Horrible first attempt! Cancelled score! Can I recover? How?

Question

So I just came back from my horrible first GMAT experience. It was completely awful. I'm back at work after taking 1 week off to study and I feel so bad that I want to puke. Literally.

Here is what happened:

I have been studying for the GMAT for a few months. First, I just took classes to brush up my math skills since I majored in journalism, but for the past month I REALLY started to study for the test.

On most prep tests, I scored around a 630-680. Before this experience, I've been one of those people who have ALWAYS thrived under pressure. So I really did have hope that on the test date I might even reach a 700+.

Boy was I wrong. I simply succumbed to the pressure. For the very first time in my life. I've always been a really good test taker. Great SATS score on HS, 116 on the Toefl IBT. I have NO idea what happened here.

To be honest, I have been way too anxious for the past week. Thinking that this day would determine my future. I mean really? This day is NOT going to determine my future at all.

I could barely sleep last night. Woke-up, got to the test center and the essays were okay. I could have done better, but nothing too bad. Then quant came and it just killed me. I couldn't answer the simple first question. It was just bad but surprisingly I maitained my composure and finished the test with a little more confidence.

Then the unexpected happened. I got to the verbal section and had NO conditions to finish the test. I looked at the RC's and all I could think about was the dreadful quant. How I wouldn't be able to get a 700. How I had failed. I could NOT concentrate at all. Verbal is my strenght. On prep, I finish it with 30-40 minutes remaining. I barely get a RC or CR question wrong. The only section that I do make mistakes is on SC, but I've managed to score on the 40-43 range on most CATS. I was aiming for a 42/42.

Well, on the 15th question while reading about asteroids, I just couldn't keep going. I just gave up. I decided to quit.

I cancelled my scores. I feel like such a quitter. I felt ashamed to tell my dad that I couldn't go through with it.

What now? I'm in such a funk. I'm a 23 year old women, I know I'm young and can try again. But I feel like quitting this GMAT business and never looking back again. I really wanted to apply Rd 2 this year, but now it seems impossible. I don't know what to do.

Please help me. Is what happened to me normal? Am I a chicken for bailing? Do other people cancel scores? How do I go back to studying? Should I re-schedule the test next month or should I wait to do it early next year and apply round 1/2011? Where do I go from here and how do I start to feel better??

gmat700hope · Answer

I am more freaked out than ever now that I read the schools will know I cancelled my score. Does it mean that I will never get into a top 10 school now that they will know that I chickened out on my first attempt??

adishail · Answer

Relax. You are been tooooooo harsh on yourself. GMAT is not something that makes or breaks you as a person.

Never leave anything to hope.

I think you just need to relax. You burned yourself out with anxiety - before and during the test.

Do not think about GMAT for a month and two. Then start fresh.

rossmoss87 · Answer

Hi gmat700hope. So sorry to hear about your GMAT experience. Although it is true that schools do see that you canceled your score, there are a few reasons why you shouldn't be too upset.

First, most people take the GMAT two - three times, meaning you still basically have two more shots to really show the adcoms what you are made of. Get a high 600 or 700+, and that canceled score will pretty much be forgotten.

Second, I know of many people who were able to overcome a canceled score, kick GMAT's butt their next attempt, and get into the likes of Booth, Stern, Wharton and HBS.

Third, you can attach an addendum to many applications explaining your reason for canceling, although if you pull through when you retake the exam, this will probably not be necessary.

In all, I would definitely recommend taking the GMAT again, and soon. Why waste all those months of studying? The info is still fresh in your mind. Everyone has a bad day, even if your testing history would dictate otherwise. It's far less likely that you will have two bad days in a row. Good luck!

gmat700hope · Answer

Thank you so much for your reply!

I am going to study for 1 month, 2 hours everday after work without beating myself too much and try again. I'm upset because I thought people did cancel scores and it didn't affect tgeir chances at all. I thought a low score that doesn't reflect your real ability was worse than a cancelled score, but apparently I was wrong?? I am going to beat the gmat!!! In 1 month I will be there again. So you think I really still have a chance at HBS or Wharton if I get a 700+- even though I cancelled my score once??

