Retest Strategy

Question

Hi All

I recently took my first GMAT (online) and scored a 700 (48Q/38V/7IR/6AWA). While I'm happy with my overall performance, I would really like to bring my verbal score up to the 42+ range, and attempt to hit 730 so I can improve my chances of getting into a T7 school MBA program.

I had a few questions on what to do for my second testing attempt regarding my studying strategy and my testing strategy. My job is starting in a few days, but luckily I have a few weeks of training during which I plan on studying and taking my second attempt. I'd prefer not to study and test after training ends since I anticipate my job will be relatively strenuous, and as a result I doubt I would have the time or mental energy to study effectively

Studying Strategy:

1.) I'm afraid that my quant score may drop if I focus too much on verbal. While my goal is to raise my verbal score, I don't want to jeopardize my quant score by over allocating my study time to verbal. -> I'm not sure what the best way to balance the two would be?
2.) I've used up all 6 official practice tests and 4/6 MGMAT practice tests -> I'm not sure which practice tests should I use moving forward now.
3.) I've used up all of the OG guide (2020) and nearly all of the advanced OG guide -> I've downloaded the GMATClub SC and CR question banks (both sections weaker than my RC), but not sure if there's other verbal resources that I should be looking into?

Testing Strategy:

1.) I did the quant section before the verbal section. My brain felt very sluggish while going through the verbal section and I'm starting to think that took a toll on my score. My accuracy on the advanced OG guide verbal questions was ~75% under time pressure, so I feel that I have the ability to score higher than I actually did. I had originally chose this order because when I started studying my quant was weaker. This made me want to finish that section first since it made me nervous whenever I took practice tests. -> Would I benefit from changing the section order to verbal then quant? I've never practice this order before but I'm thinking it might help?
2.) I overcommitted to the "first 10 questions are the most important" strategy, and had to rush the remaining parts of the test. -> I'm planning on giving all questions approx the same time during my next test, but would be interested in hearing other's opinions on this.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi syzys,

I'm glad you reached out, and I'm happy to help. Based on your comments regarding section order and the "first 10 questions", I have two important articles for you to check out. If after reading these you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out.

Best GMAT Section Order: How Do I Choose?

Should You Spend Extra Time on the First 10 GMAT Questions?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi syzys,

First off, a 700/Q48 is an outstanding Score, so you can comfortably apply to any Business Schools that interest you. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Since you're interested in some highly-competitive Schools, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

There's certainly no harm in continuing to study - but with a Q48/V38, you do not have any big 'weak spots' in either section - meaning that we would have to nitpick your CAT/mock performances a bit to determine the specific areas that you would need to work. Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

1) How long have you studied? How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

Russ19 · Answer

Hi  syzys ,

As you have already completed OG-20 questions, you can consider going through the GMAT official CAT-1 and CAT-2 questions pack. They are official questions, so no other sources are comparable to them for sure. If you cannot manage them, dm me.

Best Wishes!

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi syzys,

First of all, a 700 is a great score to secure in your first GMAT exam. I'm happy that you are willing to improve and are open to seeking suggestions for working on your weak areas. This will definitely help you improve your score and hit your target score. Let me share my insights here.

Looking at your score breakup, you have clearly mastered the Quant section. Just a little brush up/guidance will help you score a Q50/51.However, there is still room for improvement in Verbal.

Sentence Correction: 
SC questions test your ability to convey the right meaning without any ambiguity. So, if you have approached them from a grammar stand-point, then I recommend you to stop doing that and approach them from a meaning stand-point. You might have often come across answer choices which are grammatically correct and convey a logical meaning but are indeed incorrect. So, it's important to understand the intended meaning of the original sentence, identify the errors if any and then eliminate answer choices which are either grammatically incorrect or do not convey a intended meaning.

Critical reasoning: 
Coming to CR, you have to follow certain steps while solving CR questions.

• Read the argument
• Identify the premise and the conclusion
• Read the question stem
• Identify the missing link (Pre-think the assumption)
• Eliminate answer choices which are irrelevant or out of scope

Identifying the conclusion helps you understand the scope of the argument, which in turn helps you to eliminate answer choices which fall out of scope. And to develop the ability to pre-think, you need to understand the framework on which most CR questions are based. Once you identify the framework, there are certain guidelines using which you can come up with the missing link.

What should be the next step?

Honestly, to suggest you anything specific, I would need a little more information because I ask a lot of questions to understand the student's approach. So, it would be better if you can tell me your approach you followed for each of the question types so that I can suggest you which areas to work on. I understand that it would be difficult for you to write it here. So, a better way could to connect over a zoom conference call and discuss the same. That way, we can solve a few questions together, a process that helps me identify the flaw in your approach if any. Once I understand that, I can suggest you a solid study plan for the next couple of weeks along with the study and test strategy.

So, if you wish to connect over a call, you can use the below link to schedule one.
    Click here to schedule a call

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