Really need advices GMAT Real TEST

Hi Kyle,

I understand your frustration, I too was scoring constantly between 620-670, but only ended up with a 570 on the actual exam. (Q44 V24). It sounds like you just had a bad test day experience. What you need to do is train for the GMAT like a sport. Doing little things can have a big impact on your score.

I would strongly suggest you look at this article posted on the forum https://gmatclub.com/forum/10-tips-to-i ... 24393.html.

Try to incorporate as many of these strategies as you can. It may seem silly but all these minor adjustments can ease your anxiety and may improve your performance. For example, do you believe that if everything else equal you slept better the night before and had a snack before your verbal section it could have added 30-40 points on your total score? You should put these things into habbit so that test day is just like any other day.

Also continually work on your verbal strategy and maintain an error log. Before my first test my Verbal scores were very inconsistent ranging anywhere from 24-35. I realized my approach to SC was affecting the consistency of my scores. Although my level isn't where I want it to be it has improved and I can consistently score between 30-35.

I hope this was somewhat helpful, best of luck on your GMAT Journey.

Hi Kyle192,

From your prior post, there were a few 'red flags', but before we discuss any of that, I have a few additional questions about the lead-up to Test Day and Test Day itself:

1) What did you do in the 3 days before your GMAT?
2) How did you sleep the night before your Test?
3) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
4) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
5) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
6) Did you finish any sections early?
7) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?

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

Hi Rich C,

1) What did you do in the 3 days before your GMAT?
I took 2 Prep CATs tests in three days before the real test.
The day before, I took one test in the afternoon and the night before the test I reviewed old questions to 11.30 PM
2) How did you sleep the night before your Test?
I slept around 6 hours. I tent to go sleeping more but I needed to finish reviewing.
3) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
Just 15 minutes. It did not matter.
4) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
I feel a little tired from Verbal Section, especially my eyes.
5) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
I went out, for bathroom and drank some water.
6) Did you finish any sections early?
Not really. Just quantitative 1 min remained.
7) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?
Verbal section. I lost pace time in the middle. So I guessed some for come back time pace. I skipped three consecutive question for a RC passage.

But I still could not believe that my verbal score declined so low like that

Hi Navski. Your idea was really helpful. I am now so sad cause I don't know where my GMAT score ranges now Is it really weak in the showed score? Or my verbal is just below 20? I decided to join a E-GMAT Verbal course online some next days with the hope of improvement. However, I just gained 57% Verbal Evaluation test on that website yesterday.

Hi Kyle192,

While this 550 is upsetting, it can be traced back to two major 'issues' in terms of how you prepared for the GMAT.

To start, 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 what happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, seeing 'repeat' questions, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience' - and your practice scores were not completely accurate.

Second, the process of taking (and reviewing) a CAT requires a significant amount of energy and effort - and takes time to 'recover' from. This is one of the reasons why you typically shouldn't take more than 1 CAT per week - and why your last CAT should be taken about 1 week before Test Day. By taking two CATs in the last few days before your Official GMAT, there's a reasonable chance that you experienced some 'burn out' on Test Day. Even if you didn't "feel" tired, your performance on the Verbal section proves that you were not at your best.

Thankfully, this is a relatively easy set of problems to fix. The big question now is "how long will it take you to properly get 'used to' taking the full GMAT? under realistic conditions?" You'll certainly need a new set of practice CATs to work with and you have to put in the necessary time to train your brain (and body) for the FULL GMAT. You might also need to invest in some new GMAT training materials.

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

Hi Kyle,

I wouldn't really beat yourself up too much about your score. You did really well on quant and from all your practice tests it definitely seems that your score was definitely in range. Like Rich said it's really important to go over each practice test. When reviewing, your goal shouldn't be to find the right answer and move on. You need to analyze WHY you went wrong. Was there a question you spent 5-6 minutes on that you should have skipped? Had you 5 or 6 extra minutes could you get another 3-4 question correct. ? In your case that might have been the difference between a V19 and V24-25. Which would have probably got you a 600. I keep all my scratch paper from my CATS and that helps me see what I was doing during test time. I often realize that I make silly mistakes, or get over anxious, or just think too quick sometimes. All things that can be corrected over time.

And the two keys to improving your score are time and consistency. It will take time to fix your knowledge gaps and be confident in your new strategies. You have to be consistent with your strategy and need to have the discipline to stick to them even when the GMAT throws you a curve ball.

You may very well be in the V30 range, but maybe the GMAT threw you a couple funky questions that you weren't familiar with and you weren't able to respond. This may have cost you time and put extra pressure on the rest of the exam.

My advice take your time, identify your weaknesses, create strategies to overcome them. It can be a frustrating process but you will see improvement.

Damn pretty brutal result. Sorry to hear that buddy. Might be a bad day, see how you can work on your weaknesses. Spend another couple of months of solid prep then re-try. Focus on your weak areas. That's where you can improve the most.

Good luck!

Hi RichC and Navski,

Thank you so much for your advice dudes. I think I will need a month to re-arrange my practice. Change my approach in Verbal. After that I will retake

But anyone can suggest me an useful source for CATs. I completed all Gmat Prep CATs. So I have to find new ones.