April 3rd and april 4th
Well, if everything went as per plan then the title would have been just April 3rd. Alas, there were enough confusion to distract me from my GMAT exam.
I took leave the whole week. This was my plan starting from Saturday.
Sat - Complete OG
Sun - GMAT Test Series 3, GMAT Test Series 4
Mon - Kaplan book test, Power prep 1
Tue - Power prep 2, GMAT prep 1
Wed - GMAT prep 2
Thurs - Exam
One test in the morning and another in the after noon.I was trying to simulate the exact test environment. So, all my afternoon tests would start 1:15pm. GMAT test series was giving me low scores. More importantly their explanations were not good. So, i decided to skip GMAT test series.
Kaplan book test
This gave me the required boost in confidence. The concentration was super intact. I cracked most of the questions.
Power prep 1
I got 660. This was the first time i took a full length test in the PC. The result was obviously discouraging. Mainly because of two reasons.
1. Power prep usually has questions taken from OG which means that you have seen most of the questions already.
2. My fear of GMAT mainly stems from the level of concentration needed for almost 4 hr long test. This test being the first full length test was raising questions - will i be able to hold the forte for 4 hrs.
Monday taught me another lesson. Two tests a day is little too much of an ask. So, plan changed to
Tue - GMAT prep 1
Wed - GMAT prep 2
Thurs - Exam
GMAT prep 1
720. M49 V38. Pretty good. Obviously getting a score of 720 in GMAC's software is truly encouraging. Unfortunately it threw me off-balance through out the test. Maths was tough and Verbal was easy going. This questioned what i have been thinking about myself. As test progressed, maths section was getting tougher and tougher. I was not able to really solve most of the problems quickly. First time, i was left just 5-10 mins. Usually i finish with 20 mins to spare. Verbal experience was a confidence booster. I just attacked the section. I got 10 of the last 11 questions wrong. I was excited of getting difficult questions correct.
GMAT prep 2
Almost all the books and persons who took the test recommended one thing. Don't touch GMAT related thing on the last day before the exam. But, i was taking the practice test in the afternoon before the D-day. 730 M50 V38. Again Maths was tough. Verbal was good. This time incorrect answers were spread throughout the verbal section.
April 3rd
Man! i was tensed or what? My heart was pumping like anything. I just didn't know what to do. I decided to sleep in the morning so that i would remain fresh in the afternoon. But sleep wouldn't come. I was really not happy with the situation. I remained cool in the most daunting of situations in the past. I have taken life defining tests already. Not a single instance i could think where i was tensed.
While i was uneasily whiling away the time, a bolt came out of the blue sky.
Tring Tring..Is it Ram?
Yes.
Ram, we have a technical problem in the test center. Power supply is cut through out Nungambakam.
Ok.
Even the first batch didn't write their exam. So, your test is postponed. I would inform you i when you should report to the test center. Bye
Bye.
What the fuck? They charge 250$ for the tests. They don't have a generator? Oh my dear, i was tensed even when knowing the exam timing. After the call, it was became worse.
Tring Tring...Is it Ram?
(yeah the same unlucky guy) Yes
This is preity.
(Who preity zintha?) Tell me preity.
Ram it looks like you won't be writing your exam today. When shall i schedule your exam tomorrow?
What are the slots available?
3:15pm is available. I can try 9am as well if the candidates did't turn out.
No thanks. I don't want any surprises. So..preity don't i need any confirmation papers. are you going to send any mails?
No ram. Just your passport would do. So its 3:15.
Yes. Bye
Bye
April 4th
From morning i started seeing the "Hogenekkal issue". I have this bad quality. If i see any social issues. I would start arguing inside my mind. Imagine myself as some political person giving interview in some channel. I was afraid whether this would disturb my performance.
Test
Formalities were easy. If it was just another day, the fact that preity looked like nadia would have caught my attention. There was one big guy with beard taking the exam along with me. There were already 1 middle-aged woman, 1 young lady and 1 nerd looking guy taking exams. I was not sure if it was gmat or some other tests.
