How to quickly boost a gmat to 550

Question

Hey everyone,

I joined the forum because I kind of messed up my own time schedule and I wanted to ask you guys for help and advice on how to make my GMAT.

I have my first attempt scheduled at the 1st of december. I did some practice before but without a proper plan. Now I took the GMATprep test today and I scored this:
Quant: Scaled score: 34 - Percentile 35
Verb: Scaled score: 19 - Percentile 17.
Total: Scaled score: 460 - Percentile 23.

I need to have a 550 to be admitted to my Masters and I have about 8 FULL days to study for the program (assuming 12 hours a day would still account for roughly 96 hours of study).

I have seen stories of people making it to such a score before and I was wondering what kind of guides/methodes you would recommend.

Thanks so much everyone.

vedantkabra · Answer

My score boosted to 700 from 360, so 460 to 550 is 200% possible. what-to-do-after-a-disappointing-first-attempt-228813.html#p1763285

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DemianV,

With your current Test Date, you have about 2 weeks of study time remaining. Assuming that this recent CAT score is an accurate measure of your skills, then you would need to raise that score 90+ points in that timeframe to hit your score goal. Unfortunately, that might be too difficult of a goal (although at this score 'level' it is doable). With this goal, you don't have to correctly answer ANY of the hard/weird questions that you'll face, so you can feel free to 'dump' all of those questions (just take a quick guess and move on). However, you do have to keep the little mistakes to a minimum (on all of the 'gettable' questions).

1) How long have you studied?
2) What materials have you used?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
4) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

DemianV · Answer

Thanks for your reply!

1) I studied effectively for maybe 5 hours atm. The rest was reading and making practise tests.
2) I used the gmatprep materials and one I got from a course I took half a year ago. I do have all manhatten books and the big gmat review as well.
3) i want to apply in december/january. My pre-master would start in february.
4) VU Amsterdam, UvA amsterdam.

Would love to hear your advice.

Posted from my mobile device

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DemianV,

Based on the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on this CAT, you have a big opportunity to pick up points in BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. However, with your current Test Date you don't have the necessary time to put the proper focus into both sections. So, if you were planning to stick with your current Test Date, then you might find it best to pick one of them and devote the bulk of your time to that one section. I think that you should push back your Test Date - so you could build your skills in both sections (and potentially pick up some points in both the Quant and Verbal - which would lessen the 'burden' of having to try to pick up all 90 points in one section). All things being equal, I think that you would likely need the better part of 2 months of consistent, guided study to 'lock in' your score goal.

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

DemianV · Answer

Hi Rich,

I really want to do my first attempt on that date - I think I can still improve enough to get to 550 during that time. How would you recommend studying during these weeks? Do you have any guides in mind how to quickly/efficient get the score up?

Posted from my mobile device

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DemianV,

After reviewing this last CAT, in the Quant and Verbal sections, how many questions did you get wrong....
1) Because of a silly/little mistake?
2) Because there was some math/verbal that you just could not remember how to do?
3) Because the question was too hard?
4) Because you were low on time and had to guess?

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

DemianV · Answer

Hi Rich,

I would say in guessed percentages:
1) 25%
2) 15%
3) 20%
4) 40%

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi DemianV,

I mentioned this in a prior post, but it bears repeating - to hit your score goal, you do NOT need to correctly answer ANY questions that you think are too hard or too weird. However, you do need to nail the 'gettable questions. Based on your last post, I think that if you had enough time for the questions at the end (so that you didn't have to rush) and you could minimize the number of little mistakes that you make, then you could hit your goal on December 1st. This means that you have to become mentally comfortable with 'dumping' questions. Furthermore, you have to be far more detail-oriented and take the necessary notes on the pad (re: don't ever do work 'in your head'). I'm also a bit concerned about your 'attention to detail" - I asked some specific questions in my last post, but you didn't actually answer any of them. If that's indicative of your overall thinking during the Test, then you're going to need far more time to study than you've currently allotted.

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

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