Need Advice (Q83 V82 D81)

Question

Hey All,

I need feedback on how I can improve my GMAT FE score. Till now, I have given 3 GMATs - 1st - on Apr 18th, 2nd - on Jul 29th and 3rd - on Aug 28th.

1. Apr 18th - 645 (Q86 V85 D74) 
 2. Jul 29th - 655 (Q86 V87 D75) 
 3. Aug 28th - 645 (Q83 V82 D81)

Section Order - D->Q->break->V

In my first 2 attempts, I faced a timing issue in DI which I was able to resolve in 3rd attempt.   However, the adaptive software gave me a harder Quant and Verbal section which tanked my score in both the sections.

I aim to improve the total score to 695+. My strategy is as follows-

1. Revise weak concepts in quant (P&C and Numbers) and verbal (Weaken, Inference and Flaw Qs in CR and non-science passages in RC) 
 2. Attempt all Official Mock Tests again. (I was consistently scoring in the range of 695-725 on them, no idea what happened on the exam day). 
 3. Solve as many questions as I can from Verbal and DI OG and section review.

I need advice as to which resource should I follow for revising weak concepts and if I need to change anything in my strategy for the exam.  
 Pls help!!

ScottTargetTestPrep

bb   Bunuel

Archit3110 · Answer

What mocks you giving?
Have you used GC tests?

dee1pug1 · Answer

As the adage goes, "If you keep doing the same thing, you'll keep getting the same result." Your three scores suggest this is exactly what's happening. If you are aiming for R2 deadlines, you don't have time. Hire a coach for 1-2-1 classes. While I am not a tutor, you may want to speak with Divya on div22c@yahoo.com. She's an ex-banker with a double MBA.

dhruv23320 · Answer

Keep grinding

FutureForbes40U40 · Answer

In the start I gave Top One Percent's sectional and full-length mocks and then I switched to the Official Mocks. The score I have mentioned are all on the Official Mocks.

FutureForbes40U40 · Answer

Thank you, will keep that in mind. Can you suggest where exactly am I repeating the same mistake/s? I feel that I have a good grasp of basics as well as practice, hence, not sure what I need to do exactly to improve.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Your test scores indicate that you already have a decent command of much of the GMAT content. So, f  rom here, it's a matter of identifying and strengthening all remaining areas of weakness. So, be sure to thoroughly analyze your practice tests and practice sessions to identify those weaknesses. Then, for each area of weakness:  
 
  Carefully review all of the properties, formulas, techniques and strategies related to that topic  
  Locate and answer dozens of questions that test that topic.

For each question you answer incorrectly, ask yourself:  
 
  Did I make a careless mistake?   
  Did I incorrectly apply a related formula/property/technique?   
  Did I fall for a trap answer? If so, what was the trap exactly?   
  Was there a concept I did not understand in the question?

By carefully analyzing your mistakes, you will be able to fix your weaknesses efficiently and, in turn, improve your skills. This process has been proven to be effective for all topics.

For more tips, check out these articles:  
 -  Developing the Proper Mindset For GMAT Success  
 -  How to Increase Your GMAT Quant Score: Top 20 Tips  
 -  How to Score High on GMAT Verbal on the Focus Edition  
 -  How to Prepare for GMAT Data Insights

hr1212 · Answer

Seeing your scores I feel you are very close to your target score, you just need to maintain discipline throughout the test as you will need to do well across all sections to break that 98th percentile. And although it's not fully clear, multiple articles suggest that the new test is section adaptive so if you do well in a section, your next section can start on a slightly harder note, hence you need to be on top of your game from question 1 as you won't have time to recover otherwise.

There isn’t a radically different strategy to try at this stage other than getting the execution right. You’re already performing at a very high level with scores above the 90th percentile. You can experiment with section order, but I would suggest taking full-length mocks from third-party platforms with fresh questions instead of reusing official ones you have already seen. Those will give you a clearer picture of where the gaps are. You can always go back and analyze the questions from official mocks which challenged you during your initial attempt. You could also try squeezing a few more points out of Quant since there seems to be slightly more room there, especially given how tough DI can get. And as you are already planning focus on sharpening the weaker areas so you do not lose marks on any easy or medium questions from those topics. Practicing the popular questions (sort by Kudos or Replies) on GMAT Club across different difficulty levels on that topic should be more than enough. Try building longer streaks on them to boost your confidence before test.

FutureForbes40U40 · Answer

Thanks  hr1212 ! I think the problem is test anxiety and a few gaps in basics on Quant and CR. For section order, I started with DI as it was the toughest section for me and my rationale was that I should have full focus and attention and zero fatigue for the toughest section. Can I message you separately to have an in-depth conversation?

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Need Advice (Q83 V82 D81)

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