Within time, my success rate for Data Sufficiency (DS) is falling down.
However, this time it wasn't because of my stubborn brains. The most of errors were coming from "careless errors". Simply said, I just didn't take enough time and concentration on the most of them.
Having a constantly beeping laptop close-by adds a huge amount of distraction to the process. While I did my best to put it as far as it's possible away from my hands, I catch myself constantly dropping a sight at the screen whenever it changes, the message comes or whatever not. It's not like I'm checking it, it just disturbs me.
Sounds are pretty disturbing, too. While I'm tolerant to the noise (we're living in Millbrae, which is actually an appendix to SFO), CalTrain and airplane noises are pretty common during the day. However, something like music or talking can really add some mess to the right order of my thinking process.
Hopefully, pretty soon I'll get myself back into the order and raise up the score. I need to find the way how to tolerate the disturbance, because, according to my experience from PMP, the examination room is not guarranteed to be noise-free and stupid-knocking-mooing-cracking-neighboor free.
Showing posts with label progress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label progress. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
GMAT PS progress
It's pretty hard to keep up with 50+ questions a day. Sometimes, I found myself spending more then 2 hours for that, what is definitely unacceptable (for the real shot). I'm trying to take my time though to be able to remember all the staff I've already forgot.
While most of the GMAT questions don't go beyond reasonable basic math skills, sometimes some geometric questions are really killing me. Having my last geometries class (I remember about :) more then 12 years ago, it's really a torture to make myself remember all this rules.
What is also rather sad is my correct percentage rate. I'm making a tiny bit more 65% in PS, and I really don't like it. I think this equals to ~42Q, so staying with such numbers, I have to score at least 91% (~40V?) on verbal part to be able to step over 700 score (that's my goal). Scoring 91% on verbal piece sounds pretty tough for me.
Basically, my plan is I have to make at least 90% on quantitative test, so this means I need to get back to the books (which is also pretty tough, because now I need to learn math in English). However, the most of my errors are careless ones, when I'm trying to catch a fast number and don't pay attention to coefficients and signs and whatever not. (But keeping in mind that I'm spending occasionally too much time on these questions that's a pretty poor excuse).
Keeping notes about our weak areas is a good thing. After all, I'm going to prepare some flash cards, and I'll need to know what should they include. Preparing cards during the questions solving time is too much hassle for me, besides, results in duplicates, repeating myself again and again. I'm going to do this some time later, and I'll use the notes posted.
While most of the GMAT questions don't go beyond reasonable basic math skills, sometimes some geometric questions are really killing me. Having my last geometries class (I remember about :) more then 12 years ago, it's really a torture to make myself remember all this rules.
What is also rather sad is my correct percentage rate. I'm making a tiny bit more 65% in PS, and I really don't like it. I think this equals to ~42Q, so staying with such numbers, I have to score at least 91% (~40V?) on verbal part to be able to step over 700 score (that's my goal). Scoring 91% on verbal piece sounds pretty tough for me.
Basically, my plan is I have to make at least 90% on quantitative test, so this means I need to get back to the books (which is also pretty tough, because now I need to learn math in English). However, the most of my errors are careless ones, when I'm trying to catch a fast number and don't pay attention to coefficients and signs and whatever not. (But keeping in mind that I'm spending occasionally too much time on these questions that's a pretty poor excuse).
Keeping notes about our weak areas is a good thing. After all, I'm going to prepare some flash cards, and I'll need to know what should they include. Preparing cards during the questions solving time is too much hassle for me, besides, results in duplicates, repeating myself again and again. I'm going to do this some time later, and I'll use the notes posted.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Progress on the move
I'm still out of the sync because of my move from Pasadena, CA to Millbrae, CA. While it's only 365 miles (~580 km, pretty similar like from Dnepropetrovsk to Kiev - the route that several of my Ukrainian friends use for commuting weekly) from my present place to the new apartment, it takes a huge amount of time to complete it. Hopefully, I can call it a day by the end of next week.
On other note, while I'm not a big fan of TV here in US - during last 3 years, I didn't ever pay for cable. I'm also not going to do this at my new place. However, I happen to watch some shows occassionally. In example, I saw few series of Wife Swap during my first days in US. I don't find this show to be interesting, but it can be an OK time-killer, just in case you need one. Lately, I was pointed to an interesting episode, which featured Stephen Fowler. Here is the link to YouTube of it.
I wasted barely 30 minutes of my weekend time, but I got fun instead, so I'm pretty happy with the result. And you know what, people can call him jerk, but I found him to be a pretty typical character whom you meet often in your life. And what can upset some of you even more, he's got grounds. From the other side, it does not save him from being called "pretentious, ignorant jerk". I don't know him personally, so I'd stay away from putting any marks on him. I used to never trust what you see on TV. It's never the raw truth, somebody has already edited that to some extent.
Somehow, I found that huge part of people who complained the most, are having troubles to understand British people. Well, they are tough. And pretty much rude sometimes. Unless you're ready to fight for you live beliefs, but not be a passive "proud citizen of some country" with a flag in hands, and waiting when somebody will do something to save your ass.
Having your kids overweight, accept that and say that "nobody wants to hear this anymore" was pretty much enough for me to become antipathic to the other-than-Stephen-family. You can do whatever you want to your life and your health. But acceptance of destroying your kids' life and health is the highest level of stupidity. Adding more idiotism on the top, just added some more juice to my criticism of "mid-western" point of view (however, I'm very concerned that this is a real mid-western style).
On other note, while I'm not a big fan of TV here in US - during last 3 years, I didn't ever pay for cable. I'm also not going to do this at my new place. However, I happen to watch some shows occassionally. In example, I saw few series of Wife Swap during my first days in US. I don't find this show to be interesting, but it can be an OK time-killer, just in case you need one. Lately, I was pointed to an interesting episode, which featured Stephen Fowler. Here is the link to YouTube of it.
I wasted barely 30 minutes of my weekend time, but I got fun instead, so I'm pretty happy with the result. And you know what, people can call him jerk, but I found him to be a pretty typical character whom you meet often in your life. And what can upset some of you even more, he's got grounds. From the other side, it does not save him from being called "pretentious, ignorant jerk". I don't know him personally, so I'd stay away from putting any marks on him. I used to never trust what you see on TV. It's never the raw truth, somebody has already edited that to some extent.
Somehow, I found that huge part of people who complained the most, are having troubles to understand British people. Well, they are tough. And pretty much rude sometimes. Unless you're ready to fight for you live beliefs, but not be a passive "proud citizen of some country" with a flag in hands, and waiting when somebody will do something to save your ass.
Having your kids overweight, accept that and say that "nobody wants to hear this anymore" was pretty much enough for me to become antipathic to the other-than-Stephen-family. You can do whatever you want to your life and your health. But acceptance of destroying your kids' life and health is the highest level of stupidity. Adding more idiotism on the top, just added some more juice to my criticism of "mid-western" point of view (however, I'm very concerned that this is a real mid-western style).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)