Guidance/ Suggestions sought: GMAT in a month

Question

-- Updating with mock test scores as I go along. Exam on 15 Nov. This has become a diary of sorts now.

Hello,

I need something about 700-720 to get into MBS Australia.

I have scheduled the exam exactly a month from today. So far I have taken 4 practice tests, and randomly gone through some videos of Wizako - they are good. Let's say, the dedicated and disciplined study starts from today.

I have bought the Official practice material and 4 Manhattan tests. My current plan is more of less solving all the Official questions, and taking about 6 sample tests in a month - 3 official, and 3 manhattan.

Below are the results of my last 4 mock tests. Do you think I can hit the 700 mark in a month? Any special advice/ strategy if available for SC would be highly appreciated. Tests taken in same order with a gap of 2 days:

Official 1- 660 (V33, Q48) (test taken casually. First exposure to GMAT in life.
Official 2- 680 (V38, Q45)
Manhattan 1- 630 (V32, Q44)
Official 3 - 690 (V38, Q47)
Official 4 - 690 (Q48, V36) RC- 11/13, SC- 7/14, CR- 9/9.

The Manhattan test was a blow to my confidence. It is also a reputed name, cannot discard those results completely.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi neha988,

A CAT/mock is really a 'measuring device' - when used correctly, it will give you a realistic score and help define your strengths and weaknesses, but it will NOT help you to fix any of those weaknesses. To raise your scores, you have to learn the necessary Tactics and put in the proper practice and repetitions. The CAT will show you whether your studies are helping you to improve or not. In addition, the process of taking (and reviewing) a CAT requires a significant amount of energy and effort - and takes time to 'recover' from. This is one of the reasons why you typically should not take more than 1 CAT per week - and your last CAT should be taken about 1 week before Test Day. Going forward, you really shouldn't take more than 1 FULL CAT per week.

Assuming that you took these CATs in a realistic fashion that matches-up with what you will face when you take the Official GMAT, you are remarkably close to a 700+ right now. 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:

Studies:
1) Going forward, how many hours do you plan to study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?

Goals:
3) When is your exact Test Date?
4) Are you planning to take the At-home GMAT or are you planning to take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
5) What application deadline(s) are you facing?

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

neha988 · Answer

Thank you for the reply Rich. Yes, my further plan is a CAT per week. Below answers to your questions:

Studies:
1) Going forward, how many hours do you plan to study each week?
-- I can study 6 hours per day, 8 if required. I am not sure if the brain can do quality work for more than 6 though.
2) What study materials have you used so far?
-- I have bought all the official prep, 4 official tests, 4 Manhattan tests. I watched some Wizako videos earlier, now planning to focus only on the Official prep for 2 weeks. Thinking of buying Manhattan Verbal prep after 2 weeks if I am able to complete official prep in 2 weeks.

My study plan revolves around official for next 2 weeks. I search for questions related to a particular topic on this forum sometimes.

Goals:
3) When is your exact Test Date?
--14 Nov
4) Are you planning to take the At-home GMAT or are you planning to take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
-- Test facility
5) What application deadline(s) are you facing?
-- 28 Nov. MBS Australia round 2.

Any insights would be highly appreciated.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Neha,

Based on how you have been scoring on your official practice exams, I do think that you have a shot of scoring 700 in about a month. With that in mind do you want some specific advice on how to improve your GMAT quant and verbal skills? Also, here are a few helpful articles for you to check out in the meantime:

How to Score a 700+ on the GMAT — A Mini-Guide for Success

GMAT Sentence Correctoion - 8 Essential Tips

neha988 · Answer

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the reply.

As you ask for specific advice, I am unsure if a month of good preparation can help someone move from let's say a Q45-46 level (based on my practice scores) to a Q49, or dare I dream, Q50?

I feel good about Algebra in general except probability and statistics. Have not started any Geometry practice yet. Have been missing out almost all geometry questions in the earlier practice tests. Linear equations are a bit of a hassle. Still it's Math, I have scope to believe that I can improve with practice.

Coming to verbal - I am most unsure about whether I can progress from V35s to V40s. Isn't my language ability an outcome of all the reading and writing I have done for the past 30 years? Can you/ some experts here
tell me with experience and confidence that it is possible to move from V35s to 40s in a month?

For reference, I had the perfect score in PTE in Jan-2018. 90/90. PTE is a language/comprehension exam, so is the Verbal. I could be as good as higher 40s if I can get the perfect score in PTE. Am I missing something?

