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Laudtdt
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Advice for someone trying to score min 680-700 and currently at 450 16 Jul 2017, 14:05
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Hi,

This is my first post on here! I took my first CAT exam with Manhattan prep and scored a whopping 440, I didn't open a single book and was extremely distracted..Fast forward 3 months later I have been studying and enrolled myself into a prep class...I went up 10 points on the SECOND CAT exam (28 quant, 25 verbal). I would like to apply to the first round of applications in the fall...but I can't with these scores...I hired a tutor who I meet once a week and now I'm upping to two times a week for quant.

What can I do to increase my verbal and quant?? I feel so disappointed in myself and all my hard work was for nothing. Maybe I'm not studying effectively - any tips? Should I focus on one category of the material a day versus my homework given to me in class to ensure I am getting in?

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

Thanks
- A disappointed student...
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Mkrishnabdrr
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Advice for someone trying to score min 680-700 and currently at 450 16 Jul 2017, 17:42
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Laudtdt
Hi,

This is my first post on here! I took my first CAT exam with Manhattan prep and scored a whopping 440, I didn't open a single book and was extremely distracted..Fast forward 3 months later I have been studying and enrolled myself into a prep class...I went up 10 points on the SECOND CAT exam (28 quant, 25 verbal). I would like to apply to the first round of applications in the fall...but I can't with these scores...I hired a tutor who I meet once a week and now I'm upping to two times a week for quant.

What can I do to increase my verbal and quant?? I feel so disappointed in myself and all my hard work was for nothing. Maybe I'm not studying effectively - any tips? Should I focus on one category of the material a day versus my homework given to me in class to ensure I am getting in?

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

Thanks
- A disappointed student...
Hello Laudtdt,
Welcome to gmatclub, since you are beginning your gmat preparation, It would be really beneficial if you could include all the manhattan strategy guides for quant, and verbal. They are really awesome. Moreover, go through Powerscore CR bible for Critical Reasoning. Keep practicing from official gmat and keep an error log. Best of luck for your gmat studies.
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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Advice for someone trying to score min 680-700 and currently at 450 17 Jul 2017, 16:45
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Hi Laudtdt,

From what you've described, you've been 'stuck' at this score level for 3 months, so there's clearly something ineffective about "your way" of approaching this process. Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) What is your typical study routine/schedule each week? How many hours do you study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?

Goals:
3) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Laudtdt
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Advice for someone trying to score min 680-700 and currently at 450 17 Jul 2017, 18:03
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Hi EMPOWERgmatRichC,

Thank you for responding to my post, I greatly appreciate it!

Studies
1) I study in the mornings before work 6:45 AM - 8:45 AM roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. In a week I average about 15-17 hours a week. I am taking a Manhattan Prep class once a week and that is 3 hours. I also have a tutor that I found through wyzant and we meet once a week for 3 hours to work on the quant section. I am now increasing it two times a week with the private tutor. I have been very focused on increasing my quant score which i did in comparison with my CAT exam #1. But still not good enough :(

2) I have been using Manhattan Prep material provided from the class with my tutors notes.

Goals:
1) I have decided to push my date from 8/18 to 9/23. I don't feel prepared enough. My class ends on 8/1.
2) I've decided to apply for the second round of applications that are due in January rather than the first round. In my opinion, I would rather have a solid application with a good score. I know my chances are a lot slimmer but I know I need a higher score.
3) The schools I am planning on definitely applying are: Columbia, Yale, UVA, and NYU. The schools that are in consideration in the maybe pile: Georgetown, Duke, and Berkeley.

I really appreciate your advice and would love to hear from you!

Thank you!!!

EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi Laudtdt,

From what you've described, you've been 'stuck' at this score level for 3 months, so there's clearly something ineffective about "your way" of approaching this process. Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) What is your typical study routine/schedule each week? How many hours do you study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?

Goals:
3) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Advice for someone trying to score min 680-700 and currently at 450 17 Jul 2017, 19:09
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Hi Laudtdt,

You've named some highly-competitive Business Schools, so having a high GMAT score will almost certainly be a MUST for your applications. Given your recent CAT score, we're talking about a roughly 200+ point improvement; that type of score increase will likely take at least another 3 months of consistent, guided study. Since you're currently enrolled in a Course and working with a tutor, I think that you should continue to study as you have been up until August 1st - then take a new, FULL-LENGTH CAT. That score will help to define the additional work that you'll have to do going forward. Once you have that score, you should report back (either here or via PM) and we can discuss how best to proceed.

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