Third Time Not a Charm - Really Depressed

Question

I sat for my 3rd GMAT test today and unfortunately I did not do very well. I got a 630. My goal was to hit a 700, with a minimum of a 680. The following are how my scores break out per each test.

3/26/12 
Quant: scaled score 40, percentile 55
Verbal: scaled score 36, percentile 79
Total: 630, percentile 73

1/27/12 
Quant: scaled score 40, percentile 55
Verbal: scaled score 38, percentile 83
Total: 640, percentile 74

12/23/11
Quant: scaled score 41 percentile 57
Verbal: scaled score 35 percentile 74
Total: 620, percentile 70

I don't understand what happened. I really felt good today, like I was at the top of my game. If you would have asked me right before the test results what score I think I got I would have said probably 700 or 690 or 680 or at the very least 670.

I was scoring around 700 on MGMAT CATs the last few weeks. Although, this is the 3rd time I've used the MGMAT CATs. And, on my last Kaplan CAT I got a 680. Although, before that I was scoring around 610 on the Kaplan CATs. I also just got finished taking a Kaplan Advanced GMAT course.

It doesn't make sense to me, especially when I was doing so well on my practice CATs. Could I have gotten a bad set of questions on my real GMAT test?

So, where should I go from here? Any suggestions? I am going to have to throw in the towel and give up pretty soon.

bb · Answer

Yeah, it does not seem to make a lot of sense. It looks as though your score is almost stuck at 630-640.

It is hard to tell obviously. 
I would go back to your Kaplan instructors to see what they could recommend because it looks like you have not improved at all since taking their course - they should know what it is and recommend something based on your exercise scores. You also can retake the class (well, if you want to) per their policy but I think they should provide the recommendation first. I do not think that you got a weird version of the GMAT though. You should have scored at least 640 though after so much studying and work.

rsampson · Answer

Thanks for your feedback and advice. I really appreciate it. I will ask my Kaplan instructors what they think and go from there.

TheEntrepreneur · Answer

you said you were scoring in the 700s on MGMAT CATs, which you were taking for the third time? the 700s here would obviously overstate your score as you were bound to see a lots of repeats.. sorry buddy, i think it's probably important to find out why you're consistently underperforming and improve on those weakness areas. error log sounds like a good idea in your case.

wallstreetbarbie · Answer

I agree with bb... you showed minimal improvement in 3 months. While it is difficult to improve by leaps and bounds once you hit the 600 range a course should have been able to push you to the next level. This is why we pay for them no? Reach out to Kaplan they should provide some advice.

AbhiJ · Answer

In the three tests you have been hovering around 40 in Quant and 35-38 in Verbal. There is a lot you can improve in quant given that your percentile in verbal is 80. You can move to Q47 to get to the 80 percentile. You preparation
should be totally focused on Quant. 2 months in Quant rabbit hole and 700 is in your bag. Giving more tests, taking another prep course would be less useful IMO. A math tutor would be much better.

rajeevrks27 · Answer

I second AbhiJ about math tutor, there is so much scope for improvement in math and i am sure one day you will but make sure you get a good one.

rsampson · Answer

Thanks to everyone for the great feedback and advice. I will be speaking to my Kaplan GMAT instructors to see what they recommend also.

I especially like the AbhiJ's advice that since my verbal score is so high, I should be totally focused on quant in my prep. I also appreciate Rajeev's 2nd on that advice.

At this point, I am thinking that what I need to do is revisit my MGMAT quant books and go through them page-by-page. And then once I am done, do it again. Then, and only then, should I take another practice CAT. Which is what Rajeev was trying to tell me to do 2 months ago...

I am also interested in the idea of using an error log, but I am not quite sure how to do that.

And I also like the idea of a math tutor, but I think it would have to be a GMAT math tutor, not a general math tutor.

Since, I have used my MGMAT CATs 3 times in a row I am thinking they are no longer a valid predictor of my progress in being prepared to take the real test. And, I only have 3 Kaplan CATs left that I have never used. So, I am wondering what other CATs should I get that I can use as a good predictor of actual test day performance?

