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theshivam
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First GMAT official practice test 27 May 2020, 05:30
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Hi,

This is my first post on this forum, although I have been actively practicing the questions here with timer and I believe it is a wonderful tool. (I am not sure if I made any error in this sentence).

So, After about a month of study I finally gave my GMAT official practice test -1 on 25th may with the disastrous results.

650 Q50V29

It was pretty much under realistic test conditions.

Also, the score of my free Manhattan CAT was not much encouraging either, which I gave a week earlier.

630 Q48V28

I am desperate for at least a 700 on the real GMAT which I have scheduled for 2nd July 2020.
This is a cry for help to all the experts to advice me whether or not the score of 700 is possible with just over a month left , and if at all it is possible please advice how.

I am a non-native (I guess you would have figured that out)

Any advice/help is appreciated.
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First GMAT official practice test 27 May 2020, 05:42
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Hi theshivam

Thanks for reaching out on the forum, it feels good to see you coming out and asking for advice.

Before we delve into strategies to improve your score even further, let me point out that 650 is a very good score and you need fine tuning to turn it into 700+. A very important step to reach at that score is to:

    • Make a study plan to reach that target score

Doing this will make your preparation focused on the target which is the most efficient way to study. A study plan would also help you estimate the amount of time you would need to study and thereby when to plan the test.

Looking at your scores, I can say that you need significant improvement in Verbal. Majority of students falter in their GMAT exam because they start their preparation with OG.

This is a major mistake because if you start your preparation by solving OG questions, you are skipping to practicing questions without learning the concepts. This is a trial-and-error based preparation methodology which cause a two-fold problem:

    1. It increases your preparation time by up-to 5X.
    2. You tend to miss out on concepts even after solving many questions.

We have helped more than 25,000 people in last 1 year in achieving their target of a good GMAT score. Maximum people attributed their success to the structured process which we suggested them.

I would be happy to build a personalized strategy that will help you crush the GMAT based on your strengths and weaknesses. Please book some time to connect here.

Hope to hear from you soon

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First GMAT official practice test 27 May 2020, 08:07
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Yes, it's possible to score 700 + from 650 in mock test. It'd be better if you focus more on OG questions only in last 3 weeks before the exam. All the best.
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First GMAT official practice test 27 May 2020, 10:23
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theshivam
welcome to the forum. it seems that your quant score is more than fantastic within this short period of time. so it is better to emphasize on verbal part. try to watch few videos from 'thursdays with ron' in youtube. happy study.
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First GMAT official practice test 27 May 2020, 16:31
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Hi theshivam,

To start, a 630 is a great initial CAT score (the average score on the Official GMAT hovers around 550 most years). Many GMATers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so if you've studied for just one month, then it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort to have scored higher yet. Your 630 and 650 are remarkably similar to one another - and you are actually closer to a 700+ than you probably realize, but you will have to make some significant changes to how you "see" (and respond to) the Verbal section before you can consistently score at that 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?

Goals:
3) What is your overall goal score?
4) 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,
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theshivam
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First GMAT official practice test 27 May 2020, 20:59
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi theshivam,

To start, a 630 is a great initial CAT score (the average score on the Official GMAT hovers around 550 most years). Many GMATers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so if you've studied for just one month, then it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort to have scored higher yet. Your 630 and 650 are remarkably similar to one another - and you are actually closer to a 700+ than you probably realize, but you will have to make some significant changes to how you "see" (and respond to) the Verbal section before you can consistently score at that 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?

Goals:
3) What is your overall goal score?
4) 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
Show more

Studies:
1) I would say 30-35 hrs a week. Because of the lock down I am working from home so I was able to squeeze out much more time to study than I normally would have.
2) I have used Manhattan books for most of my preps and solved problems from the OG. No specific prep for RC, although I referred some of the techniques posted in Gmatclub forum like GIN's RC technique.

Goals:
3)I will be more than happy with a 720.
4)The course I am targeting is the 1 year Executive MBA from IIMs.

