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14 Feb 2019, 23:30
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Hello all. I’ve been reading a lot but haven’t been posting too much.
I have had a lengthy and interesting journey. I just walked out of the exam with a 640 (Q42 and V36) with canceled scores.
Firstly, the exam has been on my mind for years. I took a MGMAT course in 2013, stopped attending after 2 weeks and got a new job in CA and forgot about the exam.
In 2017, I stared studying again with KAPLAN, got discouraging scores and luckily got another job and stopped taking CATS.
In Dec 2018, I resolved to get this thing done. I was able to get access to my KAPTEST materials (used for CATS) and I started using Target Test Prep which I really enjoyed as advised by a Tutor I got to help with Math. I also used the GMATPrep software and had some OG 2019 books.
Test Scores. As I progressed with my studies, my scores got progressively worse leading to an all time low at the exam. Ironically I got my best score towards the beginning of my studies without brushing up on a few topics. Starting on Jan 15.
GMATPrep 1: 720 (Q48, V41)
GMATPrep 2: 700 (Q47, V40)
MGMAT 1: 640 (Q42, V36)
Kaplan In Person: 710 (Q45, V39)
GMATPrep 3: 700 (Q48, V37)
Kaptest 2: 680 (Q45, V39)
GMATPrep 4: 710 (Q47, V41))
GMATPrep 5: 640 (Q42, V36)
MGMAT 2: 660 (Q43, V38)
GMATPrep 6: 670 (Q44, V39)
GMAT: 640 (Q42, V36)
Obviously feeling super discouraged by my downward trend, I also can’t really explain it. I tend to have severe time management issues as it relates to getting to the end of the test. During my best scores, I finished math promptly on time or even with leftover time. I found this harder and harder to do the more I actually studied math. My Verbal was consistently high except a couple of times. Although on my actual exam, I had a short but dense RC that I did not understand very well (and I typically do very well on RC), which may have tarnished my V score.
As for test day— this may be related (hard not to be) but I managed to get into a text fight with a close friend an hour before the exam. I spent the better part of that hour trying to get un-worked up, but I was a bit “off” and then started fearing it would affect my performance. I wasn’t quite able to re-center myself after that. It would be too easy to chalk it all up to that, but it’s on my mind.
Other than that, I can’t seem to combat my declining Math score. As my aptitude increased, my score decreased!
I’d love to talk through my experiences with some of you all and seek suggestions for moving forward.
I feel most confused with Math. I’ve commanded Math extremely well as per Target Test Prep but cannot nail it on the test. With regard to Target, I can hit most hard and medium questions with ease (some of the hard questions do take over 2-3 minutes).
I’ll most definitely need to re-attempt, but it’s a matter of when! I’ve seen really great conversations on here and am looking forward to making this all more of a resource.
Posted from my mobile device
I have had a lengthy and interesting journey. I just walked out of the exam with a 640 (Q42 and V36) with canceled scores.
Firstly, the exam has been on my mind for years. I took a MGMAT course in 2013, stopped attending after 2 weeks and got a new job in CA and forgot about the exam.
In 2017, I stared studying again with KAPLAN, got discouraging scores and luckily got another job and stopped taking CATS.
In Dec 2018, I resolved to get this thing done. I was able to get access to my KAPTEST materials (used for CATS) and I started using Target Test Prep which I really enjoyed as advised by a Tutor I got to help with Math. I also used the GMATPrep software and had some OG 2019 books.
Test Scores. As I progressed with my studies, my scores got progressively worse leading to an all time low at the exam. Ironically I got my best score towards the beginning of my studies without brushing up on a few topics. Starting on Jan 15.
