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10 Jan 2007, 16:19
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I thought I'd document my GMAT experience for others to read. Hopefully it will be helpful to somebody that is struggling with the exam as I did.
I wrote the GMAT in Feb/05 and scored an embarassing 570 (Q36 V31). Although I did a lot of preparation I really was not prepared in the way you need to be to do well on the exam and I knew it. After the exam I took notes as to where I believed I could improve on the exam and took a long 18 month break from GMAT stuff.
I decided to begin preparing for the exam once in October/06. This time around I was much more focused on preparing in the correct way.
I purchased the Kaplan GMAT Classroom Course (1200$). After my initial failure at the test I looked at areas to improve on my GMAT weaknesses and I believed the Kaplan course offered the tools to strenthen my test taking.
There is a fair degree of Kaplan bashing in this forum but I must say I am very pleased with the Kaplan Product I purchased. In particular the 8 CAT's and the GMAT quiz bank that are a part of the course were very useful for me.
On a daily basis over a three month period I would do mini-quizzes of 16 questions (always timed, always on the computer, using laminated scratch paper and a felt pen) from the quiz bank - perhaps 2 or 3 quizzes per day. After the quizzes I would review my (sometimes) dismal performance and try to learn from my mistakes both in lack of knowledge of material and my strategy for tackling different questions. After a series of quizzes I would write a CAT after I felt my testing skills had been strengthened.
My practice scores were as follows (actual GMAT 700 Q47 V39)
Kaplan GMAT CAT #1 580 Q37 V30
Kaplan GMAT CAT #2 610 Q40 V33
Kaplan GMAT CAT #3 610 Q41 V30
Kaplan GMAT CAT #4 590 Q38 V30
Power Prep #1 680 Q42 V37
Kaplan GMAT CAT #5 660 Q44 V37
Kaplan GMAT CAT #6 690 Q49 V34
Kaplan GMAT CAT #7 710 Q42 V55
Kaplan GMAT CAT #8 700 Q41 V53
Power Prep #2 700 Q48 V38
I followed this approach of quizzing - reviewing - and CAT'ing up until test day always simulating testing conditions as much as possible. Writing the Kaplan 8 CAT's (one of them at the Pearson Vue test center) in addition to the two Power Prep CAT's I believe really, really galvanized my test taking abilities.
I did not find the Kaplan classroom sessions (I only attended three of them) or the learning material (books and online tutorials) particulary useful. In fact if you are intending to purchase the Kaplan program for this I would advise AGAINST it - that would be a waste of money as the material provided is strictly average with one exception: the little blue book titled GMAT Pocket Reference. Provided by Kaplan as part of the materials for the course this little reference book was very useful for me. I found myself reffereing to this book many, many times throughout my preparation (especially for polishing my grammar skills).
So that's it. 570 to 700. I did it and so can you.
Believe me there was a time when I thought I'd never score above 600 on the exam and I used to be baffled by people who were dissapointed by a 700 score (I thought it to be so unattainable for me) I now understand this feeling. I am certain if I put further effort into preparation I could do 730+.
Although I am very pleased with a 700 I remain a bit disspointed with my V39 - I really, really wanted to score a 40+ in the V section (it was my personal vendetta with the exam) I almost want to take the test again to kick some verbal ass....but I won't....
The GMAT is a done dealio for me. Time to move on.
I wrote the GMAT in Feb/05 and scored an embarassing 570 (Q36 V31). Although I did a lot of preparation I really was not prepared in the way you need to be to do well on the exam and I knew it. After the exam I took notes as to where I believed I could improve on the exam and took a long 18 month break from GMAT stuff.
I decided to begin preparing for the exam once in October/06. This time around I was much more focused on preparing in the correct way.
I purchased the Kaplan GMAT Classroom Course (1200$). After my initial failure at the test I looked at areas to improve on my GMAT weaknesses and I believed the Kaplan course offered the tools to strenthen my test taking.
There is a fair degree of Kaplan bashing in this forum but I must say I am very pleased with the Kaplan Product I purchased. In particular the 8 CAT's and the GMAT quiz bank that are a part of the course were very useful for me.
On a daily basis over a three month period I would do mini-quizzes of 16 questions (always timed, always on the computer, using laminated scratch paper and a felt pen) from the quiz bank - perhaps 2 or 3 quizzes per day. After the quizzes I would review my (sometimes) dismal performance and try to learn from my mistakes both in lack of knowledge of material and my strategy for tackling different questions. After a series of quizzes I would write a CAT after I felt my testing skills had been strengthened.
My practice scores were as follows (actual GMAT 700 Q47 V39)
Kaplan GMAT CAT #1 580 Q37 V30
Kaplan GMAT CAT #2 610 Q40 V33
Kaplan GMAT CAT #3 610 Q41 V30
Kaplan GMAT CAT #4 590 Q38 V30
Power Prep #1 680 Q42 V37
Kaplan GMAT CAT #5 660 Q44 V37
Kaplan GMAT CAT #6 690 Q49 V34
Kaplan GMAT CAT #7 710 Q42 V55
Kaplan GMAT CAT #8 700 Q41 V53
Power Prep #2 700 Q48 V38
I followed this approach of quizzing - reviewing - and CAT'ing up until test day always simulating testing conditions as much as possible. Writing the Kaplan 8 CAT's (one of them at the Pearson Vue test center) in addition to the two Power Prep CAT's I believe really, really galvanized my test taking abilities.
I did not find the Kaplan classroom sessions (I only attended three of them) or the learning material (books and online tutorials) particulary useful. In fact if you are intending to purchase the Kaplan program for this I would advise AGAINST it - that would be a waste of money as the material provided is strictly average with one exception: the little blue book titled GMAT Pocket Reference. Provided by Kaplan as part of the materials for the course this little reference book was very useful for me. I found myself reffereing to this book many, many times throughout my preparation (especially for polishing my grammar skills).
So that's it. 570 to 700. I did it and so can you.
Believe me there was a time when I thought I'd never score above 600 on the exam and I used to be baffled by people who were dissapointed by a 700 score (I thought it to be so unattainable for me) I now understand this feeling. I am certain if I put further effort into preparation I could do 730+.
Although I am very pleased with a 700 I remain a bit disspointed with my V39 - I really, really wanted to score a 40+ in the V section (it was my personal vendetta with the exam) I almost want to take the test again to kick some verbal ass....but I won't....
The GMAT is a done dealio for me. Time to move on.