Also, I would like to point out that while practicing question from Gmatclub (using a timer) I have a fairly good level of accuracy in verbal. (80% for 600-700 level questions and 60% for 700 level questions), but in practice tests it comes down to 50%. I guess while practicing I am not mixing up the questions, like I do 10-12 SC questions in a row then 10-12 CR questions while in the tests they are jumbled up, so I get a little confused while applying the concept. Does that happens?
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First GMAT official practice test 28 May 2020, 00:39
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Hi Shivam, clearly verbal needs a lot more focus from you, going forward. Are there any specific sub-sections in verbal that you struggle with?
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First GMAT official practice test 28 May 2020, 00:48
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Hi Shivam, clearly verbal needs a lot more focus from you, going forward. Are there any specific sub-sections in verbal that you struggle with?
Show more

No, in the tests all were more or less the same level. CR was a little better. But, as I mentioned earlier I do a lot better in verbal while practicing questions from this forum, 60% accuracy in hard questions and 80% in medium level questions,(I use timer too) but during the test this accuracy level comes down to 50-60%. Should I practice with more tests?
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First GMAT official practice test 28 May 2020, 13:21
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Hi theshivam,

First off, great job with quant! Q50 is a fantastic quant score. Regarding verbal, as has been said, getting your verbal score up will be key to you hitting your 700 goal score. Regarding your timeline, is there a particular reason why you need to be done in just one month? Also, would you like some general advice on how to improve your verbal skills? In the meantime, you may find it helpful to read the following article:

How to Score a 700+ on the GMAT — A Mini Guide for Success
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First GMAT official practice test 28 May 2020, 13:40
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ScottTargetTestPrep
Hi theshivam,

First off, great job with quant! Q50 is a fantastic quant score. Regarding verbal, as has been said, getting your verbal score up will be key to you hitting your 700 goal score. Regarding your timeline, is there a particular reason why you need to be done in just one month? Also, would you like some general advice on how to improve your verbal skills? In the meantime, you may find it helpful to read the following article:
Show more

The courses for which I want to apply have deadlines for their first round in last week of August. So I booked a date of about 1 1/2 month before, just in case I have to retake the test.
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First GMAT official practice test 28 May 2020, 19:50
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Hi theshivam,

Since you're interested in Executive-Level Programs, have you checked to see if those Programs accept the Executive Assessment Score as part of the application process (or do they only accept the GMAT - or GRE - from applicants). I ask because you would likely find the EA to be easier than the GMAT - and many of the skills that you have already learned would transfer over to that Exam. You would still need to work on your Verbal skills either way - and that includes being able to quickly 'shift gears' from RC to SC to CR (and efficiently deal with whichever question is in front of you).

In addition, as you continue to study, you have to be careful about confusing "quantity" of study with "quality" of study. I've never asked anyone to study 35+ hours a week - and while it's great that you might have the available time to study that much, with that number of study hours, you would run the risk of 'burning out' before Test Day (and that is something that we want to avoid). If you are going to try to study that much, then I suggest that you take one hour "off" for every two hours of study. For example, you could study for 2 hours, then stop for an hour, then study for another 2 hours, then take an hour off, etc.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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First GMAT official practice test 29 May 2020, 06:22
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi theshivam,

Since you're interested in Executive-Level Programs, have you checked to see if those Programs accept the Executive Assessment Score as part of the application process (or do they only accept the GMAT - or GRE - from applicants). I ask because you would likely find the EA to be easier than the GMAT - and many of the skills that you have already learned would transfer over to that Exam. You would still need to work on your Verbal skills either way - and that includes being able to quickly 'shift gears' from RC to SC to CR (and efficiently deal with whichever question is in front of you).

In addition, as you continue to study, you have to be careful about confusing "quantity" of study with "quality" of study. I've never asked anyone to study 35+ hours a week - and while it's great that you might have the available time to study that much, with that number of study hours, you would run the risk of 'burning out' before Test Day (and that is something that we want to avoid). If you are going to try to study that much, then I suggest that you take one hour "off" for every two hours of study. For example, you could study for 2 hours, then stop for an hour, then study for another 2 hours, then take an hour off, etc.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Thank you for taking out time to respond to my queries, that's a great point about burning out will keep that in mind.
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theshivam
ScottTargetTestPrep
Hi theshivam,

First off, great job with quant! Q50 is a fantastic quant score. Regarding verbal, as has been said, getting your verbal score up will be key to you hitting your 700 goal score. Regarding your timeline, is there a particular reason why you need to be done in just one month? Also, would you like some general advice on how to improve your verbal skills? In the meantime, you may find it helpful to read the following article:

The courses for which I want to apply have deadlines for their first round in last week of August. So I booked a date of about 1 1/2 month before, just in case I have to retake the test.
Show more

Understood. If you need any further advice, feel free to reach out.

