Scored 440 on GMAT after spending 200 plus hours. Any feedbacks/ideas?

Question

HI All,

I need your help. I have been preparing for GMAT for almost a year, but do not see any improvement. I am not sure whether I am doing something wrong or not on a right path? or I am not that smart to get even the average score.

Here is the background. 
Last year, on September I took the GMAT and got 370. In December, I completed the course of Economist GMAT then after a couple month, I completed Manhattan GMAT. In general, I spent more than 200 hours on preparations.

This year, on November 30, after long preparation, I took it again and got 440. I was really disappointed, the reason is, a most recent GMATPrep test that I took, I got between 530-600. I was thinking to get at least 550.

If you have experienced the same situation, please share your ideas/feedbacks

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi rukhsora89,

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long did you consistently study before each attempt at the GMAT? Did you ever take "time off" during your studies?
2) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)?
3) What were the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each of your Official GMATs?

Goals:
4) What is your 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

Estheroma · Answer

Please help me because I dont know what to do again. I have tried everything I know but my CATs has not moved. it's been 330-370. Maybe i'm not cut out or this

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Estheroma,

To start, I suggest that you start your own post-thread and provide a bit more information about how you've been studying and your plans. In that way, the conversation can stay focused on your questions/situation and we avoid 'juggling' conversations between posters regarding different subjects and situations. Once you do that, I'll be happy to answer any questions you have and offer you the advice that you're looking for.

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

rukhsora89 · Answer

Hi Rich, 
Thank you for a quick response. Here are my answers
Studies:
1) How long did you consistently study before each attempt at the GMAT? Did you ever take "time off" during your studies? I studied for 7 months constantly and usually took couple hours off between studies of each section. 
2) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)? Last time when I took GmatPrep, Q47,V23 total score was 570
3) What were the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each of your Official GMATs? Q40, V15

Goals:
4) What is your goal score? 730
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School? For Fall 2018. 
6) What Schools are you planning to apply to? I wanted to apply to Olin Business school, Ph.D. program at Washington University in St Lous.

Thank you Rich,

Estheroma · Answer

Thanks but please how do I start my own post thread. This website is an unfamiliar ground So manyyy clicks. Kindly direct me to where I will click because I need to beat this gmat

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi rukhsora89,

Raising a 440 to a 730+ will take a considerable amount of time and effort - and you'll have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. That training will likely take at least another 3 months of consistent, guided study. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

1) What are the application deadlines for this PhD Program?
2) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?
3) What practice CATs have you used so far?

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

rukhsora89 · Answer

1) What are the application deadlines for this PhD Program? For Olin Business school I will miss the deadline, want to send them an email about late submission of GMAT score, other schools deadline are April, March 2018. 
2) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week? 5-6 hours
3) What practice CATs have you used so far? Princeton Review, Economist GMAT, all 4 CATs of Manhattan GMAT, GMAT Prep

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi rukhsora89,

In your earlier posts, it sounded as if you were only interested in one School, but now that you've made reference to 'other' deadlines, it sounds as if you're planning to apply to several Schools. Most Programs provide information on 'class profiles', average GMAT Scores, etc. so it would help to know whether those Schools might accept you with a GMAT Score below 730 or not. I ask because if you would be considered 'competitive' with a GMAT Score in the 600s, then that would be an easier goal to accomplish in the timeframe that you've described.

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

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Best Books

1. Manhattan GMAT Quant Guides
2. Manhattan GMAT Verbal guides
or Aristotle Verbal Guide for CR critical reasoning bible is best book with 300+ pages of comprehensive Data

Strategies

Start with Quant, learn the concepts tested on GMAT. After learning, practice your learned section with timed practice. You can also take quizzes to meet the pace of GMAT. 1 Month for learning concepts and 15 days of practice and same with the verbal. When completed all the concepts learning and handsome practice. Take full lenght CATs, know your estimated score. Analyze the result with Correct/incorrect questions, pacing analysis trace your mistakes and learn from them, make an error log to know your mistakes in the previously attempted questions

Best Mocks

1. Official GMAC (50+50$)
2. Manhattan GMAT (49$)
3. GMAT Club Quant CATs (80$)

rohan2345 · Answer

Hi rukhsora89, Do not be disheartened. GMAT does test your perseverance. It's not about how long You have studied but your approach. It's a good thing you have taken your GMAT. You now know your weaknesses and work on them. If you are willing to study dedicatedly for Three months, you are sure to achieve your goal. I believe you may benefit from taking a GMATPREP course. If you are willing, there are some great GMAT prep companies that can help you with your preparation. Although MGMAT is good, you should also look at other online companies for your preparation. In order to make an informed decision I would highly encourage you to go to their websites and try on their free trial and decide for yourself which one do you like better. You try out free access to EmpowerGMAT, Magoosh and Optimus Prep as they have great reviews on GMATCLUB. I must add that if you are particularly looking to discover and improve on your weak areas in quant; a subscription to GMATCLUB tests is the best way to do that. They are indeed phenomenal and will not only pinpoint your weak areas but also help you improve on them. Further taking multiple mocks might help. Apart from the GMATPREP, Manhattan GMAT tests and Veritas Prep Tests in my experience have good verbal and Quant section and will certainly help you point out and improve your weak areas. Further another advantage of taking many mocks is to build up your stamina. Apart from the GMATPREP tests, taking practise tests of any major GMATPREP company ought to do that. I would also encourage you practice all the questions twice from the latest version of OG and the verbal review. Here is a link that will help you with your decision. https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-ve ... 68383.html Lastly, you can check out a very interesting article by Mike McGarry from Magoosh detailing a 3 month study plan https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/3-month-g ... -students/. You will find it very helpful as it gives out a study plan as per your needs. Hope this helps. All the best.

Scored 440 on GMAT after spending 200 plus hours. Any feedbacks/ideas?

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