Meager 610 In First Attempt ! Need Advice

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the prompt response, much appreciated ! Please find below my responses to your questions :

1) You stated that your goal score is 700+, but then you stated that you wanted a Q51/V40+ (which would put you in 750+ territory). What is your ACTUAL score goal (is it 700+ or 750+?)?

My goal score is indeed 700+, but since I have managed to get Q49, I would like to work a bit on this section and try to achieve a great score. It won't hurt me if I am unable to improve and repeat a Q49. Getting Q51 is just to satisfy my quest for a good score, being always strong in the Quantitative section.

I got a poor Q24 in the Verbal section, which is the lowest among all the 8 tests (7 mocks + 1 Actual GMAT) I have taken till date. But I also know I barely did any preparation in this section, despite knowing it is my weak area I always kept finding reasons to study Quants over Verbal, which clearly has been my biggest mistake.

Also, I would not prefer to have huge difference between my Q and V scores.

2) What materials have you used so far during your studies?

For Quants :

1) Kaplan Premier 2016
2) The Official GMAT Guide 2016
3) The Official GMAT Quantitative Review 2016
4) Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook Eigth Edition
5) Kaplan 800

For Verbal :

1) Kaplan Premier 2016
2) Manhattan Sentence Correction - I would not count it though, as I read it 6 months before the exam and did not remember most of the things written in this book. Surely need to give it a good read again.
3) The Official GMAT Guide 2016 - Only CR and RC sections. Did SC partially.
4) The Official GMAT Verbal Review 2016 - Completed CR, Did half of RC and none from SC.

I had the following books, but did not go through them :

1) Kaplan Verbal Workbook - Ninth Edition
2) Kaplan 800

3) When you took this GMAT, did you have trouble finishing any of the sections on time (did you have to rush just to finish)?

No problems in Quantitative section, though I had to rush through 2 questions from remaining 5 questions or so.

In Verbal section, I had almost 11 questions left with around 12-13 minutes remaining, and I had to rush through.

4) What specific Schools are you planning to apply to ?

To be honest, I have not shortlisted the schools yet. I am not clear as to what is my true potential in terms of the GMAT score. I always wanted to get a good GMAT score and then consult the experts to identify the schools I can apply to. I am an Indian, open to study overseas in countries like U.S, Canada, Singapore, Australia etc. Having worked in London, U.K, I would have preferred to study in the U.K, but strict VISA rules have made me strike it off my list.

5) Are you planning to apply for Round 1 this Fall, 2016?

I am planning for a retake in April end or May beginning, guess that would be late for this fall 2016, won't mind applying early next year with enough time to write essays and improve my profile.

Please let me know if I have left anything unanswered.

Thanks,
Akshay Sharma.