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Another experience first test 580 :(

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moneymike
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Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   28 Mar 2011, 09:51
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Sorry for long post:
Quick background. I have an undergrad GPA of 3.94 in Computer Science. I am a native English speaker.

PREP test 1 no studying - 540 (Forgot numbers but ~50% quant, 65% verbal.
PREP test 2 3 months studying - 580(~50%quant, 82%! verbal).

Real GMAT 1 - 580(Q-47,V-23!). :( terrible

Now, going by my last gmat prep test, you would suspect I am not surprised by my score. However I am!

On all practice tests verbal was my strength and I was getting low scores on quant. I can't believe the opposite happened on the real thing. I'm very mad because if I would have gotten my normal or even lower normal verbal score I would be at 650+ and be done. But anyway... Time for more studying. I plan to take it again in 2-3 months.

I thought quant was easy and was worried that I wasn't doing well because of how east the quant was. I felt burnt out during verbal and had to rush to finish which hasn't even happened during practice tests.

My first time I used OG12 only. I studied math hard (since I thought this to be my weakness) and only SC's for verbal.

I am going to buy MGMAT SC, CR, and RC. Here is my plan:

15 hours a week for 8 weeks. (plus any additional time I can steal at work, lunch etc.) Goal is 650+
20 hours for 2 weeks.

Week 1: SC. MGMAT Reading, taking notes understanding strategy.
Week 2: SC. MGMAT Questions. - MGMAT Practice test 1
Week 3: CR: MGMAT Reading + Problems. Quant: OG12 problems.
Week 4: RC: MGMAT Reading + Problems. - MGMAT Practice test 2
Week 5: Quant Review number theory, Start Practice problems.
Week 6: SC + CR problems. - MGMAT Practice test 3
Week 7: Quant problems - Be able to solve ones I get wrong, without timer.
Week 8: SC + RC problems. - MGMAT Practice test 4

Weeks 9 and 10: 20+ hours a week.

Equal time spent on all sections. Work on timing. Do all practice problems timed. GMAT test prep test 1 & 2.

Take test following weekend (Week 11) with light reviewing all week.

Let me know what you guys think. (If you read it, I know it's long).
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   28 Mar 2011, 11:02
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Good study plan, as people will say over and over ERROR LOG!!!! Especially if you need to use it to find your weak/troubled areas. I think that you have all the prep material that you would need to obtain your goal. 580, is right on the border of understanding everything, and perhaps you just need those strategy guides to really push you in to the 600+ and possibly to your goal. Good Luck!
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   28 Mar 2011, 11:13
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Sounds like you're lacking in consistency, which may be due to gaps in the fundamentals.

The plan you have in place looks like it should be successfully in addressing those gaps.
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   28 Mar 2011, 12:59
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Thanks. I hope so, I will update thread with practice test scores as I go.
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   28 Mar 2011, 18:34
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Looks like a good study plan. Try to get some reading in (Wall street journal, economist, or GMAT FICTION). The problem may be that even though you are strong in verbal, you might get tired after doing an intensive Quant section). So try to read 30mins to an hour of anything each day!

I'm planning to take mines again in 2-3 months as well, let me know how your progress goes. STAY MOTIVATED!!!!
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   29 Mar 2011, 07:47
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I actually went back and thought about this a little, and V23, means that you are missing Qs regardless of topic, and you might only be hitting correct answers on a few.

My suggestions for CR - focus on the ARGUMENT, premises, and conclusions, decide assumptions and attack strengthen or weaken etc etc, read the Q Stem, then read the stimulus, evaluate, and then answer

For SC, you really have to identify the error type more than anything else, the ability to quickly recognize Grammar mistakes eliminate wrong answers and select the correct one will give you more time on every other type of question

For RC, there is really no other way other than to read, reread, answer and practice IMO
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   29 Mar 2011, 08:12
menacel wrote:
Looks like a good study plan. Try to get some reading in (Wall street journal, economist, or GMAT FICTION). The problem may be that even though you are strong in verbal, you might get tired after doing an intensive Quant section). So try to read 30mins to an hour of anything each day!

I'm planning to take mines again in 2-3 months as well, let me know how your progress goes. STAY MOTIVATED!!!!


