How to increase 680 (Q49 V34) to 720+

Question

Hello All

I gave my GMAT in August 2019 and got a 680 (Q49 V34). I had started studying in 2017 but was never able to study for more than a month due to work commitments. Thus the exam kept getting pushed.

For the august 2019 attempt, I studied for 2-3 months whilst working. I have used gmatclub tests, e-gmat verbal course and OG. I had gone through the 6th edition Manhattan books once.

I would like to apply for a MBA course in Europe (part-time/full time to be decided). I have 5 years of work experience ( 3 years consulting & 2 years Project Manager at a fintech company )

Looking for feedback on my ESR, general recommendations for MBA courses and most importantly tips to study for my 2nd attempt.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Sanjeetgujrall,

First off, a 680/Q49 is a strong Score, so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

There's no harm in retesting though, and you have the potential to pick up some significant points in the Verbal section. Before we discuss the data in your ESR, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) On what 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)?
3) What type of studying have you done since you took the GMAT in August?

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

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

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Sanjeetgujrall,

680 is a great start! I’m happy to provide some detailed advice regarding a retake but I’d also like to learn more about your situation with the GMAT. Once you respond to the questions already asked, I can provide some further advice. In the meantime you may find it helpful to read the following article:

How to Score a 700+ on the GMAT — A Mini Guide for Success

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi Sanjeet, going forward, most of your improvement (that will enable you to score 720+) needs to come from Verbal. While ESR shows your best performance in SC, I would focus on  all  the three sections (SC, RC, CR) to ensure incremental improvements in each of these sections that would cumulatively add up to around 4-5 point overall improvement in your current Verbal score.

Remember that V34 is already a decent score. So, there are no silver bullets that would magically propel your score by 4-5 points.

Picking up those few concepts that might inadvertently have missed your attention, would all add up, to do the tick.

How to increase 680 (Q49 V34) to 720+

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