GMATPrep 1: 720 (Q48, V41)
GMATPrep 2: 700 (Q47, V40)
MGMAT 1: 640 (Q42, V36)
Kaplan In Person: 710 (Q45, V39)
GMATPrep 3: 700 (Q48, V37)
Kaptest 2: 680 (Q45, V39)
GMATPrep 4: 710 (Q47, V41))
GMATPrep 5: 640 (Q42, V36)
MGMAT 2: 660 (Q43, V38)
GMATPrep 6: 670 (Q44, V39)
GMAT: 640 (Q42, V36)
Obviously feeling super discouraged by my downward trend, I also can’t really explain it. I tend to have severe time management issues as it relates to getting to the end of the test. During my best scores, I finished math promptly on time or even with leftover time. I found this harder and harder to do the more I actually studied math. My Verbal was consistently high except a couple of times. Although on my actual exam, I had a short but dense RC that I did not understand very well (and I typically do very well on RC), which may have tarnished my V score.
As for test day— this may be related (hard not to be) but I managed to get into a text fight with a close friend an hour before the exam. I spent the better part of that hour trying to get un-worked up, but I was a bit “off” and then started fearing it would affect my performance. I wasn’t quite able to re-center myself after that. It would be too easy to chalk it all up to that, but it’s on my mind.
Other than that, I can’t seem to combat my declining Math score. As my aptitude increased, my score decreased!
I’d love to talk through my experiences with some of you all and seek suggestions for moving forward.
I feel most confused with Math. I’ve commanded Math extremely well as per Target Test Prep but cannot nail it on the test. With regard to Target, I can hit most hard and medium questions with ease (some of the hard questions do take over 2-3 minutes).
I’ll most definitely need to re-attempt, but it’s a matter of when! I’ve seen really great conversations on here and am looking forward to making this all more of a resource.
Posted from my mobile device
15 Feb 2019, 10:48
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi dantheman11,
The good news is that despite having an “off day,” you scored 640, which score is not a total disaster, right? Also, I know you think you are making excuses that you were thrown off by your text fight; however even the smallest routine changes on test day can negatively affect your performance, so that could be a legitimate reason as to why your score went down.
Assuming that you completed the TTP course, there is no reason why you could not have have hit a Q48 on your actual exam.
That being said, I’d happy to provide some advice of how to move forward with your retake, so I’ll send you a PM and we can chat further.
Let’s do this!!
The good news is that despite having an “off day,” you scored 640, which score is not a total disaster, right? Also, I know you think you are making excuses that you were thrown off by your text fight; however even the smallest routine changes on test day can negatively affect your performance, so that could be a legitimate reason as to why your score went down.
Assuming that you completed the TTP course, there is no reason why you could not have have hit a Q48 on your actual exam.
That being said, I’d happy to provide some advice of how to move forward with your retake, so I’ll send you a PM and we can chat further.
Let’s do this!!
15 Feb 2019, 13:58
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi dantheman11,
I'm sorry to hear that Test Day did not go as well as hoped. A 640 is still a solid Score though - so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/
From what you describe, you could potentially have been too distracted to perform at your best on Test Day. That having been said, you have a great opportunity to pick up points in BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections, so retesting is a reasonable idea. Regardless of how you choose to continue studying though, there's something to keep in mind about how you "see" the Exam. The Quant section of the GMAT is NOT a 'math test' - it's a 'critical thinking test' that requires lots of little calculations as you work through it. To score at a much higher level in this section, you need to become more of a 'strategist' and less of a 'mathematician.' I suspect that your general "math skills" are fine - you likely have most of the math knowledge you need - but you're "responding" to the Exam in ways that are inefficient.
You might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn't provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.
Before I can offer you any additional advice, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on your timeline and your goals:
1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
I'm sorry to hear that Test Day did not go as well as hoped. A 640 is still a solid Score though - so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/
From what you describe, you could potentially have been too distracted to perform at your best on Test Day. That having been said, you have a great opportunity to pick up points in BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections, so retesting is a reasonable idea. Regardless of how you choose to continue studying though, there's something to keep in mind about how you "see" the Exam. The Quant section of the GMAT is NOT a 'math test' - it's a 'critical thinking test' that requires lots of little calculations as you work through it. To score at a much higher level in this section, you need to become more of a 'strategist' and less of a 'mathematician.' I suspect that your general "math skills" are fine - you likely have most of the math knowledge you need - but you're "responding" to the Exam in ways that are inefficient.
You might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn't provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.
Before I can offer you any additional advice, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on your timeline and your goals:
1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
