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Intern
Joined: 05 Mar 2017
Posts: 14
Given Kudos: 7
Location: Poland
Concentration: Finance, Leadership
Schools: IESE '20 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q44 V41 
GPA: 3.4
WE:Investment Banking (Investment Banking)
A score drop from 660 to 540/ Need at least 710/ Please help!
[#permalink]
06 Apr 2017, 10:27
06 Apr 2017, 10:27
Hello Members,
I've just did my 4th CAT and it seems that the more time I spend on learning the lower my scores get.... 3 weeks ago ma score was 660, 2 weeks later 650 and today 540. My target score is 720. The worst part is, that during practice, I am able to answer correctly 70-80% of the hardest questions. I've planned to take the GMAT on 14th of April but rescheduled it on 25th of April.
I would appreciate any suggestions or any advice as I am definitely doing something wrong. Below are the details concerning my background and my preparations.
Looking forward to your replies!
Kind regards,
Tomasz
My CAT scores:
- Veritas 630 (Q43, V33)/Date: 11 March (I know I made a mistake by taking the first CAT so late - honestly, I was afraid of getting a low score)/ Verbal and Quant done 1 day apart, no IR and AWA
-GMAT Prep 660 (Q41, V40)/Date: 19 March/ IR7, no AWA
-GMAT Prep 650 (Q44, V35)/ Date: 2 April / IR8, AWA included
-GMAT Club 540 (Q36, V 28)/ Date: 6 April/ no IR, AWA included - had a rough week at work so it might have some impact on the score.
Materials I've used:
1)The Princeton Review - Cracking the New GMAT (2013 edition)
2)The Official GMAT materials
3)Kaplan GMAT 800
My background info:
- fixed income trader with over 6 years of professional experience (working with big numbers and under high pressure everyday)
- CFA charterholder
- Master's degree in Finance
My preparation info:
1)started preparation in 2013 (light preparations for 3 months) but then decided not to take exam (never even did a CAT then);
2)started preparations 2015 (light preparations for 2 months) but postponed the MBA plans due to personal reasons
3)started preparations on November-December 2016 - light revision of the stuff I've learned during the previous attempts (didn't remember most of the stuff); started reading english books to improve my verbal skills (since then managed to read 4 books) + each day at work I try to read at least one article from WSJ, Business Insider or the Economist .
4)January 2017 till now - started serious learning. Below is the schedule I use:
Monday - a day off
Tuesday - 1,5h of learning
Wednesday - 1,5h of learning
Thursday - 1,5h of learning
Friday - a day off
Saturday - 4-5h of learning
Sunday - 4-5h of learning
I do have an error log - my weakest points are SC and DS.
I've just did my 4th CAT and it seems that the more time I spend on learning the lower my scores get.... 3 weeks ago ma score was 660, 2 weeks later 650 and today 540. My target score is 720. The worst part is, that during practice, I am able to answer correctly 70-80% of the hardest questions. I've planned to take the GMAT on 14th of April but rescheduled it on 25th of April.
I would appreciate any suggestions or any advice as I am definitely doing something wrong. Below are the details concerning my background and my preparations.
Looking forward to your replies!
Kind regards,
Tomasz
My CAT scores:
- Veritas 630 (Q43, V33)/Date: 11 March (I know I made a mistake by taking the first CAT so late - honestly, I was afraid of getting a low score)/ Verbal and Quant done 1 day apart, no IR and AWA
-GMAT Prep 660 (Q41, V40)/Date: 19 March/ IR7, no AWA
-GMAT Prep 650 (Q44, V35)/ Date: 2 April / IR8, AWA included
-GMAT Club 540 (Q36, V 28)/ Date: 6 April/ no IR, AWA included - had a rough week at work so it might have some impact on the score.
