Working Pro’s GMAT Journey: 300 to 720
A Year of Full Quotas: The Bumpy Road from 300 to 720
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This is an extensive post. I’m not writing this for a scholarship (any I receive will be donated in full to educational NGOs). My hope is to inspire fellow test-takers who are still striving, or to prevent others from going down the same wrong paths and wasting time and money like I did. If this is helpful to even one person, I’ll feel that my time spent writing this was worthwhile. Thank you all.
Quick Guide
- Basic Information
- A Slightly Long Foreword
- Three Big Don’ts!! Doing These Means You’re Genuinely Donating to GMAC
- Tips for Each Section
- Should I Attend a Cram School or Self-Study?
- Pre-Battle Reminders
- Words for Different Types of Test-Takers
Basic Information
Test Scores:
- First Attempt ??? Cancelled (300s) 2020/1/20
- Second Attempt ??? Cancelled (500s) 2020/7/6
- Third Attempt ??? Cancelled (ESR: 610, Q50 V22 IR6) 2020/9/17
- Fourth Attempt 640 (Q50 V28 IR5 AWA3) 2020/10/12
- Fifth Attempt 720 (Q50 V36 IR5 AWA3) 2020/12/28
Academic Background: Graduated from National Taiwan University with a degree in Communications. Currently working abroad as a Taiwanese expatriate.
English Proficiency: Subjectively, I wouldn’t say my English is exceptional (there are too many English whizzes around me…). My peak was probably after high school and then it declined. Since graduating, I haven’t really studied English. For objective reference, I took IELTS in 2015 for a study abroad application and scored a 6.5 without preparation.
Preparation Time: July 2019 – December 2020. This is from when I started attending a cram school until my final test. It wasn’t continuous preparation for the entire 1.5 years; there were long periods where I didn’t touch GMAT due to various reasons. The more focused preparation was really in the latter half of 2020.
Preparation Materials: OG 2019 and 20, A2GMAT’s materials and resources for working professionals (2019), Dustin’s blog, Google, and A2GMAT’s JJ (Journey to the GMAT).
A Slightly Long Foreword
The GMAT is an exam that allows you to understand yourself better as you get to know the test. For me, it was probably the most frustrating exam I’ve ever taken. The factors influencing test results can be summarized by the following formula:
Fundamental Skills + Familiarity with Test Concepts + Preparation Quality + Mental Stability + Luck = Outcome
If you didn’t succeed in conquering the GMAT before your first attempt or on your first try, you can use this formula to assess where you might be falling short:
- Fundamental Skills: If you grew up or were educated in an English-speaking environment, you can skip this. What I mean here is that if you struggle with basic grammar and sentence structure, and have a limited vocabulary, it can be quite risky. It’s recommended to build a solid foundation before tackling this exam (at a university level). A2 mentioned in class that this exam isn’t about testing your vocabulary size. Therefore, I personally didn’t focus too much on expanding my vocabulary. However, you absolutely must know common high-frequency vocabulary and the words that frequently appear in OG questions! Otherwise, how can you even attempt the questions if you can’t understand them?
- Familiarity with Test Concepts: Simply put, this is your familiarity with the exam. You need to know the core of each question type and how the answer choices are typically constructed. For example, when you see LIKE/UNLIKE, you should immediately think about potential issues like (1) comparability, and (2) how to distinguish between them if AS is present in the options. The higher your familiarity, the more questions you can complete within the time limit, and your accuracy will also be higher.
- Preparation Quality: This is linked to familiarity. If your preparation quality is good, your familiarity with test concepts should also improve. Whether your preparation is good or bad depends on the time you invest in this exam and whether your methods are correct. If you’re like me in the early stages, studying for one day and then slacking off for a week, it’s guaranteed to be inefficient and meaningless. The best approach is to follow the teacher’s advice: spend time on each section daily, rather than focusing on one section at a time. Maintaining your test-taking “feel” is crucial. The correctness of your method is harder to judge. Some people self-study, and different schools of thought have different problem-solving approaches. In my later stages, I adjusted my approach after carefully reviewing the materials in A2’s section for repeat test-takers.
