Well, after having tastes of two Kaplan tests and also after reading the experience of some stalwarts, I didn’t keep my target too high… Assuming a 700+ is almost impossible to touch in a Kaptest, I targeted 680-690 in my Kaptest 3..
Well that was not to be.. If GMAT gurus advise not to take Kaptests too close to ur G-day, it surely carries some meaning.. They can easily bring you down.. Remember the Times job Ad, where the employee’s inflated ego takes a beating after seeing his paycheck.. Similar thing happened to me after I saw my score in this test..
So.. the scores were:: M50 🙂 ,V36 🙁 ; overall 650.. :'(
Maths is going fine, it was a third 50 in as many Kaptests.. and that too for a silly silly mistake.. Out of 37, I got 1 incorrect. No idea how Kaplan scores.. Should getting just 30th Q wrong bring the score down to 50.. Even with 7 Qs wrong in my Kaptest #1, I got the same score… 😮 Good thing was that I finished with 11 minutes to spare.
Anyways it’s the Verbal that matters more to me…. Remembering my past scores, I started cautiously… Spending more time on each Q… And particularly RC that has been my nemesis for some time now… I made elaborte roadmaps for each passage and that did help in increasing my accuracy level to 60%. And I was more confident as I neared the last 10 Qs that I had done at least okayish this time.. But then I was left with hardly any time for the end Qs.. So had to rush towards the end…And that badly lowered my score..
I got 8 out of last 15 wrong and that included four wrongs in the last four Qs… 😐 Heard that GMAT punished you harshly for a series of wrong Qs.. Saw the evidence this time. 🙁
Take-aways from the test:
- Maths isn’t a problem… Just need to avoid the silly mistakes… And given that time too does not appear to be a problem.. I guess I can afford to double-check even the simple-appearing ones..
- Roadmap technique is working for RCs. But need to do that fast.. Else the accuracy gained in earlier Qs will be at the cost of Qs in the end.
- Avoid a series of wrong Qs… If I take a guess for one of the Qs, I need to be doubl cautious on the next
- No matter how much u know about the Kaptests being low scoring, they have this ability to take you down.. So will surely give my next Kaptest next weekend.. a safe 3-weeks distance from my G-day.
Very nice thought of posting ur process of preparation.Can u explain me wat roadmap technique means??How to use it 2 do well in RC??
Just went through the blog-posts.
Good going and all the best for the preparations. 🙂
There is no need to fret too much over Kaplan scores, the serial wrongs need to be taken care of, though.
Hope you do well on the actual G-day!
I too am taking the test in July..hope to see you around in apping process too.
Good luck!
Hi Richa
Thanks for the wishes.. And yes, I’ve already started looking beyond Kaplan scores..
You may kile to join 2 of the active GMAT groups:
http://groups.google.com/group/gmat_may2007
prachi_pareekh_gmat@yahoogroups.com..
@Chaitanya:
Roadmap technique is from Kaplan.. Do buy the book.. u wont regret it..