Hi All,
I took my GMAT Online on 3rd October 2020 and got my score today. I scored a 710.
TLDR: Take a diagnostic first, book an appointment the day you get +- 30% close to your target score in your mocks, and then keep preparing. Solve the OG with the Gmattimer and using the Gmat club error log(Available version wise). Each and every question you solve on forum or OG, should be timed and logged somewhere for future review.
There are two reasons why I am writing this post. First, to thank from the bottom of my heart, the entire club members who do a fantastic job simply by seeking help on the forum and posting their queries and solutions. I am truly amazed at the mere vastness of this forum.
Secondly, I want to seek help for the further course of action and get clarification of some of my doubts.
I think the best way to thank the club is by sharing one's own experience and highlight the takeaways from it. I had been preparing intermittently (with breaks and without 100% commitment) since last year April. I gave my first mock on May 19, 2019 for the purpose of diagnosis of my initial level and scored a 660. I knew I had to work on Verbal and not much on quants. I started preparing by solving questions posted on Gmat club. Gmat club questions were the primary source of my preparation because I was only studying during the free hours I got during office time. I was simply solving questions on gmatclub verbally and trying to memorize the tips and tricks through the solutions. All in all, it was a half hearted preparation I would say, for most part of 2019. One good thing I did was that I kept bookmarking important questions and concepts as I came across, for future reference. The preparation almost came to a halt at 2019 end and I restarted in May 2020 in the wake of lockdown. I finished the entire Powerscore CR Bible and Manhattan SC guide 8. I prepared notes from both these books for future revision. After a month of not-so-serious but average level study, I gave a mock of Princeton review and scored a 640. Then, due to some health issues, the preparation got hampered and I could not resume until Sep 20. I had booked my appointment for Oct in July itself. So, doing some serious study now was my last option if I had to attempt in Oct. I started revising my notes and solving OG questions. I used the error log sheet and gmat timer app while solving every OG question. I timed myself and targeted to solve every question in 1.5 mins and not more than 2.5 mins. I could complete full OG of the verbal part, and partially of the quant part. I gave 2 more mocks of Princeton review in the last week of Septmber and scored a 760 and a 720 in that order. Finally, took my attempt on 3rd and scored a 710.
Takeaways:
Help : I am targetting ISB, IIM A (executive MBA), NUS Singapore, UNSW, Australia and Rotman. I have not thought yet about the US B schools. Experts please guide if I should go ahead with the 710 score (CGPA is 9.6/10 in B.tech) with a work exp of 5 years in sales and marketing. Should i consider taking a re-take because I feel I can break the 730 mark this time. Please help.![]()
I took my GMAT Online on 3rd October 2020 and got my score today. I scored a 710.
TLDR: Take a diagnostic first, book an appointment the day you get +- 30% close to your target score in your mocks, and then keep preparing. Solve the OG with the Gmattimer and using the Gmat club error log(Available version wise). Each and every question you solve on forum or OG, should be timed and logged somewhere for future review.
There are two reasons why I am writing this post. First, to thank from the bottom of my heart, the entire club members who do a fantastic job simply by seeking help on the forum and posting their queries and solutions. I am truly amazed at the mere vastness of this forum.
Secondly, I want to seek help for the further course of action and get clarification of some of my doubts.
I think the best way to thank the club is by sharing one's own experience and highlight the takeaways from it. I had been preparing intermittently (with breaks and without 100% commitment) since last year April. I gave my first mock on May 19, 2019 for the purpose of diagnosis of my initial level and scored a 660. I knew I had to work on Verbal and not much on quants. I started preparing by solving questions posted on Gmat club. Gmat club questions were the primary source of my preparation because I was only studying during the free hours I got during office time. I was simply solving questions on gmatclub verbally and trying to memorize the tips and tricks through the solutions. All in all, it was a half hearted preparation I would say, for most part of 2019. One good thing I did was that I kept bookmarking important questions and concepts as I came across, for future reference. The preparation almost came to a halt at 2019 end and I restarted in May 2020 in the wake of lockdown. I finished the entire Powerscore CR Bible and Manhattan SC guide 8. I prepared notes from both these books for future revision. After a month of not-so-serious but average level study, I gave a mock of Princeton review and scored a 640. Then, due to some health issues, the preparation got hampered and I could not resume until Sep 20. I had booked my appointment for Oct in July itself. So, doing some serious study now was my last option if I had to attempt in Oct. I started revising my notes and solving OG questions. I used the error log sheet and gmat timer app while solving every OG question. I timed myself and targeted to solve every question in 1.5 mins and not more than 2.5 mins. I could complete full OG of the verbal part, and partially of the quant part. I gave 2 more mocks of Princeton review in the last week of Septmber and scored a 760 and a 720 in that order. Finally, took my attempt on 3rd and scored a 710.
Takeaways:
- Do not solve the OG tagged questions while solving/practising randomly from gmat club. Save them for the time when you committedly solve OG with timer and error log.
Develop a habit of giving a mock every week or at least every 2 weeks. Gmat is all about developing a stamina for sitting for 3 hrs and working at your best efficiency throughout.
Review each question of your mock, correct or incorrect and review why wrong options were wrong.
Make your own notes while you read any material during preparation. Do not convince yourself by saying that you would revise from the material directly whenever you need it. Trust me you wont feel like revising at all directly from the material.
Remember, for majority of the non-natives, its the verbal that is the game changer. Decide and prioritize accordingly.
Help : I am targetting ISB, IIM A (executive MBA), NUS Singapore, UNSW, Australia and Rotman. I have not thought yet about the US B schools. Experts please guide if I should go ahead with the 710 score (CGPA is 9.6/10 in B.tech) with a work exp of 5 years in sales and marketing. Should i consider taking a re-take because I feel I can break the 730 mark this time. Please help.