- Mental Stability: As someone who has taken the test 5 times, I think I’m qualified to speak about how important mental stability is. After a poor performance, you can choose to dwell in sadness and low spirits for a long time, or you can choose to face it proactively. Instead of spending time being upset, spend that time thinking about why you didn’t score well and then develop a plan to address those issues. If external commitments are overwhelming, bravely deal with them first. If you weren’t diligent and didn’t study, then study. If you can’t diagnose your own problems, seek consultation from the advisors. And if, after many attempts, you still don’t achieve your desired score, as A2 says, accept it gracefully. I believe that if you truly get to know yourself better during this process, or if you’ve truly given your best effort, all these experiences will become valuable nourishment for the future.
- Luck: There are two ways to enhance your luck: one is by purchasing JJ (likely referring to shared test experiences or question banks), and the other is by divine intervention. A2GMAT’s JJ compilation is quite good, and in my personal experience, the math section seemed to benefit more. Before the test, do more good deeds and pray to your deity for wishes. If you’re lucky, you might randomly guess correctly on test day (but don’t get this illusion unless you’re divinely chosen).
Three Big Don’ts!! Doing These Means You’re Genuinely Donating to GMAC
- Taking the test without preparation: If you have a lot of money and nowhere to spend it, you might as well donate it. There are many NGOs in Taiwan that are in dire need of funding.
- Not completing or summarizing the OG: The OG (Official Guide) is extremely important; it’s the foundation of the exam. Make sure you complete it and thoroughly review it before going into the test. The purpose of review is to understand the core of each question and the differences between the answer choices. This way, when you encounter similar questions again, you’ll use the correct process to solve them and select the right answer, rather than guessing. I myself paid the price for not doing this in my earlier attempts. I thought just doing the questions was enough, but that approach is useless even if you do hundreds of them.
- Taking the test without understanding or using PP (PowerPrep): Doing PP is essential for familiarizing yourself with the entire test process and interface. It allows you to simulate potential issues you might encounter on test day and make improvements. It also serves as a way to gauge your current readiness for the exam. If you find yourself unable to finish a significant number of questions, it’s advisable to practice your pacing before taking the actual test.
Irresponsible Tips for Each Section
Since everyone’s thought process is different, what works for me might not work for you. Here are some brief sharing:
SC
SC questions can be broadly categorized into grammar and meaning. Grammar is something I believe can be improved relatively quickly with dedicated study. However, understanding meaning truly requires time to build your ability to read sentences and interpret what the original sentence is trying to convey. If you can master the two grammar books from A2, you’ll definitely secure a baseline score. It’s important to distinguish between absolute and relative test points in SC. In the early stages, I would randomly analyze points, thinking I was identifying the core issue, only to realize it wasn’t the actual test point at all… just a distractor option designed by GMAC. Cultivate these two good habits for solving SC questions:
- First, find the subject and verb: For sentences involving pronouns or conjunctions, confirm if the sentence structure is complete. Sometimes, even if you don’t understand many words, you can still solve the question by analyzing the structure. Long sentences can easily lead to run-on sentences or comma splices.
- Learn to observe and compare options: In past exams, we were accustomed to selecting the single correct answer. Changing this mindset might take some time. The GMAT expects test-takers to comprehensively evaluate and choose the best option among several choices. SC is excellent training for this.
In my later stages, I would first go through my own problem-solving process and then review it with the OG explanation videos to see if my approach differed from A2’s or Dustin’s. If you have a high level of interest in studying English or have ample time, I highly recommend analyzing correct sentences from past exams. This can also help you develop a standard sense of English grammar and style.
CR
Personally, I feel this section is quite dependent on an individual’s thinking patterns. In addition to thoroughly understanding what’s taught in class, I highly recommend attending the post-class CR workshops. The key points for CR generally revolve around these three aspects:
- Identify the conclusion: Sometimes the prompt includes irrelevant information to distract you. After reading the question, ask yourself: what is the argument actually about? I used to mentally formulate a sentence like, “Is it about increasing profits?”
- Determine the question type: Is it Weaken, Support, Assumption, Evaluate, etc.? Once confirmed, you can start eliminating options.
- Compare the relative options: Similar to SC, CR requires comprehensive evaluation. When reviewing incorrect options, don’t just dismiss them as irrelevant; go further to explain *why* they are irrelevant, such as being unrelated to the conclusion or the main topic.
For specific CR question types (like dynamic equilibrium, biology, or archaeological topics), I recommend watching Dustin’s YouTube videos. Properly managing your time and grasping the core concepts to solve these questions can significantly increase your chances of getting them right.
