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Intern
Joined: 20 Mar 2012
Posts: 11
Given Kudos: 1
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
660 retake - no improvement in sight
[#permalink]
01 Apr 2013, 08:09
01 Apr 2013, 08:09
Long time lurker here. I already took the GMAT in December last year and scored 660, however my target is 700.
I not only want to share my experience, but also get some valuable input - it seems like my learning doesn't pay off
Please see below my journey.
All prep tests were timed, max. once a week, and usually every day at the same time.
Material used: OG 13, Kaplan Premier.
Kaplan CAT1: 560 (Q 46%, V 48%) October 2012
Kaplan CAT2: 580 (Q 46%, V 56%) November 2012
Kaplan CAT3: 600 (Q 56%, V 78%) November 2012
at this time (December 2012) I knew I wasn't quite ready, however I still wanted to give it a try. With a good score, I still had the chance to apply for a decent school for the 2013 intake.
GMAT: 660 (Q47, V34)
I was positively surprised! I read that Kaplan's scores are underestimated, so 660 was a good basement to build on. However, my target was 700, so I ordered MGMAT SC as well as MGMAT Number Properties. I took a break for a month (maybe that was a mistake...).
Kaplan CAT4: 650 (Q 85%, V 58%) February 2013
Kaplan CAT5: 640 (Q 73%, V 69%) February 2013
GMATprep1: 620 (Q39, V35) February 2013
What a disappointment. After hours and hours of studying, 40 points less than in the actual GMAT? I decided to sign up for Magoosh in order to get some more practice. I solved 400 questions each in Q and V.
I solved all OG questions and started to answer those questions I got wrong.
MGMAT1: 620 (Q 49%, V 79%) March 2013
MGMAT2: 680 (Q 63%, V 84%) March 2013
MGMAT3: 590 (Q 59%, V 64%) March 2013 (I was tired when I took the test)
and then, today:
GMATprep2: 620 (Q44, V32) April 2013
My appointment for the GMAT is in two weeks. When I look at my test scores, I don't think it's worth trying it - I mean, I scored 660 in December and it looks like I'm far away from that score now! Was the first real test too easy, was it just luck? I can't really find my weaknesses, Q and V are quite similar. In V, as a non native speaker I find reading comprehension not only difficult to solve, but also difficult to improve (I started reading business magazines).
It is really disappointing. I spend 2h a day during the week and 4h a day on week ends practicing. It seems like it's a waste of time
I would appreciate some feedback from you guys. Why the drop from 660 (real GMAT) to 620 GMATprep? Should I give it a try in two weeks, reschedule the appointment or cancel it - maybe it just can't get any better?
Thanks!
I not only want to share my experience, but also get some valuable input - it seems like my learning doesn't pay off
Please see below my journey.
All prep tests were timed, max. once a week, and usually every day at the same time.
Material used: OG 13, Kaplan Premier.
Kaplan CAT1: 560 (Q 46%, V 48%) October 2012
Kaplan CAT2: 580 (Q 46%, V 56%) November 2012
Kaplan CAT3: 600 (Q 56%, V 78%) November 2012
at this time (December 2012) I knew I wasn't quite ready, however I still wanted to give it a try. With a good score, I still had the chance to apply for a decent school for the 2013 intake.
GMAT: 660 (Q47, V34)
I was positively surprised! I read that Kaplan's scores are underestimated, so 660 was a good basement to build on. However, my target was 700, so I ordered MGMAT SC as well as MGMAT Number Properties. I took a break for a month (maybe that was a mistake...).
Kaplan CAT4: 650 (Q 85%, V 58%) February 2013
Kaplan CAT5: 640 (Q 73%, V 69%) February 2013
GMATprep1: 620 (Q39, V35) February 2013
What a disappointment. After hours and hours of studying, 40 points less than in the actual GMAT? I decided to sign up for Magoosh in order to get some more practice. I solved 400 questions each in Q and V.
