Last visit was: 28 Apr 2026, 14:01 It is currently 28 Apr 2026, 14:01
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Events & Promotions
User avatar
Kaddyuma
User avatar
Joined: 15 May 2015
Last visit: 02 Oct 2016
Posts: 6
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 6
Kudos: 0
GMAT retake please help... 15 May 2015, 08:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Dear All,

I have given my GMAT on May 15, 2015. I got a dismal 600 Q:48 V:22...

Feeling very low.

I used EGMAT for SC which I found very useful. Skimmed through MGMAT book for CR and also e-GMAT CR course videos.

I prepared from OG and GMAT prep softwares.

I took GMAT prep exams one week before the exams :

GMAT Prep 1 : 690 Q:50 V:33

GMAT Prep 2 : 660 Q:50 V:30

bought the exam pack from GMAC and gave 1 where i score 630 Q:49 V: 26

After all this scored 600 on GMAT.

I cannot make out where i went really bad (of course verbal).

Can anybody help me out... I have planned to study after a small break from it. I have exhausted the materials I have (OG, GMAT Prep questions - official qns).

What should i do now? I am blank :( :( :( :|

Pls help...
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,056
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,056
GMAT retake please help... 15 May 2015, 11:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Kaddyuma,

When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day.

To start, I have a few questions about how 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.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

It's possible that you just had a "bad day"; but if we can figure all of this out quickly, then you shouldn't wait too long to retest. You'll clearly need to put in some extra work on the Verbal section, and that might mean investing in some new GMAT materials, but that section of the Test is just as predictable and standardized as the Quant section is, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
Kaddyuma
User avatar
Joined: 15 May 2015
Last visit: 02 Oct 2016
Posts: 6
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 6
Kudos: 0
GMAT retake please help... 15 May 2015, 22:05
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi Kaddyuma,

When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day.

To start, I have a few questions about how 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.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

It's possible that you just had a "bad day"; but if we can figure all of this out quickly, then you shouldn't wait too long to retest. You'll clearly need to put in some extra work on the Verbal section, and that might mean investing in some new GMAT materials, but that section of the Test is just as predictable and standardized as the Quant section is, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

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

Hi Rich,

1A. You are spot on with your first question. I didnt take the entire Mock test. I skipped IR and Essay.
2A. Yes I took that at home.
3A. No I havent taken them at the same time as the official GMAT.
4A. Since I took it at home, some interruptions were there.
5A. GMAT Prep 1 I took it before starting all the prep and scored a 630 and after all the prep for I took GMAT prep 1 : 690
GMAT Prep 2 : 660
GMAT exam pack 1 : 630

Main GMAT : 600.

Answering all the questions I realize how bad my practice was. I realize all the mistakes I did. Though there are concerns regarding this I have some own concerns...

1) Like in quants for example lets take this question

sqrt(1-((3/5)^2)) I can solve this and i can be sure the answer is going to be 4/5...

similarly In verbal part of GMAT... I can do that to a certain extent on SC ( probably on 650 level questions)

but on CR am clueles as to what is going. :( :( :( :?:

Pls suggest a way forward for Verbal as a whole.

Thanks a ton
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,056
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,056
GMAT retake please help... 16 May 2015, 10:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Kaddyuma,

The extra information that you've provided is quite useful, as it helps to define what went wrong on Test Day. In real basic terms, you took your CATs in such a way that you were NOT properly training to face the Official GMAT - so you were not ready to face it on Test Day.

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your scores can become - and that's what happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, retaking CATs, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.'

Thankfully, this is a relatively easy set of problems to fix. The big question now is "how long will it take you to properly get 'used to' taking the full GMAT?" You'll certainly need a new set of practice CATs to work with and you have to put in the necessary time to train your brain (and body) for the FULL GMAT.

As far as your Verbal training is concerned, I think that the EMPOWERgmat Verbal Score Booster would be perfect for your situation. Most of our clients can finish that Study Plan in under a month (although you might need more or less time), so you could get in that practice and be ready to retake the GMAT in a month and hit your score goals.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Moderator:
bb
Founder
43171 posts