Materials I've used:
1)The Princeton Review - Cracking the New GMAT (2013 edition)
2)The Official GMAT materials
3)Kaplan GMAT 800
My background info:
- fixed income trader with over 6 years of professional experience (working with big numbers and under high pressure everyday)
- CFA charterholder
- Master's degree in Finance
My preparation info:
1)started preparation in 2013 (light preparations for 3 months) but then decided not to take exam (never even did a CAT then);
2)started preparations 2015 (light preparations for 2 months) but postponed the MBA plans due to personal reasons
3)started preparations on November-December 2016 - light revision of the stuff I've learned during the previous attempts (didn't remember most of the stuff); started reading english books to improve my verbal skills (since then managed to read 4 books) + each day at work I try to read at least one article from WSJ, Business Insider or the Economist .
4)January 2017 till now - started serious learning. Below is the schedule I use:
Monday - a day off
Tuesday - 1,5h of learning
Wednesday - 1,5h of learning
Thursday - 1,5h of learning
Friday - a day off
Saturday - 4-5h of learning
Sunday - 4-5h of learning
I do have an error log - my weakest points are SC and DS.
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 10148
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Re: A score drop from 660 to 540/ Need at least 710/ Please help!
[#permalink]
14 Apr 2017, 01:00
14 Apr 2017, 01:00
Expert Reply
Hi MrT,
No worries!
You can surely hit at least 49 or above just like 90% of our students as long as you follow our study guide properly.
Since we are specialised in quant only, we can give you advice on quant. In order to hit 700, Q49 and V35 is the best combination. It appears that you are relatively good at verbal and you can hit your target score if you focus on quant more.
Based on the score given above, we would like to recommend studying at least 1-2 months. However, since you have only
less than 2 weeks left, we would like to recommend focusing on 5 key questions (Integer, Statistics, Inequality, Probability, Absolute Value) that account for 80% of GMAT exam.
Also, your weakest point is DS though you can quickly improve DS skills once you fully understand our approach if you plan to take another exam later on.
In fact, GMAT is a logic test, not general math test. Hence, you need to learn the logic to hit a high score in GMAT which you can learn from our course and the conventional method to solve GMAT questions takes too long to improve. You should learn 'logic' to solve GMAT math. If you would like to take an exam again, please refer to the information below.
From our course, you will learn our unique approaches and solving questions using the approaches: Variable approach of DS and IVY approach of PS. With our unique approaches, you can solve any questions that normally take 4 minutes in 1 minute and 30 seconds, and 2-minute question in 30 seconds. Moreover, you can solve 100% of DS questions with Variable approach and 30-40% of PS questions with IVY approach, which can boost your score.
If you would like to try our approaches, Please try Trial Pack (4 hour lesson) that reveal our secret approaches of DS+PS core theory that you have never seen. You can test whether you like them or not before you enroll.
Also, apart from the online course, you can separately purchase 700+ level questions if you aim at hitting Q49-51.https://www.mathrevolution.com/gmat/700level
Additionally, the below are useful articles featured in GMAT Club for your reference. This will be helpful for you.
Ultimate Q51 Gudie https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-ultimate- ... 09801.html
· Most Updated Math Trend : https://gmatclub.com/forum/overview-of-g ... 11809.html
Also, we would like to share the link below.
This is not testimonial but just comments of our students' real voice after they take an exam.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/math-revoluti ... 24118.html
You can also do the same if you study with us!
Come visit our website for further information!
www.mathrevolution.com
Happy Studying!
Jin
Math Revolution
No worries!
You can surely hit at least 49 or above just like 90% of our students as long as you follow our study guide properly.
Since we are specialised in quant only, we can give you advice on quant. In order to hit 700, Q49 and V35 is the best combination. It appears that you are relatively good at verbal and you can hit your target score if you focus on quant more.
Based on the score given above, we would like to recommend studying at least 1-2 months. However, since you have only
less than 2 weeks left, we would like to recommend focusing on 5 key questions (Integer, Statistics, Inequality, Probability, Absolute Value) that account for 80% of GMAT exam.
