Last visit was: 18 May 2026, 01:05 It is currently 18 May 2026, 01:05
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Shawshank
User avatar
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Last visit: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 331
Own Kudos:
219
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 331
Kudos: 219
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 20 Feb 2011, 20:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I took the GMAT for the first time back in November 2007 and scored a 700, with quant score only in the 70's percentile. Two years ago I applied to b-schools and got dinged everywhere. This year I took it again and prepared by going through the Manhattan GMAT books and doing multiple practice exams on GMAT Club. I was scoring around 720 on the MGMAT exams and felt pretty good. However, when I took the exam a second time, I scored a 690! After all the preparation, I was devastated by the result.

I applied to 5 schools in round 2 this year and was dinged by my top 3 choices and waiting to hear on the other two. I really think if I can raise my score to around 740-750, it will help my case for admission next year. So my question is, should I take a prep course? If not, what other books and resources do you guys recommend?

Thanks.
User avatar
ibbys
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
Last visit: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
19
Status:Just trying to make mom and dad proud :)
Posts: 100
Kudos: 19
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 20 Feb 2011, 20:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Did you take all the practice exams under timed conditions? Timing can make a big difference during the actual exam.

Also, I am sure nerves played a part during the real exam. Did you happen to take any GMAT Prep exams before your second attempt? What were your scores?
User avatar
Shawshank
User avatar
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Last visit: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 331
Own Kudos:
219
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 331
Kudos: 219
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 20 Feb 2011, 20:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ibbys
Did you take all the practice exams under timed conditions? Timing can make a big difference during the actual exam.

Also, I am sure nerves played a part during the real exam. Did you happen to take any GMAT Prep exams before your second attempt? What were your scores?
Show more


Yes, I took all the exams in timed conditions.

In the MGMAT practice exams I was scoring between 700-720, and people said that the actual GMAT exam is a bit easier. Then, I took the GMAT exam from MBA.com, which is the most reliable one and was shocked to score a 680.
User avatar
ibbys
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
Last visit: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
19
Status:Just trying to make mom and dad proud :)
Posts: 100
Kudos: 19
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 20 Feb 2011, 21:10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MGMAT questions/CATs are a great source of practice but the questions are a little "different" from GMAC questions. One should really get accustomed to "official questions" from the OG12, OG Quant Supplement and OG Verbal Supplement. Did you get a chance to look at those?
User avatar
Shawshank
User avatar
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Last visit: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 331
Own Kudos:
219
 [1]
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 331
Kudos: 219
 [1]
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 20 Feb 2011, 21:33
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ibbys
MGMAT questions/CATs are a great source of practice but the questions are a little "different" from GMAC questions. One should really get accustomed to "official questions" from the OG12, OG Quant Supplement and OG Verbal Supplement. Did you get a chance to look at those?
Show more


Actaully, no. People told me that the OG guides are fine for the easy and medium problems, but if you want to score 730+, they're not a good source.
User avatar
AmrithS
User avatar
Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Last visit: 12 Jun 2021
Posts: 752
Own Kudos:
456
Given Kudos: 78
Status:-=Given to Fly=-
Location: India
Concentration: Leadership, Strategy
Schools: Kelley '18 Haas '18
GMAT 1: 650 Q44 V37
GMAT 2: 710 Q48 V40
GMAT 3: 750 Q51 V40
GPA: 3.5
WE:Education (Education)
Schools: Kelley '18 Haas '18
GMAT 3: 750 Q51 V40
Posts: 752
Kudos: 456
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 20 Feb 2011, 22:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
You might find this article helpful :)

