Too late to be too shocked

Question

Hi, My exam is approaching on 11th Feb and today I took Practice Test from GMAT software and was shocked/still in shock to see a score of 420. :oops:

I have been preparing for this exam close to 6+ months. In the previous practice tests the avg score was 600-620. I am so confused about what to do now. NO, rescheduling the exam is not possible, already I did that twice. This time I have to take it.

Someone, please advice......

PrashantPonde · Answer

what is your target score?

ssrg · Answer

680-720

tiara · Answer

Hi ssrg I am also in same boat :cry:

my exam is on Feb 7th and am getting very low scores in my MGMATs.. waiting for some useful tips from other members... :roll:

ssrg · Answer

I don't know why no 'experts' have replied so far.
We are in trouble and we need some guidance at this stage, highly disappointed to see no response so far. 
Or is it not the right place to ask suggestions?

jumsumtak · Answer

My first question to you is when are you planning to apply? If you are applying next year and this is your first attempt, I would say be ready to take the test one more time. Generally speaking, a massive jump from GMAT prep tests taken a day or two earlier from the D day is VERY difficult. And we are talking about ~300 points here. I'd loved to be proven wrong though. You said you were scoring 600-620 in the run up and that tells me that this attempt might just be a very bad day, and hence, not representative of your true potential.

So lets get down to what you should do on this test. You still have a few days left in your prep, in which you can make significant strides towards your target score.

1.) Write a couple of tests (with AWA and IR) and nail your timing strategy. 
2.) Revisit your mistakes and error logs. Concentrate on your strengths and areas where you can improve significantly. Do 10-15 qs together and try to build stamina. Always, read the official explanation and try to see what is the concept you are lacking.
3.) Practice official problems only. Revise OGs, supplements, question packs and GMAT prep questions extensively.
4.) Be confident that you will be able to get what you are aiming for. Unless your mind believes it will be very hard for you.
5.) Plan your answering strategy on the test. Don't waste too much time on one question.

If there is something specific that troubles you, post in this thread or PM people (including me).

Good luck and I hope you nail it.

GMATPill · Answer

If you are 180 points away from your target score, you need to get get focused in these last 10 days. Can you take off from work? Take a 1 week vacation? What you don't want to do it is try half-way, get your score, then force yourself to do a retake. You want to get it done right once and out of the way.

Take time off so you can focus ONLY on GMAT. For each section, master it in 1-2 days. Really go through the basics if you can - perhaps some resource can help. But I'm sure by now you've already gone through all types of questions. Focus on pinning down a strategy for each type of question and familiarize what you'll do for each type of question.

A simple strategy for all verbal questions (except CR) is to cut the fluff. Things that are not important (between commas or extraneous words), just cut them out of the sentence and it will simplify the meaning a lot. Try to do practice sprints - this will build your stamina for the test. Answer the question as fast as possible, then rest, figure out what turns you could have made to answer the question faster, then repeat.

Take that practice test 2 days before your actual test. If you drop everything else and have a full 10 dedicated days, you can do this!

KarishmaB · Answer

This is not very common! Did you sleep off in the middle of the test? It's very hard to explain a dip of 200 points from one practice test to another. Practice tests of prep companies are not calibrated perfectly - I give you that - but they are certainly not that off. Besides, if you have been working even a little diligently for the past 6 months, a 420 doesn't make sense. If you go through one complete set of GMAT prep books seriously, a 600 is kind of a given.

I would advise you to do two things:
1. Check out why you got a 420. Lots of silly mistakes? Did you mess up the questions you usually answer correctly? Think of the reason why this would have happened - Were you really distracted during the test? Were you really stressed? Did you have a huge head ache? Did you have an all-too-crucial party to go to after? If one of these is the reason, you don't need to freak out at all. It's probably just an aberration - too far south - but still just an aberration.
2. Take another GMAT prep test on a non-work-day morning, at a time that works best for your body clock. You should come back to the 600s range. 700 might still be far away but it will certainly not be as crazy as 420!

ssrg · Answer

Hi GMAT Pill and Karishma, Yes, I am taking off from work.. for 5 days and this Sun I got. 6 days totally. I took a test today from MGMAT and scored 510 ..... :-|

But still, I somehow feel a lit better (frankly), cos it was 90 points increase compared to my last attempt. There are few things I observed: 1. I lacked stamina, so towards the end of Math section and by the Verbal section, I was completely lost. My brain is totally blacked out... In today's test, I really had to do some breathing exercises, meditation to stay calm and focused. 2. I have a huge problem in Data sufficiency questions, I come to a 'bad' conclusion very quickly. I still lag very behind in IR, I scored only 3/12. I accept, I have never prepared for it. So I am not going to worry much about it. AWA, I am sure, I will get a 5. So not worrying about it also. Focusing on each section 1-2 days, is really a good idea. I shall follow it. My Plan for the next 1 week. 1. Complete OG - 13 again (go through all explanations). 2. Take atleast 3-4 tests, one test from the GMAC software on Sat, next Monday (11th Feb) is my exam. . 3. Special attention on my weak areas. Please let me know if the above plan will work. If you have any suggestions, put it across. Thanks!

KarishmaB · Answer

The practice tests in which you were scoring 600-620 were sectionals (i.e. something like 1 hr tests ) or were they complete GMAT simulations (4 hrs)? 510 is still low if you have been averaging 600-620 (assuming they were full length tests). My Plan for the next 1 week. 1. Complete OG - 13 again (go through all explanations). I don't think this will be very useful. OG explanations aren't the most efficient in my opinion (sometimes they are difficult to understand). Re-doing the same questions may not add value if you have done them properly once. You might want to practice from some other source. 2. Take atleast 3-4 tests, one test from the GMAC software on Sat, next Monday (11th Feb) is my exam. . Take the last test on Friday. You need to get some rest on Saturday and Sunday to be fully alert on Monday. Also, you need to fuel up during the test. Eat a light snack and keep some water handy during the two rapid fire breaks you get. Just stuff in some food to maintain energy levels. GMAT does test your endurance. Take the next Official GMAT prep test as soon as possible. Read this post to understand why: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2012/08 ... prep-test/ 3. Special attention on my weak areas. Yeah, this is a must. Try to gain a solid understanding of the areas you are weak in.

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