Should I retake the GMAT?

Question

Hi Guys I need help ! I gave my GMAT today and it was a disaster. :cry:

I got a 640. The sad part is not the 640, but the fact that I scored 730+ in GMATpreps and the difference is almost 90 points !! :shock:

I was really really nervous before the test and couldnt even sleep properly the night before. While giving the test,I felt calm but I couldnt do well. I dont know what happened. I felt dead ! like I was reading sentences but I couldnt comprehend. I had to read them at least 3 times to make sense. I was getting such good scores in the official mocks that I thought I would get at least a 700. But 640 is appalling. I m devastated.

Of course, if I have to do a management course I will have to retake the GMAT but my doubt is what is the guarantee that I would not be anxious and nervous the next time as well?

And if I start preparing what should I do? I have completed the OG13 and OG10. I have no mocks left. Anyone who experienced something similar and made it in the next attempt? Pls help !

politricks · Answer

You likely just had test day jitters. Since the gap between your mock exams (assuming they were taken in testing conditions e.g. timed, GMAT-level questions) and your actual score is so wide, you should retake. Your confidence is probably a little rattled, but don't let it. You've taken multiple mock exams and crushed it. You should view this take as cold medicine -- necessary to get out of the way in order to get better. Now that your nerves are out of the way and you know what to expect, keep training and you'll take care of business next time around.

I would recommend scheduling a test time later in the day so that even if you do have trouble falling asleep the night before, you can sleep in late.

I would recommend scheduling a test time later in the day so that even if you do have trouble falling asleep the night before, you can sleep in late.

EDMlover · Answer

Hi politricks

I did take the mock exams in proper test conditions. And I guess you are right. Anxiety it was I guess. Something had gotten into me. I was reading but like my brain was dead and now that it has been 24 hours, I am wondering, what really happened? I could not comprehend anything I was reading like I am brain dead or something.

Whatever you wrote, did motivate me and it was very kind of you to take out time and cheer up a stranger. I appreciate that !

And definitely I will take the exam again, probably after 2 months..

God bless you 'politricks'

I do feel a lot better !

And definitely I will take the exam again, probably after 2 months.. God bless you 'politricks'

I do feel a lot better !

politricks · Answer

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words. This forum has been a great resource to me and I'm just trying to give back.

Perhaps you shouldn't wait 2 months to take it again. You may get exhausted from studying, which can then cause you to become indifferent and not try as hard. Also, because your scores were peaking apart from the test day drop, it seems as if you are currently in prime condition to test. Maybe you should wait only the required one month reschedule time...

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear EDMlover , I received your private message, and I am happy to respond. :-)

Yes, unfortunately first-time GMAT takers are often completely unaware of how common such a drop is between the practice tests and the real test. The first thing I will say is: of course, stress and anxiety profoundly impact one's performance in a negative way. Even when one feels calm, the effect of stress (i.e. the Sympathetic Nervous System) are still active throughout the body and have a huge impact on cognition. If you plan to take the GMAT again, this time, in addition to all the hard work you do studying content & strategies and practicing questions, you have to put in at least that much time & effort learning about stress management. There are proven systems, thousands of years old, for radically reducing stress, but in order to reap the benefit, you are going to have throw yourself into these as earnestly as you engage in your GMAT studies. Here is a series of six articles as an introduction: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/overcome-g ... y-breathe/ https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/beating-gmat-stress/ https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/the-gmat-b ... g-picture/ https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/zen-boot-c ... -the-gmat/ https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/curiosity- ... n-success/ https://magoosh.com/gmat/2014/getting-a-good-gmat-score/ To see the benefits, you will need to implement those recommendations in every facet of your life. Now, as regards the retake: I will point out that if you sign up for Magoosh, you will qualify for a score guarantee: https://gmat.magoosh.com/score-guarantee Here's a 3-month study schedule. https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/3-month-gm ... -students/ For mocks, keep in mind that MGMAT has excellent mock tests: if you buy even one of their books, you qualify for six MGMAT CATs. Also, if you haven't done so, remember that you can buy more question packs for GMAT Prep. For more questions, Magoosh has excellent questions, and also there are the OG Verbal Review & Quantitative Review books, each with hundreds of official questions different from the OG. Does all this make sense? Mike :-)

mau5 · Answer

Hmm, for the sake of brevity, let me jot down my suggestions/questions as points:

