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Need strategy after GMAT retake

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Silviax
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Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   27 Apr 2016, 13:13
I am not sure in which sub-forum to post this so I am posting this here.

I just got back from my GMAT exam.
Score was as follows and yes I did cancel my score. I don't need another low score on my report.

Total: 580 (20 point improvement)
Q 39 (3 point improvement)
V 31 (same)
IR 5 (???? totally shocked about this. I had a 1 on my last practice exam!)

To begin with, I am not surprised about the overall outcome. As mentioned before I wasn't ready but it took it anyway because it was too late to reschedule for the $ 50 fee.
What surprised me was that my Q score improved by 3 points while verbal stayed the same. I started the quant section almost two minutes late because I had underestimated the length of my break. This really stressed me out and I felt like I rushed through many of the questions totally guessing on quite a few. The quant part also felt much harder to me than verbal, yet my score improved by 3 points.
I was also surprised about my IR score. The IR section felt incredibly easy but since I always run out of time on the IR section I totally guessed on the last 3 questions.

I canceled my score, but they didn't give me a print out. It even said so on the screen when I was done. "You will neither receive a print out nor an official score report" . So how in the world can I access my score if I want to later reinstate them. Will they show up online? Right not it just says status: NEW. That's all.

Next big question, actually the biggest question of all: How do I proceed from here?
The plan was to create a study plan that is totally focused on Math, but I guess I really need to improve my verbal score too.
I just don't know if the verbal section is something I can actually "study". To me it feels like I have learned absolutely nothing in the verbal part and still go by "feeling" when it comes to sentence correction and the other questions. I pick what "sounds right." A lot of the RC passages I don't understand especially when I can absolutely NOT relate to the topic at all.
Any advise? How long should I wait before I retake it?
I will go on a 2 1/2 week long trip during the second half of June so I feel like I should take it before because I will probably not have a lot of time to study on my trip and forget a lot.

:?: :?: :?:
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   27 Apr 2016, 16:39
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Hi Silviax,

GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +-30 points of actual ability. Given the relative consistently your recent CAT scores and two recent Official Scores, this show that you essentially performed the same way each time (+- a few points). By extension, this means that 'your way' of approaching the Exam will likely continue to earn you a score in the high-500s. To raise your score up to the 660+ level (that was a goal that you quoted in a past post and I assume that it's still your goal), you're going to have to learn and properly practice some new Tactics. This might require that you invest in some new practice materials.

1) What materials did you use during this latest round of studies?
2) When are you planning to apply to School?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Silviax
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   27 Apr 2016, 18:47
Hi Rich,

yes I agree with you that I need to invest in some new study material. I used Magoosh, the OG, Foundation of Math (Manhattan) and another Math book from Manhattan. I thought the Math section of Magoosh was good, but didn't really learn much from the verbal section as my test shows. I also have to admit that I didn't fully exhaust all available resources, meaning I only practiced questions of easy and medium level difficulty and stayed away from the hard stuff, so I obviously didn't "challenge" myself enough but I wanted to "master" the easier ones first.

I tried this approach at the very beginning, doing problems of all difficulty levels but this was an absolute frustrating experience for me and it gave me the feeling that I couldn't get anything right. So I went to the easy questions first which were easy for me and for the last couple of weeks I have been doing "medium". So clearly yes I need a new approach.

Do you think that since my ability level is within +/- 30 points I will never cross the 600 mark? That's a really depressing thought. :cry:

My applications need to be out by the end of this year so I have a little bit of time left.
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   27 Apr 2016, 23:48
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Silviax wrote:
I am not sure in which sub-forum to post this so I am posting this here.

I just got back from my GMAT exam.
Score was as follows and yes I did cancel my score. I don't need another low score on my report.

Total: 580 (20 point improvement)
Q 39 (3 point improvement)
V 31 (same)
IR 5 (???? totally shocked about this. I had a 1 on my last practice exam!)

Next big question, actually the biggest question of all: How do I proceed from here?
The plan was to create a study plan that is totally focused on Math, but I guess I really need to improve my verbal score too.
I just don't know if the verbal section is something I can actually "study". To me it feels like I have learned absolutely nothing in the verbal part and still go by "feeling" when it comes to sentence correction and the other questions. I pick what "sounds right." A lot of the RC passages I don't understand especially when I can absolutely NOT relate to the topic at all.
Any advise? How long should I wait before I retake it?
I will go on a 2 1/2 week long trip during the second half of June so I feel like I should take it before because I will probably not have a lot of time to study on my trip and forget a lot.

:?: :?: :?:


Looking at your score, you definitely can gain some easy points in both the sections.Fortunately GMAT tests you on certain fundamentals that you can learn and practice.

1. Did you complete the entire OG and the Verbal review?

You said that you have not exhausted the resources that you have. The best way to proceed from here would be to drill down deep and understand your problem:

Try to drill down deep in each problem type.

SC: The questions test various concepts such as S-V agreement, modifiers, parallelism etc. Find out what troubles you.
CR: There might be certain types of questions that are troubling you. May be Assumption, may be conclusion, inference etc.
You need to find that out and then practice them
RC: This again can be drilled down into different types of questions and also different topics. See what questions and topics trouble you the most and then practice accordingly.

Quants: Again you can bifurcate the questions into various topics such as Algebra, Geometry, Number System etc.

Once you have identified the problem areas, go back to the preparatory course/book that you have.
Make sure you also complete the OG and the Verbal review books if you have not already completed them. The official questions are the best source of practice and can help you if you are stuck at a particular score.

For additional practice, you can buy the Question Pack 1 and the Exam Pack 1 and 2. As an addition, start preparing an error log and keep a note of all the mistakes you made and the lessons you learnt from the problems. This will ensure you do not make the same mistake again
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   28 Apr 2016, 06:55
Hi,

you can order an enhanced score report, and see the breakdown on sub-sections. By knowing your weaknesses, you can start working on them and improve yourself.
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   28 Apr 2016, 07:22
Can I order this or any score report even though I canceled my score?

I just read on GMAC's website yesterday that scores that are canceled cannot be viewed anywhere. Not even online.
I think that's kind of messed up. What if I later want to reinstate my score? I memorized the scores from the screen when I was done but I have absolutely no proof that these were my scores.
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Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   28 Apr 2016, 07:31
Silviax wrote:
Can I order this or any score report even though I canceled my score?

I just read on GMAC's website yesterday that scores that are canceled cannot be viewed anywhere. Not even online.
I think that's kind of messed up. What if I later want to reinstate my score? I memorized the scores from the screen when I was done but I have absolutely no proof that these were my scores.


even if you cancel your score, you can still get the enhanced score report.

https://www.mba.com/us/frequently-asked- ... #question2

Q: Can I get an Enhanced Score Report for a GMAT Exam where I cancelled my scores?
A: Yes, the Enhanced Score Report authentication code can be applied to a GMAT Exam which has been cancelled by the test taker, however it cannot be applied to a GMAT Exam when the score was revoked due to a policy violation.

to reinstate the score, you need: appointment #/confirmation #, date, and location of the test center.
the score is not actually cancelled, it rather just simply doesn't show anywhere, but the score is still being stored on the gmac's servers.
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   28 Apr 2016, 07:49
Thank you. I will try to do that, but I didn't get a code either. I just emailed them to find out more.

Do you happen to know if an enhanced score report for a canceled score also has a score for the essay on it?
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   28 Apr 2016, 08:24
Silviax wrote:
Thank you. I will try to do that, but I didn't get a code either. I just emailed them to find out more.

Do you happen to know if an enhanced score report for a canceled score also has a score for the essay on it?


No, enhanced score report has information only on IR/Q/V. It is generated from your "unofficial" score report.
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink] New post   28 Apr 2016, 11:31
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Silviax wrote:

Do you think that since my ability level is within +/- 30 points I will never cross the 600 mark? That's a really depressing thought. :cry:

My applications need to be out by the end of this year so I have a little bit of time left.


Hi Silviax,

You could very easily be in the low-600s right now, BUT you're making too many silly/little mistakes on Test Day and they're costing you all of the points that you're looking for. You really don't need to correctly answer any of the hard/advanced/weird questions to hit your score goal, BUT you do have to eliminate the little mistakes from your work. The 'fix' for that issue often involves taking more/better notes and doing ALL of your work on the pad (NOTHING in your head!), but it's likely that you need more of a consistent process when working through Quant and Verbal questions. From your Scaled Scores, it looks like you're 'winging it' on Test Day; it's tough to score at a high level on a consistent, predictable Exam if you work in that way.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Re: Need strategy after GMAT retake [#permalink]
28 Apr 2016, 11:31

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