HELP! How do I increase my score from 420?

Question

Hi all, I'm new here... but I've been using this site throughout my studying (so thank you!)

I've been studying for 3 months, I did my GMAT today and got a 420!!!! This is after countless exams, etc. I was using the GMAT Prep Software exams: first exam = 410, then 440, then 510, 510 then 570. I was getting more answers correctly on the Quant section and felt more confident. For Verbal I was able to get better at CR and SC, but RC remained my weakness. I would routinely get around 24-25 score on Verbal while writing the mock exams, but on Exam day I got 28, because I worked on improving this section. I just don't understand WHY I did so bad. My goal was a 600, and although I knew I may not get a 600, I thought I would FOR sure get at least 550 on the GMAT.

My study pattern: I completed all Manhatten books, then did the OG books!

I need helppppppp. Any recommendations? Literally anything will help! No one around me is studying for the GMAT so this forum is my life saver.

Thanks guys!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Positivethoughtsonly,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day.

If you can answer a few questions, then we should be able to figure this out:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

Also, when are you planning to apply to Business School? Do you know which Schools you plan to apply to?

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

Positivethoughtsonly · Answer

I really hope it's something...because I've worked on my math skills extensively. So to answer your questions:
1) I only took the ENTIRE mock exams twice (not less for sure). I've practiced the AWA section and IR section separately. Since writing wasn't an issue for me (I recently graduated from Political Science at Western so essay writing was a 24/7 thing), I didn't do too much AWA.
2) Yes, I took all at home. I have a space that is like a cubicle (in my room) so I'm surrounded by the walls and face a wall while writing. 
3) With regards to time, probably not. Once I took one at 10 PM at got 440, after repeatedly getting 510, so I figured it must have been the time because I was exhausted and it was after a long day of practice/studying. I took the rest at different times (usually within 12pm-8pm)
4) Initially, I took longer breaks and kept pausing the exams (like for 3 or 4 exams for sure). But the last 2 exams, my breaks were timed AND I didn't pause the exams. It was as real as it could get.
5) I did, and the one I got 570 on I had already known some of the questions, but I always force myself to 'reason' through it before selecting the answer so that I know I'm able to logically make sense of it and understand it. (ps. what does CAT stand for?)

I've already been accepted into 2 business schools, both my top choices. But the problem is my offer is conditional upon a GMAT score (it's for an MSc in Management/MIB program), and time is ticking... so I'm slightly worried after this exam. Thanks for your help! I hope we can figure this out!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Positivethoughtsonly,

The extra information that you've provided is quite useful, as it helps to define what went wrong on Test Day. In real basic terms, you took your CATs in such a way that you were NOT properly training to face the Official GMAT - so you were not ready to face it on Test Day.

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your scores can become - and that's what happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, taking them at different times, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.'

Thankfully, this is a relatively easy set of problems to fix. The big question now is "how long will it take you to properly get 'used to' taking the full GMAT?" You'll certainly need a new set of practice CATs to work with and you have to put in the necessary time to train your brain (and body) for the FULL GMAT. You might also need to invest in some new GMAT training materials.

1) When do the two Programs expect you to have an Official GMAT Score?
2) Do you know what an 'acceptable' Score would be?

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

Positivethoughtsonly · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thank you for your comments... I just didn't expect such a HUGE drop: can this all really be because the way I practiced was different than the exam environment? I don't know if I can attribute that much to the environment/the GMAT 'event'.

I need the dates by the end of the year, programs begin in February 2016 (the school didn't give me a deadline but I should probably look into it). Ideally I want to rewrite within 1-1.5 months, do you think that's realistic? What materials should I invest in? I really just need a focused schedule that will allow me to study smart, stay on task and achieve my goals.

I need a minimum score of 600. I've been aiming for that, but fell short clearly.

Thanks for your help!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Positivethoughtsonly,

From what you described about your CATs, it doesn't sound like you took ANY of them in a realistic fashion. There are lots of little 'details' about Test Day that you CAN prepare for, but that didn't appear to happen during your studies. Ignoring one or two of those details might not impact your scores much (if at all), but the sheer number of differences that you described are noteworthy - and they do impact Test Takers' performance. On the 570, seeing repeat questions changed your score results, stress levels, pacing, etc. - and all of these factors led to an 'inflated' score. This is one of the reasons why it's important to take a "new" CAT each time.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say that you "need the dates by the end of the year"; are you referring needing an Official Score? For Programs that start in February, I would expect that the Schools will have 'locked in' their groups of incoming students at least a couple of months in advance. As such, I agree that having a GMAT score sooner rather than later would be a good idea.

Using this Official Score (420) as the 'baseline', you need to improve 180+ points to hit your score goal. That is not likely to happen in 1 month. Since you've put in some work already, you might be able to do it in 2 months though.

1) Going forward, how much time do you think you can commit to your studies each week?

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

mrslee · Answer

We are living in the world, where dumb people speak, genius people keep silence

Positivethoughtsonly · Answer

Hi Rich,

Allow me to clarify about the 'dates', that was a mistake, but I need my scores by the end of the year MAX, yes I would assume they want it sooner than later since the official start date is February 2016. I'm hoping to rewrite mid-end of November.

I start a full-time job tomorrow, so Mon-Fri 8-5 pm will be booked for work. I'm planning to set aside 2 hours during the work week, and 5 hours on Sat and 5 hours on Sunday (total 20-25 hours a week).

Few questions:
- Where do I get new CATs? I've only used the GMAT software ones. Do you recommend specific ones? Do they allow us to purchase more?
- I'm working on a new strategy and study plan for the next while. What should I include? Where do I start?

Thanks!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Positivethoughtsonly,

GMAC offers two additional CATs that you can purchase (as part of the Exam Pack). You can also purchase 'blocks' of CATs from MGMAT, Veritas and Kaplan.

Since you're putting together a new study plan, you're going to need an established routine and consistent guidance. I think that you would find the EMPOWERgmat Total Score Booster to be quite helpful. Most of our clients complete that Study Plan in well under 2 months, so the time commitment wouldn't be that bad. We have a variety of free resources on our site (www.empowergmat.com), so you can 'test out' the Course before setting up an account.

If you have any additional questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly.

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

WayneHam · Answer

it sounds like you were doing the same tests repeatedly. Your rationale that you "thought through" each question is not really valid. I think your practice test of 570 was misleading.

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