NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 07:28 It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 07:28
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

Scored 590 - where to go from here?

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
avatar
J0hannes
Intern
Intern
Joined: 16 Feb 2017
Posts: 2
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
Scored 590 - where to go from here? [#permalink] New post   01 Mar 2017, 07:06
Hello everybody,
i just took my first GMAT today and scored 590 (Q46, V26).

Disappointed at the beginning since prior Kaplan CATs were around 630-660, I am now eager to study and get a better score.
I guess the whole test didn't really go well for me and the Kaplan CATs were not very representative.
I have 30-40 days (no work) of preparation until my next GMAT.
Lets start with what I have done so far:

I studied around 30 days and went through:
- OG + Verbal & Quantitative Review
- E-Gmat the SC part (what are your thoughts on their strategy for approaching SC?)
- GMAT Premier 2017

After all I know now that i should have focused more on the OG question shortly before taking the GMAT. The Kaplan Question on the CAT were still not as authentic as I thought they would be.
I will probably purchase the GMATPrep test...

So my questions now are:
- What would you do in the next 30-40 days?
- I am looking for explanations of the quantitative sections plus (a lot) questions for each concept. I realized during the exam that I still have some problems with the basic concepts that appear every time on the gmat (Ratios, algebra, odd/even, etc...) because I was simply not able to solve them fats enough. So what I am looking for are many questions for every concept so that I can do as many as I need in order to make sure I understand the concept and can solve it mechanically as soon as I identify the concept.
-The verbal part is my biggest weakness which is funny because I had most of the time a better score on Verbal than on Quant with Kaplan CATs. I used egmat for SC but there approach takes so much time. Do you guys have any suggestion how efficiently to tackle Verbal in the next 30 days?
User avatar
L
EMPOWERgmatRichC
GMAT Club Legend
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Posts: 21846
Own Kudos [?]: 11665 [1]
Given Kudos: 450
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Send PM
Re: Scored 590 - where to go from here? [#permalink] New post   01 Mar 2017, 12:00
1
Kudos
Expert Reply
Hi J0hannes,

To start, it's worth noting that many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort yet. Since your CAT scores were higher than your Official GMAT score, we should take a moment to define how you were taking your CATs:

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?

Beyond those questions, I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and goals:

1) What is your goal score?
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
avatar
J0hannes
Intern
Intern
Joined: 16 Feb 2017
Posts: 2
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
Scored 590 - where to go from here? [#permalink] New post   01 Mar 2017, 15:05
Hey EMPOWERgmatRichC!
Thank you very much for your response.

It's very good that you asked those questions, because I relized things I didn't really think about before.
Lets go through all of them:


1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
I did two entire CATs (Kaplan) at the very beginning and I did them very close like i expected the actual GMAT would be. The first one was 560 and the second one was 660. (afterwards I had 620, 630)
After that i took 3 more but i guess I started to skip the AWA and IR section. Doe you think that was a good idea? I mean afterall the score does only depend on Q & V ...

2) Did you take them at home?
Yes

3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
The first 2 yes. My most productive time is in the morning and I also always register for a GMAT in the Morning 8-14:00.

4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?
Yes, I sometimes did longer breaks, got myself something to eat or so... But I always went through every section compltely, so that I was only using breaks which I would also have on etst day. I guess I just made them a little longer...

5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?
No, I went through the CATs once and afterwards I reviewed every single question to make sure I understood it.
I also never watch movies twice, thats boring as hell ;)
Do you think it makes sense to take a CAT twice? Just for practice if you run out of CATs?

1) What is your goal score?
I want something in the 680 - 800 area. I know thats high

2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
On a rolling base. First deadlines are in April 15 (St. Gallen where I dont necessarily need a GMAT because I am doing my bachelor there), last deadline June (Frankfurt Financer Master), but if I don't get into a program I like I will try again next year and I will need a GMAT again.

3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
University of St. Gallen - Master of Banking and Finance
Frankfurt School of Management and Finance - Master of Finance
Brandeis - Master of Finance
London Business school- Master of Financial Analysis

I appreciate your help ;)
User avatar
L
EMPOWERgmatRichC
GMAT Club Legend
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Posts: 21846
Own Kudos [?]: 11665 [0]
Given Kudos: 450
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Send PM
Re: Scored 590 - where to go from here? [#permalink] New post   01 Mar 2017, 21:54
Expert Reply
Hi J0hannes,

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 scores can become - and that's what happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, taking longer breaks, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.' In particular, by skipping the Essay and IR sections, you ended up taking shorter Exams that required less energy and effort than what is required by the Official GMAT. This is meant to say that as you continue to study, you have to put a greater emphasis on making each of your CATs a more realistic experience.

Raising a 590 to a 680+ will take some serious effort - and you'll have to make some significant changes to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. Finance Programs tend to put a greater emphasis on an applicant's Quant Scaled Score, so raising that Q46 should be an additional goal during your studies. All of that work will likely take another 2 months of consistent, guided study.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
avatar
hungnhe
Intern
Intern
Joined: 25 Mar 2015
Posts: 6
Own Kudos [?]: 1 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Scored 590 - where to go from here? [#permalink] New post   03 Mar 2017, 23:25
1) What is your goal score?
I want something in the 680 - 800 area. I know thats high

I know you can do it
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: Scored 590 - where to go from here? [#permalink]
03 Mar 2017, 23:25

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions