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18 Jul 2021, 08:36
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Hello all,
This is my first post on the GMAT forum despite lurking here for I think a year or so. Apologies if this is in the wrong section.
I took three GMAT's last year attempting to break 700 when frankly, I just didn't know how to study and didn't know better. After taking a break, submitting applications with a 690, and getting rejected, I took a month or two off and hit it again, but this time with Target Test Prep (highly recommend).
Fast forward 9 ish months and I took the GMAT again last night and got a 690 again. My Quant (48) and IR(7) were consistant with my GMAC Official Practice test results (710, 710, 750, 730, 770, 750 with Q,V, and IR ranging from Q(47-51), V(41-44), IR(7-8)) in that chronological order but I fell pretty far short of for verbal (usually 41-44 and dropped to 37).
I'm writing this post mainly to ask for help in understanding my situation in more detail and perhaps how I can improve. I think a fresh set of eyes would be helpful. I am happy to share the ESR as well (not sure if I should just attach it because it has some personal info).
A couple of my own observations of myself during testing/prep:
1) All GMAC official practice tests I actually took several times a year ago. I don't think my memory is that good but I used them more to figure out a testing strategy (though they did help boost my confidence a little). Going through them there was never a situation where I was like "I remember the answer to this." They were more of "huh....I think I've seen some such problem talk about mice and drug use but I have no idea what the answer is and I used all the strategies and critical thinking I have learned in order to get to the answer." Basically they felt like brand new tests to me and my pacing on the practice exams was very similar to what happened on the actual GMAT.
2) I normally take my practice tests at 9:00 AM (when I study I hit it at 5:00 AM to 5:30 AM because I like to get some studying done prior to work). I executed them exactly how I took the real test. No breaks except the scheduled and pretended that I had to check in. Only difference was wearing a mask but I really don't think that is enough to affect the score.
3) I did feel really relaxed throughout the day prior to the test. When I got to the test center I recited my mantras and reminded myself that everything I knew I knew, and that the key was critical thinking.
4) Sleep before was perfectly fine. No issues. I slept in but still woke up at 7:30 AM. Also took a 20 minute nap at around 12:00 PM.
5) An hour before the test, I worked 2 problems types of Quant, SC, and CR just to warm up my brain.
6) During the actual GMAT, towards the end with Quant I struggled and I misread that I was on question 35 instead of 36 so I didn't actually get to give the last question an actual chance. This may have affected verbal but during my break I told myself "don't worry about last section. Focus on the next one. It's just the problem on the screen and you, nothing else."
7) Verbal felt very very off. Normally I can narrow down answers but during the test I would run through some questions and go "I can't eliminate anything. I can't eliminate anything other than 'this sounds weird' and that is never a reason to eliminate so I'm not going to do that." Debriefing this morning one thing I noticed about myself was I feel like how I executed critical reasoning and sentence correction questions during the test was not how I practiced them. It's almost as if I forgot how to do them for some reason. It's like a forgot to critically think completely. Weirdly enough ESR shows that the weakest section for verbal was sentence correction when I felt CR was the thing I struggled with more.
I do intend to, as some point, register for another test, but I would like to avoid making the mistakes of the past and burn GMAT test opportunities and money without figuring out what might be the issue. There is a part of me that wants to believe this was a fluke and blame the fact that taking it at such a later time screwed me but that feels like a cop out/bs explanation and I'm making excuses just like last year.
Please let me know your thoughts on my situation.
Thank you very much for your time and attention.
This is my first post on the GMAT forum despite lurking here for I think a year or so. Apologies if this is in the wrong section.
I took three GMAT's last year attempting to break 700 when frankly, I just didn't know how to study and didn't know better. After taking a break, submitting applications with a 690, and getting rejected, I took a month or two off and hit it again, but this time with Target Test Prep (highly recommend).
Fast forward 9 ish months and I took the GMAT again last night and got a 690 again. My Quant (48) and IR(7) were consistant with my GMAC Official Practice test results (710, 710, 750, 730, 770, 750 with Q,V, and IR ranging from Q(47-51), V(41-44), IR(7-8)) in that chronological order but I fell pretty far short of for verbal (usually 41-44 and dropped to 37).
I'm writing this post mainly to ask for help in understanding my situation in more detail and perhaps how I can improve. I think a fresh set of eyes would be helpful. I am happy to share the ESR as well (not sure if I should just attach it because it has some personal info).
A couple of my own observations of myself during testing/prep:
1) All GMAC official practice tests I actually took several times a year ago. I don't think my memory is that good but I used them more to figure out a testing strategy (though they did help boost my confidence a little). Going through them there was never a situation where I was like "I remember the answer to this." They were more of "huh....I think I've seen some such problem talk about mice and drug use but I have no idea what the answer is and I used all the strategies and critical thinking I have learned in order to get to the answer." Basically they felt like brand new tests to me and my pacing on the practice exams was very similar to what happened on the actual GMAT.
