Heave Ho...

The final leg of the GMAT journey has begun. Whether it will culminate in joy or another month in anticipation, time can only tell. In short, May 27th is the date...

--Maktub

Another week.....Another test(s)

I attended the free practice test at Kaplan's Cincinnati test center.Felt pretty much out of place as I was the only person to administer the test and it was a paper based test. To add, few of the questions were familiar. Yet, I stuck on and completed the test only to see a 690 (Q 45, V 40). I wonder if the scoring algorithm of Kaplan is skewed. I commited 3 mistakes in math and got a 45 while 7 mistakes in verbal gave me a 40.

My doubts about the scoring algorithm heightened when I gave the GMAT Prep Test-1 this morning. Having the real test at 8 AM, I want to get as much practice as possible during this time period. I took the AWA sections as well as my biggest fear is not lasting the complete length of the exam. It felt good to see a 740 (Q 50, V 40) but, I felt criminal on getting 7 incorrect in math and 11 in verbal. 7 mistakes and still a 50 in math ?? My stars must be perfectly aligned to make this possible... or may be it isn't the stars. Any answers blogosphere ?

I then decided to leave the scoring algorithm to the rightful people and sit down and do my job.....the "G" day ain't too far away!

One week later...

No improvement! Took Power Prep test 2 today 710 (Q 50, V 37).

I have decided that I will redo the OG and analyze each and every option (yes, the wrong ones and the right ones too..). It makes sense to get into the mind of the test makers to see why something is right or wrong. But, the explanations....the verb, the participle and the subject and all.... confuses me. I go by the " sound ", and have varied results . My attempts to master the nuances of grammar are horror stories. I've got more wrong than right, while trying to go by the "rule". I guess I must learn to accept it... I'm better off going by the "sound". May be its in my blood now..... I don't want the syntax anymore... just the semantics. I guess you must have understood by now, that I'm another one in "your" league - IT, Indian Male : )

I must get better at...

1. Reading the complete option (I tend to skip half the line...).

2. "Completely" reading all the options. (My heart tends to lean on the first optio which seems right)

3. Reading the question stem just once (Or may be twice... I just seem to waste too much time re-reading it.)

I don't seem to be having too much trouble parrying the quant questions. I'm in a doubt, whether to stop quant practice and focus totally on verbal, or to do both. Personally, I don't have much enthu in doing the math as I feel I need to buck up my verbal prowess.

Primal Fear....

It's been awfully long since I've studied anything and the biggest challenge seems to be concentration. I thought I was pretty good at it till sleep hit me as soon as 15 - 20 minutes are done. That's when I divert into a phone call or hit the bed.... In all the practice tests, I was eager to get to the verbal section (as I want to assess myself in this area) and that's when I hear that inner voice to get it over with, to get up, so much that it makes you believe that the first answer you think is correct....

gosh...I'm being a victim !

Practice Tests ++

I've figured that the best way to prepare is to give as many practice tests as you can. So far I've given 2 more practice tests...

1. Kaplan Free GMAT Test online

Q42 V 39

650 AGAIN !!!

2. PowerPrep (ETS times..)

Q49 V37

710 : )

I love the number 7.... but Verbal literally knocked my block off... I panicked and re-read and re-read...

I will just do what Dori in Finding Nemo says...just keep swimming...just keep swimming...

Kaplan Practice TEST 1

Quant : 42
Verbal: 39

Projected Score: 650

Sheesh...too bad. One word to say...practice more (those were two words ; ))

Generally....

Life has not been easy and never so much fun....... I did a calculated move to join the small organization that I'm currently in. It's been 3 years since I graduated and looking back, I've done all odd stuff in the story thus far...but it's been a great learning and a pain working...I'm in this exciting role where I get to run the show and be a part of it but the responsibility is darn too much.

Its amazing how metrics can let you down though you personally know you have worked more than your fair share. In the end, you start believing the metrics as well....may be you did a good job individually but, it matters only when it makes a difference to the metrics...like people in my organization say.... we'll get there...slowly but, surely !

Will I ....will I not ?

I've taken an apartment, furniture, books.... I've had enough of this fuss....I'm yet to start my GMAT prep on a solid note. I hate myself when I link subordinate possessions to help in my GMAT prep, it only diverts my attention to another temptation...sigh !

So it begins.....

May 27th.... tick tock ...tick tock....