,E is wordy,B has verb problem(the need for experts......become) b/w A and C ..I went for A

2nd qstn: series S1 is 2,3,5,10,20,40,80........ the 21th term of GP 10,20,40,80 is 24th term of S1 and 17th term of GP is 20th term of S1 ->S1(24)-S1(20)=2^16 * 10 *15

A.Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,…Correct B.Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, they cost less,...”compared” incorrectly modifies passengers, no clear referent for ”they” C.Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, in comparison with most sport utility vehicles, and have a lower cost, they … no clear referent for ”they”, Incorrect idiom “in comparison with” D.Minivans, carrying as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,… ...”compared” incorrectly modifies passengers E.Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles the cost is lower, and they…,...”compared” incorrectly modifies passengers, no clear referent for ”they”

...B use of participle "allowing" would have been better but the only option (D) has ||sm error "expected to increase...then stabilizing" B keeps the two parts( The yield of natural ...... , an extraction rate) in independent clauses ...looks ok

...B "fewer" and "many" are ok for count noun

Stumped!!! I selected A... your expl is quite convincing thanks