How can i increase my score by 100 points (from 600 to 700)

Question

Hello,

I have gotten to the stage of "I dont know what to do!". Please Help!

I took my first test in Oct 2016 as a diagnostic, MGMAT- 550 Q38 V28. I got busy with life and pretty much didn't do anything till 2 weeks ago. 
I have been working through the Magoosh Premium, its a good product and I have pretty much gone through all the Quant section. 
Took the Magoosh Practice Test 19th Dec 2017: 570 Q45 V23

Thereafter, I took a few more GMATPrep tests:
24 Dec 2017: 600 Q42 (PS42, DS43) V30 (CR29, RC28, SC33)
25 Dec 2017: 590 Q42 (PS42, DS39) V30 (CR35, RC39, SC17)
28 Dec 2017: 580 Q42 (PS39, DS44) V28 (CR28, RC32, SC25)

I don't know how to pull my score higher. I haven't done that much Verbal practice except for RC and some SC (in Magoosh).

All advice welcome!

Thanks in advance.

Saloomiz

mcdo · Answer

For quant, I would suggest doing ~20 problems at a time from the official guide and then reviewing the ones you got wrong or guessed correctly on. Identify what it is in those problems that threw you off the scent of the correct solution, and make a flashcard with that concept on it. It's also helpful to keep a log of the ones you got incorrectly, so that you can revisit them later and prove to yourself that you've mastered that concept. Even if you've already done a set of questions, it's useful to revisit and drill those problems. I repeated questions many times and when I actually took the test, I was able to relate each quant question to one that I had drilled in the past, and was able to apply the same steps to that problem. Drill those flashcards whenever you have time. Sometimes I would casually leaf through them while sitting on the porch, other times I would have my pen and paper out and would be working through them. Even if you're memorizing the answers to those questions after a while, you're still planting the process of getting to that answer into your brain.

For verbal, I used flash cards as well - but when it comes to RC or CR, I found it most useful to identify the types of answers given, so that I could eliminate them. This is something Manhattan did a good job of explaining; there is also a guide on this site called the Comprehensive Critical Reasoning Guide that covers this. I'll try my best to explain, but basically every wrong answer is wrong for a certain reason. After you've seen enough of these answers, you can categorize them into different buckets and cross them off.

Good luck!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saloomiz,

GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +/- 30 points of actual ability. Assuming a similar 'swing' in how your CATs function, your 4 CAT score results show that you essentially performed the same each time (about 580 +/- a few points). Based on what you've described, you've really been studying for just 2 weeks, but many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores. This is meant to say that it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort to have scored higher yet.

It's important to remember that taking lots of CATs will NOT make you a better Test Taker. A CAT is really a 'measuring device' - when used correctly, it will give you a realistic score and help define your strengths and weaknesses, but it will NOT help you to fix any of those weaknesses. To raise your scores, you have to put in the necessary practice and repetitions. The CAT will show you whether your studies are helping you to improve or not. As such, you really shouldn't take more than 1 FULL CAT per week (and it this point in your studies, it should probably be once every 2 weeks).

Based on your work so far, you'll likely need at least another 2-3 months of consistent, guided study to hit 700+.

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

saloomiz · Answer

mcdo , thanks for your response. I will start to integrate the flash cards into my daily studying routine.

Hi  EMPOWERgmatRichC ,

I am looking at UK business schools, mainly LBS, Oxford and Cambridge. I was hoping to apply for 2018 entry, I have most of my essays etc. already completed and even my references are done too.

So my only barrier is this 700 GMAT.

What do you reccomend in regards to the sutdy plan you mentioned in your last post, bearing in mind I work full time.

Regards,
Saloomiz

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saloomiz,

Since you're going need need at least a couple of additional months of study, the specific application deadlines for the Programs that interest you are important to define. In that same way, if you're already working through a specific Study Plan, then you might just need to continue following it. However, if you're just working through lots of practice questions (without learning and practicing new Tactics or developing specific Test Taking skills), then you would likely benefit a great deal by investing in a new GMAT Course of some type (either Guided Self-Study or instructor-led).

1) What application deadlines (after January) are you considering?
2) What would be the lowest GMAT Score that you would still apply with?
3) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

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

How can i increase my score by 100 points (from 600 to 700)

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards