Help! Need to get from 630 to 680+ in 2 months

Question

Hello Everyone -- Thought I'd try my luck in requesting help from all of you on study plan strategies.

I was meant to take my GMAT one week from this post. After taking  several  practice tests (try 9) from beginning of November to Mid Jan I realised I was not getting to the score I wanted and needed to postpone. I now have 2 months (taking the GMAT on the 10th of March) to crack down on my studies and take my score to a 680+ / 70-75% in each category. (trying to get into INSEAD here).

Here's a breakdown of my historical scores:

Date Math % Verbal % Total % Source
7/11/15 32 30% 32 64% 530 40% Veritas
8/11/15 31 26% 31 59% 520 30% Veritas
29/11/15 39 48% 32 64% 590 59% Veritas
30/12/15 42 57% 34 69% 620 69% Veritas
22/12/15 45 68% 34 69% 650 78% GmatPrep
2/1/16 39 48% 33 67% 590 59% Veritas
3/1/16 39 48% 41 93% 650 78% GmatPrep
9/1/16 42 57% 31 59% 610 66% GmatPrep
10/1/16 37 44% 39 88% 630 72% GmatPrep

My assessment says that I should focus on math as (other than on the 9th) I'm scoring well in Verbal. I've looked at some study plans but none of them seem to fit my situation (low 600s to high 600s).

I've already been studying since November. I started out just doing problems in the OG but realised that I needed help. After a month I signed up with Magoosh and went through all their videos and questions (quite helpful) but my feeling is that when I started, I didn't spend enough time really perfecting each kind of problem. Other than that I'm not sure which way to go.

Any advice would be really really appreciated! This test has consumed my life and so, I'd really like to make the goal by march. THANKS A LOT!

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Hi lpetroski,

That is a lot many tests there and that too n a very short span of time.
The main aim of the test is to prepare you for the final GMAT. You should sit back, analyze each and every test and rectify your mistakes. With such a busy schedule in tests, I doubt you would have done that. You should ideally give 2 - 3 hours for the analysis of each test.

Still, 2 months is a lot of time to get to 680, so a focussed approach along with paying attention to your mistakes and working on them should be able to help you reach you goal score.

From your scores, it is clear that Quants is the problem area and you have also identified the same.
Since you already are following a preparatory course, I would recommend you to go back to the lectures and understand the basics. You can gain some easy points in quants just the understanding the basics. If possible, try to follow one chapter at a time approach. Read the concepts and then solve the questions.

This should help you. Post this, you can solve the Official Guide questions. Also, you should buy the Question Pack1 from mba.com for additional practice.

One last advice - Maintain an error log and note down all the problems you get wrong or guess. Then make sure you write down any new learning from the solutions of the problems. This would ensure that you do not make the same mistakes again.

1. Did you take the CATs including the AWA and IR?
2. How long have you been studying?

lpetroski · Answer

Hey OptimusPrepJanielle,

Thanks for your reply! I actually DID go through every single question after the exam. I probably spent more time reviewing than taking the exam. Every time I took it, I did do the total exam including awa and IR. I took notes of things to remember but I did not record the questions. I've just started an error log for the last cat I took. I've been studying since the beginning of November (2.5 months by now).

I've just purchased the Manhattan prep strategy guides for math as Magoosh doesn't really divide questions by type. I'm hoping that will help. I think I didn't do enough drills after learning material in the past so while I have an idea how to do all questions, I don't have confidence on any of them!

My questions for you:

1. Does it make sense to go back to old exams and review questions and put them in the error log or just to maintain one moving forward?
2. How much time would you spend on re-doing old questions versus new questions?
3. What is the right amount of cats to take?
4. How can I make sure to maintain my verbal score while doing intensive math study?
5. Any suggestions on what my timeline should be with milestones in order to get to that 680+?

Thanks a lot!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi lpetroski,

Based on the information that you've provided, there are some adjustments that clearly need to be made (in terms of how you're studying). GMAC has publicly stated that a Test Taker's Official Score is within +/-30 points of actual ability; assuming a similar 'swing' in how your CATs function, your scores are almost all clustered around 620. To raise your score to 680+, you'll likely have to learn/practice some new Tactics. In addition, you've likely developed some 'bad habits' over the course of your studies that will take some time to 'fix' (and replace with new 'good habits').

