How to improve my Score? 690 (Q48, V37, IR8, AWA5)

Question

Hi everybody,

I just sat the online GMAT on Wednesday and scored a 690 (Q48, V37, IR8, AWA5).

As I was distracted by upcoming job interviews in the week leading up to the exam I am reasonibly happy with my score.

However I am wondering how I can make the most of the next two weeks to crack the 700 mark and achieve Q49+. I have been preparing for roughly one month scoring 680 (Q48, V34) on the 16th of November, thus I am dissapointed that I did not achieve a better quantitative score and also never have in my practice exams.

So far I have only used the Official Guide for Practice Questions and the TTP course for sentence correction as I am pretty strong in RC and CR compared to SC, aswell as the GMAT Club Forum to review quantitative questions I could net get my head around (shout Bunuel). What would you guys recommend? I also have practice exams 4-6 left to do and my next exam scheduled for the 23rd as I want to be done with the GMAT before christmas to concentrate on the other Aspects of my application.

Target Masters would be:

1st Choice: Oxford MSc in Financial Economics, LBS MFA, LSE MSc in Finance or Finance and PE 
Backup: Imperial MSc in Finance, Bocconi Master of Finance, HEC Master of Finance, HSG MBF

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

If you want to brush up your idioms,  there's a list on the gmatknight site  you may find helpful. For Quant, see if you can find shorter ways to solve questions. You may, for example, be able to leverage the answer choices to solve a question.

kntombat · Answer

MasterofFinance , I think you will also find a list of idioms on TTP.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi MasterofFinance.

The keys to increasing your quant score are strengthening your skills in some weaker areas and improving overall accuracy.

To strengthen your skills in weaker areas, first figure out what they are by considering your performance on practice sets and practice tests, along with your sense of what types of questions you'd rather not see when you take the GMAT.

Then, master each of those areas by first reviewing the concepts and strategies involved in that area, then doing practice questions in that area UNTIMED until you achieve high accuracy, and finally work the time per question down until you're answering questions in that area at test pace.

Then move on to the next area and do the same thing.

Achieving super high accuracy untimed in an area, whether in quant or verbal, is going to be key to driving your score higher. The types of accuracies I mean are easy - close to 100%, medium 90%+, and hard - 80%+.

For some more insights into how to practice for best results, see this post.

The Best GMAT Practice Methods

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

HI MasterofFinance,

Reach out to us on live chat, and we can discuss how to use TTP for the next few weeks.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi MasterofFinance,

First off, a 690/Q48 is a strong Score, so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Since you have some specific Schools in mind, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement (and the more time that you have to act on that advice, the better). There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

There's certainly no harm in retesting - and you have an opportunity to pick up points in both the Quant and Verbal sections. That having been said, Finance Programs tend to place a bit more of a premium on an Applicant's Quant Scaled Score - meaning that picking up a point or two in that section would benefit your application more than picking up those points in the Verbal section would. 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:

1) How long have you studied? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
3) What specific application deadlines are you facing?

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

MasterofFinance · Answer

Hi Rich,

thank you for sharing you thoughts!

1) How long have you studied? How many hours do you typically study each week?

I have studied for about one month probably doing 20-30 hours a week with the potential to do more

2) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Test 1 (OG Exam 1) (670, Q48, V34, IR7) (16/11/2022)
Test 2 (OG Exam 2) (680, Q47, V35, IR 7) (25/11/2022)
Test 3 (Retake OG Exam 1 after resetting) (730, Q47, V44, IR8) (28/11/2022) 
Test 4 (OG Exam 3)

3) What specific application deadlines are you facing?

The 2nd application Round for most universities closes in the first or second week of January and I would like to apply in the 2nd round to be on the safe side. I will probably also not be able to spend any time on the GMAT next year so the 23rd will be my final try.

What would you say is the best idea now to improve my quant? Should I just go off the mistakes from the practice exams and try to practice with difficult questions from GMAT Club?

Thanks a lot in advance!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi MasterofFinance, I've sent you a PM with some notes and additional questions. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com

	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

How to improve my Score? 690 (Q48, V37, IR8, AWA5)

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