Getting there, but not quite

I took GMAT Prep 1 CAT:
Q29
V31
Total: 510

I mean its a big jump from 460 but the only tests I took before that were Manhattan GMAT CATs.
I'm reading all over the beat the GMAT forum that GMAT Prep is a good indicator on how you will do on the real thing. It's great that I squeaked into the 500s, but I don't have enough time before the actual test to bring it up much higher.

I've already taken the day off work to take the test and I've invested a lot of time and money into it, I may as well still go. It's possible that I can improve another 10-20 points as I learn more and more math concepts, but it it safe to say I should score in the low 500s.

My prep class starts in a month and lasts through the end of September. I should probably take the GMAT again in November and just plan on applying for Fall 2012. It's still a little too early to decide. I'll make that decision after I take the real test.

I try not to focus on the negatives. I work 7 days a week and that is what it is. I have to accept it will take me longer to get a good score because of my work schedule. I will do better!

POSITIVITY!!!!

Kind of Progress.

This time i finished the test even faster. :-X
I had almost 30 minutes left in quant and 20 min in verbal.
I had a similar score
28 Quant 24%
26 Verbal 44%
Total Score 460 26%

I went down in Verbal but I went up in Quant.

I honestly didn't get to study as hard as I had hoped last week. It's so hard working two jobs, going to a math class and fitting studying on top of it. My brain is mush. I have less than a month til G-Day. I don;t have class next Saturday and the week after that is the final exam. My GMAT is two weeks after that.

I need to focus more and make myself dedicate two hours a day to studying. I wish I could afford to have only one job. I could do CATs on the weekend.
I can't wish. I have to work with the time I have available.
Right now dinner is cooking. After I eat I will go through the Critical Reasoning Bible.


I was reading the Critical Reasoning bible during my lunch break at my TV job and one of the people from corporate said to me, "oh are you studying to be a minister?" I told her I was going to take the GMAT and hopefully go to business school. She told me how she went to a catholic school but she didn't have to take any bible classes. I tried explaining that critical reasoning was also on the LSAT, but it was useless. Maybe I am smart? lol

Time for chicken! Yum!

I couldn't do it.

I woke up at 5:45a to eat breakfast.
About ten minutes into my first essay my mind just starts wandering.
I'm too tired. This is going to be a waste of a practice test.

Instead I went back to sleep and I am working on my homework for Saturday's math class.
I'm going to do the practice test tomorrow after work. I should be home by 4p and awake enough to focus on what I am doing.

I know its recommended to take the practice test the same time as your real test.
My real test is at 11:30a and with my work schedule it is impossible.I either work at noon at one job or 7a at the other job. Wah Wah.

I have no life anyway so what does it matter if I dedicate my Friday night to a practice test?

Oh the hilarity

I took my first Practice CAT. I used Manhattan GMAT because they give you a free one. Other sites have free ones too I just picked this one today.
I scored a hilarious 460 27 Quantitative (20%) and 27 Verbal (46%).

What was great about Manhattan GMAT's practice CAT is they give you a detailed excel sheet with the level question, if you got it right or wrong, what it tested you on and how long you took on each question. Most of the questions I spent less than a minute on I got wron. The ones I spent 1:30 or more on I got right.

I finished the Quant section with over 7 minutes to spare and the Verbal section with 23 minutes to spare. I guess I need to slow down! I recall doing he same thing when I took the GRE six years ago and got abysmal scores. Yet I still got into grad school, ha ha.



I think I should buy the Manhattan GMAT Word Translations book because I had a lot of problems just interpreting what the problem solving question was asking.

There were a couple questions I had no idea how to do, like finding a standard deviation, and finding the area of a circle. I'm sure I learned how to find the area of a circle at point, but I have NEVER done a standard deviation. I wonder if I should take another math class this summer? What would standard deviation fall under?

I have been focusing primarily on relearning math basics. I have done a few questions from the OG Quant Book and whatever questions in the trial class.

I didn't familiarize myself with too much of the verbal so I was surprised when I saw bold faced and complete the conclusion Critical Reasoning questions.

This experience is a good diagnostic test and i know what I need to work on. I may reschedule my test date. We shall see.