Kaplan GMAT CAT 1

15th June 2008,
(Father's Day)

I took first of the de-everything Kaplan GMAT CATs. It was certainly not fun. Infact, it was test of nerves under extreme conditions. Well, not extreme surroundings but mentally it (the test) stretches you to the extreme.

Results of Kaplan 1: 590 (QA 39, VA 32)

Quite average scores. Again not bad, not too good. (I know Kaplan tests have a reputation of givind u such scores).

But I made a lot of mistakes
QA
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Correct: 24 Incorrect: 13
Silly mistakes: 4
Genuine mistakes: 3
Concepts weak: 3
Problem in understanding question: 3
VA
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Correct: 22 Incorrect: 19
Incorrect details:
CR: 7
RC:7
SC: 5

Analysis:
- Kaplan test is so difficult that completing test in the required time becomes an issue. In QA i cud barely complete the test. And the questions get more tougher under severe time pressure.
- Ditto with VA. I had 10/11 questions remaining to answer with 11 minutes left. I hurried through the first 3-4 and then hit a damn tough RC. It was 34th question and 7 mins remaining.

There are some decisions you have to take in life. I tried reading the RC but it was something related to 'contractarion'. Cudnt understand a bit of it. I decided to randomly guess the RC questions and reach the later questions which would be SC/RC and hence spend some time on them. Luckily RC had just 3 questions. 5 questions left, in which i got 2 correct and 3 wrong.

I remember reading somewhere "Pressure does funny things to mind". !

After the test, I realized, as of today, my score in GMAT hovers around 690. (590+100), Princeton Review 2(690).

There are 2 things I have to do now:
- Maintain my score at this level. i.e not to let it slip below this. ( by consistent effort)
- Build upon this score and take it to next higher level.

There is 50 marks difference between glory and mediocrity. I admit, its a huge gap. Consistent Effort and Passion to reach the goal is the need of the hour.

But will they be enough to crack RC under pressure conditions. It requires more than that.

As Morpheus told Neo in Matrix 1: "You have to let it all go, Neo. Fear, doubt, and disbelief. Free your mind. "

-i.dreem
_________________
"I want to crack it big time."