Had to reschedule GMAT 2 weeks from tomorrow - PLEASE HELP!!

Question

Hi Everyone,

I have been plodding along on my GMAT journey and until this morning I had 5 weeks left. Because I am not a math or verbal superstar I have been studying for about 5 months. I have completed the entire Magoosh course as well as read about half of the MGMAT books. I am fairly confident with 70-80% of GMAT material but am still very shaken by the fact that I have only 2 weeks to prepare.

I had planned on completing the OG and both additional books (2015 version) toward the end of my preparation to get my ear used to the GMAT language and in to make sure I had covered all of my bases. I know that most of you feel the questions on the OG are way too easy whilst I do agree I think they are a pretty good way to prepare. I have attached a snapshot of my progress so far through the main OG which will give you a bit of an idea where I am at with my preparation. Given these are mostly pretty simple questions I don't know where my results leave me and what is going to be my best way to go from here.

My plan is to finish these questions and also the additional verbal and Quant books. I'll analyze all the questions I have answered incorrectly for any trends and weak areas and add it to my list of known weaknesses. I'll use the MGMAT books as well as gmatclub.com to address these weaknesses as well as find practice questions.

If you have any other ideas on how I can best use the next few weeks I am all ears, if you also have any idea from those that have actually completed the OG and then gone of to complete the GMAT how does my score so far look?. I am still pretty anxious and overwhelmed at the sudden change of plan so if you have any advice on how to deal with that sort of dilema that would be great too... Not doing too well here.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DropBear,

While the OG Books are great sources for practice questions, they're not really built to help you assess your readiness to face the Official GMAT. To determine what you should be focusing on in these last 2 weeks, you'll need to provide a bit more information:

1) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) Have you taken the FULL CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?

3) What is your score goal?
4) Why did you have to reschedule your GMAT?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

DropBear · Answer

Hi Rich,

1) I have completed a full CAT only once where I achieved 620 (Q44 V31). that was quite a while ago and have put a lot of effort into both sections but in particular verbal (had done zero prep on verbal prior). Not sure if it makes a difference here, but I am a native English speaker (Australia)
2) Yes, this was a full CAT however put very little effort into the AWA and achieved only 6/10 on IR.
3) I would be ecstatic with 700 however might be able to get by with a 680
4) Rescheduling is a work conflict. It is basically irrelevant as I know there is nothing that can be done about it.
5) Am halfway through two application for a September start next year and looking to commence another soon with a Jan 2017 start.

THanks for you help Rich

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DropBear,

Right now, we need a current and realistic assessment of your skills, but we don't have one yet. As such, you really have to take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) as soon as is reasonably possible (maybe Saturday or Sunday?). That score result will provide some really important information on what you should be focusing on during your remaining study time.

1) Do you have ANY flexibility to push back your Test Date?
2) What is the minimum score that you would apply to Business School with?

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

DropBear · Answer

Hi Rich,

would you recommend using the GMATPrep software for this test? I will make sure I get one done over the weekend. I will ensure I complete the AWA and IR. Does it matter that I haven't really studied for this?

1) I have no flexibility on the test date. I am from Perth, Australia and there is only 1 test center which usually only has 1 test a week, and this was the only one available for quite a while.
2) I don't mind telling you that I am currently half way through applications to Cranfield and Melbourne Business School. I have a background that both of them like so am confident that a mid to upper 600 should be sufficient so perhaps 660 would be the minimum score I would apply with. I am later applying to INSEAD which I also have had positive correspondence from however understand that I would need a significantly higher score for there, probably around 700.

I am also a family man and preparing for this exam has taken it's toll, so regardless of what I get in two weeks it will likely be the last shot I have. But am prepared to make any sacrifice and put in any amount of work required over the following 2 weeks.

Thanks again for your help

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DropBear,

Yes, taking one of the CATs from the GMATPrep Software would be a good idea (as long as you have not taken it before). Since it sounds like there's no way around the limited timeframe, we'll work with what we have.

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

DropBear · Answer

Hi Rich,

Took the CAT yesterday... Not really big on excuses, but was a bad day for it, as had a horrible nights sleep the night before with a family full of sick people. In any case I did the full CAT with the AWA and IR and to my horrow scored 610 (Q44, V30) (previously had been 620 Q44, V29). I have had a brief look at the questions I answered incorrectly and for the Quant section and quite a few of them were oversights which I know I need to work on and spend a few extra seconds reviewing.

