Guidance need to gauge performance

Question

Hello Everyone,

I am preparing for GMAT and my test date is not too far. Infact it is just 2 weeks away. The gmat scene at my end goes a long way. I have been preparing since late 2007. Then exactly an year ago in June 2008, i gave my gmat exam. I scored 600. (Q: 48 V23/24). Though happy with quant, I decided to work on verbal. One and half months later I gave another attempt and landed with an even lower score (Q42: V22). At that time I was under pressure and when I reached the verbal section I felt almost blacked out type. Dejected, I took a break for a while. Since then I have been busy with work. I did resume my prep in between but couldnt continue for long. A little over a month ago I restarted my prep. I revised stuff and started with practice tests. My last year's prep came handy as I do remember a lot of stuff as I had worked hard last year (specially in quant).

Now i have been giving gmatclub;s tests and few 800score tests that I have (from last year). Though I am doing okay in them, I mean getting 8-10 quant ques incorrect usually and similar no of verbals usually but its today when I started to give Manhattan tests, I was blown away. I found the quant of manhattan this time to be really tough. I remember that last year when I gave manhattan it was not that tough.

I am in a fix, on one hand I feel my prep is okay but on the other hand i feel that this time when I give exam I wanna be sure I can reach 700. I still have to give GMATPrep and I am waiting for the right moment.

What should I do? Any help or so will be appreciated.

Thanks a lot,

Cheers,
Gr

bb · Answer

DO you have a score on your Manhattan GMAT Test? Check it here - it should give you a rather accurate idea about your performance: https://gmatclub.com/gmat-score-estimate

greatchap · Answer

I gave GMATPrep today and got a score of 600. (Q44 V28). Man I have 10 days in hand. What should I do ?

Pathfinder · Answer

Uhh, it really hurts...

I don't see the problem in your math score, it is pretty OK as long as it ranges from 44-48. with little practice you could stabilize it on some 47-48 level which is more than enough even for top notch schools.

But your verbal is totally different story... Your scores are brutaly low, I mean... Indian guy with 22-28... that is going to kill your applications even on some really low ranked schools. Mid 20s Verbal scores without improvement indicate that you are using wrong material for your study or that you have some really serious problems with your English language. I sincerely hope that it is the first scenario for you... Do you use Kaplan material for Verbal? Anything, like GMAT800 or anything else?

Unless you experience some lucky twist in your exam (I hope you will, because I know some people who scored high Verbal by a pure luck), you will have to work from the scratch on your verbal skills. Just don't give up whatever happens! Never give up.

greatchap · Answer

I know  pathfinder , I am myself surprised as to why my verbal score is low. I have been educated in english speaking schools and have studied most of the stuff in english. I also pursued a masters degree from the UK. I like watching english movies a lot. Thus I don;t think its lack of or bad english skills that killing me. It has got to do with something else I guess. Let me re-work on my english and though I am again reading MGmat SC and other SC notes that I found in this forum, I need to work on RC as that is an area of concern. Any advice on how to restart verbal?

mujimania · Answer

Hello everyone, I just took the first GMAT prep test and got a 750 (Q49, V42). There's two days left for the real test.

I need some good advice on how I can improve my Sentence Correction skills within two days - all 6 questions that I got wrong in the verbal section were sentence correction questions. Any quick fixes that's actually worked for anyone here?

Pathfinder · Answer

You don't need any kind of quick fix, you are going to get high score with or without SC fix.

Out of curiosity, tell me whether you took GMATprep 1 or 2 when you got 6 wrong SCs? I'm almost sure we are talking about Gprep 2... Anyway, don't worry - you are going to nail GMAT, now you have to relax a bit, maybe it is a good time to read some instructions what should you do on the test day and night before. I'm sure you'll find plenty of such threads in this forum.

mujimania · Answer

I took GMAT prep 1. I'll take the 2nd one later on today. Are there any significant differences between the two?

The  Gmatclub maths tests  are just fantastic. I wish I purchased them earlier - I've had access to them for a week and already I feel it's made me sharper. If only there was something to improve SC as quickly - i guess it's too late too start reading up on all the grammer rules out there.

greatchap · Answer

Dont worry mujimania, you will do well. Just go thru some SC notes if you have and you will be fine. Good Luck.

Pathfinder · Answer

GMATprep 2 has some monster SCs, so the verbal raw score tends to be negatively skewed due to this. Real test verbal, and so SCs, are more similar to verbal from GMATprep 1 so the result from GP 1 is more accurate indicator of your real Verbal raw score.

However, you don't have to worry. With 750 from the first try of GMATprep 1... That is an awesome practice score and I'm sure it will turn into an excellent exam score. Just don't forget to inform us of your GMATprep 2 score.

mujimania · Answer

I got 720 (Q48,V 41) for the second test. I seemed to have gone downhill slightly. The sentence correction questions again let me down.

My test is tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck.

Pathfinder · Answer

Don't worry about your second test, SCs in the second test is much harder than those in 1st. I don't understand why they've done tests like that, but that's just the way it is. I don't know what to expect on your real test, it depends on your concentration and luck tomorrow, but I clearly see that you are 750 material.

I wish you best luck. Don't forget to debrief us with some good news tomorrow

mujimania · Answer

Thanks everybody here for the encouragement and advice. I've just returned from the test centre with a 770 (Q49, V47)! I'm overjoyed, especially as I haven't been able to prepare as well as I would have liked.

bb · Answer

This is a bit of a runaway thread, but nevertheless Congratulations!!!! :war

greatchap · Answer

WOW Dude, thats awsome. Really great. Congrats ...

Pathfinder · Answer

Congratulations!!! I can't resists to ask you - what did I tell ya? :wink:

mujimania · Answer

Thanks. I took your advice on board - I stopped studying and started relaxing. Played a football match in the evening, went to sleep early, and woke up very late - around an hour before the actual test!

bb · Answer

You should write a GMAT prep book or start a GMAT Prep company - you will slaughter the competition :-D

Heck, I think I'll join your classes too.

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