Diagnostic score 450

Question

What potential does a diagnostic score of 450 have?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sana28102810,

Many Test Takers are unhappy with their initial practice scores, but you really shouldn't be. It's just a measure of your skills right now - and you'll improve on those scores as you study and hone your various test-taking skills. As it stands, no one here knows exactly what you are capable of when it comes to the GMAT, so the more relevant question is "what are YOU willing to do to improve on this score?"

To that last point, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on your timeline and goals:

1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
4) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

sana28102810 · Answer

Hey Rich,
Thanks for your response. My time line is 4-6 months as I want to enroll myself in a Master's program by 2018, hence I need to have my complete application ready January 2018 latest. My goal score is above the 700 line as my GPA isn't something to show off to the adcomm. But I'm hoping a decent work ex and good GMAT would cover the monster. The schools I am mainly interested are :
1) Esade 
2) HEC 
3) Warwick
4) John Hopkins

The options that I want to keep for MSc are:

1) Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
2) International Affairs
3)Global Strategic Management

Really appreciate your input

ydmuley · Answer

Hello sana28102810 , Answer to this question depends on lots of other parameters, and as I see your response and the universities you are targeting, score of 450 is certainly not a score which will give you entry to those schools, unless you have really exceptional profile. However, please note that it is just a moc and you can still improve. So focus on the areas where you need improvements based on the analysis which you will do for mocs. Hope this helps and wish you all the best. :-D

sana28102810 · Answer

Well thanks for stating the obvious. As a first time test taker I just wanted to know how much a diagnostic score, without any prep whatsoever, can hold potential. Needless to say, this score is not worthy being settled for, and no, I won't apply to the worst of schools with that score. I hope you can provide better guidance. Cheers!

ydmuley · Answer

Hello  sana28102810 ,

I have known people scoring from 400 and above in mocs and getting 700+ in the real exams. So it really depends upon every individual as to how they take the score.

And the reason why I said in previous post may sound obvious but sometimes people miss out on these basics, you can go through tons of posts on GMAT club and check out if you would like to.

So, diagnostic 450 can only give you a brief idea on how much effort you have to put to get your target score. Also, this will give an insight on what are your strong sections and what are weak sections.

So, rather than relying too much on the moc, move on and plan for your target score.

sana28102810 · Answer

Hey  ydmuley  ,

Well knowing where to start is from is essential to the establish the goal limit. The GMAT exam is a skill based test, not a foreign subject. Hence, one can only improvise to achieve the desired result and not learn everything from scratch, and yes the diagnostic score i.e "Mock" is elementary but obviously crucial to draw out the strengths and weaknesses in order to go on forward to achieve the desired goal. Also, would really appreciate if you could contribute something more helpful in nature to a first time test taker, that will be awesome.

ydmuley · Answer

Never mind  sana28102810

I gave answer to your one liner post which was not specific either. If you dont find it valuable you always have a choice to ignore it. Anyways we have several experts here who can assist you.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sana28102810,

Raising a 450 to a 700+ will take some significant effort on your part - and you'll have to make big improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. All of that training will likely take at least 3 months of consistent, guided study; you appear to have given yourself plenty of potential study time though, which is good. When it comes to studying for the GMAT, there are lots of options, so the next set of choices that you make will come down to how 'efficient' you want to be with your time. You can certainly start off with some books and focus on the subjects that you or you could begin with a more formal, organized Course.

1) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

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

Diagnostic score 450

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