My 10th GMAT

Seriously saifa08, thats a real perseverance out there. Good luck with you test and hope you get higher score this time!!

Hi saifa08,

I looked through some of your old posts and in a post from last September, you had just taken the GMAT for the 7th time. Since you're about to go for your 10th attempt, I'd like to know a bit more about the 8th and 9th attempts and how you've been studying:

1) What were your scores on each of those GMATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) When did you take those two GMATs?

3) How long have you been studying for this latest attempt?
4) What resources have you been using?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

No matter how you do, just appreciate the hard work you put. Good Luck

Thanks all

Hi Rich

my scores were as follow:
GMAT 8: 510 ( I canceled it so I do not remember the break down but my verbal was below 25)
GMAT 9: 530 (Q 42, V 23)

I have been study since January, I enrolled in Kaplan course and used its online resources and quiz bank, books. I also used the OG, Verbal and Quant review and GMAT question bank. Previously I used MGMAT Guides and exams, e-gmat, gmatprep now for verbal. for CAT I used the 4 official GMATprep and Kaplan tests. My scores were between 650 and 700 ( 690 on GMAT prep and 700 on Kaplan exam).

Now I am back to the official guides, GMAT question bank, GMATprep exams and MGMAT exams.

Thanks

Hi saifa08,

Your practice CAT scores are considerably higher than your Official GMAT scores. When these types of score drops occur on Test Day, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day.

If you can answer a few questions, then we should be able to figure this out:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, listen to music, etc.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

On Test Day:
1) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
2) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
3) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
4) Did you finish any sections early?
5) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Goodluck! I salute you. Keep trying and NEVER give up

Hi Saifa,

If you have the courage to stand up and give it a fight 10th time then am sure your hard work and dedication will pay off!
Considering your dedication I would be happy to extend my help to you on any Quant related doubt for free.
Wishing You best for your preparation.

Ankit

Hi Rich,

My responses for your questions as below, nothing unusual during the preparation or the actual exams except anxiety!

However, I know that I do not sleep well before the exam, I tried going to gym and relaxing the night before but never worked. Also somehow I am never sure of my answers during the Verbal section!

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
Not the AWA section during preperation for the the last two exams, but I did take the whole CATs before. My AWA usually bove 5.
2) Did you take them at home?
Home and Library
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
Various time
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, listen to music, etc.)?
No, exam condition
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?
Yes, Kaplan twice and the four offical GAMTpre more than 5 tomes!

On Test Day:
1) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
20min by train
2) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
No
3) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
Water, fruits, redbull
4) Did you finish any sections early?
No, usually within seconds to spare
5) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?
No, I guessed for the Quants but not more than 3 question

Hi Ankit

Many thanks for your support and offer. Defiantly will keep this in mind and contact you if needed.

Regards

By the way, is there a statistic(s) available on what % of test-takers take the thing a second time?

Hi saifa08,

The extra information that you've provided is useful - one detail in particular helps to point out a problem with how you've been studying. Retaking a CAT almost always leads to an 'inflated' score, since you end up seeing questions that you've already answered (the CAT ends up being less challenging, easier to finish on time, less stressful, etc.). Since you've reused the Kaplan CATs and GMAC CATs so many times, we CANNOT trust those scores as being accurate.

In real basic terms, your practice CATs have been giving you unrealistic scores while your Official GMAT score is giving you the accurate assessment. Your skills are likely NOT close enough to the 650 level right now to make a 650+ likely on your next GMAT attempt. As such, you might want to push that Test Date back and study with some new resources (and NEW CATs).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Hi Rich

Thank you for your feedback.

I am not if I need to use any other material since I feel I have used the most recommended ones so far including the Official and MGMAT guides. Also since I have reused the 8 Kaplan CATs and 4 GMAC CATs, any suggestion for different CATs?

I have previously used MGMAT CATs (more than a year ago) and considering using them again or possibly GMATClub CATs.

Thanks

Hi saifa08,

Since you've used many of the other CAT options, the block of CATs available from Veritas would make sense. It might be tempting to 'rush' through these CATs, but that is NOT how you're going to improve your scores. CATs are just 'measuring devices' - if used correctly, they will give you a reasonable estimate of what you might score on the Official GMAT. Improvements are made by learning/practicing tactics, doing practice problems, reviewing past mistakes (and fixing them), etc.

When was the last time you took a *new* CAT and took the FULL CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)? What were your scores on that CAT?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Your score looks similar to my 3rd attempt. I got a tutor from optimum prep that helped me tremendously. She was great at explaining and the schedule fit right in with my working schedule.
I retook the test the 4th time and my verbal score was v30, I was confused, I kept getting v35 and up on my practice tests. This time, what I found out is that my nerves get me on the test, I panic to where I can't think or read in the last 10min. so I took this herb that I did research on -Rhodiola rosea for a stress reliever and kept studying and took practice tests every 3 days and on my next attempt I got a v35! Huge improvement for me (was at v21)

Wow you get points for perseverance there. Hopefully all goes well and thats a resilience story you can feel proud of later.

Good luck!

Hi Rich,

I have taken two CATs in none exam conditions and I do not not think they can be a useful measures to my performance as I took both just as practices.

Kaplan (retake) 650 (Q 48, V 30)
Veritas 570 (Q 42, V26)

Overall, I know I need to improve the verbal, specially the RC which what I am working on right now, however SC was the weakest in my last official exam.

I am planning to take 3 full CATS before my official exam and will update this post with the score.

I have booked my exam for the end of July and this will be my last chance, I think!

Thanks

Thanks for your support.