e-GMAT Verbal Online

Hi shushi,

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
5) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

Thank you for the replies, as you guys have suggested, I will check out the free courses on e-GMAT and see how they are.

Rich:

Thank you for offering specific advice. My answer to your questions are as below.

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
I have recently decided that I want to pursue an MBA, so I have only studied for a week.

2) What study materials have you used so far?
I have taken both Veritasprep free practice tests and done some of their questions from the question bank.
I also have the MGMAT books and the OG but have not gotten a chance to look through them yet.

3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
I have taken two CATs so far.
First one (taken blindly): 590 Q44, V26
2nd one (after 1 week of brushing up on grammar rules): 680 Q48 V36

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
My goal score is 750+

5) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
I have not scheduled my GMAT yet but I am thinking in in 6 months

6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
Undecided, but within the next 2 years. Since GMAT scores last 5 years (which I know I would apply within 5 years) I wanted to get it out of the way early on so I can put all my focus on my application later on.

7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
Still not completely decided, but top 10. Interested in CBS, Kellogg, Booth, Stern, etc.

Thanks,
Shu

Hi shushi,

Improving 90 points in just one week is not an achievement that happens very often, so before we discuss how best to continue your studies, I'd like to try to assess how realistic those 2 CAT results are.

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you plan to take your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?
5) Did you take either CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE (re: in an online forum or in a practice set)?

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

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the reply. To answer your questions,

1. I didnt do the essay on either test but did IR on both (got a 7 both times)

2/3. I took them both at the same time (8 am) at my desk at home

4. I didnt do anything i couldnt do on tedt day. The only thing i did do which I probably wont do on test day is that I skipped all the breaks (on both tests).

5. This was the first time seeing any of the CAT questions.

I studied for my2nd CAT by reviewing both my correct answers and incorrect answers on my 1st CAT.
Overall, for both tests, the conditions were the same, except that I did quant first on my first CAT and verbal first on my second CAT

Thanks,


Sent from my 502SO using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Hi shushi,

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 likely what has happened here. By skipping sections and taking the CATs at home, you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.' By extension, these practice CAT scores are likely not completely accurate.

Thankfully, this is a relatively easy set of problems to fix. You've also given yourself plenty of time study - which is good. As such, i suggest that you study as you see fit for the next 2 weeks, then take a NEW CAT 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 discuss the results.

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

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the response. I understand that I did not take it in the specific conditions of test day and my score may not be representative of my current abilities.
Would you explain to me how skipping the essay portion affects my score? I read that the GMAT can be taken in a couple different orders, and both orders I chose for my CATs placed the AWA at the very end (which means the essay should not affect my focus for the other sections).

I will take a different CAT not at home and even do the essay and will report back in a couple weeks.

Best,

shushi

I agree with you about the section order bit, but you should still take a look at your normal response to new (testing) environments. Also, test day pressure is not something that your GMATPrep tests can simulate.

That said, I'd expect the impact of taking practice tests at home to be small in most cases. You were not familiar with the questions you got on your tests, and that means that the scores you received are quite reliable. Quick suggestion: don't skip the breaks next time.

Hi shushi,

Test Day involves a variety of really specific steps and parameters (including steps before the Test even begins - such as leaving your home, traveling, etc.). Every factor matters, including the psychological ones. When you sit down on Test Day, you KNOW that you're going to be in the Computer Lab for about 4 hours - but if you're just taking individual sections (or taking a CAT without the Essay and IR sections), then you KNOW that you'll be done in 1-2 hours. The attitude and energy that you use during practice will NOT be a match for what you'll need on Test Day, so it's not a proper way to practice.

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