I am getting the SCs wrong in verbal. I check the explanations and I don't have a clue why one option was better than the other and how am I going to see it better than the other in a month.

Thanks in anticipation,

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi neha988,

I've sent you a PM with some additional questions.

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

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi Neha, Looking at your scores, I feel that there is no proper methodology you are following to solve questions. Your quant and verbal scores are not consistent, which means the score can go either way on the actual test day. So, I suggest you to work on your methodology in this month and then take the test confidently. Let me elaborate it to you. The path forward: As you have just a month to your test, I'm sure you must have gone through all the concepts. The only thing you need to work on is your methodology. If you learn the right methodology to solve questions, your scores in mocks will not be as inconsistent as they are now because you will solve the questions using the right technique. What happened in your mocks was you somehow got the right answer without using the proper method. This is highly unlikely to happen in the actual test. As you are looking for help in solving SC questions, I'll explain you the methodology using SC itself. There is a common misconception that knowing grammatical rules will help you solve SC questions. But SC questions on GMAT test your ability to convey the intended meaning without any ambiguity. So, it is important to approach SC questions from a meaning stand-point . Because you will often come across answer choices which are grammatically correct and convey a logical meaning but are indeed incorrect. So, it is important to understand the intended meaning the original sentence is trying to convey and then eliminate choices which do not convey the intended meaning or which are grammatically incorrect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SGA8bwFNJM I recommend you to make a proper study plan for this month and have clear weekly deadlines. This will help you focus on the right areas and help you stay motivated right till the end. The study plan should focus on: Identifying the weaker areas Organizing concepts for every week Learning the right methodology for each topic Solidifying the methodology by practicing a few questions Taking timed quizzes If you need any help in making a study plan, you can get in touch with me over a call or just sign up for the free trial on GMATWhiz and get your personalized study plan for free. All the best

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EducationAisle · Answer

Hi  neha988 , I am hoping you are aware that for the rather modest target of 700 that you have, you don't necessarily need to progress to V40s.

In fact, a V38 (which you already have in 2 official mocks), along with Q48 (which you definitely seem to be capable of even in your current capacity, since you've not even started on Geometry), would comfortably push you to a 700+.

So, in the coming one month, I would suggest that you focus on consolidating and reinforcing the concepts and focus on your strengths, rather than spending too much time on completely unfamiliar concepts that might perhaps not yield a proportional RoI.

p.s. From your post, it looks like you've not gone through any  structured coaching/material  as yet.

neha988 · Answer

Thank you for the response. I am trying to make the most out of 4 weeks available now.

neha988 · Answer

Hello Ashish,

Thank you for the response. The target is a minimum 700, more than that enhances my chances of securing an admission. I took another Manhattan prep, scores below. I am really not sure why the scores differ so much. I am staying optimistic, and believing in the official prep scores. Will take another test after a week.

Official 1- 660 (V33, Q48) (test taken casually. First exposure to GMAT in life.
Official 2- 680 (V38, Q45)
Manhattan 1- 630 (V32, Q44)
Official 3 - 690 (V38, Q47)
Manhattan 2- 640 (V34, Q44)

I have neither taken any structured course nor can claim familiarity with all concepts. That is my plan for next 2 weeks. For next 2 weeks, I will complete the official syllabus and OG questions - Quant plus Verbal. This leaves me 2 more weeks for more study. I am getting inclined towards Manhattan for verbal and GMAT club tests for Quant for these 2 weeks.

Hopefully this solidifies a Q48, V38, which I have already secured in 2 Official preps without any dedicated preparation. Any suggestions / advice is welcome. I would appreciate more if any experts here would really help me get my best possible score.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

I see some doubt is starting to creep in. By chance would you be able to study longer and take your GMAT at a later date?

neha988 · Answer

Hello Scott,

Thanks for responding. The application deadline is after 6 weeks from now. I have only this available date - 3.5 weeks from now. A very low score would force me to move my application to next rounds - for which the deadlines are in March.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Understood. Well work your butt off and let's see how things go, right?

neha988 · Answer

Thank you everyone who took the time to respond.

I scored 660 in my first GMAT. Q47,V34. I was planning my second attempt, but someone recommended to have a look at GRE, if that suits my strengths. I would need a 324-325 GRE to equate to GMAT 700.

I attempted GRE and scored 325. Unfortunately it was V-161, Q-164 which equates to 690 as per the online calculators available. Took a second attempt at GRE and scored 330. V-163, Q-167 (equates to GMAT 720). That should be good enough for Melbourne business school I believe.

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Congratulations neha988!! All the best

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Great work!! Thank you for sharing.

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