100 Points Drop in Real Test - How to start learning again?

Question

Hey Guys,

hope you can give me some advice for my problem.

I took the test last week and scored a very low 540 (Q42/V22). During the exam I had always a good feeling, especially in Quand. With the Q score I am quite fine (could be better though) but I really dont know what happen in the verbal Part. The score was even lower than my diagnostic test 3 month ago. I guess I was too sure that I will get a good verbal score as always and turned off my brain 1 hour too early.

Here is my CAT Histroy:

GMAT Prep 1 510 (Q36/V24)

MGMAT 1 570 (Q37/V31)

MGMAT 2 570 (Q37/V31)

Kaplan 620 (Q44/V31)

MGMAT 3 580 (Q40/V30)

MGMAT 4 580 (Q40/V31)

GMAT Prep 2 650 (Q45/V34)

GMAT Prep 1 660 (Q44/V36)

I dont know how to start to learn again, since I really thought I prepared good for the exam. Does anybody experienced something similiar or has any advice how I can overcome this problem in my next try for the GMAT (which will be in approx 3 week)?

Thanks in advance!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sstefan,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. When these types of score drops occur, 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, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you ever seen any of the questions before you took the CAT?

Beyond questions about those CATs, I have a few additional questions about your studies and your goals:
1) What is your goal score?
2) How long have you studied?
3) What materials have you used?

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

sstefan · Answer

Thanks for the quick reply!

1. Yes, I did the whole thing
2. Took them in library where I usually learn
3. Yes, more or less the same time
4. no
5. Just the GMAT prep 1 (score: 660) I took for the second time. But there were a lot new questions, and the question which I got wrong in the first test I got them wrong again to keep the score realistic.

- My score goal is around 630, 640
- I have studied since febraury almost full time
- I used some Manhatten Guides, but mainly I did question sets of 10 from the OG, Verbal Guide and Quand Guide.

Thanks for help!

Cheers,
sstefan

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sstefan,

From your prior post, there weren't any obvious 'red flags' about how you took your CATs, so I have a few additional questions about the lead-up to Test Day and Test Day itself:

1) What did you do in the 3 days before your GMAT?
2) How did you sleep the night before your Test?
3) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?

4) What time was your Test?
5) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
6) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
7) Did you finish any sections early?
8) 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

sstefan · Answer

The three days before the exam I learned the same ways as before, but I felt that I did not learn as efficient as before.
I slept very good, so no problem with my physical and mental state. I had to drive to the test center about 1,5 hours with the train.
My test was at 1:30 pm, and there were no distractions.
During my breaks I drank something, but I finished every break very quick to keep going again.
On the verbal part I guess I was too quick. When I think back, I had kind of the feeling "ok, now its just the verbal part and it is over" I think that distracted me....

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sstefan,

Your last post provides some information that certainly could explain the drop in performance.

1) The long commute (1.5 hours by train) could certainly 'wear you down' a bit. By comparison, when you took your CATs, you probably just sat right down at the computer and got started (without having to travel for 1.5 hours first). 
2) The 1:30pm start time is relatively later on in the day. Most people do their best thinking in the first 4-5 hours of the day. Thus, if you got up in the morning, then you spent your 'best thinking time' before your GMAT even started.
3) The two 8-minute breaks are remarkably important and can be used in a strategic way to put yourself in the best possible physical and mental state to deal with the next section of the Test; it doesn't sound like you used your breaks in a particularly specific or effective way.
4) Rushing a bit through the Verbal section (because you "just want the Test to be over") is a common instinct for many Test Takers. Unfortunately, it almost always means that you're not doing enough work to properly answer the 41 Verbal questions in that section. Finishing early is almost never a good thing. In real basic terms, the Verbal section is HALF of your score, so if you don't use that 75 minutes effectively and you don't do the necessary work, then your score will drop.

Thankfully, all of this can be improved upon. You probably can't do anything about the commute to the Test Center, but you CAN train with that detail in mind. Given that your goal score is about 100 points above your Official Score, you'll likely need 2 more months of consistent, guided study to hit that goal.

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

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