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01 Dec 2012, 15:05
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I was hoping to get some advice on how I can make my GMAT score significantly better.
Here's my background:
I graduated from undergrad last June with a BA in International Relations (concentration in Global Political Economics), from a top-10 INTS program, and a minor in Finance, from a top 15 business school. I graduated in the top quartile of my class, and after graduating I followed up on an invitation to talk to the school about grad school. Everything was in line - I just had to take the GMAT... so I got the Kaplan GMAT book and studied hard because I only had like three weeks. I took it, and completely bombed it with a 490 - Q26V34 14th percentile quantitative and 69th percentile verbal.
So I gave up on grad school for fall semester, but I enrolled in undergraduate intermediate algebra and a trig class. I broke my arm and took a couple weeks off, and couldn't attend the Kaplan classes. I instead decided to consider a less prestigious B-school, but they had a looming deadline. So i registered again, and completely hit the books again for a couple weeks. I figured the Mat classes would help, and I also finished the Kaplan book completely - twice, took the practice GMAT on PlatinumGMAT (I got a Q39V40). I went up to take the GMAT again, and actually did worse than before: 470 (Q25V29).
I figure there is probably something that I'm clearly not doing right. I did very well in undergrad, and got As and Bs in all my Math, Econ, and Finance classes. It's mind-boggling to figure how I did so poorly on the actual test. Advice?
Here's my background:
I graduated from undergrad last June with a BA in International Relations (concentration in Global Political Economics), from a top-10 INTS program, and a minor in Finance, from a top 15 business school. I graduated in the top quartile of my class, and after graduating I followed up on an invitation to talk to the school about grad school. Everything was in line - I just had to take the GMAT... so I got the Kaplan GMAT book and studied hard because I only had like three weeks. I took it, and completely bombed it with a 490 - Q26V34 14th percentile quantitative and 69th percentile verbal.
So I gave up on grad school for fall semester, but I enrolled in undergraduate intermediate algebra and a trig class. I broke my arm and took a couple weeks off, and couldn't attend the Kaplan classes. I instead decided to consider a less prestigious B-school, but they had a looming deadline. So i registered again, and completely hit the books again for a couple weeks. I figured the Mat classes would help, and I also finished the Kaplan book completely - twice, took the practice GMAT on PlatinumGMAT (I got a Q39V40). I went up to take the GMAT again, and actually did worse than before: 470 (Q25V29).
I figure there is probably something that I'm clearly not doing right. I did very well in undergrad, and got As and Bs in all my Math, Econ, and Finance classes. It's mind-boggling to figure how I did so poorly on the actual test. Advice?
01 Dec 2012, 21:32
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Maybe I'm missing something, but I didn't see any mention of any official materials in your post. Did you use the GMAT Official Guide and verbal/quant review supplements at all? Did you take the GMATPrep, or use the GMATPrep Question Pack? If not, that's probably the heart of the problem.
It's definitely good that you took an algebra class, but the GMAT doesn't really test "normal" algebra in a traditional way. GMAT questions are pretty goofy, and the best way to get better at them is to spend massive amounts of time with retired questions. Platinum GMAT is a relatively new entrant to the market and I don't know much about their materials, but Kaplan's book isn't going to get you very far. Manhattan GMAT is much more thorough if you need some extra help with quant and verbal techniques, but there's absolutely no substitute for official questions published by GMAC. Spend some time with the official stuff and take lots of high-quality practice tests (GMATPrep is the best, MGMAT is probably the next-best), and I'm sure that your scores will start to improve.
Good luck with everything!
It's definitely good that you took an algebra class, but the GMAT doesn't really test "normal" algebra in a traditional way. GMAT questions are pretty goofy, and the best way to get better at them is to spend massive amounts of time with retired questions. Platinum GMAT is a relatively new entrant to the market and I don't know much about their materials, but Kaplan's book isn't going to get you very far. Manhattan GMAT is much more thorough if you need some extra help with quant and verbal techniques, but there's absolutely no substitute for official questions published by GMAC. Spend some time with the official stuff and take lots of high-quality practice tests (GMATPrep is the best, MGMAT is probably the next-best), and I'm sure that your scores will start to improve.
Good luck with everything!
01 Dec 2012, 22:31
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GMATNinja
Thanks a lot.... yeah the 490 was with no preparation whatsoever, and the 470 was after I used the Kaplan book, and that was pretty much it. I took no classes, and the only practice test I took was from PlatniumGMAT. I did do all the questions from the free software I got after registering, but that's about it.
I figure something is up because 490 seems very low considering my academic record... I take it most people prepare for months rather than just taking it?
Do I need a specific study plan/classes? I'm thinking about signing up with the Economist GMAT tutor (I read the Economist quite a bit and it comes with a 6 month subscription), and the programs with the Magoosh website that came with registration here seem a lot harder than the Kaplan questions, and they also seem more like the questions I got on the test.
Also, I noticed on your link that you're a tutor based out of Denver... ironic, because I live in Denver now, and I'd really like to apply to the Daniels College of Business.