1. Did you, while taking the GMAT preps,and scoring 730+,discount the already known questions/repeated questions?
2. From your description above, it seems you had problems with SC(right?). If so, were you loaded with too many "rules" for SC? If not, then maybe it was just the nervousness.
3. How was your performance in both the sections?
4. I assume that you were armed to the T and you just got nervous. Nothing much to do here, but to soothe your nerves and "Dont' let GMAT preparation become a task."Don't think of GMAT test as a  I-need-to-get-done-with-this-****  thing(not saying that you do, but some do). A corrective nudge in perspective goes a long way.
5. Take a break and hit back with spite. You have enough time to take GMAT again and get 700+. Just don't loose touch with the topics. Also, only for SC and LR, I would also suggest you keep reading the replies of Manhattan GMAT staff(on their forum). They are as good as the collective knowledge you can get here, but a little more incisive.
6. Follow Bunuel right now!
7. Keep listening to EDM(trance/psy)whatever. And no, your life is not devastated. What happened to Brazil, that is devastation. What happened to you is just a minor setback.

Phew.

EDMlover · Answer

hey mau5, Love deadmau5 by the way. Let me answer your questions, 1) GMATPrep1- 700 Q49 V37 - only 1 CR was familiar but I still had to work on it GMATPrep2- 760 Q50 V42 -1 passage repeated in verbal but I didnt remember the questions, quant-3 ques from prep 1 GMATPrep3- 730 Q50 V39 - All new questions. Hardly any familiar. GMATPrep4- 740 Q50 V40 -3 ques fro prep 3 in verbal, quant- mostly new 2)I didnt have much problems with SC. In fact that was the part I liked the most. In fact I had studied for 3 months non stop 10 hours a day, no workout, no parties, that on the test day, I just wanted to get over with GMAT and I was slightly confident that I will get like 700+ because of my mock results. :/ 3) When I started with the IR section, it took me almost 4 mins to comprehend the first question ! It was like I could read but not understand like I am looking at words but nothing is getting through my head. Thats when I m realised I am stressed and doomed.

Quant I got a shocking 48 ! Verbal was even more unbelievable ! I got a 30. Can u believe it ? I was not even listening to EDM.. Lol ! It reminded me of the wicked concerts I attended and diverted me from GMAT so yeah! I stopped listening to it for a while.. lol I m planning to take one weeks leave and then hit back again ! Because I believe my prep is at its prime right now and if I take it later, I might have to start from scratch which would be tedious. So I am thinking I ll give it again before Aug 15th again and see how it goes. Meanwhile I m joining Yoga and gym to sweat it out and release stress. Hope I kill it this time.

patricknino · Answer

I am wondering, what really happened? I could not comprehend anything I was reading like I am brain dead or something.

EDMlover · Answer

Hi patrickno,

By brain dead, I meant, the situation was such that I felt my brain was not functioning ! I was blank and had to read one sentence atleast 5 times to comprehend it. And this has never happened to me before.

It was strange and the time was ticking and I didnt know what to do. To sum up, I screwed my exam for reasons I dont really know.

They say, it was anxiety/stress. I guess I will have to believe that.

Posted from my mobile device

varunmb · Answer

Hi EDMlover

I felt exactly the same. Brain dead is the word. I got 740 on both the Gmatprep and got a 610 in May on the real gmat. I was devastated.I took it again a month later. Now my score is 690. I got 8 in IR in my first take and got 4 in my second take. I am taking the gmat next month. My target is 730+.

My analysis- 1) you need min 2/3 attempts on the gmat to get near your potential score.
2)There can be great variation in scores (IR 8 & 4) based on the type of questions you get on the day. Ex- One good/bad RC around 35/36 Q can make a lot of difference.

EDMlover · Answer

Hi Varunmb,

Yea I get your pain. Even I have started prep again. Will give GMAT in August 2nd week now. Taking it easy this time.
Last time, I pushed myself way too hard, used to study the whole day. :/

EDMlover · Answer

And I completely agree with ur analysis. I get you man !

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