After studying for 9+ months and burning out, I scored a 650 (Q44, V36) on the actual exam (despite scoring a 700 and 690 (both were about Q46, V40) a week prior on the GMAT prep exams for the two first tries). After this disappointment, I have rescheduled the exam for 7 weeks later (4 weeks remaining from today). For the past two weeks I did not study at all as I was severely burnt out and discouraged from the terrible test day performance, but then I retook a
MGMAT CAT and scored a 740 (although there were a few repeat questions from old
MGMAT CATs I took). I felt so refreshed and ready when I took this
MGMAT CAT, and realized I was not "refreshed" during the actual test due to 9 months of hard study.
My strategy for the next 3-4 weeks will be to study 3-4 days a week (vs. the 7 days I had been studying for 9 months) and read RC passages and CR questions on my commute to work (~2 hours each day). During the 1st week I will work on weak quant areas and drill down on mostly easy to medium level problems to solidify my base. 2nd week - work on each area of verbal to solidify my base. 3rd week - take a practice exam to evaluate my ability and reassess my timing. 4th week - early in the week, touch on areas that have been a struggle for me and later in the week go through each of the types of problems at an easy level, very lightly. I feel that my ability is a 700 level, but it takes a refreshed and confident mind to get there. If anyone has suggestions or has been through a similar "burn out" situation please feel free to provide tips. Just to conclude, I will basically be taking an easier approach to this test (vs. my brutal, original approach of 3 hours of study daily for months and months) and not devote my life to it as I did before. Thank you for reading.