Last week before the exam, what to do?

Question

Hi everyone, I have been studying for Gmat since two months, and started doing mocks since nearly one month, here my results:

Manhattan prep 19/06/2020: 580  
Gmat official mock 1 04/07/2020: 610  
Kaplan 10/07/2020: 590  
Veritas prep 17/07/2020: 600

During these weeks I have studied a lot of quant topics and made many exercises, improving my score on the OG practice exercises but I cannot see this improvement on my mock tests.
Considering that I’m not an english native speaker I believe that my Verbal score is not bad.

I have my GMAT test scheduled for the 28 july and I want to achieve a score like 620,630, what are my possibilities in your opinion? What should I do in my last week of study?
Thanks

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

Hi. Good luck on the 28th! Here are my recommendations for the last few weeks. https://gmatclub.com/forum/what-to-do-3 ... 52506.html Thank you BB. Posted from my mobile device

Abi1995 · Answer

All the best. Go bam it.

Posted from my mobile device

siddharthkapoor · Answer

LucaResmo , revise your lessons daily, redo questions from OG, build on your strengths, understand adaptive nature and scoring pattern of GMAT, plan your test strategy, check your test strategy by taking a couple of more mock tests, exercise, set your sleep cycle so that you're active during GMAT, and chill.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi LucaResmo,

Do you plan to take any other official GMAC practice exams? Also, is July 28th the latest you can take the GMAT, or is that just your scheduled test date?

GMATinsight · Answer

Hi  LucaResmo

I see that you have great potential to reach to a score of 650 provided you can work your quant to reach a level of 45 (which is not very hard)

You need to go through a concept tour I have created here and share with me the accuracy.

GMATinsight's Pre-Test CONCEPT TOUR

Also, You might want to practice OG questions exhaustively at this point and learn from mistakes the topics which are bothering you and the type of questions.

In brief, make an error log and share with me so that I can guide you further on it

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi LucaResmo,

Are you taking the At-home GMAT or are you taking your GMAT at a Testing Facility? I ask because each option is presented in a slightly different 'format' - and it would help to know if you took all your CATs in the same format that you will face when you take your Official GMAT.

If you have taken your CATs in a realistic fashion, then you are remarkably close to a 620+ Score right now. In addition, to earn that type of Score, you do NOT need to correctly answer any questions that you think are too hard or too weird, but you do have to keep the little mistakes to a minimum on everything else (especially the 'gettable' questions). 
 
During this last week, you should not try to do too much studying (so NO CATs/mocks and NO 'cramming'). You should limit your studies to general practice and light review - and you would be better served by getting some extra rest so that you can go into Test Day calm, clear-headed and ready to work.

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

adityaganjoo · Answer

VeritasKarishma   ScottTargetTestPrep 
I am writing here to seek your suggestion on whether I should purchase new official GMAT Practice tests. I am writing my GMAT on   23rd June 2021  , 8 days from today.

My scores in last practice tests are:
Official Practice Test 1:  710 (Q50, V36) 
Official Practice Test 2:  660 (Q47, V35)  - I messed up with timings in Verbal and Quant
Official Practice Test 3:  720 (Q48, V40) 
Official Practice Test 1 (Reattempt):  760 (Q50, V44) 
Official Practice Test 4:  690 (Q50, V31)  - Seriously messed up with timing in Verbal

In the last test, I messed up big time, as I spent 10+ minutes on first two questions

Weakest segments:  Sentence correction, Statistics

Requesting your guidance in deciding whether I should purchase tests 5 & 6 or I should reset and reattempt Tests 2,3,4.

I am aiming for 710+. But the last score has seriously shaken my confidence!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi adityaganjoo,
 
To start, the process of taking (and reviewing) a CAT requires a significant amount of energy and effort - and takes time to 'recover' from. This is one of the reasons why you typically shouldn't take more than 1 CAT per week - and your last CAT should be taken about 1 week before Test Day. Since your Official GMAT is approximately 1 week away, you shouldn't plan to take too many additional CATs in that time (you might be okay taking one, but you should not take two).

In addition, while the most realistic CATs available are the 6 from GMAC, retaking a CAT that you've already taken is NOT a realistic way to assess your skills - since you will likely see some 'repeat' questions that you have already faced. Unfortunately, seeing even a couple of repeats can 'throw off' the Scoring Algorithm and impact your pacing, energy levels, fatigue, etc. (meaning that they would likely all appear to be better than they actually are). Thankfully, the CATs from Kaplan, MGMAT and Veritas are all 'close enough' to the real thing that they will provide you with a relatively realistic score assessment (assuming that you correctly take the CAT in a realistic fashion that matches the parameters that you will face when you take the Official GMAT) - so you can use any NEW CATs from any of those sources next.

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

KarishmaB · Answer

adityaganjoo  - If you do take another full length test and will consider postponing your actual exam in case you do not get an acceptable score, then by all means, go ahead and take another test (not reset). 
But if not, I would advise against taking a CAT at this time. There is little to gain and much to lose.

You have identified some issues - SC and Stats. Work on those in the next few days and then, conserve your energy for test day. If you wish, you can take just the Verbal section of any test in a timed manner for a practice run at time management. Don't bother too much about the score you get in that. Give your all on test day. A relaxed mind can do wonders to your score.

adityaganjoo · Answer

Thanks  VeritasKarishma  I reattempted one of the official tests today and scored 740 (Q51, V39). As you suggested, during reattempts, I'll be attempting the Verbal part only, as that needs a significant improvement. Thanks again!

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