Please help... i m in a really difficult situation

Question

I am really sad.. I gave my first gmat in 2015 and got 530 (q48, v17) and now i am preparing for another. I have been studying for about continuous 6 months now, have given MGMAT 5 tests till now, and my scores are 660, 610, 710, 590. GMATPREP1 gave 680. I am unable to understand such diverse scores

I am targeting atleast 700, but my scores are not giving me that confidence to give a GMAT in next 1 month... I am unable to understand why this is happening.... Shall I go for GMAT or now... I am in a really difficult situation right now. I dont believe in taking classes, as it did not worked in my first attempt. Please help me understand my scores and guide me in a correct path..

bb · Answer

Sometimes taking a long time to prep has side effects. While it allows you to cover more material, it also results in losing some of the skills and abilities you have learned during the early time of your preparation. I usually don't recommend stretching your prep more than 4 months.

Another reason your scores may fluctuate is holes and gaps in your prep. Unlikely but consider if there are any items of potentially you've missed or really dislike and therefore have a weakness.

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

jkolachi · Answer

As bb said stretching gmat prep over a long period of time can lead to disappointing results. Given that you have already scored a 710 and got 680 on GmatPrep then you're very close to your goals. Focus on mistakes and try to minize the mistakes as much as possible. Don't waste time going over additional material, just review review review all the stuff that you have already learned and go over your mistakes. Continue to review and go over your mistakes.

I faced a similar problem and had a huge dropoff in score for my prep extended past 3-4 months. for the next 2 months my scores fluctuated. But i spent last few weeks just reviewing alot of material and it has improved my score significantly. I noticed that I was making really really simple mistakes, concepts that i had learned 3-4 months ago but didnt' review. So after reviewing i am not making as many mistakes and this is leading to higher and more consistent scores. Also luck plays a big part sometimes, i notice that I get tested on concepts that I am strong in, sometimes the test will throw a few problems that I am weak in. So feel confident and hope for the best that on test day the Gods are kind to you. Best of luck.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi mrinal0308,

These types of fluctuations in score can be due to a variety of causes. While the 'obvious' answer is that you're likely making more/fewer little mistakes on certain Tests than on others, there are a number of other factors to consider. Thus, we need to start by defining how you took each of these CATS:

1) On what date did you take each CAT?
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 when you plan to take 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?

Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predicable Exam, so you CAN train to score consistently at a higher level.

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

mrinal0308 · Answer

bb and jkolachi

Thanks for your prompt response. I do feel that I gave a lot of time to it, assuming I will do better and better, but its becoming worse now..
I sincerely need your help in knowing where am I going wrong...
Shall I send you my assessment reports so that you can suggest where I need to focus and how?
Another dreadful thing is that I have only 1 MGMAT test and 1 GMATPREP test left. So, I have just these 2 tests left to judge my level at last.

I am seeking your help please..

AjiteshArun · Answer

I hope you're aware that there are a total of 6 GMATPreps available (with Exam packs 1 and 2).

jkolachi · Answer

You're making it sound like its the end of the world. Its not so please just take a couple of days off and think about the mistakes you're making and how you can avoid them. One of the thing that helped me from time to time is to re-focus and re-evaluate my goals and why I am writing the GMAT. Every few weeks I run out of steam and I think back to the previous weeks and reflect on my approach and try to see if I can improve.

Also read debriefs of successful people who scored over 700 and see what helped them. You will find that many of them had disappointing results initially but they kept trying and trying until they got over the hump.... Remember its just a mental obstacle, it takes time to break. When you feel hopeless this is where you are losing the mental game. You have to re-adjsut your mental game and re-focus and get back in the game.

As mentioned, focus on the areas that are giving you most trouble. If you're scoring well in Quant then focus on verbal, if you're doing well in both then focus on the weak areas in each section. Don't study the very hard material. Focus on the easy mistakes to fix first, this will give you an immediate boost in score.

Also provide breakdown of all your errors, breakdown of each sections so people here can help you.

mrinal0308 · Answer

+ bb

I agree, I am attaching my last 4 MGMAT CATs assessment reports. I would like your views on that.

jkolachi · Answer

Alright I see what your problem is. You're too heavily invested in certain topics and some areas are dragging your score down. Some of those areas are very important to pay attention.

Number Properties: 11/27 ... that's very bad. Number properties is the MOST important topic in Quant. Your success depends on it so spends a lot of time doing number properties questions. 
Algebra: 13/30 ... another very very important topic. Very low success rate. You need to work on this as well.
Geometry: 11/24.... a little improvement needed on this as well. Its an important area as well.

For verbal, its very clear that you're good in SC. So focus on CR & RC.

Best of luck!

mrinal0308 · Answer

Thanks a lot , that really helps. how shall I proceed with that? Shall I practice more of GMATCLUB questions for Algebra, number properties and geometry? 
Regarding CR and RC, whats the best way to make them strong? I have solved a numerous questions and they dont seem to be working as i again do mistakes..

I am really looking forward to go this way correcting myself now.. !!

jkolachi · Answer

Yes gmatclub number properties & algebra. Also look at Bunuels's signature. For CR look at Powerscore. RC practice reading Economist.

Best of luck

Please help... i m in a really difficult situation

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