Is achieving a GMAT score of 550+ doable in 3 monhts?

Question

Hi guys!

First of all: Congrats, great forum!!

I'll begin with introducing myself:
I'm a Dutch undergraduate (University of applied science) with a bachelor in Architecture. Usually Dutch universities don't demand a GMAT score, but since I haven't got a bachelor in Economics or Business Administration I have to do the GMAT test.

The target is >550.

I haven't done any prep test yet, but I looked at a couple of questions and I'm afraid I don't achieve a score higher than 350 - 400. I'm using this forum to gain more info about the test and make a study plan... I'm actually not that bad in math, but I'm not used to the way the questions are asked.

But is it actually doable to go from (worst case scenario) 350 to 550+ in 3 months time?

Thanks in advance!!

AmrithS · Answer

The answer is - YES 8-)

In fact, 3 months is a lot of time

There are a lot of inspiring stories in the "Share Your GMAT Experience" forum! Don't worry, there are plenty of people here who will be glad to help you!

mbanimal2011 · Answer

Yeah man you can improve a lot, especially from where you are at the vey beginning. Get a book, go through it, and take soem practice tests. The math is a lot different than what you are probably used to. I also think it's a good idea to go ahead and assume you are going to take the test twice. That will ease your anxiety for the first test, and really once you have been through it you can find out from the actual test which areas you really need to improve on.

heygirl · Answer

The short answer to your question - yes, 3 months is more than enough for 550-600.
Long answer - it depends on how much effort you put it on a daily basis. go through this forum for study tips/plans and make one for yourself. most likely, you will be able to do much better than 550 in 3 months. many people even get to 700 in 3 months from a 450-500 level.

get yourself some prep books. use this as a reference : best-gmat-books-77703.html
after a few weeks of study, take a practice test and you will see that your score has improved(if not, then may be your study strategy is the problem).

Good Luck

desiaggie1980 · Answer

I think giving a prep test at this point is a must, or you could spend a week going thru the basic question types so that prep test doesn't catch you unawares; then give the test to get a general idea where you are, who knows you already get a 600+, then make a study plan, be practical about how many hrs you will spend daily and lay out a schedule.

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

Yes, you really need to get the diagnostic taken.

msneemo · Answer

Yup, 3 months is a long time. If you study the right way, I'm sure you can get a lot more than 550.

Just don't worry too much make studying a fun experience.

Bezerker1986 · Answer

Hmm total score of 380, kind of expected this... 
Computer crashed after seeing the total score, so the raw score was deleted in the program.

I have to put a lot of time and effort in the next 10 weeks to go from this to my target, which is 600+ !

I had especially difficulty with the following areas:
Q:
Data suffinciency

V:
Reading comprehension

Since I've scored 380 it's best to review the whole theory I suppose!
Is it necessery to know the exact raw scores in order to make a study plan? In that case, I will take the test again tomorrow. Otherwise I can start making a raw schedule and post it on the forum.

Btw, I already ordered these books last thursday before I found out about this forum:
- Cracking the GMAT 2011
- Kaplan Premier with CD

Thanks for the replies so far guys! I'm really glad I found this forum... It gives a lot of confidence!

AmrithS · Answer

Hey you forgot to mention the areas you're having trouble with! Please Edit your post

heygirl · Answer

If you do not have the raw scores then that's fine because 380 is definitely a score that needs polishing in the Quant as well as Verbal part regardless of individual scores. So go ahead and make your study plan. you could take a test after about 3-4 weeks of study.

I think Cracking the GMAT is a very preliminary book. Since you've already ordered the books, you shoould go through this book once it arrives. It gives an overall idea about the topics tested on the GMAT, but that's it and this book does not go further. You would need some solid study guides. I would recommend the MGMAT books. I think even the Veritas guides are good(costlier option). If you are tight on a budget, then just go with the MGMAT number properties book and Sentence correction book. I did not recommend that MGMAT word translations guide becaise I , personally, did not find it much useful. Ofcourse, it is a decent book for probability, combinatorics, word problems etc. I'm not sure how you are in other quant areas like Inequalities, probability, work-rate problems etc. Depending on how you progress, you could order other MGMAT books later into your study.

Data sufficiency generally involves some strategy as well as Math concepts. overall, you will need to polish ytour math. RC is little hard to improve, but not impossible. I went from getting all wrong in RC to all correct or 1-2 wrong :-D

. I just used the OG for this. For practice, you can also consider buying RC 99 later. Also, the MGMAT RC book does a decent job(not a great book). If you are particularly interested in an RC book then this would be a good choice.....

Hope thAat helped....good luck

. I just used the OG for this. For practice, you can also consider buying RC 99 later. Also, the MGMAT RC book does a decent job(not a great book). If you are particularly interested in an RC book then this would be a good choice..... Hope thAat helped....good luck

	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

Is achieving a GMAT score of 550+ doable in 3 monhts?

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