Good luck!
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theshivam
ScottTargetTestPrep
Hi theshivam,

First off, great job with quant! Q50 is a fantastic quant score. Regarding verbal, as has been said, getting your verbal score up will be key to you hitting your 700 goal score. Regarding your timeline, is there a particular reason why you need to be done in just one month? Also, would you like some general advice on how to improve your verbal skills? In the meantime, you may find it helpful to read the following article:

The courses for which I want to apply have deadlines for their first round in last week of August. So I booked a date of about 1 1/2 month before, just in case I have to retake the test.
Show more

Understood. If you need any additional advice, feel free to reach out.
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theshivam
Hi,

This is my first post on this forum, although I have been actively practicing the questions here with timer and I believe it is a wonderful tool. (I am not sure if I made any error in this sentence).

So, After about a month of study I finally gave my GMAT official practice test -1 on 25th may with the disastrous results.

650 Q50V29

It was pretty much under realistic test conditions.

Also, the score of my free Manhattan CAT was not much encouraging either, which I gave a week earlier.

630 Q48V28

I am desperate for at least a 700 on the real GMAT which I have scheduled for 2nd July 2020.
This is a cry for help to all the experts to advice me whether or not the score of 700 is possible with just over a month left , and if at all it is possible please advice how.

I am a non-native (I guess you would have figured that out)

Any advice/help is appreciated.
Show more

Just an update.

I gave my GMAT practice test -2 today and scored decent.

710 Q50 V34

However, I must admit that some of the quant and verbal verbal questions looked familiar.

I think I have a good grip on CR questions now, and SC is improving bit by bit. ( I am revising SC concepts from Manhattan books frequently)

RC is still the problematic area for me. The first RC passage was a social science passage I guess and I got all 4 questions wrong. This must have dragged down my score for sure.

The course which I am aiming for has the deadline on 31st Aug, should I postpone my test date from July 2nd to August end. Will my score still reach the school before the deadline date?
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First GMAT official practice test 14 Jun 2020, 07:41
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theshivam
Hi,

This is my first post on this forum, although I have been actively practicing the questions here with timer and I believe it is a wonderful tool. (I am not sure if I made any error in this sentence).

So, After about a month of study I finally gave my GMAT official practice test -1 on 25th may with the disastrous results.

650 Q50V29

It was pretty much under realistic test conditions.

Also, the score of my free Manhattan CAT was not much encouraging either, which I gave a week earlier.

630 Q48V28

I am desperate for at least a 700 on the real GMAT which I have scheduled for 2nd July 2020.
This is a cry for help to all the experts to advice me whether or not the score of 700 is possible with just over a month left , and if at all it is possible please advice how.

I am a non-native (I guess you would have figured that out)

Any advice/help is appreciated.
Show more


Q50 is a wonderful start. For a nonnative speaker, improving of the verbal section can be a long and painful journey. You need to hold on.
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theshivam
theshivam
Hi,

This is my first post on this forum, although I have been actively practicing the questions here with timer and I believe it is a wonderful tool. (I am not sure if I made any error in this sentence).

So, After about a month of study I finally gave my GMAT official practice test -1 on 25th may with the disastrous results.

650 Q50V29

It was pretty much under realistic test conditions.

Also, the score of my free Manhattan CAT was not much encouraging either, which I gave a week earlier.

630 Q48V28

I am desperate for at least a 700 on the real GMAT which I have scheduled for 2nd July 2020.
This is a cry for help to all the experts to advice me whether or not the score of 700 is possible with just over a month left , and if at all it is possible please advice how.

I am a non-native (I guess you would have figured that out)

Any advice/help is appreciated.

Just an update.

I gave my GMAT practice test -2 today and scored decent.

710 Q50 V34

However, I must admit that some of the quant and verbal verbal questions looked familiar.

I think I have a good grip on CR questions now, and SC is improving bit by bit. ( I am revising SC concepts from Manhattan books frequently)

RC is still the problematic area for me. The first RC passage was a social science passage I guess and I got all 4 questions wrong. This must have dragged down my score for sure.

The course which I am aiming for has the deadline on 31st Aug, should I postpone my test date from July 2nd to August end. Will my score still reach the school before the deadline date?
Show more

Here you go! 710 is well within your desired range. Good job!

You may postpone by a month or so if you want but take this call around 23rd June. Aug end will be too late. If you decide to postpone then just do it by a month or so. You will still have 1.5 months from now. All the best!
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