Totally Confused!

Hi Trish404,

GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +/- 30 points of actual ability. Your last 2 Official results show that you essentially performed the same way each time (+/- a few correct answers). This is meant to say that "your way" of approaching the GMAT currently has you 'stuck' right around a 650. To raise this to a 700+, you'll have to make some adjustments to how you 'see' (and respond to) this Test. 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:

Studies:
1) How long did you study before each attempt at the GMAT?
2) What study materials did you use for each attempt?

Goals:
3) What is your exact goal score?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

Hi Rich,

Thanks for your response.

1) I have been studying on gmat for 2 months now.

2) I am satisfied with my quant performance and haven't really used any other material besides the gmatclub tests. On Verbal - I am using the e-gmat verbal and Manhattan SC book. Again I have done all concepts on SC only. For CR, I practiced a lot of questions and it did help on mocks. RC is a bit of how it goes on the day.

My verbal preparation was not that great for my 2nd attempt. I spent the last month sharpening my verbal ability. As indicated my score in 3 mocks I attempted (gmat prep one's) had increased to 38-40. So now to see v31 is disappointing.

3) GMAT score target is 700+. I know a verbal improvement of 6-7 points is the way to go.

4) I ideally wanted to start B-school this August - September. So I am running close to R4 deadlines on oxbridge and later deadlines of NUS and HEC.

Attached are my verbal performance ESR from 1st and 3rd performances (didn't request ESR for my 2nd score).

Regards,
T

Hi Trish404,

While your current Quant Scaled Scores on your last two Official GMATs are fairly strong, they're not 'perfect' - so your assumption that you should focus only on the Verbal section to pick up those missing points isn't necessarily the best option for you. With that point in mind, I'd really like to see the ENTIRE ESR for this most recent attempt at the GMAT. While the ESR doesn't provide much information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define specific areas that you need to work on.

Beyond those points, many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so since you've spend just 2 months on your studies - it's also likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort to have scored higher yet.

1) What are the exact application deadlines that you're facing?

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

Hi Rich,

I agree with you that my scores for quant aren't perfect. I believe that probably improving Q47-48 to Q50-51 might not bring the same shift in overall score as V31 to V38-40 for instance.

My deadlines are March 8 and 31st at the moment.

I have attached my entire ESR report now. Hopefully, this gives you more points to advise and help me on. Again my peeve is Verbal really.

Thanks again for your time on this, appreciate it.

Regards,
T

Hi Trish404,

Unfortunately, something is 'off' about your ESR. IF you had used every second of the 75 minutes available in the Quant section, then the average length of time per question would be about 2:02, but your ESR states that it's 2:13.... and that is not mathematically possible. Since that data cannot be correct, I have to question whether any other data points in your ESR are incorrect or not. As such, you should contact GMAC, report this issue and ask for a new ESR.

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

Hi Rich,

Thanks for pointing that out. I hadn't noticed the discrepancy on the timing and have contacted GMAC on the same.

Regards,
T