Guidance to score above 700

Question

Dear Experts,

I took GMAT few days before and scored 570. I wanna push my score above 700. Please see the attached ESR and share your guidance. I took Quant first and Verbal second. I have studied for at least 25hr per week, on an average, for around 8 months.

Thanks in advance for the help.

bb   GMATNinja   ScottTargetTestPrep   CrackVerbal   EMPOWERgmatRichC   IanStewart   AndrewN   ChiranjeevSingh   souvik101990

IanStewart · Answer

I looked at your ESR, and in Quant, you could easily add probably 3 or 4 points if you just implemented a new pacing strategy. Right now, you're pacing yourself the way many test takers do -- you're investing a lot of time trying to answer extremely hard questions earlier in the test, but (as is normal for Q51 level questions) you're getting those questions wrong. You're then running out of time, and essentially are guessing at the last half dozen questions on the test. If you could move on more quickly from very hard questions, when, after about a minute, you can't see a way to get to an answer, then you'd have time left near the end to answer questions that are at your level. On this particular test, you sacrificed quite a few questions at the end, and if you had invested your time differently, you likely would have scored around a Q45 or Q46. Of course, if you can learn the material better, you might also get harder questions right and might get faster at easier questions, and that would also help, but a new pacing strategy alone will make a meaningful difference. As for what Quant topics to focus on, you can't take much away from an ESR breakdown, because the sample sizes are too small, so you should look over any error logs you've compiled to work out which topics you're either weaker at or slower at to decide where you could most improve. Good luck!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi VerbalNote,

I have the perfect article for you:

How to Improve Your GMAT Score

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi VerbalNote,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day did not turn out better. Before we get to the data in your ESR - and 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) What study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
2) 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)?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

For Sentence Correction, there's an idiom list on the GMAT Knight blog you may find helpful. Consider making flashcards out of them after you download the Excel file. Might also help to work on a time management method. Using time markers, for example. Working with a study buddy may also be helpful.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Hi VerbalNote

At the outset, I understand what it feels to see a not so encouraging score on the screen but on the other hand, we also need to focus on what is it that can be fixed to improve and cause a considerable delta in the score. To work on this, let’s get to analyzing the ESR that you have attached.

Let’s try to deep dive on some key inferences from the ESR-
In Quant (Q 42)-
A Q42 which is the 36th percentile reflects the fact that you need enhanced clarity on the tested concepts. For example, equations, algebra, word problems where you haven’t done very well according to the data are areas where you can pull the questions from the error log and have a look at the questions. Analyze and close the concept gaps.
The number of errors kept on increasing across the quarters with 1, 2 and 3 mistakes across the first 3 quarters. Except the first mistake, the remaining 5 mistakes belong to a just above medium level of difficulty but the time invested across all the three quarters has been over 2 min with 2:42 in the third quarter.
This indicates that you need to hone your skills across easy and medium level of questions and ace them in less than 2min.
It’s not the advance questions that are a concern usually. It’s the easy and medium questions that are a roadblock and should be swept clean with minimum errors.
It’s also evident that you ran out of time in the last quarter and got 6 of them incorrect. They have been incorrect in a sequence certainly, causing further penalty. The questions you got incorrect, also belonged to a lower level of difficulty and caused further score damage.

In Verbal (V 27)-
V27 is the 44th percentile and you have a huge scope to increase the score here.
Except for the 3 mistakes in the first quarter, all the other mistakes in the Verbal section, belong to the medium or below medium level of difficulty. The timing has been decent(except for the third quarter).So what does this indicate?
You need to focus and ace on the easy questions during your practice and develop a >90% accuracy there. Slowly move to medium, analyse the mistakes and build on the accuracy and spend time with the answer choices. Ask yourself the right questions and eliminate choices with logic. Learn how to guard yourself against set traps!

What is the way out from here?

Analyze your mistakes from the OG for all levels of difficulty. Use your error log and analyze every day.
Understand that you must move in stages. From a Q42 to a minimum Q47/48 in the mocks and then push it from there above and from a V27 to a minimum V31 and push it from there.
Alongside the OG analysis,use the Quant and Verbal review to build up practice on easy and medium questions.
Once you set your skills for easy and intermediate, only then move to advanced questions for practice. Use only official questions.
Use the GMAT Club to build up tests using official questions only.

Please also go through this video to build up on your pacing strategy.
Practice less number of questions, but invest time in analyzing more. 12-18 / subject is a fair number to practice, since you would need time to analyze the errors or trap options in correct attempts.

And lastly, don’t give up.
There are incredible stories where the spirit to reform and reattempt has worked wonders, simply because the candidate worked on the areas of concern and was consistent.
Have a look at these stories to keep going !

From 560 to 750 - Meghna's journey

From 400 to 770-Prateek's journey

Scoring a 770 and admit to Tuck-Abhineet's journey

All the best !
Let me know for any further help !

Devmitra Sen
GMAT Mentor

Analyze your mistakes from the OG for all levels of difficulty. Use your error log and analyze every day. Understand that you must move in stages. From a Q42 to a minimum Q47/48 in the mocks and then push it from there above and from a V27 to a minimum V31 and push it from there. Alongside the OG analysis,use the Quant and Verbal review to build up practice on easy and medium questions. Once you set your skills for easy and intermediate, only then move to advanced questions for practice. Use only official questions. Use the GMAT Club to build up tests using official questions only. Please also go through this video to build up on your pacing strategy. Practice less number of questions, but invest time in analyzing more. 12-18 / subject is a fair number to practice, since you would need time to analyze the errors or trap options in correct attempts. And lastly, don’t give up. There are incredible stories where the spirit to reform and reattempt has worked wonders, simply because the candidate worked on the areas of concern and was consistent. Have a look at these stories to keep going ! From 560 to 750 - Meghna's journey From 400 to 770- Prateek's journey Scoring a 770 and admit to Tuck- Abhineet's journey All the best ! Let me know for any further help ! Devmitra Sen GMAT Mentor

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