Analysis of issue
I don't remember the topic. Some dummy topic about changing food habits. I quickly wrote intro and finishing para. As planned earlier, i wrote one para "for" the topic and 3 para against the topic. I had good 5 mins for review.
Analysis of argument
This threw me off balance. I was used to opposing the arguments saying "the argument lacks evidences", "argument misses the premise" etc. "Computers are improving the life standards and not destroying". Oh my goodness it is difficult to oppose such an obvious argument. Hence first time i was going to support the argument. Supporting computers were not a difficult task at all. Most of the points were about internet. I realised this and started correcting it since i had some 10 mins for review.
I took the break given. Went to rest room. Drank half of the glucose water i brought.
Maths
Last two test experience was bothering me. I was determined to alter that. Section went well. I didn't have to rush. I had 10-15 minutes to spare for last few questions. It went ok. It was not great performance but i was sure the score won't give any bad surprise.
Again i took the break given. Drank the remaining glucose water. A mistake i would regret later.
Verbal
I was very confident at the start. This is my day and this is my section which became favourite the last two days. After 5 to 6 questions, i was not sure if i was answering correctly. Going by other test taker's and my own experince, if one is doing the section well, one would get RC soon. I got my first RC only after 10 questions. This doubt destroyed my confidence. Suddenly i was worried about the failure. It is easier to say "GMAT is not a reflection of your ability" but it is difficult to mean it. I began to cry inside. Everything seemed to crumble. Meanwhile the clock was ticking doing its duty properly. I took a deep breath, patted myself. I started taking few questions without being conscious. After 2 such questions, again the spirit soared. I did a RC pretty good. From then on, i enjoyed the test not bothering about the test. I faced another difficulty - my bladder was fully by now. Somehow i managed it well.
Survey
The most annoying part of the test. I didn't complete it. It got timed out. Ah! what a relief.
Score
Those few moments of wait are the most testing. I closed and opened my eyes repeatedly. After some time, i got bored. AH! Damn it show the score - I am not afraid.
730 M50 V 38
Certainly i could have done better. But then, the way i made a comeback in the verbal section - I am proud of myself.
If this was a story book, i would like the author to end it like this.
And he lived happily everafter.
I took leave the whole week. This was my plan starting from Saturday.
Sat - Complete OG
Sun - GMAT Test Series 3, GMAT Test Series 4
Mon - Kaplan book test, Power prep 1
Tue - Power prep 2, GMAT prep 1
Wed - GMAT prep 2
Thurs - Exam
One test in the morning and another in the after noon.I was trying to simulate the exact test environment. So, all my afternoon tests would start 1:15pm. GMAT test series was giving me low scores. More importantly their explanations were not good. So, i decided to skip GMAT test series.
Kaplan book test
This gave me the required boost in confidence. The concentration was super intact. I cracked most of the questions.
Power prep 1
I got 660. This was the first time i took a full length test in the PC. The result was obviously discouraging. Mainly because of two reasons.
1. Power prep usually has questions taken from OG which means that you have seen most of the questions already.
2. My fear of GMAT mainly stems from the level of concentration needed for almost 4 hr long test. This test being the first full length test was raising questions - will i be able to hold the forte for 4 hrs.
Monday taught me another lesson. Two tests a day is little too much of an ask. So, plan changed to
Tue - GMAT prep 1
Wed - GMAT prep 2
Thurs - Exam
GMAT prep 1
720. M49 V38. Pretty good. Obviously getting a score of 720 in GMAC's software is truly encouraging. Unfortunately it threw me off-balance through out the test. Maths was tough and Verbal was easy going. This questioned what i have been thinking about myself. As test progressed, maths section was getting tougher and tougher. I was not able to really solve most of the problems quickly. First time, i was left just 5-10 mins. Usually i finish with 20 mins to spare. Verbal experience was a confidence booster. I just attacked the section. I got 10 of the last 11 questions wrong. I was excited of getting difficult questions correct.
GMAT prep 2
Almost all the books and persons who took the test recommended one thing. Don't touch GMAT related thing on the last day before the exam. But, i was taking the practice test in the afternoon before the D-day. 730 M50 V38. Again Maths was tough. Verbal was good. This time incorrect answers were spread throughout the verbal section.