Whats funny is I do read a lot... But you are definitely right about getting tired after quant.

Wishbone wrote:
I actually went back and thought about this a little, and V23, means that you are missing Qs regardless of topic, and you might only be hitting correct answers on a few.

My suggestions for CR - focus on the ARGUMENT, premises, and conclusions, decide assumptions and attack strengthen or weaken etc etc, read the Q Stem, then read the stimulus, evaluate, and then answer

For SC, you really have to identify the error type more than anything else, the ability to quickly recognize Grammar mistakes eliminate wrong answers and select the correct one will give you more time on every other type of question

For RC, there is really no other way other than to read, reread, answer and practice IMO


Thanks for the suggestions!
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   29 Mar 2011, 09:17
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Sorry to hear about the bad score. As mattapraveen said, you can always attempt the GMAT again as the R1 deadlines are far away. I myself had a bad verbal score on the first attempt ,however by preparing systematically, I was able to take up my score by more than 10 points. I think what matters in Verbal is how good your concepts are and how well you have practised applying the concepts learnt in questions.
While practising ,make sure that you read the explanations of the questions-irrespective of whether you get them correct or not-thoroughly.
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   19 Apr 2011, 07:54
After two weeks of sentence correction.

I really feel a lot more comfortable and know what to look for.

Took MGMAT practice test #1

Quantitative 35 44 %
Verbal 36 81 %
Total 600 70 %


This is what most of my practice tests look like. Pisses me off that I did so badly on real verbal section. On to CR studying.
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   13 Jun 2011, 08:51
On MGMATS I have gotten

600
640
650
650

So my real test is in a week and I took the official practice test 1 and got a 570!

I looked at the number I got wrong and noticed that I got less wrong than I did on the MGAMT tests I got 650 on. This leads me to believe the MGMAT test grading is wrong.

Ugh, now I'm pretty bummed out. Id be happy with 600+ but now IM worried.
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   13 Jun 2011, 13:40
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Hey Mike,

Do you know what your biggest problem areas are? I began my GMAT studying with verbal being my weak area (i scored in the 30s range), and after studying for 3 months my verbal is usually 42+. I knew my SC is my weakest area so I started at the very very basic -- Kaplan verbal foundations. This was excellent in getting the basics down. Then I did MGMAT's SC, which was more gmat specific than the Kaplan book (that one focused more on general grammar rules). And for sure, now SC is one of my strongest.

For my CR, i did fine initially, but realized that when i hit very difficult questions in the 700 - 800 level, i get confused and answer incorrectly. After studying the Critical Reasoning Bible, my CR is now solid.

Hope this helps a bit. Im sure youve already heard this many times, but keeping error log is especially important!
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2011, 06:23
OK, so I finally re-took the class. I think Manhattan SC and Manhattan CR helped the most. I followed the study plan in the OP exactly.

My test scores were:

MGMAT 1 : 600, Q-35 V-36
MGMAT 2 : 650, Q-39 V-39
MGMAT 3 : 640, Q-42 V-36
MGMAT 4 : 650, Q-39 V-40

GMATPrep1: 570: Q-38 V-30 - This was one week before the test. I was flipping out.
GMATPrep2: 650: ????

Real test: 690, Q-42,V-41

I am very happy. All the hard work paid off.
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2011, 06:26
Congratulations! 690 is a great score! :) What schools are you applying to?
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2011, 06:46
Moneymike, great improvement! I think I have around the same scores as you used to get.. I hope my eventual results will be as good as yours :) congrats
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2011, 07:01
Thanks! Appreciate it.

I need to stay in NY and work, so I am going to apply to Stern Part time. Thats really my only reach school other than that a few other just ok schools in the area. (Fordham, Hofstra, baruch)
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   27 Jun 2011, 00:21
Very good plan.
I just took a GMAT exam last week after studied for 5 consecutive months! I still got only 590 (Q45, V25), but I will not give up. I will go back to go through the Manhattan material similar to your plan! I think you are going on a good strategy, which in-turn will bring you to a very good score!
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink] New post   27 Jun 2011, 06:38
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Congrats on the score improvement. Hardwork definitely pays off.
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Re: Another experience first test 580 :( [#permalink]
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