Improve from 500 to 600 in a month

Question

Hello,

I took the GMAT the first time at the end of September and had a score of 500 (percentile quant:21 and verbal 47). After that I really didn't think I was going to do it again but in order to get accepted at the MBA program I want to do, I need at least 550 or 600. So I started studying again at the end of October with the Economist GMAT Tutor, which really helped me at the beginning. On one test score I had 570 on the tutor program and than 5 days later I did another one and had a score of 440. So now I am really demotivated and I don't know how to improve further and how to let get of my insecurity. I already postponed the test from December 13 to January 13. I started reading english newspapers and books, which isn't a big problem for me, but I still don't seem to get better at the GMAT.

Could you help me with some strategies on how to improve further and get back my motivation for the GMAT? 
-thanks!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi VictoriaM22,

To start, it's important to clearly define your goal score - so is it 550 or is it 600? And as far as the score is concerned, how do you know that that's the score that you 'need'?

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:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied (and how much time did you study before you took the GMAT back in September)?
2) Have you completed the GMAT Course that you purchased?
3) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
4) Did you take the FULL CAT each time (with the Essay and IR sections)?

Goals:
5) What is the upcoming application deadline for the School that you're interested in? Is there a later deadline (and if so, then what is it)?

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

VictoriaM22 · Answer

I definitely want a 600 so I can get accepted because the program is very small. And I got this information because I already had an informal Skype session with one from the admission of that uni.

1) Before my first exam I studied hard for about a month and now except for the last 2 weeks I studied 6 hours 5 days a week since october 26. 
2) I have done 80% of the course because the last percent take forever to complete, but I will definitely do more quant examples on the course. 
3) this are all my scores: nov 21: 510 - Q39 V23
nov 23: 570 Q38 V32
nov 26: 530 Q36 V27 (GMAT prep software)
nov 29: 440 Q33 V19
And yes I could do it a bit later, but I really don't want to because I still have to do the Toefl

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi VictoriaM22,

By taking 4 CATs in 8 days, you have not given yourself much time to improve between CATs - and you have likely 'burned out' a bit. It's important to remember that taking lots of CATs will NOT make you a better Test Taker. A CAT is really a 'measuring device' - when used correctly, it will give you a realistic score and help define your strengths and weaknesses, but it will NOT help you to fix any of those weaknesses. To raise your scores, you have to put in the necessary practice and repetitions. The CAT will show you whether your studies are helping you to improve or not. As such, you really shouldn't take more than 1 FULL CAT per week.

Beyond that, you didn't answer one of my questions, so I'd like to know more about how you took these CATS:

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?

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

VictoriaM22 · Answer

No I only did quant and verbal section, because IR really freaks me out and I already got 90% on the AWA section on my first GMAT so I have no worries there. 
I took them at home and mostly before noon.. so a bit earlier than the actual GMAT would be. Yes I was drinking water but apart from that nothing. And no I never new or saw any of the questions before.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi VictoriaM22,

It's occurred to me that you'll likely receive some additional advice if you post your story in the Shared Experience sub-Forum here:

share-gmat-experience-8/

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your scores can become - and that's likely what's happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, taking the CATs at a different time of day, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.' This is meant to say that we have to question these practice CAT score results.

Thankfully, this is a relatively easy set of problems to fix. The big question now is "how long will it take you to properly get 'used to' taking the full GMAT?" You'll certainly need a new set of practice CATs to work with and you have to put in the necessary time to train your brain (and body) for the FULL GMAT. You might also need to invest in some new GMAT training materials. I suggest that you take a new, FULL-LENGTH CAT (with the Essay and IR sections) sometime soon. Based on that score result, we can discuss how best to continue studying.

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

VictoriaM22 · Answer

Thank you so much for your advice so far! I will buy 2 more practice test from the original prep software and will do one CAT next week and then post my results here.

VictoriaM22 · Answer

Hey,

So I just finished a full practice test which I bought from Veritas. My overall score was 590 - Quant score 39(percentile 39) / Verbal score 33 (percentile 69) - I am still planing on the taking my next exam on January 13th.

What would you suggest on how to keep on studying now? Or do you need more information about my last practice test?
Thank you very much in advance

diegocml · Answer

Hi VictoriaM22,

Your score went from a 440 to 590.

Could you please tell me what you've done different about your preparation and test strategy / behaviour?

Thanks a lot & good luck on your test!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi VictoriaM22,

Assuming that you took this CAT in a manner that 'matches up' with the parameters that you'll face on the Official GMAT, then it certainly appears that you have a good chance to hit your overall score goal. When reviewing this CAT, here are some basic things to look for:

After reviewing each section, how many questions did you get wrong....
1) Because of a silly/little mistake?
2) Because there was some math/verbal that you just could not remember how to do?
3) Because the question was too hard?
4) Because you were low on time and had to guess?

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

VictoriaM22 · Answer

First of all I have to say that I scored over 500 a few times before I once got 440. But what I changed now is that I didn't study at all for a couple of days that get a clear mind again and I stopped studying 6 hours a day and now I study only 2 hours. On top of that, I started reading english fiction and the NY Times. I hope this helps a bit

Good luck on yours too!

VictoriaM22 · Answer

Ok I will do that tonight. And after figuring out what went wrong with the problems I did wrong, should I then specifically target those topics?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi VictoriaM22,

Once you can define WHY you're getting questions wrong, you can work to improve in the necessary areas. It might be that you know the content just fine, but you're making little mistakes or not taking enough notes (so focusing on a particular content-area might not be necessary). It might also be that "your way" of approaching certain questions is taking too long, so you might have to learn/practice some new Tactics.

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

TrevorKleeTutor · Answer

Once you've looked at the problems that you've gotten wrong, you need to determine why you got them wrong as well as how you could have gotten them right. Basically, compile a list of all the problems you got wrong on your CAT (this is super easy with the GMATPrep software). Make sure you know how to do them. In a couple days, redo the problems. You should be able to get them correct without notes and showing all your work. It's cheating if you just remember the answer, but don't remember how to get there.

If you find there are still problems that you don't know how to do after your second time around, you know what you should do? You guessed it. Same thing as before. Rinse and repeat until you know how to do all the problems.

This post on my website might help if what I'm saying is unclear:  https://www.trevorkleetutor.com/how-to-self-study-for-the-gmat/

VictoriaM22 · Answer

Hey! I would need your help one more time for the last time (hopefully :D) 
so I am taking the GMAT tomorrow.. I did 3 practice exams in the last week and I experienced that my Quant score improved (best - 2 days ago:44 // worst - 5 days ago: 38) but my verbal got worse (best December 27: 33 //worst today: 26) 
I actually want to score better on the verbal tomorrow haha - do you have any last minute recommendation for me for tomorrow?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi VictoriaM22,

From what you've described, I think that you've done too much work already over the past week - so since your Official GMAT is tomorrow, my first bit of advice is to stop studying. You'll be better served by getting some extra rest than by 'cramming in' a lot of last-minute studying. Second, to hit your score goal, you don't have to correctly answer ANY questions that you think are too hard or too weird - so your best move when dealing with those types of questions is to dump them immediately (just take a guess and move on). Use your available time to focus on the 'gettable' questions (take notes, double-check your work as needed, etc.).

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

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