After 5 months of study and getting good mock scores, I have finally scored meager 560 on actual GMAT. Math - 39 and Verbal - 28
I was blown over after seeing this score on the screen. I have no clue about what went wrong. I could not sleep the night before my test but I am not sure if this has made the impact? AWA was a breeze and I thought I have started well and I must carry this forward. My first question on math was relatively easy and I could solve it correctly in no time but then came the problem. I had not seen the answer options while solving the question. When I had a look at answer options I felt I as if answer options are switched with some other question. No option was making sense to me and they all were converted. To pick the answer I had to solve all of them one by one. I made a calculated guess and moved on. Difficulty level was going up. I tried hard not to judge my progress but couldn't help either. Suddenly question started to get too easy and I again judged my progress. One of the question was too easy and I told myself that I have blown up this section. Whatever be it, I still cannot accept that I have problem with concepts.
I started verbal section with confidence and was sure of scoring at least 38-39. SC was getting tougher (Or perhaps I felt that). I had a checklist for finding errors but on most of the question I was left with no option. All options were looking good. SC question were long. Some of them even 4-5 sentence long. I was not able to concentrate eventually and my mind stopped processing the information. And I was down to pathetic score of 28
Following are my mock scores:
GMATPrep Test 1 - 610 (Math - 44 Verbal - 29)
MGMAT 1 - 690 (Math - 45 Verbal - 39)
MGMAT 2 - 640 (Math - 47 Verbal - 31)
MGMAT 3 - 720 (Math - 48 Verbal - 40)
MGMAT 4 - 700 (Math - 50 Verbal - 35)
GMATPrep Test 2 - 700 (Math - 48 Verbal - 38)
GMATPrep new version Test 1 - 760 (Math - 50 Verbal - 42)
GMATPrep new version Test 2 - 740 (Math 48, Verbal 44)
My verbal score was swaying and inconsistent. But I had improved for sure. I have listed down following points from my experience -
1. Couldn't sleep the night before, how much impact has this made on the score?
2. Questions were too different. SC question were too long.
3. RC was ok and so was CR
4. Conceptual problem? I strongly feel I have no major conceptual issue
5. No similarity between tests taken and the actual gmat
Method of Preparation- I spent around 2 hours on weekdays and 5 hrs on weekends. I also took a day off from preparation every week. I majorly used Manhattan Strategy Guides. I used to study the entire chapter from the given book, solve the
OG & review guide problems and track the timings with Manhattan
OG Archer. I followed this method for all 8 guides. I also took notes for quick reference. I also did test analysis very thoroughly and identified weak areas. I used Video session from Thrusdays with Ron for the topics that I found difficult.
Books used- Manhattan Guides,
OG 12, Verbal & Quant review 2nd edition and Aristotle SC-RC books.
Now, the crux of the story - How should I be looking at my actual GMAT Score? I will take the test again but rightn now I am totally lost and not sure from where should I start again? Should I take a mock before starting the prep?
Ameya