Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days : General GMAT Questions and Strategies

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

23 Mar 2018, 08:48

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minku1016 wrote:

Hi Everyone,

My test is on March 27th and I am starting to get nervous as the test date approaches. I know it's not the end of the world if I don't get the score I want and I can always re-take the test (4/28 as backup test date scheduled), but I don't want my long hours of studying to go unnoticed. My goal is to score +700 and apply Top 15 business schools in the upcoming fall.

Below are the practice test that I've taken: I picked up studying for about a month and stopped last summer and picked up studying again in December 2017. I will be taking two more mock tests this weekend GMAT Official III and GMAT Official IV. Any encouragement or advice you could share with me would be greatly appreciated as I wrap up the last few days.

1st (Q39, V35) 6/18/2017 - 620 MGMAT I
2nd (Q41, V34) 7/5/2017 - 620 MGMAT II
3rd (Q44, V34) 1/20/2018 - 640 - Kaplan I
4th (Q47, V33) 1/21/2018 - 660 - Kaplan II
5th (Q38, V37) 1/28/2018 - 630 - MGMAT III
6th (Q47, V33) 2/10/2018 - 650 GMAT Official I
7th (Q44, V35) 2/25/2018 - 650 - MGMAT IV
8th (Q49, V36) 3/11/2018 - 700 - GMAP Official II

Hello minku1016,

Your scores are fluctuating a lot and it has been only once that you touched 700. However, you have the GMAT scheduled too close to be rescheduled so why not give the test with a courageous, nothing to lose spirit?

I would suggest that you do that!

Here are a few tips that may come in handy over the last five days:

1. Revise all the conceptual material, let your prep consolidate.

2. Review all the questions that you got incorrect in the last two months of the prep.

3. Stay really active during the hours of your exam slot.

4. This close to the test, take the official mock tests. Solve official questions only.

5. Ensure taking it easy on the eve of your exam. Ensure 8 hours of sleep.

6. While taking the GMAT, try to do really well in the first 10 questions in Quant as well as Verbal. However, keep an eye on the clock as well.

7. Most important: Don't get stuck on one question; remember, you can generally score 700+ while getting 30% questions incorrect. Ensure getting the questions in your comfort zone, correct.

On your day, you can breach the 700 barrier.

All the very best, my friend!

Regards,
Experts' Global

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

23 Mar 2018, 10:29

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minku1016 wrote:

Hi Everyone,

My test is on March 27th and I am starting to get nervous as the test date approaches. I know it's not the end of the world if I don't get the score I want and I can always re-take the test (4/28 as backup test date scheduled), but I don't want my long hours of studying to go unnoticed. My goal is to score +700 and apply Top 15 business schools in the upcoming fall.

Below are the practice test that I've taken: I picked up studying for about a month and stopped last summer and picked up studying again in December 2017. I will be taking two more mock tests this weekend GMAT Official III and GMAT Official IV. Any encouragement or advice you could share with me would be greatly appreciated as I wrap up the last few days.

1st (Q39, V35) 6/18/2017 - 620 MGMAT I
2nd (Q41, V34) 7/5/2017 - 620 MGMAT II
3rd (Q44, V34) 1/20/2018 - 640 - Kaplan I
4th (Q47, V33) 1/21/2018 - 660 - Kaplan II
5th (Q38, V37) 1/28/2018 - 630 - MGMAT III
6th (Q47, V33) 2/10/2018 - 650 GMAT Official I
7th (Q44, V35) 2/25/2018 - 650 - MGMAT IV
8th (Q49, V36) 3/11/2018 - 700 - GMAP Official II

Hi
In my opinion, you can take another Gmatprep test and spend your remaining time in analyzing that test. Then you should spend your time in the last few days before test for revising everything that you have studies earlier and error logs.
Hope it will help.

