Advice for 1 week before the test

Question

Hello!

I'm looking for some advice if taking or not the gmat...

I've been studying for at least 3 months by now.. I work in Consulting so I don't always have a lot of time for studying but I've doing at least two hours every day..

I just took a GmatPrep CAT and got a 640 Q47 V31. I'm aiming to get al least a 660.

I've been studying with the OG and did the full video course from GMATPREPNOW and I'm doing the GmatClub grammar book.

I'm planning on taking the GMAT August 16, should I take it or try to get a better score in CATs? If yes, what is a good plan for this last week so I could improve my verbal?

Thanks!!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi juanweiser,

Assuming you've been taking your CATs in a realistic, test-like fashion, then you're remarkably close to your score goal right now. I'd like to know a bit more about those CATs though:

1) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
3) Did you take them at home?
4) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
5) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
6) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?

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

KarishmaB · Answer

If you are targeting 660+, I would suggest you to reach a level where you are hitting 700 consistently in practice tests. That might mean waiting for a few weeks. Then again, if finances are comfortable, you can take the test on 16th and cancel the score if it is lower than target. To improve your verbal, check out our Verbal blog and the freely available SC video. https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/categor ... at-verbal/ https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

Do you feel that you would benefit from sitting for the exam, just to have the experience of the exam under your belt?

In some ways it might be good to just get the ball rolling with this, given that you can cancel your score. Some people just need that experience in order to be more prepared for the next one. So if that's you then you might just go ahead and take it.

Honestly speaking I would recommend my program for verbal. Given that you work in consultanting, you don't have unlimited time to be fooling around with all of this.

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Assuming that you took the tests in the same way as you would take the GMAT i.e. took all the 4 sections and took the breaks properly, I would recommend you to go ahead and take the test. 640 is not that far from 660 and a spirited performance on the test day can really do wonders.
If in case you are not satisfied with your score, you can anyways cancel it and retake the test.

A few things to keep in mind on the test day:

1. Do not think about the final score at any point of time
2. Once done with a section forget about it and concentrate on the next one.
3. Take both the breaks. It helps you to freshen up
4. Take a note of the time when you are out for break. Do not exceed the break
5. Do not rush through the last 5 questions in the verbal sections in a bid to see your final score
6. Make sure you complete the section. There is a high penalty for not completing the test.

Advice for 1 week before the test

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