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20never
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GMAT Test Strategy to improve from 510 to 550 14 Oct 2020, 02:43
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Hi All,

I need some advice on my GMAT test strategy. I took GMAT 2 years ago with a score of 530 (V23; Q:39). For 2 years, I have studied Manhattan series for verbal and quant. And I have practiced questions in GMAT OG 2021 and 12th edition. I have also studied CR bible and wiley SC. I took the GMAT Prep yesterday, to my surprise, my score was 510 (V21; Q39).

The strategy that I adopt for GMAT prep yesterday was: For Quant, I answer those questions that I can do and for those questions that I cannot solve within 30 seconds, I just randomly select one answer. At the last minute, I was left with 2 questions that I randomly select (on the look it seems I can solve it).

For Verbal, I was given an RC first, followed by one SC, then 2 RC consecutively, then SC, CR, RC, SC, CR. My strategy for verbal was to do very well for the first 20 and randomly select the rest. However, I have made 8 mistakes out of the 20, which I thought I spent a lot of time to do well on it. From questions 21 to 29 I spent all the remaining time to answer (my accuracy is 50% for these 8 questions). During the last minute, I randomly select the last 7 questions.

My aim is just to score 600, but I know it is impossible as my GMAT is in 3 weeks. I really do not know what to do anymore. I spent 2 years studying for GMAT and still there is no improvement. I doubt further studying GMAT within these 3 weeks will help any further. I have studied the foundation of verbal manhattan, gone through e-gmat verbal course. Yet, I dont know how else I can do now.

Can any kind soul help me here? What is wrong with my test strategy and how can I improve my score from 510 to at least 550?

For quant: should I just skip those that I cant solve in 30 secs?
For verbal: I really do not know what to do. I focus hard but with low accuracy. I don't even know what to skip, as it seems that I can do it but ended up incorrect.

Thanks!
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GMAT Test Strategy to improve from 510 to 550 14 Oct 2020, 18:10
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Hi 20never,

I’m sorry to hear about how things have been going with the GMAT. Before providing specific advice, I just want to review your test-taking strategy. Are you saying that if you could not solve a question in 30 seconds you took a guess and moved to the next problem?
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GMAT Test Strategy to improve from 510 to 550 15 Oct 2020, 01:41
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ScottTargetTestPrep
Hi 20never,

I’m sorry to hear about how things have been going with the GMAT. Before providing specific advice, I just want to review your test-taking strategy. Are you saying that if you could not solve a question in 30 seconds you took a guess and moved to the next problem?
Show more

Hi,

Yes, that is my strategy. I will randomly guess one answer if I cannot solve the Quant questions.

But for the verbal, the last 7 questions, I just have one minute to select randomly 7 answers.
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GMAT Test Strategy to improve from 510 to 550 15 Oct 2020, 15:23
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My strategy for verbal was to do very well for the first 20 and randomly select the rest.


It might be better to skip 1 question after every 4 or 5 instead. Consider seeing how your Mock scores change by following a different method.
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GMAT Test Strategy to improve from 510 to 550 18 Oct 2020, 15:33
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Hi 20never,

To start, with a Score Goal of 600+, you do NOT need to correctly answer ANY questions that you think are too hard or too weird, but you have to keep the little mistakes to a minimum on everything else. From what you have described, your plan has been to spend a lot more time on earlier questions and a lot less time on others. That could potentially get you to your Score Goal, BUT it also may have inadvertently led you to take inefficient approaches to certain types of questions (and those approaches have left you open to making certain types of consistent mistakes). If you have been studying in this general way for the past 2 YEARS, then you have likely developed some 'bad habits' that are keeping you from scoring higher. We'll need to fix those issues (and replace those bad habits with new 'good habits'), but that training will likely take more than 3 weeks. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. You will probably need to push back your Test Date if you want to consistently score at that higher level though.

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:

1) Have you taken any "time off" from your studies over the last 2 years? Over the last 3 months, how many hours did you typically study each week?
2) You have listed just 2 CAT/mock Scores. Have you taken any other CATs over the last 3 months? 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)?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to? If you are planning to apply soon, then what specific application deadlines are you facing?

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GMAT Test Strategy to improve from 510 to 550 18 Oct 2020, 15:41
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My apologies that was a typo. It has NOT been two years it has been TWO. If that new I formation about me can give you a better understanding of my situation and how I should move forward. Thank you. My apologizes for the misunderstanding.

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GMAT Test Strategy to improve from 510 to 550 18 Oct 2020, 15:42
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Whoops you are not replying to my post you are replying my to some else’s post.

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GMAT Test Strategy to improve from 510 to 550 21 Oct 2020, 19:00
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20never
ScottTargetTestPrep
Hi 20never,

I’m sorry to hear about how things have been going with the GMAT. Before providing specific advice, I just want to review your test-taking strategy. Are you saying that if you could not solve a question in 30 seconds you took a guess and moved to the next problem?

Hi,

Yes, that is my strategy. I will randomly guess one answer if I cannot solve the Quant questions.

But for the verbal, the last 7 questions, I just have one minute to select randomly 7 answers.
Show more

Honestly, I think you are giving up on questions quite quickly and thus leaving a lot of points on the table. 30 seconds is not really a lot of time...
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