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hanamana

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

23 Mar 2018, 11:05

Thanks everyone,

I think i will take another mock-test and review the core concepts from MGMAT (Number Properties, SC, Word Problems, and Geometry) and review the questions I got wrong. I will report back once I take the test. Thanks again!

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

28 Mar 2018, 10:20

minku1016 wrote:

Hi Everyone,

My test is on March 27th and I am starting to get nervous as the test date approaches. I know it's not the end of the world if I don't get the score I want and I can always re-take the test (4/28 as backup test date scheduled), but I don't want my long hours of studying to go unnoticed. My goal is to score +700 and apply Top 15 business schools in the upcoming fall.

Below are the practice test that I've taken: I picked up studying for about a month and stopped last summer and picked up studying again in December 2017. I will be taking two more mock tests this weekend GMAT Official III and GMAT Official IV. Any encouragement or advice you could share with me would be greatly appreciated as I wrap up the last few days.

1st (Q39, V35) 6/18/2017 - 620 MGMAT I
2nd (Q41, V34) 7/5/2017 - 620 MGMAT II
3rd (Q44, V34) 1/20/2018 - 640 - Kaplan I
4th (Q47, V33) 1/21/2018 - 660 - Kaplan II
5th (Q38, V37) 1/28/2018 - 630 - MGMAT III
6th (Q47, V33) 2/10/2018 - 650 GMAT Official I
7th (Q44, V35) 2/25/2018 - 650 - MGMAT IV
8th (Q49, V36) 3/11/2018 - 700 - GMAP Official II

Hi,

How the test gone? Hope you nailed it.

QZ

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hanamana

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

28 Mar 2018, 11:06

Hi everyone,

Mine was more of a sad story than a happy story. I took a practice test last Saturday and scored a 710 (Q49, V38, IR8), but I ended up with a 620 (Q46, V30, IR6) yesterday. I did well first 10 problems of Quant, but the questions got extremely hard and I lost it thereafter. After Quant, I couldn't focus on Verbal and got the lowest verbal score I ever gotten. I have consistently scored a 8 in IR, but ended up with a 6 as well.

I am definitely not happy about the result, but I am relieved with the fact that at least I gave it a shot. I have another one coming up in a month (April 28th), but I am going to focus more on time management and test taking skills at this point.

Thank you all for the kind words and they mean a lot. The result wasn't what I had hoped for, but I am going to keep trying till I break the 700 mark.

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

29 Mar 2018, 20:15

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minku1016 wrote:

Hi everyone,

Mine was more of a sad story than a happy story. I took a practice test last Saturday and scored a 710 (Q49, V38, IR8), but I ended up with a 620 (Q46, V30, IR6) yesterday. I did well first 10 problems of Quant, but the questions got extremely hard and I lost it thereafter. After Quant, I couldn't focus on Verbal and got the lowest verbal score I ever gotten. I have consistently scored a 8 in IR, but ended up with a 6 as well.

I am definitely not happy about the result, but I am relieved with the fact that at least I gave it a shot. I have another one coming up in a month (April 28th), but I am going to focus more on time management and test taking skills at this point.

Thank you all for the kind words and they mean a lot. The result wasn't what I had hoped for, but I am going to keep trying till I break the 700 mark.

It's good to see that you are approaching this positively. Most people underperform on their first attempt, so you're doing the right thing by taking the exam again. Remember that, unless you were already familiar with the questions you got, it is not possible to get a 700+ score on the GMATPrep tests if you are not capable of getting that kind of score on the actual GMAT.

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

02 Apr 2018, 09:58

I ordered myself a Enhanced Score Report from GMAT and I am utterly shocked. My RC was 95th percentile, CR was 84% percentile, but SC was 15%.... I've reviewed Manhattan SC, but i don't think the book was for me. I've usually scored 60~70% on SC.. I just ordered myself a PowerScore SC to review concepts and do more practice questions. What are some good resources that I can use for SC?

