No time for studies...

Contrary to what I had expected, I am not really getting any quality time for studies. Hope I will be able to recover the lost time and be able to increase my score.

Talking to people around, I got to know that Kaplan is really not something that will motivate me with a higher score. Rather I will have to take up whatever Kaplan throws at me with a pinch of salt. It has been evaluated even on GMAT Club as a tough test. Now what remains is just me slogging hard for the test. Hope I am able to do it.

At the same time, I am enjoying a good break at home. Will be surely fresh to resume my studies in the last 4 weeks of GMAT Prep.

30 days to go...

GMAT Prep 3

After reviewing the GMAT Prep 3, I have realized that the main reason for my stagnant score is lack of consistent practice. I have not been able to work on GMAT in a dedicated manner. This has led in gaps in preparation and consequently, inability to discover the ways in which problems should be solved. This reflected in consuming too much time in Quant, leaving me with only 1 minute per question during the last 10 questions. I got 6 questions wrong in the last 10.

1. Quant: Need to brush the basics again. Realized a lot of silly mistakes that could have been avoided.

2. Verbal: Need to focus on CR. SC has improved considerably, but CR is still weak.

Also bought Kaplan Premier yesterday. This gives me another 6 tests to practice in the coming month. Will give my best in the days to come.

32 days to go....

Off to India!

I have another 4 hours before I start my final packing for the flight to India.
I will be there for about 10 days on vacation, and look forward to recharging my emotional and mental energies. There is so much to do for my GMAT, and I would love to give a GMAT prep in India where I can get a 700+ score. Will work on that.

My verbal looks in quite a good shape and what is bothering me is the drop in Quant from 42 to 39. In fact, I just need to get 5 correct answers each to hit 720 (Q44 V44). I know this will be a tough task, but I believe I should be able to achieve this much at least before I take the actual GMAT.

Will work my a** out in the coming days!

35 days to go....

On your marks...

The third GMAT Prep got me back to 640. This was a great relief, especially after the debacle a couple of weeks back. I was scared the score would fall further, but to my relief, I could see another 640 with Q39 and V39. That was my level before I really got wayward, but now I can't afford losing focus or even being complacent. The plan is to take more exams in coming weeks and make sure that I get to my targeted score. What I need to do now is to revisit the basics. Will start revision from tomorrow itself.

On the whole, the takeaways were as follows:
1. Time management: I need to be better prepared with the Quant section as my time management cost me a couple of questions. This should not be the case in future exams.
2. Improvement in Verbal: Verbal jumped up 2 points, although some questions repeated. I am happy that I kept up the good work of getting all RC correct, and improved Verbal score. The ideal will be V44 or 46, and for that I really need to take efforts.
3. Quant weakness: I was able to see a couple of Quant questions on coordinate geometry and probability, though didn't get any question on combinatorics. I think I started well, but then let go of the edge. Will work on improving Quant over the next 30 days.

So that is all for now. I just know that I have to put in lots of efforts to get 700 or 720 even. Will work towards 750, and try to get it though!

37 days to go...

Continuing the good work...

I slept late last night, but was still able to squeeze and hour of study today. Revised coordinate geometry and I guess I will need to continue revising it till I get the concepts strongly rooted in my system.

Will take another couple of GMAT Prep tests in the coming week, so that I don't lose focus even if I am in India. I think this is the best way to keep myself on my toes, especially when time is running out.

Most of all concepts have been dealt with, and now what remains is just practice under test environment. Way to go!

38 days to go... 

Back to normal!

I should say by far the last couple of days were most productive out of the last 3 weeks. I have been able to concentrate better and it seems that I am now finally on my way. The last leg of preparation has started as I was able to run through the PS section of the OG at brisk pace. Was able to do as many as 35 sums yesterday and another 20 today, and am planning to take another GMAT Prep test tomorrow.

Balance Sheet for today:

1. Quant: Reviewed PS and will go for DS tomorrow. Am focusing now on the last 50 difficult questions only. Have to specifically look into good old concepts of Coordinate Geometry, Combinatorics and Probability. Also need to touch Mixtures, Inequalities and Rate problems...

2. Verbal: Need to refresh CR and SC. RC has been smooth all the while.

Will take another GMAT Prep before I head to India. Once in India, will purchase Kaplan tests just to make sure I have enough Tests under my belt before the real GMAT.

38 days to go....

Painful climb back!

Well, I am happy. Did 20 PS sums today. Did not really work on any verbal section, but at least the ball has started rolling. Will surely claw my way back.

That's it for now. Cheers!

Erratic schedule is doing me in!

Yeah I know the blog now seems to be a bunch of posts by a frustrated man!
Sorry for this but i think I should let out my frustration here and also reprimand myself. No study over the weekend, except review of my GMAT Prep last week.

1. Quant: Did silly mistakes. Also did not read the questions properly. I think most of my issues lie in basic prep strategy. Should make sure I do the last 50 problems in PS and DS from OG. Also have to do the tests on GMAT Club.

2. Verbal: Took a setback in CR. Got no wrong questions in RC. Did some basic mistakes in SC, again because i did not read the questions properly.

I need to start afresh now, as this is the only time I get to prepare. From now on, it will be more of exams!

45 days to go!!!

Back to the basics!

After reviewing my GMAT Prep 2, I have realized that I am still not good at the basic number properties. Blame it to the laziness that crept in, or the lack of focus, I should say I really squandered the opportunity. Now, I need to focus on Number properties and basics of problem solving.

Will take up the MGMAT guides once again from tomorrow and focus real hard. The biggest concern is that I was not able to do anything over the last week and things are getting worse day by day. My confidence is low, and I am not getting any time to study, pushing it further below.

Hope I am able to come out of this vicious circle. Till then, need to focus hard and get good sleep.

Will sleep as it is already 11 now and need to leave home tomorrow at 7 a.m.

Weekend needs to be really full of studies!!!

47 days to go...

Real low in GMAT Prep

Suddenly I seem to have no time at all. The weekdays are so hectic, I am not able to take out any time. And weekends are even worse.

I should really rethink my strategy of preparing for GMAT. Hopefully, the holidays from August 17 to 28 make some difference.

Really need to get my act together!

So many things are going through my mind. I am just trying to find the root cause and can see I am not doing a single right thing. Not sleeping on time, not writing the blog, not reflecting on what I need to do throughout the day and so on. Just crazy!

Will sleep now and get up early tomorrow. Hopefully I can study for an hour.

50 days to go...