Poor gmat score

Question

Hello,

I would be giving my gmat tomorrow and I am pretty sure I am going to get a poor gmat score in the range of 450's.

I have a full time job, and I was under the impression that I would be able to prepare for a month and score 600+ in the gmat. I was wrong.

I got held up and I was unable to prepare and I have been preparing from the last 10 days on and off. I took a test from mba.com and scored a 440 and a 460.

I do not have an option to re-schedule my test now and I am going ahead with the test.

My questions are-

1. Is it a wise decision to cancel my test scores? Or let the score reflect in my profile?

2. I plan on giving on the gmat in the month of September. Is 2.5 months enough to increase my points by 200?

3. I plan on spending 10 hours a week on gmat. Is this sufficient?

4. I have enrolled myself to magoosh, and I have the official guide 2017. Do I need any additional materials? Kindly suggest.

My target score is 650+. Is this achievable?

Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Prashanth R

Sent from my iPhone using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Prashanth,

You ask a number of good questions - but most of the answers will depend on how well you score on the Official GMAT tomorrow. As far as canceling your score is concerned, Business Schools generally don't care if you take the GMAT more than once, so having more than one Official Score will likely not be an issue. Based on what you have described, you likely will not get close to your score goal tomorrow, so if you are concerned about this initial score, then I suggest that you NOT submit it to any Schools. After you've received your Unofficial Scores, you should post back here and we can discuss how best to proceed.

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

AjiteshArun · Answer

1. Shouldn't make too much of a difference. You don't have to worry about it right now though, because you can cancel your score from home as well (72 hours, for a fee).

2. Hard to say for sure, but a lot of test takers prepare over 3-4 months.

3. You could start with 10 and check after some time whether any adjustments are necessary.

4. Looks like a good place to start. You don't need to get any additional material that might become necessary later in place right now.

All the best!

umg · Answer

Even if you are going to get a bad score, give it your best shot. You may just surprise yourself. Go in as if you have nothing to lose. You literally don't. :wink:

1. Canceling the score - A few schools have a different approach than most. Since, you most probably do not have time to check with your dream school, I'd day cancel the score if you get less than 40 Percentile. 2. Yes. 3. Yes & No. 10 hrs is sufficient if you study 1~2 Hour(s) everyday without fail. As a matter of fact, consistency is the key to score high on GMAT. I was advised by a friend that dedicating 1 hr to 2 hrs everyday is sufficient. Again! Everyday is the Key word. He specifically mentioned that If I plan to study for 4~5 hrs on weekends and none during the weekdays, I may not get a desired result. 4. Magoosh is a good company. The material you have + gmatclub is more than what you may need for 650..

AndyDufresne · Answer

Go with an open mind without thinking and anticipating too much about the score. Being calm and composed for the exam will help you gain atleast 20-30 points.

By thinking too much, you anyways will be too tensed and would not be able to give the best shot to the exam.

Prachu1991 · Answer

Thanks for all the suggestions above guys. I would be writing the exam in another 4.30 hours. I am going with an open mind and anyway I got nothing to lose. I will post back here again with the unofficial score.

Thanks again!

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

Thanks again!

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

Prachu1991 · Answer

Hey guys, I got a 500 on gmat!content as I hardly studied for 5 days and got this. lesson learnt - never take gmat lightly. I am looking to get a 150 point increase and I hope so it is achievable for me. My verbal skills are poor and I am moderate in quant. Like I said previously, I have the official guide 2017( is 2018 required and do I need to buy?) and a subscription to magoosh. I would love to learn verbal and quant from basics. I am planning to take a sabbatical from work for a period of 2 months and prepare for gmat. Kindly advice the additional materials I would require??

I am indeed happy that I found this forum and all the wonderful people here.

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

I am indeed happy that I found this forum and all the wonderful people here.

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Prashanth,

From your original post, it was not clear that you had done almost no studying for the GMAT. As such, a 500 is not bad (the average score on the Official GMAT hovers around 540-550 most years). However, to raise this score to a 650+ will require that you focus your energies on learning the content and proper Tactics for BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. To that end, you do not necessarily have to take time off from your job for 2 months to achieve your goal, but you will have to be consistent with your studies and hone a specific set of skills.

1) What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Score for this 500?
2) Did you have any pacing issues (did you leave any questions unanswered or have to 'rush' to finish any of the sections)?

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

Prachu1991 · Answer

Hi rich,

1. My scores are not yet reflecting in mba.com( I cancelled my score), however from what I recollect I got a 21 in verbal and 19 in quant. I am really not sure about the breakup, but I got more in verbal!

2. I did have difficulty completing my quant section. I had to randomly pick answers for the last 06 questions.

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

AjiteshArun · Answer

The 2018 is not  required  (you can see some of the differences between the 2017 and 2018  here  and check whether it makes sense for you to pick that book up too). I'd suggest you stick with the 2017.

Again, like the new OG, more material may not be required. Just try to get started. Getting some of the basics in place is the most important thing to do right now.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Prashanth,

The extra information that you've provided about Test Day isn't too surprising (given your lack of study). To hone all of the necessary skills in the timeframe that you've indicated, you would likely benefit a great deal from investing in a GMAT Course of some type (either Guided Self-Study or instructor-led). Most GMAT Companies offer some type of free materials (practice problems, Trial Accounts, videos, etc.) that you can use to 'test out' a product before you buy it. We have a variety of those resources at our website (www.empowergmat.com). I suggest that you take advantage of all of them then choose the one that best matches your personality, timeline and budget.

If you have any additional questions, then just let me know.

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

	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

Poor gmat score

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards