Debacle : Took GMAT twice and still scored 490

Question

I am extremely shocked and unable to recover from the fact that i took GMAT twice and in second test my scores dropped.

I took 1st GMAT without preparation in Dec 2019 and got 500 (Q42, V16)
I prepared this year for approx 3 months and with a better clarity of concepts i re-took GMAT in Dec 2020 and was shocked to see my scores dropped to 490 (V15 this time)

Although i did not take any practice mocks but with i had practiced OG and a few sample tests from elite sources.

My target score was 650-670 , but with this performance i am totally in doubt whether to prepare again and even if i do , will i be able to ever score a decent 650+ .

Please guide as more than admission now these scores have left me totally diffident and a good for nothing feeling is all over now.

Thanks
Jazz

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Jazz,

I'm sorry to hear that your 2nd attempt did not turn out better. GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +/- 30 points of actual ability. Your 2 Official Scores are so similar that they show that you essentially performed the same each time (about 500 +/- a few points). You handle certain aspects of the GMAT consistently well, but you also make certain consistent mistakes (and you appear to be responding to the Exam in the same ways that you did during your 1st attempt one year ago).

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:

1) What type of study routine did you follow over the last 3 months? How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What specific study materials have you used over the course of ALL of your studies? 
3) Is there a particular reason why you took 0 CATs/mocks during your recent studies? Can you go into more detail about the 'sample tests' that you took and how you were assessing your 'ability level'? 
4) For your 2nd attempt, did you take the At-home GMAT or did you take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

If you took your 2nd attempt at a Test Center, then you might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

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

jazzk · Answer

Thanks for your response. I stared studying since August 2020 and daily i was studying for approx 1.5 hrs.
On weekends i studied 4-5 hrs. After completing concepts from Egmat (Verbal and Quant) , i completed OG 2020 for Quant and majority of SC, CR.

I did not do much RCs and in dec i took 15 days off from my work. Starting 10th dec till 27th dec i studied approx 10-15 hrs per day and i was very good at Quant.

I did not take any mocks as i planned for GMAT on 31st Dec (took at Noida center) and i feared taking mocks so close to exam .

I was aiming for IIM A / B as my target score was 650 only.

My profile and acads are pretty assuring so i was unedr assumption that 650 score would be good enough to get admitted to IIMs.

Somehow in second attempt i found Verbal very complicated and RCs were really tough. So i guessed approx 10-12 questions in Verbal.

I am very sure that Verbal is my weaker section and time management is what i am totally missing. But now to start afresh and this time to aim better (approx 700 score) i really need good guidance. I am now planning for Sloan programmes - LBS or somewhere out of India.

It has been 4-5 days and now i want to start again for one final time before i quit

Many Thanks

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi jazzk,

Since verbal seem to be an issue for you. I have 3 important articles for you to read. If you have any questions after reading these, feel free to reach out.

GMAT Sentence Correction: 8 Essential Tips

GMAT Critical Reasoning: 8 Essential Tips

GMAT Reading Comprehension Tips: Top 8 DOs and DON’Ts

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Jazz,

To properly plan out this next phase of your studies, we have to be really specific about how you approached your prior studies (and you did not completely answer any of my initial questions):

1) What type of study routine did you follow over the last 3 MONTHS? How many hours did you typically study each WEEK?
2) What specific study materials have you used over the course of ALL of your studies? 
3) Is there a particular reason why you took 0 CATs/mocks during your recent studies? Can you go into more detail about the 'sample tests' that you took and how you were assessing your 'ability level' (what did you think you were going to score on your 2nd attempt and what data made you think that)? 
4) For your 2nd attempt, did you take the At-home GMAT or did you take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

jazzk · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thanks for your response.

