Drop in practice exam score after preparation.

Question

I gave the official GMAT practice exam in January'22 without any preparation (score: 640). After 3-4 months of preparation, just gave the 2nd GMAT practice exam in April'22 (score: 620). So my score decreased with all this studying??? I'm really demotivated after this second test. Have already booked an exam one month from now. Should I stop studying?

Yogananda · Answer

What is your target B-school and what is your target score?

Posted from my mobile device

EducationAisle · Answer

Which resources have you been using for preparing?

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Providing some more detail about the mock scores (i.e. section scores) and how they went might provide some specific suggestions.

How to get a V40 or higher on the GMAT? What about a V51?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi aditiagg,

There are a variety of factors that can impact your performance on a CAT/mock (and on the Official GMAT), including the type of Exam that you're using, the time of day that you start the Exam, the testing conditions, how well-rested you are, the section-order, etc. In addition, a 620 is not far off from a 640, meaning that the differences in those results could be due to a mix of lucky/unlucky guesses and little mistakes (that you either made or did not make on individual Exams). Until we analyze your studies in a bit more detail, it's far more likely that your current way of studying has gotten you 'stuck' at this level (in the low-600s). Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

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) How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  aditiagg ,

As the other replies in this thread indicate, it's not easy to figure out why your total score has not really changed. And I understand that this can be frustrating, but if you're using good material, I strongly urge you to stick to your prep plans.

Have you already analysed your second practice test? If you have, did you find any weaknesses that you need to work on?

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi aditiagg, Sorry about how things went with your GMAT practise exams. There could be a couple of reasons for the drop in the score. Please go through the article below to find out the probable reasons. https://blog.gmatwhiz.com/scored-low-on-gmat/ Having said that, it would be too early to conclude anything without knowing the actual reason. To understand what could have led to the drop in the score and to suggest you the plan of action, I need a little more information about your GMAT preparation. I would like to know more about the way you prepared till now (your study strategy) your weak areas your approach of solving questions the resources you have used Answers to these questions will help me guide you in a better way. And I personally suggest to go for the exam only after you prepared well and are 100% confident. Having said that, I would like to have a one-on-one conversation with you. The discussion would be mostly around the answers to the above questions, the approximate time you have for the attempt and the plan of action. You use use the link below to schedule a call with me. Click here to schedule a call

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi aditiagg,

I would not say you should stop studying, and I'm happy to provide some more advice, but could you first tell us more about what exactly you have been doing to study for your GMAT? In the meantime here is an article that you may find helpful:

GMAT Study Plan: The Best Way to Study for the GMAT

aditiagg · Answer

My target score is something in the range of 720-740
To be honest, I have no target B-school so far. I just want to tackle one step at a time. I haven't narrowed it down but I don't think it's worthwhile to take admission to anything other than the top 10 B-schools.

aditiagg · Answer

It took about 2.5 - 3 months for me to go through the Manhatten test prep guides.
Read the ones for Verbal thoroughly and practiced all the questions. Did the questions on Quants first, and went back to revise concepts that I couldn't do the questions for. 
After that, I gave this test where I got a lower score.
So went to the OG after that and did about 50 questions from both quant and verbal for the next month.
Was giving the mocks under test-like conditions. And the score stayed in the same 600-640 range.

Finally got a 610 on the main exam.

Now after taking a 2 month's break, I want to focus on it for 2 months and plan on giving the test again in early October.

Thinking about what different should I do to make some actual progress this time.

aditiagg · Answer

Yes I did analyze them and worked on them over the week in addition to some new questions. 
Gave another mock test and almost the same score.
I did this for the whole month and my score has been in the 600-640 range

aditiagg · Answer

This blog has been helpful. Thanks!

I studied from Manhatten test prep guides in the first phase of my prep and then went to the Official guide with weekly mock tests.

The score hasn't improved a bit. Started with 640, got a range of 600-640 in the mocks, and scored 610 on the exam finally.

Does this mean that all those 4-5 months were spent in vain?

aditiagg · Answer

I generally studied for about 15-20 hours per week. Did this for about 4 months. In the last month, the studying per week went to 20-25 hours.
I have used Manhatten prep guides, and the official guide. For mocks, my method has been pretty lean and I did the first free test from all the major mock test providers.
I don't remember the dates when I took the mock tests, but they were almost always a week apart. Scores ranging from 600-640

My overall score goal is 720-740.
Right now, my focus is on getting GMAT out of the way before I start looking at Business Schools.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

I don't remember the dates when I took the mock tests, but they were almost always a week apart. Scores ranging from 600-640

My overall score goal is 720-740.

Consider working with a study buddy. Might give you a fresh insight into how other people approach questions.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi aditiagg,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day did not turn out better. From what you describe, it sounds as though you were essentially trying to self-teach the material - and while you scored reasonably well (the Average Score on the Official GMAT hovers around 550 most years - so scores in the low-600s are clearly above-average), you'll need to make some significant improvements to how you 'see' (and respond to) the overall Exam to hit a 720+. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

From your posts, it also sounds as though you're only interested in applying to some highly-competitive Schools (even if you do not have an official list of Schools yet). As such, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement (and the more time that you have to act on that advice, the better). There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

Before I can offer you any additional advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on your prior studies:

1) What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on the Official GMAT?
2) How many hours did you typically study each week?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

If you took your Official GMAT at a Test Center, then you might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

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

Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

No, of course not. I just think that you need to adjust your study strategy moving forward. You know what I mean?

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