got 620 but aim for 740+

Question

Hello all

I took GMAT and got 620 what screwed me on the test, is that a hard tricky question came up, nd since i'm stuborn by nature i kept wasting time on it, and in the end i started guessing to complete on time, i probably guessed like 4 or 5 questions, but since that day im working almost everyday in this website im practicing on 700 level questions by topic, but problem is there's too many of them, i probably worked more than 400 + questions, my job is very demanding i cannot keep up, what do you think guys? also i'm planning to buy some CAT, so i'm open to your opinions

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jimwild,

I'd like to know a bit more about your Official GMAT score, your studies and your overall plans:

1) When did you take this GMAT?
2) What were the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on this GMAT?
3) How long did you study for this attempt?
4) What resources did you use?

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

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

jimwild · Answer

Hi Rich thanks for your reply, 
wow assasins. hah relax...just kidding

1- took it in may (3 months ago now) 
2- 42 quant (gmatprep i had 46), 33 verbal ( on gmatprep i had around 35/36) i think knowing i messed up in quant it affected me in verbal
3- around 2 months study
4- OG, few questions here, Manhattan SC(good), CR(useless)
5- i guess i can kiss goodbye R1, maybe i will apply for R2
thanks

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jimwild,

From these initial pieces of information, there are some details about your studies that are worth noting (and improving on):

1) Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) on their studies before they hit their 'peak' scores. With just 2 months of study, It's likely that you just didn't put in enough practice time to hit your goals.
2) You used a 'book-heavy' study approach. Many Test Takers who do that type of study end up getting 'stuck' at a particular scoring level.
3) You were not scoring close to 740+ during practice (to make that outcome likely on Test Day), so you should not have taken the GMAT at that time.

All of that having been said, raising your score 120+ points AND working on your applications for the Round 1 deadlines does NOT sound like a practical idea. With the Round 2 deadlines though, you would have plenty of additional time to work on everything and achieve your goals. Right now, you do not need 700 "level" questions - you need to focus on learning and practicing the proper tactics so that you can avoid getting 'hung up' on individual questions again the next time you take the GMAT. Investing in some new practice resources will probably also be a must.

What work have you been doing over the last 3 months?
Have you taken any FULL-LENGTH CATs recently? If so, then what were your scores?

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

jimwild · Answer

Hi I didn't take any CAT the last 3 month, i started working on this site working 700 level questions because i know i got screwed on the test by one of those, and obviously i need to higher my verbal also, but not for know

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jimwild,

The approach that you're taking right now is NOT what you actually need to score 740+. You can certainly continue to study in this way, if you choose - but unless you've made some significant changes to how you 'see' (and respond to) the GMAT, then you'll likely run into the same issues again.

If it really has been 3 months since you've taken a CAT, then it would make sense to do so soon (possibly this weekend). You should take a *new* CAT (one that you haven't used before) and take the ENTIRE Exam (including the Essay and IR sections) under realistic and test-like conditions. Once you have those scores, you should report back here and we can review the results.

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

oludayo · Answer

Hi,
So i am in a similar position to Jimwild. wrote my gmat July 24th for the first time and got 620. Although i believe i can work on the other areas of my application to make my general application strong, I believe this score will be to my disadvantage as i plan to apply to top 20 ivy league schools (Wharton, Duke, Cornell and Columbia). I got 45 in quant and 29 in verbal (Critical reasoning and reading comprehension killed me). I plan to start studying again come september and write in October so i can make round 2 deadlines (i have to somehow juggle this with a demanding job).
My question is what study materials can you advise on? what do you think i should be doing to break into that 700 mark?... i used manhattan 5th edition and OG15 and i plan to use these again.(is this wise? because i basically read the complete manhattan set and solved all the questions in the OG the last time hence none of it is going to be new to me this time around. I see a question now and without solving i already remember the answer)...and yeah, i read on and off for like 4months the last time.Please help!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Dayo,

It sounds like you used a 'book-heavy' study approach; many Test Takers who use that type of approach get 'stuck' at a particular scoring level and that's likely what happened to you. If you decide to work in the same way as before, and just redo all of the work that you did before, then you will likely score in the same general 'range' again. To raise your score to a 700+, you have to make some improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections, which means that you will need to learn/practice some new tactics and change the way you "see" the GMAT.

Thankfully, the GMAT is the same predictable, standardized Test that it's always been, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

Since your email answers a number of questions that I would normally ask, I have a few questions about Test Day:

1) What did you do in the last 3 days before your GMAT?
2) How did you sleep the night before the Exam?
3) How long was the ride to the Testing Center from your home?
4) Did you have trouble finishing any of the sections on time (and did you have to rush through questions just to finish?)?

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

oludayo · Answer

Hi Rich,

I appreciate the swift response.

In order to 'learn these new tactics' like you said, would you advise i get a personal tutor or sign up for one of those online study plans? What do you think would make the difference?

To answer your question, i took a one month leave prior to the gmat exam so i was physically rested. In restrospect however i do not think i was psychologically rested as i used about 4months to study and so i started to feel psychologically tired about three week to the exam.instead of resting for a few days, i forced myself to keep studying and answering full length questions so i was tired entering into the exam hall.

Apart from that, i slept well the night before and drove for about 20mns to get to the exam hall.

Lastly i guess i really didnt give any time to intergrated reasoning since it doesnt add to the overall score however maybe that was a bad idea as i strugged with it during the exam and so that got me destabilised for a little while as i wrote the exam.

Il appreciate your advice on tips, study materials and whatever else you think wouldhelp.im a 3.5CGPA student so i know im smart, i just need the right strategy to ace the gmat.

Thanks

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Dayo,

With a Q45 and V29, you have an opportunity to pick up points in BOTH sections (and you'll almost certainly need to to hit your score goal).

I think that you have a pretty good sense of how you might have planned better for this first attempt, so it's important that you incorporate those ideas into your next round of studies (re: being careful NOT to 'burn out'; doing enough IR practice so that you don't get 'thrown off' by that section on Test Day, etc.).

Given everything that you've described, while you do have to train in a slightly different way for this next attempt, I don't think that a tutor will be necessary. I think that you would find the EMPOWERgmat Total Score Booster to be quite helpful though. Most of our clients complete that Study Plan in well under 2 months, so the Study Plan should fit your timeline fairly well. We have a variety of free resources on our site (www.empowergmat.com), so you can 'test out' the Course before setting up an account.

If you have any additional questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly.

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

oludayo · Answer

Thanks. I definitely will check out the website. Thanks a lot

oludayo · Answer

So once i stick to the manhattan, the official guide and the score booster, i'l be fine right?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Dayo,

I mentioned in a prior post that the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Test, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. The key word in that last sentence is "TRAIN" - you have to learn and practice the proper tactics, build up some specific skills, etc. to improve. If you continue to work in the same general ways, then you will score at the same general level. This is all meant to say that you have to adapt how you work and practice what the Course teaches you, but it will teach you everything you need to know to hit your score goals and give you the proper practice to build your skills.

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

oludayo · Answer

Thanks Rich,

Il start with the scorebooster this weekend and keep you posted.

Thanks

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got 620 but aim for 740+

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