Scored 550 on first practice test.

Q47 is actually 60th percentile. You can refer to this page.

Hi chhabramayank,

Scoring 550 with Q47 without any prep is a very solid start. As long as you follow a linear and structured study plan as well as a realistic timeline, then honestly, any score improvement is possible. Regarding resources, in addition to seeking advice in this thread, take a look at the GMAT Club reviews for the best quant and verbal courses, and also read through some GMAT success stories to see what materials have worked well for other test-takers.

Also, would you like some general advice on how to improve your verbal and quant skills?

You also may find it helpful to read this article about how to score a 700+ on the GMAT.

Good luck!

Hi chhabramayank,

A 550 is a solid initial CAT score (the average score on the Official GMAT hovers around 540-550 most years). Many GMATers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores - so since you aren't planning to take the GMAT until August, you also appear to have given yourself plenty of time to study - which is good. To hit your Goal Score, you'll likely have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

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 your timeline and your goals:

1) What study materials do you currently have access to?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

>> What study materials do you currently have access to?
I am planning to take Magoosh GMAT course in order to kickstart my preparation. Apart from that i have Mahattan GMAT study material for verbal

>>When are you planning to apply to Business School?
I do not have timeline in my mind as of now. I have 2 years of experience and i will start applying to B-Schools after completing 3+ years of work experience (which will be roughly in 2021). My first step is to get the GMAT completed and post that i will have good time in order to build my profile for the B-Schools

>>What Schools are you planning to apply to?
I am targeting for HAAS School of Business. As my area of work is Software development, and i want to stick to a bit of technicality even after getting an MBA and HAAS being closest to the silicon valley is the ideal business school for me.

Hi chhabramayank,

Studying for the GMAT now - far in advance of when you'll actually "need" your Score - is a smart choice. This gives you the opportunity to work with a variety of different study materials and find the one(s) that best help you to improve. Most GMAT Companies offer some type of free materials (practice problems, Trial Accounts, videos, etc.) that you can use to 'test out' a product before you buy it. We have a variety of those resources at our website (www.empowergmat.com). I suggest that you take advantage of all of them then choose the ones that best match your personality, timeline and budget.

In addition, since you're interested in one specific, highly-competitive School, 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/

If you have any additional questions, then just let me know.

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

I'm not too familiar with the effectiveness of an online course, but I'd recommend you don't rely solely on one. Buy all three Official Guide 2020 books (the main one, the quant one and the verbal one). That ought to keep you occupied for a little while. August is still a ways a way. You have time.