Experts Please Help

Question

Hi All,

To pursue my dream I have been preparing for GMAT for a little more than a year now. Though I have earned a 4.0 GPA in my graduate degree I am aware that I am not that good in standardized testing exam. To be more realistic about my situation I targeted for 690 GMAT score and started studying for GMAT.

I took my first GMAT on May 1st 2014 and scored 490 (Q36 and V22). I was really disappointed but gathered the strength and retook the second GMAT on Dec 29th and scored 590 (Q 44 and V27). Before my GMAT I was scoring the same range so I knew that I won’t be able to score that great. I was a little happy that atleast my score increased so I started preparing for the GMAT third time.

Before my third attempt I took the GMATPrep and scored 680. I also purchased GMAT Exam pack and score 640 and 690 in GMAT Prep exam 3 and 4. I was optimistic that atleast I would be able to achieve 650 in my third attempt on June 11th but to my disbelief I scored 570 in GMAT. I was so frustrated that I canceled my GMAT third attempt score.

I really wish to pursue a part time MBA from Michigan Ross, UCLA or Kellogg. I understand that my score is really low for all these schools and ready to give one more try for GMAT.

I would really appreciate an honest opinion if looking at my background 690 seems achievable? Also, please suggest / recommend a private tutor who can help.

Thanks

KarishmaB · Answer

I think you should be able to score a 700 considering you have scored around 650 is a few practice tests. I am assuming you have been working in US for the past 9 years so English must be almost like first language to you. Also, Quant 44 implies that your basics are fine but advanced applications need more work. What was your Quant/Verbal break up in the latest test? I think there are some obvious gaps in your preparation which you are overlooking. Once they are plugged in, a 100 point jump shouldn't be a problem. Where are you located? I can suggest a tutor to you depending on your location - otherwise 'online' is always an option. Meanwhile, check out our website for details of our curriculum, go through our free SC lecture and download our DS book here: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/ Also, take a look at our blog: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/category/gmat/ It has lots of very useful posts.

Noxy416 · Answer

Hi Karishma,

Thank you so much for your reply and sending the useful links.

I am completely demoralized after my third attempt and it's really encouraging to hear from you that 700 seems achievable. In my third attempt the score breakdown was Q41 and V27 (my verbal didn’t change from my second attempt). In practice tests before my third attempt my Quant score ranged from Q46-Q49 and verbal from V31- V37. I have realized one thing that speed is definitely one of the issues for me for both Quant and Verbal.

I am based in Denver, Colorado so it would be great if you could recommend someone local. I am also open for Skype as well.

Thanks

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Noxy416,

Before you spend any money on what could be an expensive tutor, we really need to define how you were studying, so that we can figure out the issues with your performance. There are likely other options (that are less expensive) that can help you to improve.

1) What resources did you use during your studies?
2) Since you've been studying for over a year, did you ever RE-TAKE a practice CAT (a second or third time)?
3) How much time do you think you've spent studying during a typical week?

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

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

Noxy416 · Answer

Hi Rich,

I used GMATPill for my first attempt and purchased the e-GMAT course for the second and third attempt. I improved a lot by using the SC from e-GMAT but I still struggle in CR when I am dealing with the 700 level questions.

The only retake was the GMATprep test in which I scored 680. The Exam pack tests were new and I took them the first time and scored 640 and 690.

During a typical weekday I spent 1-2 hours per day and weekends around 4-5 hours. I took 15 days time off from work and studied around 10 hours / day in last 2 weeks.

Ideally I wanted to apply this year but my GMAT scores were not that great either in second or in third attempt. I plan to retake the test again in next 2-3 months. I am planning to resign from work and focus on GMAT completely for next 2-3 months.

Do you think 2-3 months of rigorous studies might be sufficient to achieve my goal?

Any guidance could provide will be valuable for me.

Thank you so much !!