As you continue to study, you should take JUST 1 CAT per week. Taking CATs on back-to-back days is never beneficial (and you took 4 CATs over the course of 9 days, which was a waste of most of those CATs). Given your Quant Scaled Scores, you're decent at most of the 'math' questions that you face, but you're still making some little mistakes AND you're missing out on LOTS of 'strategy-based' points (especially in DS) - this is meant to say that you'll need to work on your content AND Tactics to make a big improvement in your Quant Scaled Score. You might also have a pacing issue in the Quant section, but I don't know you well enough to say how big that issue might be.

1) How many hours do you think you can study during a typical week?
2) Are you considering any other Schools besides INSEAD?

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

lpetroski · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thanks for looking at my case. You are absolutely correct that when I look at my work versus the right answer, most of the time there was a small tweak I needed to make in my answer to get it right. I do have a pacing issue because I think I am not confident in my approach for many questions. My theory is that if I get more confident in approaching a question, my timing will go down. I also tend to freeze when I see a question I'm not sure about... so increasing confidence is probably key?

I've been studying (and will continue to) about 3 hours a night during the week and almost 9-9 each saturday and sunday. For me, it's pretty much INSEAD or bust.

Could you elaborate on the "bad habits" vs. "good habits"?

Thanks a lot,
Lauren

torreadortorment · Answer

I improved from 610 to 650 in a week. Have another 10 days and targeting 700 plus. 2 cents. Since you have limited time, buy the GMAT Prep Q Pack and nail every one of those easy and medium questions. That will take you to 45 +. Do the question and look for the answer on GMAT Club or the MGMAT Forums (If they are posted. They usually aren't).

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi lpetroski,

'Bad habits' can come in many forms - many of them are 'organizational' in nature - how you read, take notes, label your work, whether you do work 'in your head' or not (for most people, that's a really bad habit). However, some of them are physical - your posture, breathing, etc. Every time you get a question wrong for a 'silly' reason, then that can almost certainly be traced back to some type of bad habit. This is meant to say that beyond the obvious study points (content, Tactics, etc.), you also have to work on your 'mechanics.'

With 2 months of study time remaining, you might be able to 'fix' these issues on your own, but if you'd rather face all of these issues head-on, then you might want to invest in some new study materials that will keep you focused on all of the things that matter.

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

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Hi lpetroski,

That is a great thing to review the tests thoroughly. Many test takers do not do that and do not learn from their mistakes.
As you said that you did go through the concepts, but did not solve enough questions before attempting the test. So the CATs were you first real test of the concepts. You should solve a CAT when you have gone through the concepts and have done plenty of drills of all the sub sections.

Coming to your questions:

1. Does it make sense to go back to old exams and review questions and put them in the error log or just to maintain one moving forward?
It does actually makes sense to put the questions in error log and review them. You will surely learn something new from them.

2. How much time would you spend on re-doing old questions versus new questions?
If I have got a question wrong and I am not able to get it correct even in untimed fashion, then I would not move ahead from that question and try to find similar questions either from the official guide or from the preparatory course

3. What is the right amount of cats to take?
You still have 2.5 months to go. I would advice maximum 1 test per week. But that test should be followed by thorough analysis and noting down the additional lessons.

4. How can I make sure to maintain my verbal score while doing intensive math study?
Excessive focus on one section might have an adverse impact on the other section. Your mock CATs will ensure that you are not out of touch from the Verbal section. In addition, make sure that you have a set time schedule every day/alternate day in which you can solve Verbal questions and go through the notes.
Usually the best way that worked for me was to feed the SC concepts in your mind is to go through the notes every alternate day before going to sleep. This can also be done with the Quants notes too.

5. Any suggestions on what my timeline should be with milestones in order to get to that 680+? 
If you are able to get close to 680 score in 3 - 4 mock CATs, you are good to go and the 2 months that you have in hand are sufficient to reach to your target score.

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