Retake suggestions

Question

Hello everyone, I recently took my GMAT and scored horribly and I do mean horribly I got a 360 (Q22 V17) which I honestly feel like does not correspond with my knowledge at all. I cancelled the score as soon as I saw it obviously and right now I am trying to figure out my next step. First of all I want to mention that I was having horrible test anxiety and I feel like that contributed to this bad performance. Additionally, I wasn't scoring that well on my practice tests but nothing below the 500 range though, so it was really disappointing to see the 360. More surprisingly I have always considered math to be my weakest subject, however seeing that V17 maybe I was wrong

. In the beginning I started with the OG guide however I did not finish because I started going through an online course and that was really helpful however I was scoring way below the recommended accuracy for the tests. In the weeks leading up to exam I was getting even more stressed and started going through random materials which when I think back to now was not the smartest decision. I am taking a couple of days off right know to get my thoughts together however I wanted to ask if anyone has any suggestions as to how I should go about retaking the GMAt, I am planning on giving myself around 2 more months to prepare and take it again because I want to apply for an MIM program this year and I am hoping to catch R3 and R4 (potentially R3 in the best case scenario) but I am targeting really competitive programs and I would need a really good GMAT score to make up for applying in the later rounds ( or at least that's what I think). I would love to hear any suggestions and thanks for reading through my rant

Best, Deni

BrentGMATPrepNow · Answer

Hi Deni,

I'm sorry to hear your latest test didn't go well.

If you plan to retake the test in 2 months, it's imperative that you take your time mastering each topic before moving on to the next topic . 
For example, if you haven't yet mastered basic percents (e.g., 15 is what percent of 60?), then it makes no sense to start studying algebra where you'll see even more difficult percent questions (e.g., questions involving percentages AND variables).

By the way, although your quantitative score  appears  to be better than your verbal score, your verbal score is actually better. 
A V17 is a 14th percentile score, whereas a Q22 is a 6th percentile score.

Russ19 · Answer

You can work with concepts required for the test, so go through the Manhattan prep strategy guides.

Best wishes!

Posted from my mobile device

IanStewart · Answer

You should make sure to study a lot of official questions (and don't just attempt a lot of them -- learn everything you can from the ones you find difficult or get wrong) before your next attempt. Those questions will be the ones that most closely resemble what you see on test day, and if you were taking a prep course that was recommending you solve other questions, like the company's own questions, that course is not giving you good direction. And do as Brent suggests above -- learn one topic well before moving on to the next, and prioritize the important topics on the test first (ratios, percents, translating words to algebra, and algebra in general). Those topics are often prerequisites for others anyway (you can't really study geometry until you've learned ratios and algebra, for example).

But the anxiety you describe, which is a very common issue, might be the single most important thing to address, if your test day score was significantly lower than your diagnostic scores. If you could take the test tomorrow anxiety-free, your score would probably go up 150 points, based on the information you provided. If you need help with anxiety issues, I'd suggest looking outside the GMAT field altogether. A lot of people in the GMAT field will give advice about anxiety, but almost no one in the GMAT field is qualified to talk about it. It's an area professional psychologists study for years, and just as you would with a medical or legal question, you should get advice from someone who is expert in the area. Good luck!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Denislava,

From what you have said, I think that your issues may be a combination of a lack of overall knowledge and as well anxiety. However, to better diagnose your issue could you tell me the dates and score breakdowns of your official practice exams? Once I have that information I can provide some additional advice.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Deni,

Lots of GMATers experience some anxiety (to varying degrees) on Test Day - so you're not alone - and I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as hoped. Unless you tend to have anxiety all the time (re: on a day-to-day basis and outside of taking standardized tests), then the anxiety you're feeling on the GMAT can probably be 'traced back' to a couple of different issues. 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. Before we discuss any of those potential issues though, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied? How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used besides the Official Guide? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) 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)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) What specific application deadlines are you facing?

Since you appear to have a list of Schools in mind, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

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

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

RetaketheGMAT · Answer

Hey Deni,

It seems like you're fighting the test a bit. What I mean by that is thinking the GMAT is a typical Math and English test -- and prepping for it that way. The GMAT is a test of reasoning skills -- that means you have to change your approach to the test significantly. The test doesn't only reward you for know math and English concepts. It rewards you equally for having solid reasoning skills and processes.

