Help! I feel like I'm getting nowhere and still need 100+ points

Question

Hi everyone - I need any advice to boost my score ~100 points. I took the GMAT this past Monday and only scored a 490 (Q35 V23) :cry:

. I'm honestly shocked I did so poorly on the verbal section because while I was practicing I tended to do well on that section and worse on the quant. I started studying about 5 months ago first on my own using the Kaplan book, and then took a Veritas prep course. The prep course was great except for the fact that I was traveling the whole month of February for work, so I couldn't attend the live classes. Before I took the test on Monday I spent the week reviewing and doing practice problems, but I felt like I was honestly doing worse then I had done months before. On the GMAT practice tests I scored a 410 and 460. I plan to take the test again in a month and half. I know I can do so much better then this, so I'm extremely frustrated with myself and seeking any advice that you can possibly offer. Has anyone been in this situation and was able to boost their score? If so, what strategy did you have before you retook the test?

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear mhill5446 , I am very sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience, and I am happy to respond. :-)

First of all, I will recommend a blog article that describes your situation: Lower on the Real GMAT than on Practice Tests Here's a set of free GMAT Idiom flashcards that can help you in verbal: https://gmat.magoosh.com/flashcards I think Magoosh can really help you. You would qualify for our score guarantee . We have a money-back guarantee of a 50-point increase, and it's exceedingly rare that we have to give a refund to anyone, because most of our students see increases much larger than that. Here's a sample math lesson: https://gmat.magoosh.com/lessons/1248-multiples Here's a practice DS question: Angles in isosceles Here's a practice SC question: With American cryptanalysts When you submit your answer to either one of those, the next page will have a full video explanation of the question. Each one of Magoosh's 1000+ GMAT practice questions has its own VE: that kind of immediate feedback is exactly what you need to make the progress you want to make. Please let me know if you have any questions. Mike :-)

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi mhill5446,

If you've been studying a certain way for the last 5 months, then you've likely developed some 'bad habits' that will take time to fix (and replace with new 'good habits'). As such, you will likely need to invest in some new materials and learn/practice some new tactics. You'll also likely need more study time than you've allotted.

1) What were your scores on each of your practice CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) Have you thought about which Schools you want to apply to?

Thankfully, the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Test, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

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

AjiteshArun · Answer

Did you take the GMATPreps at the beginning, or close to your test (because your score is in line with what you were getting on the GMATPreps)? You might want to work your way to a 600-630 score on your practice tests before taking the exam again.

You'll need to work really hard on the  basics  (of both quant and verbal). You probably don't need too much new material if most of the prep material you have hasn't been used (or hasn't been used effectively). Go over those concepts again, and get really comfortable with them before you do anything else.

mhill5446 · Answer

I took both of the test towards the end of my studying before I took the actual GMAT. My scores on those tests were 460 (Q31, V23) and 410 (Q25, V21). Those were taken with only 3 days in-between. I feel like I understand the basics but then I start taking the test and I panic and forget everything.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Understanding the basics is not enough. You should be able to apply (under test conditions) what you've learnt without having to think too hard about what you're doing. This should go a long way in addressing the panic that you feel.

I would still recommend that you go over all the basic concepts again. There could be things that you don't know or can't recall. Switching too many things around right now might be good from a "let's start from scratch" perspective, but it's probably not what is really required (at least at this stage, reevaluate later). Take it slow, if that helps. You'll feel much more confident if you manage "slightly higher than target" scores on your GMATPreps.

mhill5446 · Answer

I appreciate all of the responses.

Could you guys suggest the best way to study before I retake the exam using the materials that I already have? I was thinking about going through all of my veritas lessons, to refresh on all of the basics and strategy. Then spend the next 3 or so weeks doing questions every day and really focusing on why I got a question correct or incorrect.

Do you think this is the best approach?

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear mhill5446 , I'm happy to respond. :-)

I'm simply going to post the question whether using just the materials you already have is an ideal plan. It could be argued that the same input leads to the same output. If the materials are going to be the same, then this would mean you would have to revise your own use of them in some radical fashion. The responsibility would be 100% on you to bring your game to the next level. Of course, that's certainly possible, but it can be very challenging to do that. The advantage of having another resource is as followed. Suppose a student learns about Concept X from Source A, and doesn't fully get it. Then, later, that same student uses Source B, and upon hearing Concept X from Source B, this concept makes perfect sense to the student. It's not that Source B is necessarily any better than Source A. In fact, I am sure my company, Magoosh, has played both roles for different students, and I am sure almost every other company on the market has been sometimes Source A and sometimes Source B for different students. You see, sometimes the first presentation is enough to prime the mind for understanding, but it doesn't necessarily led to complete understanding for many students; but once the mind has been primed by that first exposure, a slightly different presentation in another way is what triggers a much deeper understanding. Learning is a funny non-linear process, and hearing different presentations of the same material has the advantage of leading to deeper understanding for more students. If you are committed to sticking to what you are already used, then you deprive yourself of this potential advantage. Again, it is certainly possible to revolutionize your own understanding by yourself, but you have to be exceptionally good at challenging yourself and pushing yourself. By making this choice, you are putting 100% of the responsibility for the revolution in learning on your shoulders alone. You have to bring the revolution entirely by yourself. If that's what you want, and you are ready for that challenging, then that's great. Most students need some help to get there, but perhaps you are different in your capacity to transcend yourself. Those are my thoughts. Let me know if you have any questions. Mike :-)

mhill5446 · Answer

I understand where you are coming from, and in some ways I agree, but you are just trying to promote the company that you work for, which is a company that I do not want to work with. Therefore, please stop posting on my thread unless you have constructive advice that doesn't involve you trying to drag me to the company that employs you. Thank you.

AjiteshArun · Answer

You could reach out and check which resources Veritas makes available to people looking to take the test again. Good test prep companies will offer robust support in such situations (like permission to attend any or all classes again free of charge, continued access to instructor(s), and extended access to online resources). Speak with them and see what they can offer you.

I like the focus on analyzing each question you do during the practice phase, but you might want to give yourself a little more time. 3 weeks looks tight.

vitae · Answer

I have read a lot of debriefs here, and I think I found one pattern - and that pattern is that there is no pattern. Everyone is different, and what works for them really sometimes only works for them. Trying to apply the same study plan to yourself can be very misleading. I would say do a very thorough analysis on yourself. What is your weakest point? Why are you so weak at that? What is the approach that you are most comfortable with? Try to make a custom approach of your own! This is very important.

For example, one of the mistakes I made was to read from dozens of debriefs that MGMAT SC is the best source. I took that book and started reading like people said. Every time I read it I fell asleep - because that was not my style! I was just trying to force myself to do what I am not used to. I usually am very easily bored with plain readings, and am very excited when it comes practical things. So, reading MGMAT SC had no effect on my progress. Later I had to follow a different path to increase my verbal score.

My point is this: Do not follow anybody's suggestion. Read them, take notes here and there, but at the end, you have to make a custom approach of your own!

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