For Math, I got first 8 problems right but surprisingly did very poorly on Problem Solving (Arithmetic) towards the end as I was running out of time. Last 8 questions, I only got 1 question right as I was time-pressured.

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

03 Apr 2018, 19:22

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minku1016 wrote:

I ordered myself a Enhanced Score Report from GMAT and I am utterly shocked. My RC was 95th percentile, CR was 84% percentile, but SC was 15%.... I've reviewed Manhattan SC, but i don't think the book was for me. I've usually scored 60~70% on SC.. I just ordered myself a PowerScore SC to review concepts and do more practice questions. What are some good resources that I can use for SC?

For Math, I got first 8 problems right but surprisingly did very poorly on Problem Solving (Arithmetic) towards the end as I was running out of time. Last 8 questions, I only got 1 question right as I was time-pressured.

You might not need to switch books just yet, although I doubt it'd hurt. What I feel you need to watch out for is whether on the day of the exam, under time pressure, you went back to solving SC questions by "sound", rather than by applying concepts. If so, maybe what you need to do is just manage your time (or exam) pressure better.

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

23 Apr 2018, 09:25

Gave another shot at practice test GMATPrep Exam #4 and got a 710 (Q49, V37). My only concern is the new test format and i haven't taken one in the new format. My test is this upcoming Saturday, but the shorter version should help me more if anything, I believe.

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

23 Apr 2018, 18:25

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minku1016 wrote:

Gave another shot at practice test GMATPrep Exam #4 and got a 710 (Q49, V37). My only concern is the new test format and i haven't taken one in the new format. My test is this upcoming Saturday, but the shorter version should help me more if anything, I believe.

Yes, the shorter format should make things a little less stressful. All the best for your GMAT

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

30 Apr 2018, 09:14

I've got only minimal increase in my score. Maybe, my actual score range is around 620-650. I am starting to doubt myself if I can break into 700. Or even upper 600s.

I felt fine during the exam - couldn't actually tell the difference in question level between the practice mock and the actual test. What should be the best approach? I am thinking of taking a few months off as I feel like I've plateaued and tackle it again during the summer. Thoughts?

I am specifically looking into PT programs: Haas or Booth - I have ~4.5 years of work experience (5.5yrs by Fall 2019) from one Fortune 100 and one in FANG, and an Economics degree from top public school along with a few extracurricular activities I've done throughout college and after college.

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Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

01 May 2018, 18:51

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minku1016 wrote:

I've got only minimal increase in my score. Maybe, my actual score range is around 620-650. I am starting to doubt myself if I can break into 700. Or even upper 600s.

I felt fine during the exam - couldn't actually tell the difference in question level between the practice mock and the actual test. What should be the best approach? I am thinking of taking a few months off as I feel like I've plateaued and tackle it again during the summer. Thoughts?

I am specifically looking into PT programs: Haas or Booth - I have ~4.5 years of work experience (5.5yrs by Fall 2019) from one Fortune 100 and one in FANG, and an Economics degree from top public school along with a few extracurricular activities I've done throughout college and after college.

It's unfortunate that your score went up only a little. Keep the following things in mind as you decide on the next steps:

1. If the questions you saw on the GMATPreps were "fresh" (you had not seen those questions or copies of those questions made by test prep companies before) and if you took your practice tests under (close to) exam conditions, the scores from those tests were accurate. That is, you are capable of a 700+ score.

2. It's a good idea to get a string of high scores. Each score that you see comes with a confidence interval that is not disclosed to you. Working to move that interval (and not just the highest score across all tests) up is the better way to gain confidence.

3. Taking a bit of break could also be a good idea. Burnout is never good for test taking.

4. Focus on the end objective: Do everything else that you can to make your profile more compelling. Don't wait to get a 700+ (for all you know, you could end up getting in with your current score itself).

gmatclubot

Re: Need some encouragement before the test in 5 days [#permalink]

01 May 2018, 18:51