How to improve a 710? Exhausted resources

Question

Hi

I gave my gmat in jan and scored a 710 (Q49 V39). I am planning to retake it in 3 weeks time. I would like to find out what new books/resources will be helpful in improving my score, particularly my verbal score.

Earlier I've used both OG12 &13, MGMAT books (mainly for quant), GMAT 800, Kaplan gmat premier 2013 (for tests) and MGMAT (Tests)

Thanks

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear ramalo With all due respect, why in tarnation are you retaking the GMAT? Why do you think this is a good idea? See: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/should-i-retake-the-gmat/ Mike :-)

ThomasHall · Answer

Hi Ramalo. I think retaking makes sense: you have a lot of room for improvement in Verbal (V39) and schools view a 750 differently than a 710.

Verbal can take a bit longer to improve on than quant, so whether or not 3 weeks is enough time is a bit hard to gauge.

I recommend thoroughly checking out the MGMAT Verbal books. Also, get the Question Pack addition to the GMATPrep software for additional practice. Have you checked out the Verbal Review book? It is a great resource for additional verbal practice.

I've just published a guide to GMAT self-study that I think you would find useful in gaining the most Verbal improvement from your limited prep time.  GMAT Clarity  is currently only $7 on Amazon (soon to be $40). I'd be happy to help you use it given your particular prep situation.

ramalo · Answer

Hi Mike

I am an Indian Male, its one of the most heavily congested application pool. The schools I'm planning to apply to have an average gmat in the range of 710-720 but I think they expect Indian students to be 10-20 points above the average (atleast thats what I've heard from reliable sources). Moreover I was scoring higher on my practice tests so I'm hoping to improve my score to around 730-740.

Hope that makes sense

ramalo · Answer

Hey Thomas,

Thanks for your post. I would ideally like to give my GMAT in 3 weeks but there's enough flexibility as far as timing is concerned. I have looked at the verbal review but not in any great depth, so thats definitely something I'm planning to do.

Also considering I'm aiming for a 740'ish I think it achievable if I can improve quant to 50 and verbal to 40/41.

Will definitely look up your self study material on amazon.

Thanks

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear ramalo , Well, realize that there are several problems and risks here. First of all, there's no guarantee that, on a retake, you will score higher rather than lower. If you score a 690 on your retake, that's not going to look impressive to anyone. Practice test scores are not necessarily predictive, especially in the realm of elite scores, because the pressure of the real test sometimes creates enough stress to cloud the intuition just enough. Part of what makes those elite score difficult is that you have to produce that performance under the stress of a real test. I would say: if you want to take the GMAT again, you really need to guarantee that you will score higher --- that would mean 750+, close to 800, on all your practice tests beforehand. That is a monstrous task to try to accomplish in only three weeks. Why does this have to happen in three weeks? I have serious doubts whether anyone could make that kind of improvement in that time scale. You have exhausted most of the resources I normally would recommend. I will say: if you sign up for Magoosh, we have a score guarantee for which you would qualify: https://gmat.magoosh.com/score-guarantee Technically, it guarantees +50 points or your money back --- even if you went up to, say, a 740, you would qualify for a full refund. The only way you wouldn't qualify for a refund is if you score 760 or higher --- but for that kind of improvement, I would argue, Magoosh would be worth the price. We have 150+ video lesson and 800+ practice questions --- you would have to go through all of those to qualify for the score guarantee. Again, I am not sure anyone could do all that in only three weeks. If you can push back your exam date a bit, enough to work through all of Magoosh's material, then I think that would be your best shot at any improvement at this point. Does all this make sense? Mike :-)

ramalo · Answer

Ya it makes sense. 3 weeks was just a reasonable target I had set out for myself. Fact is that I want to give it by the first week of may at any cost. So technically I have 5 weeks max.

I thought elite B-schools only considered your highest gmat score?

I will definitely take a look at the magoosh material. The scheme sounds extremely lucrative :p

Thanks

ThomasHall · Answer

There is little risk of scoring lower because you can gauge your progress the week before your test date. If you are not hitting 750+ on the GMATPrep CATs taken under official conditions, then cancel your test. Four+ weeks of focused prep where you boost your verbal skills a ton and your quant skills some will put you in a good position to score in the high 700s.

The Magoosh Verbal videos could be really valuable.

Thanks for checking out GMAT Clarity. Please let me know if I can help you use it in anyway.

The Magoosh Verbal videos could be really valuable.

Thanks for checking out  GMAT Clarity . Please let me know if I can help you use it in anyway.

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