Sunday, July 15, 2007

GMAT PowerPrep 1 -- Missed the barrier again

As per my schedule i gave GMAT Powerprep 1 test on Sunday afternoon. So after doing a light breakfast i went to the library to give the test. I just took a coke can with me to drink it while taking the test.
As soon as i started the test, i found that the font of the test was not good and i was experiencing difficulty while reading things sometimes. I think the font size was bigger than usual and also the type of font didn't suit my eyes. I hope the actual GMAT doesn't have this kind of font.

Anyways, started with Quant and as usual it started with some DS questions initially. I was not confident while marking 1-2 questions in the first 10 but overall it seemed fine. I think took a good amount of time while doing the first 10 questions. Thus increased my speed after this. First 10 questions were coming increasing order of difficulty but after 11 there were some very easy questions, which made me wonder if i am doing the questions correctly. The difficulty level of questions again started increasing and i really encountered some good questions. Overall the maths section was of average difficulty level with some good questions. Due to my increased speed i finished the section 8 minutes earlier from the time limit.

While doing the maths section a couple came and sat beside me. They were constantly chatting even in the Quiet Area of the library which was very annoying. I decided to change seat when Quantitative section gets over but in the break i couldn't find any free seat with a slot to plug in my laptop. So just got back to my seat and started the Verbal section :(

Verbal started with first 4 questions of SC in which i was unsure about 1. Then came RS which was okay i think. And then on the 8th question cam bold faced CR, which gave me some confidence. After that at 11th question came my second RC which again was fine. Overall the section was good. I was struggling with speed in the middle but was able to catch up and finished the section with 2 minutes to spare.
As soon as i clicked on the results i was having a feeling that i have done good. And the result was:-

Overall --- 730 ( Quant - 49, V - 40)

Ohh god i screwed my Quant this time, how come, maybe i was very fast and i did some foolish mistakes, i cursed myself for this. Verbal score seemed to be fine.

But again i missed 750 barrier by miles. I have to figure outr how to break this barrier in coming few weeks. But my work schdule these days is so hectic that i only get time on weekends to study.

When i analyzed the test i found that it only showed only those questions which were counted for scoring, rest were ignored in the review which was kind of strange.

Quantitative- 28 questions
incorrect - 7, 19, 20, 25, 26 - Total 5 questions wrong

I think i messed up the score in the last questions , where my speed was high for without any reason. Also i don't think i did that many mistakes that the score should plummet to 49. Again messing up the last questions is the only thing i can think of right now.

Verbal - 30 questions only - 11 were ignored here it seems

incorrect - 4, 13, 16, 18, 20, 27 , 30 - Total 7 questions wrong.

It was again messy in the end. Also 4th question which a SC got wrong. I had a doubt in this one. During analysis i found out powerprep excluded one entire RC ( my third RC) from evaluation. Also one important analysis was that first 7 questions and last 8 questions were taking into account for scoring, so that means starting and ending questions are important.

Break up of mistakes in Verbal - SC- 2, CR - 3, RC - 1

Now i have to take the GMAT date. Planning to take it August end. I want some inputs from my fellow bloggers now, is 1 month enough now for my preparation. Will make a separate for this, analyzing my current levels of prep and things left to be done. Any suggestions are welcome...

12 comments:

kpmg said...

good going

looks like you have nothing to fear from the GMAT... :)

Deepthroat said...

Awesome Performance dude..... Try to break the 750 next time.... Am sure you can do that...... all the best and keep blogging.....

The ride is on....

Achilles said...

@wannabe

thanks

@Preet
Thanks dude for the wishes....yeah have to break that barrier somehow man...will have to figure that in next few weeks...

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, the font is the same on the GMATPrep as it is for the actual test.

Fortunately, you're doing great in your prep! Keep up the good work. Be careful of stretching your study process out too long and risking burnout.

Anonymous said...

Hi

730 is by no means a bad score (at all) though I know you are in an ultra competitive pool.

Main thing to get a clear idea on the endurance in the test is to spend the time doing essays for the AWA. An hours essay writing wears you down a little, and you may notice that it would lower your score. Not meaning to sound down on things, just that it is a common approach to skip the AWA in practice and it does make a difference.

Rainmaker said...

I think you were working with the Power prep software and not the new GMAT prep software. Download it from www.mba.com for free and take the test in that. Powerprep software has all the questions from OG10. The GMATprep software doesn't repeat the questions from OG and has all the new questions. The font size is also good in GMATprep. Also, regarding the questions not being taken for evaluation is the normal procedure that is followed but it doesnt show in GMATprep. GMATprep just shows you the final scores and shows all your mistakes. Moreover, to cross 750, you should do well in the Maths section and keep your cool during the Verbal section. ust try doing this and you will come out with flying colors.

righty said...

Hello dude...

Thanks for dropping by...
You are absolutely rocking with the GMAT preps... I was just going to ask you about the same but thought I will check your blog first...

This GMATPrep 1 is the one we gave together for the first in office, right? But there were all the questinos in the review section.. I found the same even when the second GMAT attempt... Strange... You sure you have the right GMAT Prep 1 or is it Powerprep 1?

And do scrap your number mate... I have lost all of em...

Take care and all the best!

-tvu said...

Any GMAT score 700+ is excellent. No need to pressure yourself for 750. You're going to rock the GMAT.

hslam said...

Hi, first of all congratulations to your good progress in GMAT. You are absolutely awesome.

I am also an applicant for 2008 and I just cracked the GMAT in June, breaking the 750 barrier so I hope I can share a bit of experience with you.

Your analysis is so detailed that I never imagined I could do something like that! However GMAT always "ignores" some questions when calculating your score but we never know which ones they are. So I don't buy the idea that some questions (e.g. the first 10) are more important than others. Also looking at your failure rate you really can't complain about it, it is unbelievably low!

I believe the best thing to do between now and test day is to review all errors, especially the section that you perform the worst, and to get familiar with CAT by doing many many GMATPrep.

Also remember that you take GMAT for b-school application, not for fun, but with your current standard any increase in GMAT score should NOT improve your profile anymore. You better shift your focus to essays, I can promise that you'll find the essays much harder than GMAT.

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