Can't break 600 - Whats next?

No problem! I understand you, i am on the same boat. I took GMAT last year and scored...yes 590)) This was my best result in 4 attempts. So decided to prepare and take another exam on Saturday 17th of September. I feel that i can fare better this time). Yes i think you should practice if you now all topics and concepts. Now it is time to use this concepts!

Hi Relentless2010,

Your recent CAT scores are fairly similar to your Official GMAT score, so it's likely that "your way" of approaching the GMAT will continue to earn you a score at this general level. This is meant to say that simply working through lots of additional practice questions isn't necessarily the 'solution' to getting you to that higher score.

A November 24th Test Date gives you plenty of time to continue studying though, so you can experiment a bit with some new practice materials.

1) When you took the Official GMAT (and/or these CATs), did you have to rush to finish any of the sections? Did you end up guessing on a bunch of questions at the ends of any of the sections?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

Hi Rich,
Thank you for your reply! I signed up for EMPOWERgmat last year for about 5 months, but only religiously followed the plan for about a ~month–lack of motivation and my workload got the best of me. I’m sure I was burnt out at that point. After taking 6 months off, I picked up studying again 4-5 months ago. I've been using my old MGMAT syllabus and strategy guides. For some odd reason, I thought doing the same old thing would yield a different result. Given my new timeline and goal (680-700) do you think I should sign back up for EMPOWERgmat? I'm frustrated but eager to get this thing over with...

1) When you took the Official GMAT (and/or these CATs), did you have to rush to finish any of the sections? Did you end up guessing on a bunch of questions at the ends of any of the sections?

Timing seems to be an issue in Q when I get to 600+ level questions. I noticed that I tend to make silly mistakes on 500-600 level questions. I admittedly haven't done enough practice questions in OG guides. Maybe that's the next step?

I haven’t taken a practice test with both IR and AWA.


I also notice that I tend to lose concentration on RC questions that appear later in the exam.

2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

I’m applying next year.

3) What Schools are you planning to apply to

I’m casting a wide net to start.
I’m very interested in all the following schools, but ideally I’d apply to Columbia through ED.

Harvard University
Stanford University
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
University of Chicago (Booth)
Massachusetts Institutes of Tachnology (Sloan)
Northwestern University (Kellogg)
University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business
New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business
Columbia University
Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan Ross School of Business
University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
Yale University, Yale School of Management

Hi Relentless2010,

However you choose to study going forward, you're really going to have to commit to a consistent routine (in which you're studying at least several days per week) for the next 2-3 months. Your scores show a solid understanding of the basics, but you're making too many little mistakes and you're missing out on the Tactics and pattern-matching skills needed to score at a much higher level. You could conceivably hit your score goal in 2 months, if you properly commit to the task. I think that you would find the EMPOWERgmat Total Score Booster to be quite helpful. Most of our clients complete that Study Plan in under 2 months, so the time commitment would fit your schedule perfectly.

If you have any additional questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly.

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