Succumbed to the pressure- Need Advice

Question

Hello everyone

I recently gave my GMAT. I scored meagre 570 Q42 V26(13 Dec 2011). kind of anti climax for me.

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Flashback
Following were my mock test results

MGMAT1 640 Q43 V34 (25 Nov 2011)
MGMAT2 650 Q46 V33 (02 Dec 2011)
MGMAT3 680 Q47 V36 (04 Dec 2011)
GMATPREP1- 690 Q50 V33 (05 Dec 2011)
MGMAT4 670 Q47 V34 (09 Dec 2011)

I couldn't understand how pressure took a toll on me on the day. I just wasn't able to grasp anything I was reading on that day. Few things that I could figure out for underperforming are stamina-i never wrote AWAs in my practice tests-, anxiety- before the test day and probably during the test as well-, and the ability to handle stress-although I hate to admit the third point but its true-.
 
The materials I used were MGMAT SC, Aristotle SC, Powerscore CR and 5 MGMAT quant guides. For practice i mainly used OG12 and verbal review 2nd edn. 
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Although I am considering a retake, I am not sure how do I approach things further? Especially because my scores in the mock tests were in the range of 670s 680s ( Q 47 V34 ), I am not looking for any score less than 40 in verbal in my next attempt. It is always easier said than done, but I am committed to put sincere efforts.
I do have one more weakness which i haven't mentioned; I am not a fast reader and almost always I rushed towards the end of the verbal section but until my real GMAT I was not worried with that as I was scoring in the mid 30s.

Any suggestions to help me improve?

bb · Answer

perhaps depends on what score you are looking for.

Looking at your significant different - i would recommend taking the GMAT again even without much prep, just doing it with more confidence. Would recommend tackling your weakness - reading and spending as much time as you can with fiction, magazines, newspapers, and books.

However, that depends if you are applying R2 this year or R3 or next year. You may not have the time.

deadlycat · Answer

The easiest way to deal with anxiety is to be confident and the easiest way to be confident is to believe in yourself and your preparation. On that note, I think you should switch up your mock test procedure and do the AWA as well. The results will tell you if you're actually have a stamina issue. If you do then your problem can be easily fixed with more practices, if not then you can go into the exam confident that you have the stamina to match whatever the GMAT can throw at you. Win win situation

GMATLA · Answer

I would recommend that you read my post on the mental and physical prep for the test. For someone like you, I believe following some of these rules will really make you more confident on test day. I would recommend setting another test for a month out, and when you practice, use these tips. They will shoot your confidence and stamina through the roof! Good luck and come back and let us know how it went or what you chose to do:

10-tips-to-improve-your-score-app-with-no-extra-studying-124393.html

Also, practice your AWA's so that you can go into the quant and verbal feeling confident and not tired already. Here's some tips for AWA:

how-to-get-6-0-awa-my-guide-64327.html

There are so many physical and mental aspects that people forget about. It sounds to me like you have a huge opportunity to make a 100+ point increase if you practice and study with these tips in mind.

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alokmihani · Answer

Thank you all for the precious time.

@GMATLA - I couldn't agree more. The 10 tips to improve your score has some very good analysis. and so it is now added to my bookmarks.

@BB - To answer your question. These are facts from the past. By the end of last mock test I could anticipate my score for the real test and I would have been happy with the score anywhere in the range of 650 to 670. So i decided not to take any more tests and rather review my mistakes done this far. 
However when I am considering a retake I will make every possible attempt to boost my score up to 700+ and that will take some effort in the verbal section. so spending more time reading books seems like a valuable advice. I don't want to apply with the current score and therefore i can feel R3 or most likely it is next year. I won't pick a GMAT date unless i see 700+ consistency on my practice tests

@deadlycat - Henceforth I will practice all the tests with AWAs . I still feel it has more to do with anxiety than stamina but I can't blame everything on the test day pressure.

Dbalks · Answer

In the same boat here Alok. Took the test and came in 60-80 shy of my previous attempts on the practice exams. I am not one to succumb under pressure, I dont stress in these situations. Sometimes its just not your day. For me, things just werent clicking, and I didnt leave enough time to finish each section. Personally for me, I didnt want to get anything wrong, so I spent way too long on some questions.

Confidence is key. Go in arrogant. I am going back in on Saturday for another round with the real thing and I know I am going to crush it. I will not run out of time, I will not choke, and I willl leave satisfied.

Confidence is key. Go in arrogant. I am going back in on Saturday for another round with the real thing and I know I am going to crush it. I will not run out of time, I will not choke, and I willl leave satisfied.

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