Please find below my prep details :

1) What type of study routine did you follow over the last 3 MONTHS? How many hours did you typically study each WEEK?
  : I studied two hours daily and 4-5 hrs on weekends. I started my prep in August third week 
2) What specific study materials have you used over the course of ALL of your studies? 
  : I used egmat quant and verbal material and OG 2020
3) Is there a particular reason why you took 0 CATs/mocks during your recent studies? Can you go into more detail about the 'sample tests' that you took and how you were assessing your 'ability level' (what did you think you were going to score on your 2nd attempt and what data made you think that)? 
  : I was assessing my ability using OG questions and i was good with Quant and timed my tests (OG and egamt ones)
4) For your 2nd attempt, did you take the At-home GMAT or did you take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
  : I took test at Test Facility
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School? 
  : I applied but got rejected by schools due to poor GMAT score. I have a good work ex and excellent acads but due to such low score i am rejected at Indian B Schools
Now i plan to again start serious preparation and now i aim for a good score 710-720

Hi Jazz,

To properly plan out this next phase of your studies, we have to be really specific about how you approached your prior studies (and you did not completely answer any of my initial questions):

1) What type of study routine did you follow over the last 3 MONTHS? How many hours did you typically study each WEEK?
  : I studied two hours daily and 4-5 hrs on weekends. I started my prep in August third week 
2) What specific study materials have you used over the course of ALL of your studies? 
  : I used egmat quant and verbal material and OG 2020
3) Is there a particular reason why you took 0 CATs/mocks during your recent studies? Can you go into more detail about the 'sample tests' that you took and how you were assessing your 'ability level' (what did you think you were going to score on your 2nd attempt and what data made you think that)? 
  : I was assessing my ability using OG questions and i was good with Quant and timed my tests (OG and egamt ones)
4) For your 2nd attempt, did you take the At-home GMAT or did you take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
  : I took test at Test Facility
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School? 
  : I applied but got rejected by schools due to poor GMAT score. I have a good work ex and excellent acads but due to such low score i am rejected at Indian B Schools
Now i plan to again start serious preparation and now i aim for a good score 710-720.

Thanks
Jazz

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Jazz,

Since your 2 Official Scores are so similar, it's likely that you have developed some 'bad habits' during your prior studies last year that are keeping you from scoring higher - and that will take time to fix (and replace with new 'good habits'). Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. Statistically-speaking, raising a 500 to the point that you can consistently score 700+ will likely require that you commit to at least another 3 months of consistent, guided study - and you will have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections.

Going forward, you have to be careful about confusing "quantity" of study with "quality" of study. I've never asked anyone to study 30+ hours a week - and since you were studying so much in the weeks leading up to your 2nd attempt, with that number of study hours, you almost certainly were 'burned out' before Test Day (and that is something that we want to avoid on your next attempt). If you are going to commit to heavy study routine, then I suggest that you take one hour "off" for every two hours of study. For example, you could study for 2 hours, then stop for an hour, then study for another 2 hours, then take an hour off, etc.

1) While I understand that you have not recently taken any CATs/mocks, what 'brands' of CATs/mocks have you used already? For example, did you take all 6 of the Official GMAC CATs?
2) For your next attempt, are you planning to take the At-home GMAT or are you planning to take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
3) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

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

jazzk · Answer

Hi Rich,
Thanks for your response.

I am planning to take GMAT again at center but now i need to be fully prepared as i cannot waste another attempt ,time and money invested during preparation. I am totally zero in Verbal so now first focus is to come to atleast average in Verbal and then practice more towards V35-40

1) While I understand that you have not recently taken any CATs/mocks, what 'brands' of CATs/mocks have you used already? For example, did you take all 6 of the Official GMAC CATs?
  : I have not taken any mock till date. Somehow i fear taking mocks.
2) For your next attempt, are you planning to take the At-home GMAT or are you planning to take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
  : At center
3) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?
  : 2 hours per day and 5-6 hrs on weekend

Thanks,
Jazz

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Jazz,

I've sent you a PM with some additional notes.

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

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