Hi everyone!
I took the GMAT for the first time towards the end of Dec 2017 and I was thoroughly disappointed with my score. I was using the
Manhattan Prep practice tests and I scored around 680 - 720 in the last three tests I took. I scored a 750 on the last GMATPrep test (undiluted) I took 6 days before the exam, but I scored only a 690 (Q44, V40) on the actual test. But I know exactly what went wrong - I was a nervous wreck when I went into the exam. Barely got any sleep the previous night, couldn't stomach my breakfast, and went into the exam like a zombie. So though I had prepped well for it, my mental state let me down.
While I know that 690 is not a bad score, I have a few reasons for re-taking the GMAT:
1. My verbal and quant scores are very imbalanced (verbal is a much higher percentile than quant; quant is my Achilles' heel)
2. My undergrad scores are not strong, and so I don't want another criteria holding me back
3. I had put in a lot of effort for my preparation and I know I'm capable of more than a 690
So for the past month or so, I've been practicing using the Veritas Prep question bank and the GMATClub workbook as I pretty much exhausted all the official questions and guides available.
I've taken three practice tests in the past month and these are my scores:
1. Veritas Prep: 690 (Q48, V37)
2. Veritas Prep: 710 (Q50, V38)
3. GMAT Prep (Exam Pack#1, Test#1): 740 (Q50, V41)
My quant has improved tremendously over the past month of study (as compared to my accuracy during studies for my first attempt). Primarily due to the GMATClub timer and Veritas Prep question bank. I think the quant questions in these sources are structured similar to the official questions and help you become more aware of trap answers, quick solution strategies, etc.
I need to go back and work on verbal (especially SC) as my accuracy is not as good as it used to be. Possibly because I've been spending a lot more time on quant and my verbal ear/eye is rusty.
For the next 18 days, this will be my game plan to maintain quant performance, improve verbal performance, and improve overall exam-taking performance:
1. 3 practice tests (at least 2 including IR and AWA): 2 Veritas Prep tests and 1 GMATPrep test
2. Work through the GMATClub Math book (it is pure gold) as it has many useful ways of approaching tough topics
3. Brush up on SC and CR - will be purchasing extra official questions
4. Practice quant using GMATClub timer and Veritas Prep Question Bank
Other general stuff I'm going to take note of (and leverage on my terrible experience the last time round):
1. No practice tests within a week of the exam - I took a
Manhattan Prep test two days before my last exam and I scored a 620 (just wasn't in the right frame of mind) and it did NOTHING to help my mental state
2. Take the tests at the same time of day as the actual test - my last exam was scheduled for early morning and I had been taking practice tests in the late afternoon. The difference was - by taking tests in the afternoon, my brain was warmed up and ready to go after a few practice drills in the morning. But when I took a test in the morning, I didn't have time for practice drills, and was still a bit groggy. Took me a while to get warmed up, at the cost of 4-5 questions in each section. Just minimize variation from actual test day as much as possible
3. STAY CALM. I've been working on my anxiety issues, and will be better by test day!
Looking for more pointers on things I should do and definitely not do! Thank you