I need some advice

Question

Hi,

I am currently finishing a MSc in Transportation Engineering, I have a BSc in Computer Science & Engineering. I am applying for a Financial Times Top 20 master in finance. I have no real professional experience, but I am currently president of a huge society and I have been a very successful fund raiser.

For some time now I have been preparing to apply for ESCP and EDHEC. Having very good recommendation letters, but a poor GPA (65%), I was focusing on acing the GMAT. This is were it went wrong. On the GMATPrep exams I scored 690 (Q49, V35) the first test and 710 (Q44, V42) the second time. Today I scored 660 (Q42, V40) and I am obviously really disappointed. The verbal is okay but the quant is extremely bad (57th percentile). I don't understand how this is possible. I scored very good on the diagnostic test, subsequently went through the Manhattan strategy guides and finished the entire Manhattan GMAT Advanced Quant. I did not have to do a lot of effort to crack the problems in these books, but in the timed test itself I obviously **** up. I have had highly quantitative courses and I even was very good at them (A's for linear algebra, statistcs, numerical mathematics, calculus, ...). Nevertheless I appear to be a quantitative nobody. It is frustrating and I have no idea how to improve this score. I'm currently very busy with my master thesis and it was already a pain in the ass to take 2 weeks off to study for the exam. The results are on their way to the schools I am applying for, so I am ****. I might have some time to do it again, but then again how am I going to improve?

AtlanticGMAT · Answer

Hi Phil,

Well, let's face it: a 660 is a solid score. I know that you want better, and, certainly, you can do better. A few questions:

1. Did you use any materials besides the ones that you mentioned (OG13, Verbal and Quant Reviews, GMAT Focus...)?

2. Were you doing your HW timed? Did you have an error log?

3. Did you do MGMAT CATs? What were the scores?

The good news is that Quant can be tightened up in a short amount of time. Let me know the answers to these questions and any other thoughts that you have and I would be happy to give some feedback.

Happy Studies,

HG.

Phil90 · Answer

Hey HG,

Thanks for answering!

1. Official GMAT Guide 13th edition (did diagnostic test and some exercises on RC), Manhattan SG (only read the tips in the advanced part), Manhattan Advanced GMAT Quant (completed the entire book, most question answered right in the first place but still I never really bothered about time).

2. What is HW?

3. I only read about MGMAT Cat's a few days ago and never bothered to try it out.

AtlanticGMAT · Answer

Hi,

HW = Homework.

1. I would work through the last half or third (depending on how much time you have) of the Official Guide 13th edition.

2. I would also take a Quant section from MGMAT CATs or GMATClub CATs every day (every few days you can take a day off to rest your brain and to do some extra review to solidify the knowledge). Do not work on unofficial verbal material.  Ideally, I would mix up the two CATs (MGMAT/GMATClub) because they have different strengths.  Make sure to spend time reviewing your answer so that you are always learning solid methods and reinforcing what you already know. Remember that both of these CATs tend to be more difficult than the real test so do not worry about the scores.

3. The 4 days before your test you can slow down the MGMAT/GMATClub Quant sections and take a GMATFocus each day. These are very close to the real test.

You should be able to solidify your Quant in a couple of weeks if you are able to do commit to this schedule. Let me know if you need more advice on this.

Happy Studies,

HG.

PS: Throughout the two weeks do a maintenance amount of verbal (only official material) and also do two more GMATPrep tests.

Phil90 · Answer

Hey, I never timed my homework or kept an error log, but I am pretty sure that it was over time. I did keep track of questions I answered wrong in the MGMAT Advanced Quant. I know this is a stupid question but were do I get these CAT's, do you mean just the free sample on the Manhattan Website? I still have some access code unused. The GMATFocus seems affordable. About committing to the schedule, that will be the hardest part. I experienced that there is always some task or work that comes by and eats my time reserved for GMAT. I really thought the Manhattan Advanced Quant would be sufficient to get an 48 on the actual GMAT, God am I disappointed. I spent 1 lowsy day on the verbal part and as an engineer that should be my weak part

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I need some advice

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