Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
|
|
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Dec 1310:00 AM EST
-12:00 PM EST
Have you ever wondered how to score a PERFECT 805 on the GMAT? Meet Julia, a banking professional who used the Target Test Prep course to achieve this incredible feat. Julia's story is nothing short of an inspiration.
Dec 1207:30 AM PST
-08:30 AM PST
Join the conversation to learn more about INSEAD vs LBS
Dec 1410:00 AM EST
-12:00 PM EST
Think a 100% GMAT Verbal score is out of your reach? Target Test Prep will make you think again! Our course uses techniques such as topical study and spaced repetition to maximize knowledge retention and make studying simple and fun.
Dec 1411:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this session to learn how to Deconstruct arguments, Pre-Think Author’s Assumptions, and apply Negation Test.- Dec 15
11:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease. - Dec 16
08:00 AM PST
-11:59 PM PST
GMAT Club 12 Days of Christmas is a 4th Annual GMAT Club Winter Competition based on solving questions. This is the Winter GMAT competition on GMAT Club with an amazing opportunity to win over $40,000 worth of prizes! - Dec 17
09:00 AM PST
-10:00 AM PST
Join Manhattan Prep instructor Whitney Garner for a fun—and thorough—review of logic-based (non-math) problems, with a particular emphasis on Data Sufficiency and Two-Parts. - Dec 18
10:00 AM PST
-11:00 AM PST
Here is the essential guide to securing scholarships as an MBA student! In this video, we explore the various types of scholarships available, including need-based and merit-based options.
13 Dec 2016, 20:47
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi everyone,
So yesterday I took a real GMAT test and achieved a 660 (Q49/V31/IR8), this was slightly lower than expected as I had achieved a V35s on my GMATprep practice tests. I'm aiming for around 720 or at least 700 overall score (obviously will need to improve on my verbal score), the latest date I would like to take the GMAT is around February. I studied at a UK university and hold an engineering degree, I would say English is my first language as I exclusively consume English media although my day-to-day spoken language is not (from SEA). Given this background there are a few things I would like to ask.
1. Should I cancel my score for $25 if I'm aiming for 720? Does it look weak to have taken the test multiple times?
2. Should I pay for ESR?
3. During the exam I felt I was under a lot of time pressure even getting a Q49, is it worth it to try for Q50-51?
4. Although I primarily use English I am exceptionally bad at test taking, are there any particular courses/books you would recommend for someone with my background? I'm aiming to improve to maybe V38-V40
5. I did very minimal preparation for the IR and AWA sections and this recent exam was only to gauge the time and fatigue aspects of the exam. My question is...do people usually get consistent scores in these sections without any devised methods for tackling the problems?
6. Are these targets realistic in given timeline? (Plan to take test early Feb)
All help is appreciated
Thanks in advance.
So yesterday I took a real GMAT test and achieved a 660 (Q49/V31/IR8), this was slightly lower than expected as I had achieved a V35s on my GMATprep practice tests. I'm aiming for around 720 or at least 700 overall score (obviously will need to improve on my verbal score), the latest date I would like to take the GMAT is around February. I studied at a UK university and hold an engineering degree, I would say English is my first language as I exclusively consume English media although my day-to-day spoken language is not (from SEA). Given this background there are a few things I would like to ask.
1. Should I cancel my score for $25 if I'm aiming for 720? Does it look weak to have taken the test multiple times?
2. Should I pay for ESR?
3. During the exam I felt I was under a lot of time pressure even getting a Q49, is it worth it to try for Q50-51?
4. Although I primarily use English I am exceptionally bad at test taking, are there any particular courses/books you would recommend for someone with my background? I'm aiming to improve to maybe V38-V40
5. I did very minimal preparation for the IR and AWA sections and this recent exam was only to gauge the time and fatigue aspects of the exam. My question is...do people usually get consistent scores in these sections without any devised methods for tackling the problems?
6. Are these targets realistic in given timeline? (Plan to take test early Feb)
All help is appreciated
Thanks in advance. 
