GMAT in less than 2 weeks!!!

Question

Hi all,

I have my GMAT exam in less than 2 weeks and I need some advice on how I can improve my score by 40-50 points.

I have taken 5 GMAT prep mock exams and here are my scores so far:

Gmat Prep 2: 680 (Q47,V35)
Gmat Prep 3: 730 (Q48, V41)
Gmat prep 4: 640 (Q44, V34)
Gmat Prep 5: 670 (Q47, V35)
Gmat Prep 6: 660 (Q43, V38)

As you can see my mock scores are fluctuating quite a bit. What do I do in these last few days to ensure that I can get above 700 at least? I am pretty confident that I can score above 35 in verbal, but I really need to be more consistent with my quant scores - Need to be hitting above Q47. Any sort of advice will be appreciated. Thanks

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi nithinjohn,

Considering the 'swings' in your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores, we need to define a number of aspects of how you've been studying and how you've taken these CATs.

When you took your CATs:
1) On what dates did you take these CATs? Were they in the old format or the current, shorter format?
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 (re: on a prior CAT, in an online forum or in a practice set)?

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

nithinjohn · Answer

1) On what dates did you take these CATs? Were they in the old format or the current, shorter format? -  Only Gmat Prep 2 was in the old format, the rest have been with teh new one. 
2) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?  I have taken 3 entire CATs. I skipped off the IR and Essay in the first two. 
3) Did you take them at home? Yes 
4) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you plan to take your Official GMAT?  I would say a gap of a couple of hours at best. 
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.)?  I might have paused for a couple of minutes, but nothing too significant. 
6) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE (re: on a prior CAT, in an online forum or in a practice set)?  All first time, but I have seen a couple of questions on the forums before. But only like 3-4 max from all 5 tests combined.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi nithinjohn,

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your practice scores can become - and that's likely what has happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, pausing the Tests, seeing some 'repeat' questions, etc., you have not been properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.'

Test Day involves a variety of really specific steps and parameters (including steps before the Test even begins - such as leaving your home, traveling, etc.). Every factor matters, including the psychological ones. When you sit down on Test Day, you KNOW that you're going to be in the Computer Lab for about 3.5 hours - but if you're just taking individual sections (or taking a CAT without the Essay and IR sections), then you KNOW that you'll be done in 1-2 hours. The attitude and energy that you use during practice will NOT be a match for what you'll need on Test Day, so it's not a proper way to practice. By extension, I'm concerned that some (or even all) of these CAT Scores are 'inflated' - and if that's the case, then your Score Goal requires that you actually need to improve by MORE than 40-50 points.

1) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
2) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
3) Do you have the flexibility to push back your Test Date (eve if it's just for a couple of weeks)?

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

Sajjad1994 · Answer

You should better to revise the concepts you are weak in, Take full lenght CATs, Review them carefully know your weak points and try to overcome it. Build your Stemina to sit for 3.5 Hours.

Good Luck

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