Thank you.

okay · Answer

There are also the gmatprep CATs if you haven't used those (from mba.com).. those will probably be most accurate.

the error log, from what I understand, is simply tracking every question you miss so that you can revisit the question and figure out WHY you missed it... this way you are actually correcting your mistakes and learning rather than just grinding through the questions.

Hope this helps, good luck!

rsampson · Answer

Thanks for the advice! I've used those before, so I don't know how good of a predictor they would be for me anymore. Although, I haven't used them for about 3 months. So, maybe they could be useful again.

Thanks for the tip on the error log also.

rg1 · Answer

@rsampson- I feel almost obligated to reply to your post since I faced similar problem, however, in Verbal.

I wanted know your Quant scores in MGMAT tests or GMATPrep practice tests. The reason for asking is that before we look for solution, we need to find out the root cause. We need to determine whether there is a gap in concepts OR a gap in implementation/timing-strategy.

If your quant scores were more than 45 in MGMAT or 48 in GMATPrep, the issue lies in implementation details. Otherwise, you may need to work on concepts.

So, when you get a chance, please post your quant scores in practice tests.

rsampson · Answer

rj1, thank you for your response. I would greatly welcome your advice. As requested here is my score information:

The Kaplan scores only break out quant and verbal by percentile.

Kaplan GMAT Scores
CAT1 610 Q40% V97%
CAT2 590 Q51% V64%
CAT3 610 Q63% V43%
CAT4 610 Q51% V81%
CAT5 610 Q46% V81%
CAT6 600 Q46% V78%
CAT7 680 Q59% V99%

MGMAT Scores
2.26.12
Manhattan GMAT Cat #6A
quantitative-42 verbal-38 overall-660

3.4.12
Manhattan GMAT Cat #1B
quantitative-43 verbal-44 overall-710

3.17.12
Manhattan GMAT Cat #2B
quantitative-43 verbal-41 overall-700

3.24.12
Manhattan GMAT Cat #3B
quantitative-43 verbal-40 overall-690

Actual GMAT Tests
12.23.11
Actual GMAT Test #1 quantitative-41 verbal-35 overall-620

1.27.12
Actual GMAT Test #2 quantitative-40 verbal-38 overall-640

3.26.12
Actual GMAT Test #3 quantitative-40 verbal-36 overall-630
I also thought it would be useful to go through my last 3 Kaplan tests that I did before test day and write down the problems I got wrong by question type. Here it is:
Algebra 17
Arithmetic 2
Geometry 5
Numb Prop 8
Prop of Sets 6
Proportions 8

I would really appreciate your advice. Thank you.

rsampson · Answer

I meant to to say rg1. Sorry... Also, I should point out that this was the 3rd time that I have used the MGMAT practice tests. At this point, I no longer consider them a good predictor of my test day performance.

rg1 · Answer

@rsampson- Thank you for providing more information. I think CATs don't tell the complete story. For example, you would get roughly get 40% of questions incorrect which might have been solvable per one's level but one never got chance due to time crunch. So, error logs comes in handy and can actually pin point the problems.

At this point, i'd say that either create the error log of OG 12, and Quant OG 2nd edition questions that can classify your weaknesses OR buy kaplan question bank which can provide you analytics. Start working on MGMAT Quant guides and solve the questions in OGs, if you haven't memorized the answers, OR solve corresponding type of questions in kaplan question bank.

Once you finish all the chapters or even while working on concepts, you will learn a lot from basics, finish huge amount of questions and find out weak areas. Also, results from the question bank should clearly tell you the weaknesses. This whole process will take you good 4-6 weeks depending on your schedule.

Once you become comfortable with all concepts, take mini-tests to train your mind to be under timed conditions. Timing can improve your score but least 3-5 points without extra study.

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Third Time Not a Charm - Really Depressed

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