April 3rd
Man! i was tensed or what? My heart was pumping like anything. I just didn't know what to do. I decided to sleep in the morning so that i would remain fresh in the afternoon. But sleep wouldn't come. I was really not happy with the situation. I remained cool in the most daunting of situations in the past. I have taken life defining tests already. Not a single instance i could think where i was tensed.
While i was uneasily whiling away the time, a bolt came out of the blue sky.
Tring Tring..Is it Ram?
Yes.
Ram, we have a technical problem in the test center. Power supply is cut through out Nungambakam.
Ok.
Even the first batch didn't write their exam. So, your test is postponed. I would inform you i when you should report to the test center. Bye
Bye.
What the fuck? They charge 250$ for the tests. They don't have a generator? Oh my dear, i was tensed even when knowing the exam timing. After the call, it was became worse.
Tring Tring...Is it Ram?
(yeah the same unlucky guy) Yes
This is preity.
(Who preity zintha?) Tell me preity.
Ram it looks like you won't be writing your exam today. When shall i schedule your exam tomorrow?
What are the slots available?
3:15pm is available. I can try 9am as well if the candidates did't turn out.
No thanks. I don't want any surprises. So..preity don't i need any confirmation papers. are you going to send any mails?
No ram. Just your passport would do. So its 3:15.
Yes. Bye
Bye
April 4th
From morning i started seeing the "Hogenekkal issue". I have this bad quality. If i see any social issues. I would start arguing inside my mind. Imagine myself as some political person giving interview in some channel. I was afraid whether this would disturb my performance.
Test
Formalities were easy. If it was just another day, the fact that preity looked like nadia would have caught my attention. There was one big guy with beard taking the exam along with me. There were already 1 middle-aged woman, 1 young lady and 1 nerd looking guy taking exams. I was not sure if it was gmat or some other tests.
Analysis of issue
I don't remember the topic. Some dummy topic about changing food habits. I quickly wrote intro and finishing para. As planned earlier, i wrote one para "for" the topic and 3 para against the topic. I had good 5 mins for review.
Analysis of argument
This threw me off balance. I was used to opposing the arguments saying "the argument lacks evidences", "argument misses the premise" etc. "Computers are improving the life standards and not destroying". Oh my goodness it is difficult to oppose such an obvious argument. Hence first time i was going to support the argument. Supporting computers were not a difficult task at all. Most of the points were about internet. I realised this and started correcting it since i had some 10 mins for review.
I took the break given. Went to rest room. Drank half of the glucose water i brought.
Maths
Last two test experience was bothering me. I was determined to alter that. Section went well. I didn't have to rush. I had 10-15 minutes to spare for last few questions. It went ok. It was not great performance but i was sure the score won't give any bad surprise.
Again i took the break given. Drank the remaining glucose water. A mistake i would regret later.
Verbal
I was very confident at the start. This is my day and this is my section which became favourite the last two days. After 5 to 6 questions, i was not sure if i was answering correctly. Going by other test taker's and my own experince, if one is doing the section well, one would get RC soon. I got my first RC only after 10 questions. This doubt destroyed my confidence. Suddenly i was worried about the failure. It is easier to say "GMAT is not a reflection of your ability" but it is difficult to mean it. I began to cry inside. Everything seemed to crumble. Meanwhile the clock was ticking doing its duty properly. I took a deep breath, patted myself. I started taking few questions without being conscious. After 2 such questions, again the spirit soared. I did a RC pretty good. From then on, i enjoyed the test not bothering about the test. I faced another difficulty - my bladder was fully by now. Somehow i managed it well.
Survey
The most annoying part of the test. I didn't complete it. It got timed out. Ah! what a relief.
Score
Those few moments of wait are the most testing. I closed and opened my eyes repeatedly. After some time, i got bored. AH! Damn it show the score - I am not afraid.
730 M50 V 38
Certainly i could have done better. But then, the way i made a comeback in the verbal section - I am proud of myself.
If this was a story book, i would like the author to end it like this.
And he lived happily everafter.
posted by Ramkumar @ 7:10 PM
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