Can’t understand what’s going on

Hi jessicajaggi,

I'm sorry to hear that your 2nd attempt did not turn out better. When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. At this point, the immediate question is really about your applications. If the Programs that you are interested in do not require that you submit a GMAT Score, then you should only submit a Score if it enhances your overall application - and right now, neither of your Official Scores do that (meaning that if you were going to send in your applications tomorrow, you should not include either of your Official Scores).

If you want to continue studying (with the goal of scoring 600+), then before we discuss any of the potential issues regarding the differences between your CATs/mocks and your Official Scores, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

1) On what dates did you take your 2 Official GMATs?
2) How long have you studied in total? How many hours do you typically study each week?
3) What study materials have you used over the course of all of your studies?
4) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
5) What Schools/Programs are you planning to apply to and what specific application deadlines are you facing?

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

Hi jessicajaggi,

I'm sorry to hear how things have been going with your GMAT. I'm happy to provide some advice but would first like to know, did you make any decisions regarding whether to retake your GMAT? Also, in the meantime, you may find it helpful to read the following article:

Why Was My GMAT Score Lower Than My Practice Test Scores?

Sorry to hear about your experience. Maybe you had an off day. Why don't you give the exam one more time?

All the best!

ScottTargetTestPrep

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I'll probably (80% sure) will take it again online, around the 12th of February (my first application deadline is 28th of February). However, I am not motivated to work 5 hours a day anymore, as it is what I did for 4 months now and still couldn't get my target score. Therefore, I believe that I should change my strategy.
I reviewed my ESR and saw that I totally messed up critical reasoning, arithmetics and ratios/rates/percents. Thus, I'll focus on those areas as well as on time management.
Do you have any recommendations for such a short period and for someone who lost part of her motivation.. ?

EMPOWERgmatRichC

Thanks for your answer.
So,

1) On what dates did you take your 2 Official GMATs?
I took the first one on the 1st of December, and the second one on the 12th of January

2) How long have you studied in total? How many hours do you typically study each week?
From September to November I studied about 3-4 hours a day as I was doing my internship. Then, November to second exam day I studied 4-5 hours every day, and took a three days off after my first attempt.

3) What study materials have you used over the course of all of your studies?
I used the OG 2021, Magoosh, gmatclub and tutors (about 30 private classes - 15 Verbal and 15 Quant)

4) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
I took a mock every Sunday, all the GMAC ones, the Veritas and the Kaplan as well. Also, I did the quant of gmatclub.

1st mock: 25th of September - 530 Q36 V27
2nd: 3rd of Oct - 570 Q35 V34
3rd: 10th of Oct - 570 Q36 V31
4th: 17th of Oct - 620 Q42 V34
5th: 22nd of Oct - 600 Q42 V31
6th: 25th of Oct - 700 Q47 V39
7th: 30th of Oct - 620 Q47 V28
8th :15th of Nov - 680 Q42 V40
9th: 26th of Nov - Kaplan - can't access my score anymore but around 650 and V38
10th: 20th of Dec - Veritas prep - 660 Q43 V37
11th: 29th of DEC - 680 Q47 V36
12th: 15th of Jan - 720 Q45 V44

5) What Schools/Programs are you planning to apply to and what specific application deadlines are you facing?
I am applying in Swiss universities such as
- ST Gallen University for the Marketing management program (no GMAT required), and if possible to the strategy and international management (but here GMAT required). Deadline 31st of March (also 31st of January but I might wait and re-do my Gmat).
- HEC Lausanne, no gmat required but if submitted score recommended is 650. Deadline is 30th of April
- UNIGE, master of business analytics - no gmat required but if submitted score recommended is 600. Deadline is 28th of February.
- Fordham University - gmat can be waived due to COVID. Deadline is 9th of April
- ST Johns university - gmat required, rolling admissions
- ESSEC strategic management (gmat required above 600), or marketing (no gmat required), deadline is 26th of April
- London Business school - deadline is 28th of May
- Imperial college london - no Gmat - no deadline
- London school of economics - gmat not required but recommended, no deadline

hi, i really feel sorry for your experience and the way it went but don't lose heart. keeping your mock scores in mind ,it is a substantial drop in your score and if you are applying for the course which doesn't necessarily ask for gmat score i would not advise you to submit that score however having a score in the range of 600 ( as you mentioned this course asks if you are willing to submit your gmat score) will boost your application chances. i would suggest you to go back to your study one more time see where you went wrong if possible order your ESR ,throughly examine it and take the test again one more time . you are so much close to your score .

Hi jessicajaggi,

I've sent you a PM with some notes and additional questions.

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

Hi Jessica,

For starters, why don't you give yourself a few weeks off? My fear is that you are so burned out, that it may be tough to move forward with another round of GMAT studying. What do you think?