Need Help on what to do

Question

Hey guys,

i just took the gmat and i received a 440 (Q21 and V27) (IR 5, AWA 5) My target score is 550-600 and i would like some advice on what to target or even if that's feasible to gain in a couple of months. I'm planning on applying to part-time MBA programs around my area and I've taken a private tutor and in my 3 practice exams i was getting around (Q31 and V24) each time. I make a lot of silly mistakes when taking the exam which can account for the swing in scores and when i took my recent exam i did the same again in quant. What do you guys think i should do?

AryamaDuttaSaikia · Answer

Hi!

Have you cancelled the 440 that you got? If not, then get the Enhanced Score Report (ESR): https://www.mba.com/india/the-gmat-blog- ... eport.aspx
It will help you identify the areas in which your performance needs more improvement. It will help you prepare better for your next GMAT attempt.

Hope this helps.

All the best.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ndnguy,

Given what you've described about your goals and timeline, you could certainly hit your score goal in the time allotted. Based on your Official GMAT score, you don't have to purchase the ESR though (your Scaled Scores show that you lost LOTS of points in all of the major categories). Before I can offer any pointed advice, I'd like to know more about how you've studied so far:

1) How long have you studied?
2) What materials have you used?
3) How have you scored on each of your practice CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
4) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?

Thankfully, the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Test, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. You'll have to make some adjustments to how you 'see' (and respond to) the Test though.

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

ndnguy · Answer

Thank you Rich for the reply, to answer you questions in order

1. i had studied for about 3 months before taking the exam.
2. I used the original guides most recent and Jeff Sackmann 1800 GMAT math questions 
3. My scores varied from low to high 400's
4. Yes, i took the entire exam each time.

ndnguy · Answer

Hi Aryama,

I did accept the score but since i was pretty upset with my results i threw away the paper with the identifying code to look up my weak points

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ndnguy,

From what you describe, it sounds like you used a 'book-heavy' study approach. Unfortunately, many Test Takers get 'stuck' at a particular scoring level when using that type of approach, and it's likely that this is what happened to you.

1) Since it's been about 5 weeks since your last post, what work have you done during that time?
2) Have you scheduled a new Test Date yet?

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

ndnguy · Answer

Hi Rich,

1. I took a couple of weeks off and reassessed what happen during the exam. I understand the material but i just could not transfer that when i take the exams (practice and actual), most of my errors are silly mistakes like not answering the question in the quant but solving the problem instead when the question is not asking for that. i decided to purchase more test bank questions for the GMAT prep software as well as exam pack 1 to get more practice.

2. I have not set a date yet but i'm targeting a date in December.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ndnguy,

When was the last time that you took a new FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)? If it's been awhile, then you should plan to take one soon (maybe this weekend).

Based on what you've described, 'your way' of approaching the Test was earning you a score in the 400s (so your Official Score was in the range of how you were scoring during practice). As such, simply working through more practice questions in the same general ways that you were before is probably NOT going to get you to the higher score that you're looking for.

The good news is that your goal is still reasonable and attainable in the time that you have allotted. The bad news is that you're going to have to make some significant changes to how you 'see' (and respond to) the GMAT. You will also likely need to invest in some new non-book resources and learn/practice some new Tactics.

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

ndnguy · Answer

Hi Rich,

I actually plan on taking a full exam practice this weekend and again next week. Are there any tactics you can suggest that you think that might benefit me?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ndnguy,

I have a number of different Tactics that I would recommend to you, but there's no way for you to master them in 1-2 weeks. Before we talk about any of that though, we need an up-to-date Score and a way to assess your current strengths and weaknesses. That next CAT score will provide the information that we need, so you should take that one as planned, then report back here.

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

ndnguy · Answer

After i retook the practice exam i received a 470 Q-30 V-25

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ndnguy,

If this recent CAT was one that you had already taken, then the 470 score is likely a bit 'inflated.' However, regardless of that fact, you're still scoring in the same general range as before. This means that you're almost certainly making the same general mistakes that you were making before. To hit your goal score, you're likely going to need to invest in a GMAT Course of some type (either Guided Self-Study or instructor-led).

1) Have you set an Official Test Date yet?

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

ndnguy · Answer

No, i haven't set a date yet, but i was planning late December to Early Jan.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ndnguy,

With a late December Test Date, you have 6-7 weeks of additional study time. That is plenty of time for you to improve and hit your goal score. However, it's clear now that the approach you've used so far is not going to be enough to get you to that level.

Given everything that you've described, I think that you would find the EMPOWERgmat Total Score Booster to be quite helpful. Most of our clients complete that Study Plan in well under 2 months, so it should fit your general timeframe. We have a variety of free resources on our site (www.empowergmat.com), so you can 'test out' the Course before setting up an account.

If you have any additional questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly.

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

	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	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.
	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

Need Help on what to do

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