Need help, went from 590 to 580 after around 4 weeks of prep

Question

Hello,

In May, I took a GMATPrep practice test cold and scored a 590 (Q36, V:35). I have been studying on and off and went on holiday for the whole month of July. I followed Magoosh's 3 month study guide for beginners very loosely (studied 1-2 days per week), but was at week 3 when I went on holiday. Once I got back, I started studying again around the end of August. This time I followed the study plan day by day and even did 2 days in one day, since I have too much time (no uni atm).

So today I did my first MGMAT CAT and felt pretty confident, but I scored a 580 (Q:39 and V:31)... I haven't studied consistently until last month, so I know that that is part of the problem. Still, all in all, I studied around 4 weeks and haven't even improved my score. A real bummer, since I'm taking the GMAT in the first week of November and am aiming for a 700+...

So, I desperately need help and advice. I felt pretty confident today, but feel like I haven't learned a single thing at all... Which is visible by my CAT score..

I have 6 weeks left and I'm studying around 40-45 hours each week. I'm currently at Week 6 of Magoosh's 3-month beginner plan and am doing 2 days of this plan per day now. This would mean I have around 3 weeks left once I finished Magoosh's study plan, which I want to spend by doing some MGMAT volumes (only the volumes that tackle the subjects I'm bad at). Is this a good study plan? How should I optimize my study plan?

My current resources are:
- OG pack
- Magoosh premium subscription
- MGMAT all 10 volumes

I really really appreciate any help!

Posted from my mobile device

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi TheJackster,

Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores. Since your studies started of 'inconsistent' and now you're essentially 'cramming', it's not surprising that these 2 CAT Scores are so similar. From what you describe, I assume that you've worked through a number of practice questions, but you have not changed how you 'see' (and respond to) the Exam. In basic terms, you're still approaching the GMAT "your way", so you will likely continue to score at this general level. Raising a 580 to a 700+ will likely take at least another 2-3 months of consistent, guided study - and you'll have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. This is meant to say that you might need to consider pushing back your Test Date.

1) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
2) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

TheJackster · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the fast reply! Really appreciate it!! I did study with shortcuts and strategies (from Magoosh vids) and this completely changed my view on the GMAT. Maybe you're right and my view hasn't changed enough, but I think the problem is more deeply rooted in Quant and Verbal. I'm from Europe, so not a native and I've never paid any attention during English classes. I was intuitively good in grammar, finishing English during pre-university education with a 8.0 out of 10. My maths classes were focused on statistics, meaning I'm very very weak in Geometry and number properties for example. I believe I can cram this fairly easily and thus have multiple weeks to get confident with these weak maths topics and improve my Quant score.

How would you advise me to handle my Quant and Verbal? I can gain some points in Maths by understanding the topics I'm weak at. Do you have any addition to this? And what would your advise be considering the Verbal part?

I'm not aiming for a particular business school. I'm finishing my BSc this year and need a 700 to get into the MSc I want to do at my current university. They won't look at IR and AWA, which is a bonus since I don't have to spend time on improving those. I just need a 700+ to go to the second round of the selection.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi TheJackster,

What is the exact application deadline that you're facing? I ask because you will likely need as much potential study time as you can get to hit a 700+. While you might be able to 'cram' in the necessary math knowledge (as you've described), there isn't any evidence yet that this will happen (or that it will lead you to a higher score). Beyond the necessary 'knowledge' you will also have to train in the proper Tactics, patterns and little 'secrets' to the GMAT - and all of that training will take time. Thus, you have to decide whether you should continue on with your current plan/timeline or change to a different plan (or potentially do both). Thus, we need as much available information on the one Program that you're interested in. Once you have provided that, we can discuss the most efficient way to approach your studies going forward.

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

TheJackster · Answer

My application deadline is on 31 January 2018. I'm interested in a kind of dual MSc program, getting a MSc in International Management and receiving a certificate of the CEMS organization. However, I have to do the GMAT before the second week of November, since I am going to travel abroad for 2 months (with tickets having booked already...).

I took a GMATPrep test, since a lot of people told me that MGMAT CAT's are somewhat harder. I scored a 630 (Q44, V32)! As said before, I haven't studied for Verbal, only practised, which could explain why my Verbal hasn't improved. I also need to improve my speed, since I had to basically guess the last 6 questions of Q and the last 4 of Verbal.

Do you think I can improve enough to score a 700+ with 6 weeks of prep time left? How would you suggest me to study these 6 weeks? Or do you think I need more than and if so, how much longer would you suggest?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi TheJackster,

Assuming that you took this CAT in a realistic fashion, then you appear to be improving. In addition, if you haven't done much Verbal studying yet, then you could potentially pick up a bunch of points in that section once you start studying SC, RC and CR. Since you're working through a study plan right now, there's a certain logic to have you finish that study plan. Unfortunately, no one here can tell you whether you will continue to improve by studying the current way that you are studying or not - so I would assume that you should stick with what you are doing right now. You should plan to take a new FULL-LENGTH CAT in a 1-2 weeks and we can use that result to decide whether you should continue with this plan or change it for the final 4-6 weeks of your studies.

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

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hi I felt pretty confident today, but feel like I haven't learned a single thing at all. This is a common phenomenon with most of Students so dont worry about that I'm studying around 40-45 hours each week I am not agree with so much labor 20 hours a week study is the extreme limit IMO. 3-4 Hours a day is good enough, Its completely a physical labor not a smart work if you want to get 700+ score its better to reschedule Test but 45hours/week= almost 7 hours a day Learn the concepts tested on GMAT. After learning, practice your learned section with timed practice. You can also take quizzes to meet the pace of GMAT. 1 Month for learning concepts and 15 days of practice and same with the verbal. When completed all the concepts learning and handsome practice. Take full lenght CATs, know your estimated score. Analyze the result with Correct/incorrect questions, pacing analysis trace your mistakes and learn from them, make an error log to know your mistakes in the previously attempted questions Best Mocks 1. Official GMAC (50+50$) 2. Manhattan GMAT (49$) 3. GMAT Club Quant CATs (80$) 4. Veritas CATs (49$ but you can buy at 15-20$ During sale period) Good Luck Cheers

rohan2345 · Answer

Hi,

I think you should focus on your Quant. I think MGMAT guides are phenomenal and cover the entire syllabus really well. Just by going through these guides and solving the OG will help you reach 600+. I must add that if you are particularly looking to discover and improve on your weak areas in quant; a subscription to GMATCLUB tests is the best way to do that. They are indeed phenomenal and will not only pinpoint your weak areas but also help you improve on them. Further taking multiple mocks might help. Apart from the GMATPREP, Manhattan GMAT tests and Veritas Prep Tests in my experience have a good verbal and Quant section and will certainly help you point out and improve your weak areas.

Further another advantage of taking many mocks is to build up your stamina. Apart from the GMATPREP tests, taking practise tests of any major GMATPREP company ought to do that.

Lastly I would also encourage you to purchase the GMATPREP QP 1 and the Quant review for some great additional practice.

Hope this helps. All the best.

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Need help, went from 590 to 580 after around 4 weeks of prep

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