This turned out to be a disaster! Advice needed.

Question

Well, I just came back from my first GMAT experience. It was pretty bad to say the least. Here is what happened:

I have been studying for the GMAT for close to 3 months - 5 days a week and 3 hours almost every day. Did not take any classes and it was all self-studying. On the eight official prep tests (I bought two and retook all with gaps of at least 3 weeks between them), I scored around a 720-760. I scored a 750 in the last test that I took 3 days before the exam. Before this experience, I've been one of those people who have thrived under pressure. So I really expected a score of 720+ on the test day.

But I ended up scoring a 700. Q49, V36. I thought it was all going well, until the point I hit the final submit button. It was a shocker to say the least. I have NO idea what happened there. To be honest, I didn't sleep well on the night before the exam. But that can't be the reason for a 700.

I could have done better on the Quant section. I had been scoring Q50, Q 51 consistently in Quant. Don't know what really went wrong. I even finished the section with 2 minutes remaining on the clock. Then came the verbal section. Verbal isn't really my strength, but I had scored V38-40 on all tests. I finished the section with 4 minutes remaining.

The 700 score flashed across the screen. I was literally shocked for 10 seconds and then cancelled my score in disgust. I don't really feel good about it as I was banking a lot on the GMAT. I was looking to apply in Rd2 at Top 15 colleges in the US. I have been told by reviewers that I have a good profile. But the GMAT turned out to be a disaster. A lot has gone wrong on the professional front for me in the last 2 years, but it doesn't really make sense to discuss it here.

I don't know what to do apart from fighting for myself again. How do I go back to studying? Should I take classes? Should I re-schedule the test next month or should I wait to do it early next year and apply in round 3? How do I go from here? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you fellows!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Pillarsofcreation,

First off, a 700/Q49 is an outstanding score (it's right around the 90th percentile overall), so I'm at a loss as to why you would cancel it. Before you make any more decisions, I HIGHLY suggest that you review your profile with an Admissions Expert (and include the fact that you have a canceled 700/Q49 that you can pay to reactivate). There's a Forum full to them here:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

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

Pillarsofcreation · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thank you for your advice. I cancelled it because I am an engineer from India and from what I have read 710-720 is the average GMAT required for Indians (for Top 15 MBA colleges). Also, I was consistently scoring 730+ and thus a 700 is not really a correct representation of my abilities.

Ishan

ataleforthetimebeing · Answer

700 is awesome. I thought by dismal you would mean 420.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Ishan,

The GMAT is a rather specific 'event', which you CAN train for. However, if you take your practice CATs in a way that 'deviates' from the realities of Test Day, then your score results are more likely to be 'inflated' (and thus, not realistic). By retaking CATs that you had previously used, you almost certainly saw some 'repeat' questions, which would have impacted your scores, stress levels, endurance, etc. Those retake scores are almost certainly NOT realistic, so we have to look at the ORIGINAL scores for each CAT to gauge your actual ability. As such, your 700 is the more accurate measure.

Now, if your personal goal is to score 730+, then that's one thing - but the REAL goal is to get into your first-choice Business School. Unless an Admissions Expert (or representative of that School) tells you that you have no chance with a 700, then you haven't presented a 'good' reason for that cancellation.

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

Fielding · Answer

This post represents everything that is wrong with GMAT obsessed people.

The OP gets a 700 on the first try, cancels it, and labels the experience as a "disaster."

I thought the "disaster" would be something like 430.

Some people never reach a score that starts with 7. Your perception of things is a little altered.

ataleforthetimebeing · Answer

I agree with you to an extent. There is quite a possibility that on the next try, the score may not even reach around 700 let alone 730. I am of course saying it from hearsay about other's experience of taking the test again.

ataleforthetimebeing · Answer

Though I must add, that OP's confidence is admirable and it is certainly necessary to keep oneself calm during the test. Now that the test score is cancelled retaking the test is the only option. Try it. All the best. If you can get 700, then even 770+ isn't that far.

AppUKJ · Answer

Firstly, I read somewhere that statistically there is a +/-30 points margin on each test, that is, given your current knowledge level, if you resit the exam, you should get 700 +/-30 next time. So 720 seems achievable on a resit without much extra work, i.e. no courses required.

Secondly, perhaps the fact that you thought you were doing well led you to become complacent, at least in the verbal section? For instance, I thought my quant section had gone badly, and so assumed I had to nail the verbal to get a good score. I think that fact added significant points.

Cadaver · Answer

Just one off-topic :- Is your Verbal score 54? I ve never seen anyone with >51

ataleforthetimebeing · Answer

No 45, but what made do you ask?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

This is NOT true. Back before GMAC updated its Policies, a cancelled score could not be 'un-cancelled.' NOW though, you can reactivate a cancelled score up to 60 days after the Test Date (there is a $100 fee to do so though).

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

Cadaver · Answer

Your GMAT Club profile shows V54.....Thats why

Pillarsofcreation · Answer

Ok. Firstly, I think the feeling of initial disappointment took over me and I termed 700 score a disaster. That's an exaggeration. All I wanted to convey however, is that I come from a very challenging pool - Indian male (with the additional baggage of a not so successful startup that I ran for close to 2 years and with no significant volunteering experience) and thus even if a 730-740 increases my chances by 10%, I would take that.

AppUKJ  : That's a wonderful insight. I have found the same with me as well. Whenever I think I am doing good, I tend to get a score 20-30 points below expectation and vice versa. Complacency is a *complain*.

ataleforthetimebeing  : Thank you for your encouragement.

Fielding  : Funny you say that. I always thought that about others. I had 730 in mind and thought that any score close to it and I would be done. I am actually not obsessed with the GMAT. Nevertheless, I get your point.

To all : How do I go about this now? Should I take classes. I am fairly confident in Quant but not so in Verbal. Any specific courses that you suggest for Indian candidates for improving their Verbal scores.

Thanks a ton!

nitishgera · Answer

Hey Ishan,

I totally get where you're coming from. It's uncanny how similar your profile is to mine (along with a botched first GMAT attempt).

This would be my advice to you:
1) Your 700 is a good score. I strongly feel you should reinstate that score because even if you do not apply with this score, when you get a higher score next time around it will show that you have the persistence to improve your station.
2) For Verbal the best sources of study material, I feel, are the OG questions. There is a thread here on GMATClub that provides all the OG Verbal questions released till date. Do those. I felt that those helped me the most in my verbal prep. 
3) You can still take the GMAT and have time for Round 2. Assuming you re-take the GMAT by November 3rd week, you'll have 1.5 months for Round 2. You can fit in 2 schools in that time and, if you stretch yourself, maybe even 3.

Hope this helps you in figuring things out.

Take it easy!

WayneHam · Answer

Honestly, I'm not sure if this is a troll post or not. You're not happy with your 700 when you scored 730 on your prep tests? So basically you're saying you haven't read a single thread on this website before the exam? You also wanted a 720+ so you were just barely off your goal and were devastated?

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This turned out to be a disaster! Advice needed.

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