https://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/7 ... erence.cfm
User avatar
mohater
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Last visit: 03 Jan 2020
Posts: 1,823
Own Kudos:
1,165
Given Kudos: 234
Status:Accepting donations for the mohater MBA debt repayment fund
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Operations, Finance
Schools: Ross '14 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V38
GPA: 3.54
WE:Accounting (Manufacturing)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Ross '14 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V38
Posts: 1,823
Kudos: 1,165
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 21 Feb 2011, 04:45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This thread should help you:
should-i-retake-gmat-thread-retaking-gmat-strategies-83339.html
User avatar
vixer
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Last visit: 05 Feb 2013
Posts: 215
Own Kudos:
43
Given Kudos: 11
Status:Quo
Concentration: Marketing, General Management
Schools: CMU (Tepper) - Class of 2013
GPA: 3.05
Schools: CMU (Tepper) - Class of 2013
Posts: 215
Kudos: 43
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 21 Feb 2011, 11:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Arbitrageur
ibbys
MGMAT questions/CATs are a great source of practice but the questions are a little "different" from GMAC questions. One should really get accustomed to "official questions" from the OG12, OG Quant Supplement and OG Verbal Supplement. Did you get a chance to look at those?


Actaully, no. People told me that the OG guides are fine for the easy and medium problems, but if you want to score 730+, they're not a good source.
Show more

I used the OG guides and supplements ONLY. People who claim the OG is easy/medium may not realize that the questions are ordered from easy to hard. The later half is a great place to focus on. By focusing almost exclusively on the latter half questions, I took mine from a 690 to a 740. Also, I took the mba.com CATs and analyzed what I did wrong. In my build up to my 2nd GMAT I did the mba.com CAT1 twice and CAT2 twice.
User avatar
jb88
User avatar
BSchool Forum Moderator
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
Last visit: 24 Nov 2015
Posts: 230
Own Kudos:
88
Given Kudos: 23
Status:Enjoying Class
Concentration: Consulting, Strategy
Schools:Booth
GPA: 3.4
GMAT 1: 690 Q46 V39
Posts: 230
Kudos: 88
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 21 Feb 2011, 14:40
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Knewton offers a money-back guarantee if you follow the curriculum and don't score 50 pts. higher with their course. Seems pretty low-risk if you ask me. I'd gladly pay a couple grand for a 740+.
User avatar
M23A
User avatar
Joined: 12 Sep 2010
Last visit: 07 Feb 2021
Posts: 201
Own Kudos:
47
Given Kudos: 28
Concentration: Healthcare, General Management
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 201
Kudos: 47
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 21 Feb 2011, 14:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
700 is a pretty good score. What schools did you apply?

Posted from GMAT ToolKit
User avatar
Shawshank
User avatar
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Last visit: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 331
Own Kudos:
219
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 331
Kudos: 219
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 21 Feb 2011, 15:40
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jb88
Knewton offers a money-back guarantee if you follow the curriculum and don't score 50 pts. higher with their course. Seems pretty low-risk if you ask me. I'd gladly pay a couple grand for a 740+.
Show more

On their website, they're offering a president's day discount for only $389. That seems insanely cheap. Shouldn't that raise red a flag, concerning the quality of their service?
User avatar
AmrithS
User avatar
Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Last visit: 12 Jun 2021
Posts: 752
Own Kudos:
456
Given Kudos: 78
Status:-=Given to Fly=-
Location: India
Concentration: Leadership, Strategy
Schools: Kelley '18 Haas '18
GMAT 1: 650 Q44 V37
GMAT 2: 710 Q48 V40
GMAT 3: 750 Q51 V40
GPA: 3.5
WE:Education (Education)
Schools: Kelley '18 Haas '18
GMAT 3: 750 Q51 V40
Posts: 752
Kudos: 456
Trying to go from 700 to 750: Need advice 21 Feb 2011, 23:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
shivgan3
To get a better score in the GMAT, you can also try working on solving the questions of CAT-IIM a management entrance exam in India. It is the toughest exam in the world for MBA.
Shivgan
Show more
IIM Questions are of unbelievable difficulty.... But if you're looking at that 51... I believe IIM Quant questions are good to practice on...

Verbal... Nah... IIM questions are not structured the way GMAT questions are!

The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to prepare for the Quant section of GMAT using the IIM Book called Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Kumar Sharma! It's an awesome book :D
Moderators:
gchandana
201 posts
MBAACCOUNT2025
General GMAT Forum Moderator
474 posts