As for Verbal, this is where it went downhill. I only answered on CR incorrectly, but did abysmally on SC and RC... It is apparent to me that the best return on effort over the next 2 weeks is going to be focussing on SC and RC as even small gains in my V score will result in fairly large gains in the overall score. When I look back at my longer term preparation I have not spend nearly enough time on this area, and have often studied it during times of distraction.

I have cleared my schedule for 2 weeks and have vacation approved so have nothing to focus on other than GMAT. I plan on reviewing the mistakes I have made in quant with both tests so I can do a bit of targetted study in any areas of weakness. I will also look over my OG results for quant and look for any trends that might have a good ROI for effort.

I am thinking I need to go back over the MGMAT SC guide slowly and more thoroughly (with highlighters and a notebook) and actually let it sink in properly. Further than that though would love to hear you advice.

I am realistic and know that anything even close to a 700 is going to be almost certainly out of grasp but am prepared to fight hard for every last drop of improvement I can.

Hopefully you can add some constructive criticism to my plan and maybe help me come up with a best case study plan.

Thanks again,

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DropBear,

With less than 2 weeks before your GMAT, you probably don't have the time to make any big changes to how you handle the Test. As such, you should look to focus on your 'precision' and eliminate any silly mistakes you're currently making. Your tentative plan seems workable; I would suggest that you NOT overdo it with too many CATs though - you have enough time to fit in 1-2 more though.

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

AjiteshArun · Answer

Just a quick suggestion here. Using a book (taking notes/highlighting text) does help, but what really gets those patterns to "stick" is additional practice (solving questions and then reviewing them). I can see "reviewing the mistakes I have made in quant with both tests", "targetted study in any areas of weakness", and "go back over the MGMAT SC guide slowly and more thoroughly". What are you doing for additional practice? This can't be all that you're looking to do in the next 2 weeks.

DropBear · Answer

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the help you all gave me about a fortnight ago. So I sat the GMAT today and had a very mixed results. As per my previous practice CAT's from GMATPrep I had recieved:

GMATPrep1: 620 (Q44, V31)
GMATPrep2: 610 (Q44, V31)

Over the last few weeks I devoured the Manhattan verbal guides and attempted every question in the OG and Verbal guide, making sure to pull apart every question I got wrong so that I could fully understand it. I certainly didn't ignore Quant, but it wasn't my biggest concern after getting Q44 on both test.

Today I sat the GMAT and score 640 (Q38, V39), and 8 (92nd percentile) on IR. I have incredibly mixed feelings about this as I am really surprised how well I did on the verbal (89th percentile) but am just so terribly disappointed in my Quant. There is just no way I can approach ANY business school with a 40th percentile score in Quant. Throughout the test I felt pretty comfortable but started to feel pretty nervous when late in the test I was getting questions that were not much more difficult then adding fractions etc. I can only put this down to really silly mistakes.

I have purchased the ESR which I hope will shed some light on where I performed poorly, if anyone has any other advice on what I should do from here that would be great.

I need to try and figure out an arrangement with my work to try and sit this again which is going to be difficult as an offshore petroleum engineer. If anyone also has any insights on how universities will view subsequent tests, or if things like the AWA and IR are necessary next time I would be glad to hear it. I'm pretty bummed so just going to chill out and drink beer for the rest of the day.

Cheers!

Cheers!

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Hi DropBear, It is good that you have scored well on the Verbal part. For the quants, I would recommend you to go through the ESR and identify the areas of improvement. After that, enroll into a course that suits your needs after taking the trials. Trying a different study pattern and shifting away from the book heavy technique might help Although some of the schools have stated that they do not consider IR, I will still say that give your best in AWA and IR too. There is nothing wrong in scoring well in each and every section of the test. Is it?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DropBear,

To start, a 640 is a solid GMAT Score (it's just shy of the 80th percentile overall), so it could be enough to help you get into either of the Schools that you named. The Q38 is not going to impress anyone, but you might be able to 'overshadow' it with other parts of your application.

You might find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of them here:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

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

	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

Had to reschedule GMAT 2 weeks from tomorrow - PLEASE HELP!!

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards