Stuck 615 to 635, how to change habits not just do more practice

Question

Hi everyone,

I am stuck around 615 to 635 on GMAT Focus and I’m trying to break to 645 plus. I have already done the content and topical practice. My problem is execution habits that keep repeating even after I review.

My error patterns:

Quant

go long on hard questions and try to rescue  
  fail to simplify or see structure quickly  
  overwhelmed by long word problems and max min setups  
  misread stems or do unnecessary algebra

Verbal CR

miss small modifiers and subtle wording  
  lose track of the conclusion  
  overthink, wrong answers take longer than correct ones  
  sometimes pick an answer that sounds reasonable but does not target the conclusion

DI

DS: not testing enough cases, assuming things not stated  
  MSR: poor tab discipline, I read too broadly and do not choose the right tab quickly, plus misinterpret info across tabs

I’m not looking for “study harder” or “do more questions.”

I’m looking for a method that actually forces behavior change:

What review method made your habits change  
  What did your post set review look like  
  How did you drill timing decisions and the ability to let questions go  
  Any specific checklists or “I will” rules you used during the test  
  If you fixed MSR navigation and tab discipline, what was the exact approach

If you were stuck in this score band and broke through, what was the 1 to 2 biggest changes that made the difference?

Thanks

MartyMurray · Answer

A great method for changing behaviors as you're looking to is the streaks method.

How to Ace the GMAT Using the Streaks Method

dhruv23320 · Answer

All the best

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi username122,

1 & 2: If you're not facing issues with time management, you could try giving yourself more time on each CR question. On the other hand, if you are under time pressure, you could try to reduce your time in RC. This may not be easy though.

3. Test takers often spend more time on questions that they get wrong. This is normal and expected, and not always due to overthinking.

4. This may be related to (2). You could try to read the conclusion multiple times to make it stick, or even write (a short version of) the conclusion down on your noteboard.

The main thing to keep in mind is that you may have to tackle most of these points individually. It's unlikely that there's a single small change that you can make that will fix  all  the issues you've identified across quant, CR, and DI.

All the best.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

If you hit a score plateau, your move is to look for new levers to pull. For example, you may need to find new practice techniques, such as  the Streaks Method  to boost your GMAT score. Or you may need to learn to solve questions in new ways. For example, perhaps you’ve emphasized using orthodox methods to answer Quant questions. It may help to work on finding more creative paths to correct answers.

To find new levers, try new prep resources or read debriefs from people who have scored 705+ on the GMAT. I’ve seen people use everything from reading coaches to hypnotherapy to increase their GMAT scores.

Here’s the key: something will work. Something will have a new impact that will result in your GMAT score increasing.

If you’ve been practicing in one way, practicing in a new way will make a difference. If  test anxiety  or a  negative mindset  are holding you back, work to address them. If your reading speed is too slow, practicing by reading articles or working with a coach will speed you up. Your performance will improve, and your GMAT score will increase because effective preparation works.

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Stuck 615 to 635, how to change habits not just do more practice

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