Hi Guys,
I am hoping you can provide me some guidance on how to aim for a 650 score (anything more will be a bonus).
A bit of background:
I was originally scheduled to take the GMAT on 7th Oct but had to postpone it due to my MOCK score (I will get to this later). I started studying in the month of July (1st week) onwards. I have been putting in around 16+ hours every week without fail.
Materials used:
1) Manhattan Study Guides - Foundations and Strategy guides
2)
OG -13 & Review guides
3)
Magoosh subscription
My first mock score (taken in late June) was 480 (Q30 V27). So I started with the foundations of
mgmat guides, practiced each question and did the same with strategy guide questions as well after studying the concepts.
By mid-August after finishing the strategy guides and foundations, I started focussing on the
OG guides and started going through each question under timed conditions, the ones I took longer than 2 mins, I would spend time trying to understand the reasons and if I could have solved it a different way.
On 16th Sept, I took the second MOCK test and scored a 550 (Q39, V27). Disappointing to say the least, I did a thorough review of the exam and then focussed on the topics which were my weaknesses - Number properties, FDP's, CR'S - went through
MGMAT guides again and then practiced from the
OG questions. Since I took leave from work to give the exam, I was putting in around 40 hours of study.
On 23rd Sept (2 weeks before the test), I took another MOCK test and scored a dismal 540 (Q37, V28). Test anxiety did play a factor in both the tests as there were questions in there which I should have answered correctly but didn't. It seemed my mind just stopped working and I was eager to move on to the next question.
Both the above MOCK's were from
MGMAT and under proper timed conditions (including AWA and IR) and with breaks included.
The same day, I gave another test (I know I shouldn't have but I just couldn't come to terms that 540-550 was all I could do). For this MOCK, I ignored AWA and IR and went straight to quant and verbal sections - the score 580 (Q42 V28).
I have since completed all the questions in the
OG-13 guide (not the review ones) leading up to today. After a lot of thought, I finally made the decision today to postpone the test to 17th Nov (8 weeks from today) as I don't think I am in a position to score around the 650 mark. This will still allow me to submit my application before R2.
Few things I have noticed in my prep:
1) In each of the mock tests, my verbal score has not moved at all - it has stayed around the v27-28 mark although I seem to be getting a lot of 700+ questions to answers compared to my quants??
2) Even though my quant is slightly better - a question worded differently will throw me off and I struggle to tackle it in 2 mins.
3) Since my CR and RC scores were bad in a few MOCK's - I have started to make notes when answering such questions as it helps with memory retention but the scores are still no where near what I want.
Questions I have are:
1) Is a 100 point score improvement possible in 8 weeks? Rest assured I am willing to put in the efforts.
2) Can someone please suggest a plan or guide that I can stick to which will help me get to the above score? I have seen so many plans/schedules around on this forum and others that frankly speaking I am confused which one to follow?
3)Ideally I would prefer a 1:1 tutoring session but in Sydney (AUS) the costs of a private tutor is way out of my range. Does anyone know of any tutoring companies for GMAT in Sydney they have used and can provide some feedback/suggest? I feel the choices are very limited compared to other countries such as US or india in terms of options?
Hence why it brings me back to point (2) - having the right plan is very important?
I really need some help getting to the 650 score. I want to put in another 8 weeks of dedicated effort and have a crack at giving the gmat, failing which I will give it up and move on. I would appreciate if someone can provide me some direction/guidance.