430-550-560-650 to 650 again. New ESR attached

Just keep the five tests in a rolling twelve month period maximum in mind, and don't get yourself into a situation such that you may have to wait months to take another GMAT if necessary.

True! I may just focus on my test-taking ability and wait for July 19

Just an update.

Took a Veritas Practice CAT last Tuesday and scored 650 (Q46/V34). Not too fussed about the score as I am about the findings: weaker topics/ timing on questions/ ability to manage stress before the test.

I have seen some users test on third-party CATs and get destroyed, so I'll keep these as an improvement tool. For example, I reviewed the timing on some questions and Dayumn... i spent 6 mins 55 seconds on 1 RC question, 5 mins 23 on another!

Although these were likely the questions in which I received the passage (and read) its clear to me that I need to 'learn to let go' as i only got 1 of these 2 RC right.

Good to note my RC has improved - I've been nutting out 4 passages a day and have reviewed past mistakes (this is a very slow burn).

Also, some analysis of my error log reveals that of my 46 or so RC errors, 52% were Inference. So Inference questions are a strong contender to dump on the exam if I can't get it in a suitable time.


Will plan to retake another Veritas CAT soon, then take my last GMATPrep CAT before recycling GMATPrep.

Thanks again for the continued support, particularly MartyTargetTestPrep for our most recent discussions.

Hi all,

MartyTargetTestPrep, GMATNinja ScottTargetTestPrep

I just wanted to ask for some guidance. I've hit the study pretty hard over the last 3 weeks.

2 weeks ago I sat a Veritas CAT and felt okay with it, scoring 650.

Since then, I moved back with my parents to focus on studying and I've knocked out ~40hours of quality study this week with 1 day of work.

Today, I reluctantly took an official GMATPrep CAT (last CAT) and scored 590.

I well and truly ran out of time in verbal as I needed to rush through quite a bit.

This is incredibly frustrating as I'm 13 days out from my exam.

I'm wondering if I shouldn't have moved back home and just focused on continually improving. I'm also wondering whether I should push back my test.

**edit
I think I'm going to just jump back to my city residence and balance out other life commitments, but focus on reviewing past mistakes. I'm likely overstudying.

**EDIT**
Based on my quick analysis of verbal I got a 95% type hard CR question to start, likely blew 3-4 mins on that then was slapped with 2 RC passages back to back, and I bombed out on one completely. Then it was pretty much a game of catch-up after there.

Hi Dan.

While you may have over studied a little, I tend to doubt that over studying is the real issue.

In my experience, outside of training to complete exhaustion, as in, say, going without sleep for days, one can’t really train too much, IF one is training in effective ways.

So, probably you have to adjust what you are doing, particularly in verbal.

Posted from my mobile device

Hi dcummins --

I know that you and Marty had a rather long phone call yesterday. Are you feeling better now? Do you have any more questions?

Let's kick some butt!!! You got this!!!!!

Scott

Hey Scott,

Thanks for reaching out as well!

Yea man I think it sorta clicked with what I need to do in my studies, and I took a bunch of actions down.

Bottom line is I think i'll need to just silo in on a few areas, namely RC, in an untimed manner, then timed, then take ensure i'm at that level of mastery before taking another practice test.

I normally take 1 day off and go for a bike ride or something at my city residence, but I had been grinding for 14 days straight leading up to that dog **** CAT yesterday; I amassed 106 hours of study in this time. So, I'm taking today off and considering moving back to my city residence where my life and existence aren't circulated around the GMAT lol

As I'm cutting it fairly close to the 19th, It makes sense that i move my Exam date back at this stage, but I've got the intention of preparing as if I was sitting it on the 19th, so I can bring the exam date forward if need be.

I think moving back may be a good idea, so you can integrate some other things into your life besides GMAT prep, you know?

Please keep me updated and reach out to us with further questions.

Most definitely. Will reach out to you guys in a week or so. Seriously you guys are the best. The support throughout the last year since meeting you guys has been phenomenal.

Hi All,

Just as an update. I sat the test again yesterday at 3pm and scored the SAME 650 (Q44, V36). Obviously it's quite annoying, so i'm gonna update this comment with my ESR when I receive it then take things from there.

Sat a Veritas Test yesterday and scored 650 lol.... 650-650-650...
The tests are extremely demotivation, but I believe a lot of other users report similar issues. However, it seems that users who consistently score above 700 also score above 700 in third-party tests no matter the source. The real impact is for users who scrape in the low 700s or high 690s - at least based on my desktop search.

I can coach you if you want, but I need to know about specific things before doing so.

PM me with your entire data and we'll see where the path of glory take you

Stopped my prep for a week to focus on b.school apps and work stuff.

Went from Vertias CAT2: 650 to 630 on CAT3

You know that I know that You're taking the official test today

Just Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Unfortunately I have bad news.
I bombed out at 600... started with quant and it dipped by 10 points.

I had a number of issues during the exam:
-before the exam I had a bit of disagreement with the staff as I specifically asked not to be seated in a certain area, and then not to be seated right next to someone, but even though the place was practically empty they sat me next to another person taking the test who was tapping the divider throughout the test with her foot.

- the second thing is the staff started the exam and my pens weren’t working. She replaced them with two other pens that started to work but then stopped working, then she replaced it with another set of pens and one pen exploded ink onto my scratch pad... this was all during quant

- lastly and most importantly, I think I’m a bit burnt out. Traditionally I’ve taken it easy before the exam and gone for a bike ride. I have been a bit sick this last week and I still pushed through the study, but I think the result is that I am too exhausted.

Also, the reason I asked not to be seated in a certain area is because i first took my gmat in that area (there are 3 exam rooms at my test Centre) and I bombed out quite dramatically. This was 2 years ago and I haven’t taken another test in that room since. I felt some sort of psychological flashback to that day I took the test in that room and I almost felt a bit flustered. So there’s some sort of psychological trauma I have associated with that room and that first take and this trauma carried over to yesterday I believe.

I felt so fatigued after quant and I knew I bombed it, but I wanted to push on in verbal.

I’m not sure what my plan is right now. Potentially I’ll resit but not before I take a break.

I didn’t take a break at all
Between my last take, in which I got a 650 (again) and this one.

I’m sorta set on a few schools so if I don’t get the right score I’ll forgo the mba

Posted from my mobile device

Hi
I have been following you for quite some time. Do not do that.You are one of the few persons on this forum who proves that we should not give up and we can achieve the score we aspire with handwork and time. It was just that luck was against you this time. **** Happens Mate.When I started preparing for gmat i was in the Mid 400 range too and i know if i work hard i can achieve the score i want. Dust yourself and get up

DO not give up

Hey, you were burnt out before verbal, and even before taking the test at all, and yet your verbal score bounced back up. Had your quant score just remained where it was the last time, this would have been your high so far.