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Shirker
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 02 Dec 2009, 17:19
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The day starts with lots of confidence, enter the Exam center, sailed thru AWA stuff, quant was cool – 49 and complete Verbal section without any difficulty…..then the final score report page…unexpected disaster..540 only. Gosh… I scored way more than this even when I first time wrote test without any preparation.
I was confident to score at least 690 in worst case but don’t know how all this happened.
Now I have don’t have courage to even think about taking again the GMAT…
Don’t know what to do…don’t know what went wrong..
Just trying to take out the frustration and checking if any one experienced the same ..
Not looking for solace …just want to understand what went wrong
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esledge
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 04 Dec 2009, 13:04
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Can you tell us more about your preparation?
--Which resources did you use, and how did you use them?
--How much of the OG did you complete, and did you time yourself as you did problems, keeping track of your times/answers?
--What were your study priorities? Did you have any weak areas identified?

Also, please tell us some more about the official test day.
--Did you finish on time?
--How many guesses did you make, and under what circumstances (e.g. guessed when stuck at a certain time, guessed because time running out, guessed on certain question types)?
--Don't tell us about them (please don't violate the confidentiality agreement), but were there any questions that stand out in your memory as either unusually tough or unusually easy? Those memorable questions might help you retrace your steps and figure out where you might have gone wrong.

One thing about your post really stands out to me:
Shirker
...and complete Verbal section without any difficulty…..
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It's counterintuitive, but having no difficulty on an adaptive test can be a bad sign. Since the test adapts to you, you might have been making just enough errors on relatively easy questions that the algorithm didn't give you any hard questions.
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 05 Dec 2009, 06:28
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This sounds very painful.
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Shirker
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 07 Dec 2009, 20:46
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esledge
Can you tell us more about your preparation?
--Which resources did you use, and how did you use them?
--How much of the OG did you complete, and did you time yourself as you did problems, keeping track of your times/answers?
--What were your study priorities? Did you have any weak areas identified?

Also, please tell us some more about the official test day.
--Did you finish on time?
--How many guesses did you make, and under what circumstances (e.g. guessed when stuck at a certain time, guessed because time running out, guessed on certain question types)?
--Don't tell us about them (please don't violate the confidentiality agreement), but were there any questions that stand out in your memory as either unusually tough or unusually easy? Those memorable questions might help you retrace your steps and figure out where you might have gone wrong.

One thing about your post really stands out to me:
Shirker
...and complete Verbal section without any difficulty…..
It's counterintuitive, but having no difficulty on an adaptive test can be a bad sign. Since the test adapts to you, you might have been making just enough errors on relatively easy questions that the algorithm didn't give you any hard questions.
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I used Manhattan SC & RC & Kaplan for Quant.
I was enolled in Kaplan Adavnced course.
OG 11 I finshed complete Verbal and Quant 50-60% (actually I tried question in last).

My weak areas are RC & SC. but later SC improved almost 70-75 % accuracy.

Quant for last 2 question I have to just randomly put some answere.

Verbal: it was last 4 questions I have to randomly put some answere.

:x before this test I have never recieved such a low score.

anyway but your point in last that easy sailing is not thing...so possibly there are multiple wrong answeres in sequence that didn't realize during test..

I know I am not super brilliant to be in 720+...but Kaplan exam I was consistently getting 650 -680...so was trying to reach 690-700 in actual GMAT..

Don't know what to do now should I write again???...don't have any courage left..
This was my third attempt 1st 580, 2nd 660 & 3rd :cry: 540...
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esledge
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 09 Dec 2009, 14:38
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It's just an estimate, but each random guess at the end probably cost you a little more than 1 percentile. So, maybe 7 or 8 percentile drop just due to that.

But, yes, I think the main culprit is probably errors throughout. Your next step should be to figure out what causes your errors. I don't mean "where are you making errors?" You already know that's mostly RC and CR. Possible causes are rushing, misreading, falling for traps, bad process of elimination, misunderstanding the question/question type, etc.

I'd start by looking back at the work you have already done: the practice tests and OG. Categorize all your errors, and look for patterns.

You didn't mention having taken the GMATPrep exams--do one of those next if you haven't already. Review: where do your errors occur (questions type, question number) and why? Many people find forums such as this one to be invaluable for diagnosing their errors and verifying their thought process with others.

Generally, after three official GMAT attempts, people find their scores don't improve unless they change their study approach. Don't take it again until you rebuild your courage, and remember, you have a 660 locked in. Your highest score can only go up from there.
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 10 Dec 2009, 02:09
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I think that you should revisit GMAT with better preps.

suggest u take LSAT as bible for RC & CR.

For quant - pls take th gmat club tests.

Take the gmatprep tests atleast 10 times before you appear for the final assault.

But do consider taking GMAT and cross the 700 barrier.

All the best.

Cheers

Kaushik
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 11 Dec 2009, 16:56
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Thanks esledge..

I think I need to revisit what ever I have done so far and come up with a plan.
But do you think I should change my study material or should continue with same?

Rohit
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esledge
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 16 Dec 2009, 12:25
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You could do either. If you are able to make measurable progress with your current materials, then continue using them. But you may find that you are able to learn/diagnose using your previous work, and you need a new source of questions to try out your new knowledge/techniques/strategies.

Like Kaushik, I've recommended the LSAT as a source of RC and CR similar (though not 100% identical!) to the GMAT. If you can use official GMAT questions (OG 12, GMATPrep), that's best.
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Frustrated with disaster: 660 to 540  Verbal 35 to 17 17 Dec 2009, 09:17
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I had the exact same thing. But I figured out the culprit. I messed up my first RC and then I got really nervous because a lot time of was waisted and after that it all went wrong. However, I have started the preparation again, the very next day. I also think that in my case there were some conceptual problems as well. So I have started with basics from Manhattan. Just so that the tea doesn't mix in the coffee. I am hoping to get back to it soon, Full throttle.
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