2) I normally take my practice tests at 9:00 AM (when I study I hit it at 5:00 AM to 5:30 AM because I like to get some studying done prior to work). I executed them exactly how I took the real test. No breaks except the scheduled and pretended that I had to check in. Only difference was wearing a mask but I really don't think that is enough to affect the score.
3) I did feel really relaxed throughout the day prior to the test. When I got to the test center I recited my mantras and reminded myself that everything I knew I knew, and that the key was critical thinking.
4) Sleep before was perfectly fine. No issues. I slept in but still woke up at 7:30 AM. Also took a 20 minute nap at around 12:00 PM.
5) An hour before the test, I worked 2 problems types of Quant, SC, and CR just to warm up my brain.
6) During the actual GMAT, towards the end with Quant I struggled and I misread that I was on question 35 instead of 36 so I didn't actually get to give the last question an actual chance. This may have affected verbal but during my break I told myself "don't worry about last section. Focus on the next one. It's just the problem on the screen and you, nothing else."
7) Verbal felt very very off. Normally I can narrow down answers but during the test I would run through some questions and go "I can't eliminate anything. I can't eliminate anything other than 'this sounds weird' and that is never a reason to eliminate so I'm not going to do that." Debriefing this morning one thing I noticed about myself was I feel like how I executed critical reasoning and sentence correction questions during the test was not how I practiced them. It's almost as if I forgot how to do them for some reason. It's like a forgot to critically think completely. Weirdly enough ESR shows that the weakest section for verbal was sentence correction when I felt CR was the thing I struggled with more.
I do intend to, as some point, register for another test, but I would like to avoid making the mistakes of the past and burn GMAT test opportunities and money without figuring out what might be the issue. There is a part of me that wants to believe this was a fluke and blame the fact that taking it at such a later time screwed me but that feels like a cop out/bs explanation and I'm making excuses just like last year.
Please let me know your thoughts on my situation.
Thank you very much for your time and attention.
19 Jul 2021, 12:16
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Quote:
Verbal was obviously the issue, here. A Q48 is outstanding. A v37 is very good too, to be sure, but it's the weaker score of the two by about 5 points.
Now look. You don't need to panic. It's very possible you just had an off day. You could probably take the thing tomorrow and crush it. But mental activity is like anything else--good days and bad days. On days and off days. Diet, sleep, mood, all sorts of other things can affect one's thinking.
I do recommend making sure you have some snack in the break between sections that gets your blood sugar back up. Studies have shown that 'thinking hard' can really deplete blood sugar, and when that happens, reasoning gets worse. When I took the real test last, I had a brownie and a cup of coffee in my locker (I'm a caffeine addict... Depending on your caffeine intake, might be a good idea, but don't 'start' now).
Also regarding:
Quote:
It's not *never* a reason. It's just never the *first* thing to look for. And when doing practice, if that's all you got, see if you can review and specify *why* it sounds weird. But look--mid test? If you can't find anything else? Your ear's all you got.
Also, wait, does:
Quote:
...mean you don't take the 8 minute break?!?!?!?!
TAKE IT. As I said before--get some sugar in you (and caffeine if you're me). Do some stretching/breathing. Re-center. Don't just burn through the thing!
19 Jul 2021, 12:32
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ReedArnoldMPREP
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply.
Yeah, I'm leaning towards an off day/test anxiety (I don't think I recognize that very well). I took it way later in the day than I normally practice (3:00 PM when I ran practice tests at 9:00 AM) so I think that may have contributed. I also realized I have a tendency on normal days to get tired at around 2:00PM-3:00 PM so that probably wasn't a great idea either. I made the mistake of scheduling to fit my schedule as opposed to scheduling when I know I'll be sharpest.
I should clarify that yes, I did take the breaks, but it consisted of me just going to the bathroom while simultaneously reciting my mantras and reminding myself "don't worry about the last section. It's just the next problem, and you. Nothing else." The only reason I don't take the full time is I've been burned before where I took a reasonable amount of time but the checkin took longer and I lost time on the exam as a result so I've tried to err on the side of caution. That being said, I always take the break to go to the bathroom and remind myself to focus on the next section/remind myself what the strategy was. Did that during practice exams and also did that for the real deal a few days ago.
On some more review, I don't recognize test anxiety very well. It's not that I panic I more just....forget my strategy/forgot I had a strategy and go back to habits. I noticed when doing a few practice questions if I deliberately psyche myself out on purpose I get the exact same feeling as I did on the exam so I think it may really have just been test anxiety.
Thank you for some reassurance though. I do honestly think I have the knowledge, I just need to remember to trust my brain and my process and work on how to do well even in periods of discomfort.