Posted from my mobile device

adishail · Answer

Just don't worry about the canceled score and move on. People cancel scores all the time ! A 700+ will erase any doubts the ad-com might have due to the canceled scores.

rossmoss87 · Answer

You absolutely have a shot at elite programs with a 700+ regardless of a canceled score. That said, obviously all the other ducks have to be in a row (work experience, gpa, extra curric, essays, etc).

In sum, show that GMAT who is boss, and your cancellation really won't matter. You've shown a history of doing well on standardized tests, and if your undergrad gpa is a good one, you've also shown that you're a "double-whammy" - good test taker and good at academics. To be honest, if you knock out the 700+ on the GMAT, you're just going to have to worry about everything else in your package (meaning, your canceled score really is not going to matter... seriously...).

good luck. keep us updated as to your progress. I have no doubt you will be another GMAT success story!

rishiraj · Answer

What you need more is a relaxed mind than much of preparation. I'd not really suggest that you take the GMAT soon because until and unless you don't work on your temperament, you may probably end up getting anxious. Just remember that the GMAT is a facilitator not a roadblock in the path to your dream business school. You're still 23 and you don't have anything to lose even if you apply next year. All said and done, you have to take the final call whether you'd want to apply this year or next year.

gmat700hope · Answer

Thanks everyone.

I am a lot calmer now. I'm an anxious person, but I can perform well under pressure and I believe this was a learning for me. If I had known cancelled scores were viewed so negatively, I would definetly have faught through my verbal section. I thought that when you cancelled your score it was like you never sat to take it.

Do people really get in HBS, Wharton, Stanford with a cancelled score? Is a cancelled score worse than a 500 or so?

Anyways, time to stop with the what if's and go back to studying. I will give myself a break until monday and they start the preparation again. I felt like I spent too much time taking CAT tests but not going over my weaknesses and that really didn't make me secure for quant. As for verbal, well, I just need to CHILL and practice some sentence corrections.

As for my stats, I am 23/female/brazilian and work for a top 3 advertising/marketing multinational agency. I hold 2 bachelor degrees from 2 distinct 4-year accredited universities (jorunalism and radio and tv production). I'm not the typical finance whiz, but I guess my different background could work to my advantage.

I really need the GMAT because I believe my other ducks are on a row.

Thank you so much to everyone who replied and I will keep you all updated.

mattapraveen · Answer

Hello GMAT700 hope.....

Was expecting some good news from you which I could carry to my exam on Sunday. Nevertheless.... as many of the above posts have said, you are being very harsh on yourself. Chill out....

Take a week off from GMAT and do start off soon. You have already invested a good amount of time and I am pretty sure you will reap the benefits the next time. Do start off in a weeks time. The concepts are still fresh and you wouldn't be required to work on the basics once again.

Cheers!!!

gmat700hope · Answer

Better luck to you my friend.

I am feeling a lot better. A LOT better. My boss just told me my face is finally rosy again, it was pale when I arrived, apparently. Ha. Seriously, I wasn't feeling well at all. I was literally about to puke/pass out. I think I almost went into panic mode during/after the exam so I'm not going to beat myself up about cancelling the score.

Like I said, it doesn't happen to me often, I am not one of those people who feel ill at tough moments, but I did this time. I have actually judged people who succumb to pressure emotionally and physically and have considered them weak, but I guess this experience gave me a little more compassion.

Our brains are powerful, too powerful. I feel like I went in with the "I have everything going for me" mentality. And as (or is it like?) Ben Harper geniously noted, "When you have everything, you have everything to lose". Execpt, I don't and I won't. The GMAT is not going to scare me anymore. This is the worse that could have happened, I'm not going to feel this way again.

Thanks for ALL the support. You all are great people.

willneverquit · Answer

Sorry to hear your story. You can score well. Try to do many CATS prior to the exam so that you should not get surprised by the questions in Quants. Work hard on your weakness and improve your strengths.

Good luck on your next attempt. I am sure you will come out on top.

Good luck on your next attempt. I am sure you will come out on top.

rg1 · Answer

I think you're a bit too harsh on yourself. Please follow advices from experts above. Writing/sharing own experiences during GMAT test would sometimes make you feel good. You seem very strong and goal oriented individual. I'm sure you'll do good.
Good luck for next attempt. You can share your strategies/preparation here and I'm sure gmatclubbers would chime in with their feedback.

vwjetty · Answer

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