RC
RC is definitely the most challenging of the three sections! Simply doing more practice questions doesn’t seem to be very effective. It’s best to thoroughly study the RC passages in the OG. I believe these three aspects are most important for RC:
- Grasp the article’s structure: You don’t need to understand every single word, but you do need to understand the relationship between paragraphs and whether the author expresses their opinion. A2’s logical diagram method taught in class is a great way to train this.
- Know what to read carefully and what to skim: If you’ve done thorough reading, you’ll have a general idea of where GMAC likes to place questions, such as after specific terminology that is further elaborated upon. Contrasting points are areas that require careful attention and should not be skipped.
- Active reading: This is very difficult, but if you practice it regularly, your response time will be much faster. I highly recommend Dustin’s RC strategy class. You must invest your own time in reading; no one can help you with this! There are no shortcuts or tricks!
Q
Make sure you know the vocabulary related to math! KH’s teaching is excellent, and I highly recommend his intensive math course. The course also includes practice exercises. I personally feel that doing some practice questions daily is sufficient. Additionally, timed practice is crucial in the later stages. How to self-diagnose? Follow KH’s advice: categorize your incorrect answers by topic. As you accumulate these, you’ll know which areas are weaker and can focus your practice on those topics.
AWA & IR
AWA: I must confess, I didn’t spend any time on this, so a score of 3 is deserved… Don’t be like me! It’s recommended to practice a few essays before the test. There are many template examples available in the course materials or online, but you still need to internalize them.
IR: The OG includes online practice for IR. It’s recommended to use this to get a feel for the section. Before the test, at least familiarize yourself with the four question types.
Should I Attend a Cram School or Self-Study?
This question is easy to answer. If you have plenty of time or are exceptionally gifted, you can choose to self-study. However, this exam is very different from the ones we’ve experienced before. If someone has already thoroughly researched the exam, I lean towards attending a cram school to save time and effort.
Just because you attend a cram school doesn’t mean everything will be smooth sailing. If you don’t study, it’s still useless!!! If you don’t study, it’s still useless!!! If you don’t study, it’s still useless!!! (Important points repeated three times)
I haven’t attended other institutions, but here are a few points I particularly liked about A2GMAT:
- Effective materials and solid curriculum.
- Irregular free workshops on various topics after class.
- Online Q&A sessions and sharing sessions available due to the pandemic, saving you the trouble of going out.
- Access to a lot of information about MBA-related activities.
- A program for repeat students to retake classes.
- The teachers are genuinely kind and passionate about teaching.
- The community forum allows you to read inspiring testimonials.
Pre-Battle Reminders
- Time Management: On test day, time is everything! Before the actual exam, ensure you’ve practiced time management. The specific method is up to you. Don’t zone out; I made this basic mistake in my first two attempts… Losing focus can completely derail your timing.
- Establish a Guessing Strategy: This is not a joke. Unless you’re a perfect scorer, you’ll inevitably encounter questions you don’t understand. You need to develop a practical guessing strategy; don’t just randomly pick C.
- Mental Preparation: Focus on the present moment. Whatever questions you’ve done are in the past. Tell yourself not to dwell on them. Thinking too much about a question for a few extra minutes might not even lead to the correct answer and could cause you to fall behind. Move on bravely! It’s like breaking up with a toxic partner – declutter immediately!
Words for Different Types of Test-Takers
To current students: Seize the opportunity to take the test while you’re still a student! You’ll understand how grueling it is to prepare for an exam while working once you become a working professional.
To full-time test-takers: I understand the immense pressure you must be under. But remember why you’re taking this test. With the right approach, persistence, and hard work, your efforts will pay off :)
To working professionals: As a fellow working professional, I know your struggles. If you’re feeling exhausted, check out the GMAT community forums; you’re not alone!
To those who have attended cram schools or given up on the GMAT: With the current strong NTD (New Taiwan Dollar), I highly recommend coming back to take the test. You’ll save at least NT$500 (or more)! I saw the exchange rate drop from 31 to 28 NTD per USD, haha. Whether you decide to take the test again depends on your original motivation. If you’ve lost motivation, find it again. If you can’t find a reason to take it, then perhaps don’t take it for now. For me, it was a matter of pride; I refused to believe that this was my final score, so I kept trying.
Finally, although not many people might read this entire post, thank you to everyone who has read this far. I’m also grateful to my friends and family who have continuously supported me over the past year, and to the invaluable A2GMAT.
Wishing everyone the score they desire in 2021 <3
