TedC wrote:
Hello everyone,
After 6 months studying GMAT
I have reached a plateau. I have scored 580 for about one month on my practice tests now. Yesterday was the day of my official GMAT test and I got a 580. That confirmed what I thought (I reach a plateau). So I do not know what to do right now and how to improve my score (goal: 620+).
I have studied with the set of
MGMAT quantitative books (Book 1 - Book 5) +
OG 13 + Quantitative review 2nd edition +
Kaplan premier. As you can notice my main struggle is on the quantitative part. I started with a 490 GMAT score with a really low quant. score (27). I work at the same time I study for GMAT, therefore I can only study 1 to 2 hours during the week and around 8 hours during the weekend.
Studying habits:I went through the theory and all the materials (I did not study the geometry though). I did sample questions from
OG 13 every days and I took 5 practice tests. Here is the breakdown of my score:
CAT1: 560 (Q32 V35)
CAT2: 490 (Q27 V31)
CAT3: 570 (Q39 V30)
CAT4: 580 (Q38 V32)
CAT5: 580 (Q36 V34)
After each test I took, I spent hours reviewing my errors. I sometimes even spent two days. After analyzing everything I noticed two main things : I have difficulties getting DS questions right (I get more than 50% of them wrong) and I have problems to identify which concept is being tested - often when after seeing the concept I must use I can solve the problem.
Where I want to goI am going to retake the GMAT in mid-January. I set my goal at 620+. I do feel it is reachable. However today I am stuck and I do not know what to do to improve my score and most importantly I do not know what I should focus on.
I am really exited to hear all the great advice you guys can give me. Thank you so much.
Dear
TedC,
I'm happy to respond.
First of all, here's a set of free GMAT math flashcards that may help you solidify the basics:
https://gmat.magoosh.com/flashcards/math/Here's a blog that discusses studying GMAT math:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/how-to-stu ... gmat-math/If you follow the links in that article, you will find a number of other helpful articles.
I think
Magoosh could really help you. First of all, you would qualify for the 50-point score guarantee, because you have already taken a GMAT:
https://gmat.magoosh.com/score-guaranteeThat's a guaranteed 630 or your money back.
We have 150+ video lessons covering all the content and strategies you need. Here's a sample math lesson.
https://gmat.magoosh.com/lessons/1248-multiplesHere's a sample PS question:
https://gmat.magoosh.com/questions/2592Here's a sample DS question:
https://gmat.magoosh.com/questions/1028When you submit your answer to either of those questions, the next page will have a full video explanation of the question. Each one of
Magoosh's 800+ GMAT practice questions has its own VE: this kind of immediate feedback is exactly what a student like you needs to clear up problem-areas and make rapid strides.
I think you would get a great deal out of
Magoosh, but even if you decide not to join, I hope you get everything you can from that free blog: there's a lot there that could make the difference for you as well.
Best of luck!
Mike
_________________
Mike McGarry
Magoosh Test PrepEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. — William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)