KarishmaB · Answer

Time management is certainly a skill people need to acquire to do well in GMAT. A tutor will be able to pin point your weaknesses and help you improve your performance. Dennis Cashion is our tutor in Denver. He is a passionate teacher who ensures that students get the concept right. He makes himself available for extra help and is quite dedicated to his art! Call in here: 800.925.7737 to get all your private tutoring queries answered. Check out the course options here: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/gmat-course-options/

RichEconomistGMAT · Answer

Hi Noxy416,

I'm curious to know if you've kept an error log throughout your studies. You mentioned you had timing issues on both, so I'd like to know if you're having issues with specific concepts or are having timing issues that can be corrected by learning some additional test-taking strategies. While a jump from 680 to 700 is definitely within the realm of possibility, I'd caution you against leaning too much on that practice score and prepare as if you're making a jump from a 570 to a 700. Either way, I think we need to understand more about what you're struggling with before suggesting you jump right into private tutoring sessions, which Rich already mentioned can be very expensive.

Best,
Rich

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Noxy416,

Based on what you've described about the CATs you took before your 2nd and 3rd attempts at the GMAT and the fact that you're scoring at that level again in practice, we should 'nitpick' how you're taking your CATs AND how you're handling Test Day.

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, listen to music, etc.)?

On Test Day:
1) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
2) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
3) Did you finish any sections early?
4) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?

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

Noxy416 · Answer

Hi Karishma,

Thank you so much for sending the contact detail for the private tutoring.

Really appreciate it.

Noxy416 · Answer

Hi RichEconomistGMAT,

I did not maintain error log. I usually mark the questions in the book and try to go through them again.

With timing I don’t know if I will call it more concept issues or strategy issue. In quanta I know I do the calculations long way and probably there can be some shortcuts to reduce that time.
In verbal if I need to maintain accuracy I need more time for SC, CR as well as RC. I usually take 1:45 for SC, 2:00 min for CR and around 2:45 min / question (including reading) on average for RC. I understand I am taking more time and always land up rushing in last 10 questions.

I completely agree with you on not relying on the practice test and understand that my last score was 570 and it’s a long road to ahead for 700.

Thanks

Noxy416 · Answer

Hi EMPOWERgmatRichC ,

Please see my reply,

When you took your CATs:
1) The last CAT I mentioned in the post, I did take the entire CAT.

2) Did you take them at home?
Yes, I took all the tests at home with no disturbances as such.

3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
No, my actual GMAT was in afternoon but I tool all the practice CAT in the evening

4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, listen to music, etc.)? 
I did pause the CAT twice to drink water.

On Test Day:
1) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
The ride to test center was only 5-10 minutes from my home so not exhausting at all.

2) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
I just relaxed, drank Gatorade, ate a protein bar.

3) Did you finish any sections early?
I was actually short on time so I didn’t finish any section early but completed with 10 seconds left.

4) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?
Yes, because of my timing issues I did rush in both the sections at the very end. I skipped some questions and selected randomly.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Noxy416,

This extra information you've provided is helpful - it points out some of the areas of your approach that didn't properly prepare you for the Official GMAT. These are some of the big areas that need to be fixed.

The only real way to measure your progress during your studies is to take FULL-LENGTH CATs under 'test-like' conditions. That means that you have to take the ENTIRE CAT, away from your home, at the same time of day as your Official GMAT, without doing anything unrealistic (such as pausing the Test, eating/drinking while taking it, etc.). The more 'differences' there are between how you take your CATs and how you take the Official GMAT, the more likely that your CAT scores are to be inaccurate (and the scores usually end up 'inflated').

The GMAT is a specific 'event' which you CAN train for, but there were too many differences in how you took your CATs, including:

1) Not taking the entire CAT. You were training yourself to take a shorter Test. On Test Day, you had to do MORE work then you were ready to do, so you probably got tired during the Quant and/or Verbal sections.
2) Taking the CATs at home. Your home is too familiar of a setting and does not factor in any of the other Test Day details (travel, etc.).
3) Not taking them at the same time of day. Test Takers are 'creatures of habit' - you were training yourself to take an incomplete GMAT at a different time of day (from the time on your Official Test Date).

The good news is that all of this can be fixed/improved, but you have to be more rigorous with HOW you study (and take your CATs). A tutor is not necessary to fix these issues, but you probably DO need to learn some new tactics and invest in some new study materials. You could certainly hit your goals within 2 months of additional study.

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

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