14 Dec 2016, 13:06
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi Napobear,
First off, a 660/Q49 is a strong score (it's right around the 80th percentile overall), so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of them here:
ask-admission-consultants-124/
Raising a 660 to a 720+ in 2 months is an achievable goal, but you'll have to make some significant improvements to how you handle the Verbal section. 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 have you studied?
2) What materials have you used?
3) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
4) Did you take the FULL CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
Goals:
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
In answer to your questions:
1) Business Schools generally don't care if you retake the GMAT, so having more than one score likely won't impact your applications.
2) While the ESR doesn't provide much information, the data in it would likely help to pinpoint a few specific areas that you need to work on. Considering the relatively low cost of the ESR (compared to the cost of retaking the GMAT), you might want to consider purchasing it.
3) If you can consistently score a Q49, then you should be able to score a Q50 or Q51.
4) The Verbal section of the GMAT is as consistent and predictable as the Quant section is, so you CAN train to score at a higher level (assuming you have the proper practice materials AND you practice the proper Tactics).
5) With an IR8 and at least a 4.0 on the AWA, you likely don't need to do any additional practice in these areas. However, you should still make sure to complete the FULL CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) each time you take a CAT.
6) Yes - see above.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
First off, a 660/Q49 is a strong score (it's right around the 80th percentile overall), so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of them here:
ask-admission-consultants-124/
Raising a 660 to a 720+ in 2 months is an achievable goal, but you'll have to make some significant improvements to how you handle the Verbal section. 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 have you studied?
2) What materials have you used?
3) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
4) Did you take the FULL CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
Goals:
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
In answer to your questions:
1) Business Schools generally don't care if you retake the GMAT, so having more than one score likely won't impact your applications.
2) While the ESR doesn't provide much information, the data in it would likely help to pinpoint a few specific areas that you need to work on. Considering the relatively low cost of the ESR (compared to the cost of retaking the GMAT), you might want to consider purchasing it.
3) If you can consistently score a Q49, then you should be able to score a Q50 or Q51.
4) The Verbal section of the GMAT is as consistent and predictable as the Quant section is, so you CAN train to score at a higher level (assuming you have the proper practice materials AND you practice the proper Tactics).
5) With an IR8 and at least a 4.0 on the AWA, you likely don't need to do any additional practice in these areas. However, you should still make sure to complete the FULL CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) each time you take a CAT.
6) Yes - see above.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
15 Dec 2016, 03:52
Kudos
Bookmarks
Thank you for your detailed reply. Here are my replies:
1) I have been studying for around a month (<50 hours) on the quant section using GMATClub forums. I have also touched on some very basic strategy for RC and SC sections. Have not touched the IR or CR sections. Although I must say my studies have been rather unstructured.
2) I have mainly used the GMATClub forum quant area and had a glance at an AWA template before my recent exam.
3) After a bit of practice I tried taking the practice exam on GMATPrep acheiving 680 (Q47/V36) and 660 (I think Q47/V33-34).
4) I got 8 on IR section, I did not attempt the AWA section.
5) I'm planning to apply to UK business schools this intake and US next intake, although I must say the research I have done on the US schools is somewhat limited to rankings and a few posts on poetsandquants
6) UK-Oxford/Cambridge/LBS/LSE, US-California/Columbia? (again not really sure here)
+ I'm still waiting on the AWA score from my recent exam (few days ago)
1) I have been studying for around a month (<50 hours) on the quant section using GMATClub forums. I have also touched on some very basic strategy for RC and SC sections. Have not touched the IR or CR sections. Although I must say my studies have been rather unstructured.
2) I have mainly used the GMATClub forum quant area and had a glance at an AWA template before my recent exam.
3) After a bit of practice I tried taking the practice exam on GMATPrep acheiving 680 (Q47/V36) and 660 (I think Q47/V33-34).
4) I got 8 on IR section, I did not attempt the AWA section.
5) I'm planning to apply to UK business schools this intake and US next intake, although I must say the research I have done on the US schools is somewhat limited to rankings and a few posts on poetsandquants
6) UK-Oxford/Cambridge/LBS/LSE, US-California/Columbia? (again not really sure here)
+ I'm still waiting on the AWA score from my recent exam (few days ago)