An IN-TEST live Diagnostic could be very helpful in determining where you're out of alignment with the test.

Denislava · Answer

Hi Scott! Thank you for the reply, so I went a bit bad about this but I started taking practice tests the last week before the exam, the first mock I took was the Kaplan one where I scored 510 (Q34,V26) then I took the two Official ones the first one I got 400 (V22,Q22) and the second one which I took two days before my actual exam I scored 630 (Q50,V25) (but for this exam I did guess a lot of the questions on the quantitive section so I am not counting this Q50 as a win). After that I tried to go over the parts where my biggest gaps were before the exam. Let me know if you need any additional info

Best, Deni

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi Denislava,

Sorry to hear about your GMAT experience. It's unfortunate that your 1st GMAT attempt didn't go as planned. But there is clearly scope for improvement. Before getting into details, do provide some context about

1. The time you are able to devote to studying each day 
2. Resources you used for prep 
3. The structure and study plan you followed 
4. Your target score

You can always write back to me here or the better way would be to connect over a call and have a discussion. You can schedule a free consultation call using the below link.
    Click here to schedule a call

MathRevolution · Answer

Hello Deni,

Welcome to the GMAT club. It is one of the great platforms to get information about the GMAT official test, Study plan, Section wise instructions, and many more. You are recommended to visit various posts and utilize this forum in the best efficient way.

Learning is a continuous process, and it shines with practice. Math is a very tricky subject that is easy to understand and difficult to apply.

Success in GMAT Math is entirely based on vital concepts, rigorous practice, complete knowledge of math question types and patterns, quick approaches, and time management.

Your current GMAT score is shaky. You can schedule a Free counseling(https://calendly.com/mathrevolution/1-on-1-session) session for 20 mins with one of our experts to have detailed advice on your current study plans.

The score tells that neither the Math nor the Verbal is above average. Hence, both sections have to be taken care of simultaneously. To improve, you will require consistent learning and practice. Also, keep your motivation high to learn.

Since we are a math expert, we will recommend you go through our post on the GMAT club, which gives a complete Breakdown of GMAT math questions and types: https://gmatclub.com/forum/overview-of- ... l#p1641411

Also, make a note of various possible combinations to achieve your target score. The possible scores will help you track your performance after taking the mock or practice test. It will also help you maintain balance in both the sections, and you will always be in a great position to allot the study hours to a specific area accordingly.

After visiting the post, now is the time to start with the basics. To strengthen the basic concept on various topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems, you may refer to many free materials available in GMAT Club.

Solve as many questions as you can relate to different topics, and it is recommended that you try to connect with many proven experts. You can visit the Math Revolution and get access to our 7-days on-demand course for free trial lessons.

While concept learning, try solving 600 level questions by topic and be habitual of creating the error log. Prepare a list of all the doubts you face during solving and practicing questions. This practice will help you assess the topics in which you need more time to prepare. After solving as many questions as possible, take the 1st mock test and assess your performance. You may try our free diagnostic test once. Let some experts evaluate it to make you understand it better.

Continue the process with 650+ level by topic and then 700+ level questions by topic. The entire mock test should be completed in a disciplinary manner. Since this is a bit long journey, 1-on -1 tutoring can also be helpful to shorten the study period if your study budget is affordable.

Regular tests will reflect the positive change in the score, and hence, your confidence will boost up. Gradually, with the help of mock tests, you will be able to compete with time and hence will be able to learn time management.

We appreciate your time and patience in reading this reply.
If you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

You can reach us at [email protected].

Success is within your reach.

Good luck!
Math Revolution Team

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

For Verbal, working on solving approach can be helpful (previous 6 hour student roughly 10 verbal points in around 30 days) - though it's likely you may also have some fundamentals you can still work on. I've suggested to verbal students to use Manhattan SC and CR 6th edition so maybe check those out.

Take care

Take care

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

So, based on those practice test scores, I think we can both agree that you weren't quite ready to take your GMAT, right? Do you think you could give yourself some more time to prep, and then take your GMAT once you are truly ready to do so? Also, what is your target GMAT score? Lastly, if you'd like some advice on how to move forward with your studying, here is a great article you can check out:

The Best Way to Study for the GMAT

	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.
	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	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

Retake suggestions

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