I solved all OG questions and started to answer those questions I got wrong.
MGMAT1: 620 (Q 49%, V 79%) March 2013
MGMAT2: 680 (Q 63%, V 84%) March 2013
MGMAT3: 590 (Q 59%, V 64%) March 2013 (I was tired when I took the test)
and then, today:
GMATprep2: 620 (Q44, V32) April 2013
My appointment for the GMAT is in two weeks. When I look at my test scores, I don't think it's worth trying it - I mean, I scored 660 in December and it looks like I'm far away from that score now! Was the first real test too easy, was it just luck? I can't really find my weaknesses, Q and V are quite similar. In V, as a non native speaker I find reading comprehension not only difficult to solve, but also difficult to improve (I started reading business magazines).
It is really disappointing. I spend 2h a day during the week and 4h a day on week ends practicing. It seems like it's a waste of time
I would appreciate some feedback from you guys. Why the drop from 660 (real GMAT) to 620 GMATprep? Should I give it a try in two weeks, reschedule the appointment or cancel it - maybe it just can't get any better?
Thanks!
Tutor
Joined: 27 Jan 2013
Posts: 257
Given Kudos: 38
GMAT 1: 760 Q47 V48
GMAT 2: 770 Q49 V47
GMAT 3: 780 Q49 V51
Re: 660 retake - no improvement in sight
[#permalink]
02 Apr 2013, 09:38
02 Apr 2013, 09:38
Expert Reply
Hi,
First off, I admire your dedication. Great job so far. I agree with you: if you can reschedule your test then do it. Unless you have a hard deadline it is not worth the trouble. A couple of things:
1. Have you been keeping an error log?
2. What other official materials have you worked on (GMAT Focus, Qpack 1, Paper Tests)?
3. How has your timing been on your tests?
I would stick to as much official material as possible. For Quant, using MGMAT or GMATClub CAT is good practice. For verbal I do not assign my students any non-official material. You have done a ton of non-official material and that could be one reason for your score variation.
Also, at some point just practicing questions does not help and can be counterproductive. My gut reaction is that you need to consolidate the knowledge that you have. You have done a lot of practice but maybe you need to do more review and analysis and more strengthening in specific areas.
Let me know the answers to the questions above and I will try to provide more insight.
Happy Studies,
HG.
First off, I admire your dedication. Great job so far. I agree with you: if you can reschedule your test then do it. Unless you have a hard deadline it is not worth the trouble. A couple of things:
1. Have you been keeping an error log?
2. What other official materials have you worked on (GMAT Focus, Qpack 1, Paper Tests)?
3. How has your timing been on your tests?
I would stick to as much official material as possible. For Quant, using MGMAT or GMATClub CAT is good practice. For verbal I do not assign my students any non-official material. You have done a ton of non-official material and that could be one reason for your score variation.
Also, at some point just practicing questions does not help and can be counterproductive. My gut reaction is that you need to consolidate the knowledge that you have. You have done a lot of practice but maybe you need to do more review and analysis and more strengthening in specific areas.
Let me know the answers to the questions above and I will try to provide more insight.
Happy Studies,
HG.
Re: 660 retake - no improvement in sight
[#permalink]
02 Apr 2013, 09:51
02 Apr 2013, 09:51
Definitely don't quit. If nothing else, taking the GMAT a 2nd time after scoring a 660 shows that you're aware that a 660 is on the low-end and that you're trying to improve it. If you score worse, at least you have the 660 to fall back on.
Like you, I got a 660 on my first GMAT attempt, then had a disastrous 610 on the second attempt before breaking through with a 700 on my third, and final attempt. The GMAT is one of the few things you still have control of before you apply - make sure you're happy with your effort on this part.
Like you, I got a 660 on my first GMAT attempt, then had a disastrous 610 on the second attempt before breaking through with a 700 on my third, and final attempt. The GMAT is one of the few things you still have control of before you apply - make sure you're happy with your effort on this part.