Also, your weakest point is DS though you can quickly improve DS skills once you fully understand our approach if you plan to take another exam later on.
In fact, GMAT is a logic test, not general math test. Hence, you need to learn the logic to hit a high score in GMAT which you can learn from our course and the conventional method to solve GMAT questions takes too long to improve. You should learn 'logic' to solve GMAT math. If you would like to take an exam again, please refer to the information below.
From our course, you will learn our unique approaches and solving questions using the approaches: Variable approach of DS and IVY approach of PS. With our unique approaches, you can solve any questions that normally take 4 minutes in 1 minute and 30 seconds, and 2-minute question in 30 seconds. Moreover, you can solve 100% of DS questions with Variable approach and 30-40% of PS questions with IVY approach, which can boost your score.
If you would like to try our approaches, Please try Trial Pack (4 hour lesson) that reveal our secret approaches of DS+PS core theory that you have never seen. You can test whether you like them or not before you enroll.
Also, apart from the online course, you can separately purchase 700+ level questions if you aim at hitting Q49-51.https://www.mathrevolution.com/gmat/700level
Additionally, the below are useful articles featured in GMAT Club for your reference. This will be helpful for you.
Ultimate Q51 Gudie https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-ultimate- ... 09801.html
· Most Updated Math Trend : https://gmatclub.com/forum/overview-of-g ... 11809.html
Also, we would like to share the link below.
This is not testimonial but just comments of our students' real voice after they take an exam.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/math-revoluti ... 24118.html
You can also do the same if you study with us!
Come visit our website for further information!
www.mathrevolution.com
Happy Studying!
Jin
Math Revolution
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Posts: 21842
Given Kudos: 450
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Re: A score drop from 660 to 540/ Need at least 710/ Please help!
[#permalink]
14 Apr 2017, 11:29
14 Apr 2017, 11:29
Expert Reply
Hi Tomasz,
Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your practice scores can become - and that's an issue in your case. By skipping sections during most of your CATs, you took shorter, easier Exams that required less effort from you than the actual GMAT will. As such, we cannot trust most of these CAT scores. The one score that appears legitimate is the 650, but since that's the only score, we don't have any proof about how consistent your actual 'ability level' is. If there was anything unrealistic about how you took that CAT, then your ability level is likely lower than mid-600s.
With a score goal of 720, you will likely need at least another 2 months of consistent, guided study to get to that level, so you might want to consider pushing back your Test Date. In addition, many Test Takers who use a 'book heavy' study approach end up getting 'stuck' at a particular score level - and since your studies have been book heavy, you might need to invest in some new, non-book study materials so that you can learn/practice some new Tactics.
I recommend that you take a new CAT this weekend and do so in a realistic fashion (take the FULL CAT - with the Essay and IR sections, take it away from your home, at the same time of day as when you'll take the Official GMAT, etc.). Once you have that score, you should report back here and we can talk about how best to proceed.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your practice scores can become - and that's an issue in your case. By skipping sections during most of your CATs, you took shorter, easier Exams that required less effort from you than the actual GMAT will. As such, we cannot trust most of these CAT scores. The one score that appears legitimate is the 650, but since that's the only score, we don't have any proof about how consistent your actual 'ability level' is. If there was anything unrealistic about how you took that CAT, then your ability level is likely lower than mid-600s.
With a score goal of 720, you will likely need at least another 2 months of consistent, guided study to get to that level, so you might want to consider pushing back your Test Date. In addition, many Test Takers who use a 'book heavy' study approach end up getting 'stuck' at a particular score level - and since your studies have been book heavy, you might need to invest in some new, non-book study materials so that you can learn/practice some new Tactics.
I recommend that you take a new CAT this weekend and do so in a realistic fashion (take the FULL CAT - with the Essay and IR sections, take it away from your home, at the same time of day as when you'll take the Official GMAT, etc.). Once you have that score, you should report back here and we can talk about how best to proceed.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
