Need help.. terrible test experience

Question

Hi there,

So after studying for 6 months, I just gave my first GMAT test and scored an extremely disappointing and demotivating 570 (Q43 V25). I know I freaked out in Quant and I couldn't recover thereafter, but I'm not sure what went wrong in Verbal because while doing it I thought it was going fine and I didn't panic either.

My prep so far has been as follows : 
OG'14
MGMAT Quant books
Classes with an institute 
4 GMAT Prep tests (mba.com) with review
4 MGMAT tests with review
1 Kaplan test with review

Is someone able to advise on what may have caused my low score, and how can I improvise before taking the test again?

Thank you.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi divs173,

From what you've described, it sounds like your Official GMAT score is lower than your practice scores, but you haven't offered any specifics.

1) How did you score on each of your practice CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
3) What time of day did you take your CATs and what time of day was your Official GMAT?
4) Do you take your CATs at home or do you go to a different location?
5) Do you do anything during your CATs that is not 'test-like' (skipping sections, pausing the CAT, listening to music, etc.)?

6) What is your goal score?

Thankfully, Business Schools don't care if you take the GMAT more than once, so there's no harm in doing so. Also, since the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Test, you CAN train to score at a higher level.

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

mfprado1073 · Answer

The best way for anyone here to help you would be to understand your scores in the CATs, specially in the verbal section where you scored much lower than your expectations.

As you said that the quantitative part set you off and that could have impacted your performance in verbal, and your overall score. For me personally, the verbal section is very subjective and can easily be affected by my state of mind.

divs173 · Answer

Thanks for your response.

1) overall, I did around 12 practice tests - initially in verbal, I scored around 35, but weirdly, it's been going down ever since with a 31 towards the end, and 25 in the actual. Math was initially a 44, and towards the end I got it up to 49 in practice tests, ended up with a 43 in the actual. Overall, I maintained a 650 during practice.

2) only for the last 4 tests I took the entire exams. For the retake, I will be doing all together to increase my stamina.

3) Test time would usually be at 9-10am. My actual test was at 10am.

4) Mostly in my office over the weekends, as it was pretty empty.

5) I did pause in between the sections, to use the restroom. However, in the exam I had no issues being focused or sitting that long. It comes automatically.

6) Definitely a 700+. I can work as hard as I need to, but I just need to know what can I do to improve.

https://gmatclub.com/static/posted_from.png     Posted from    GMAT ToolKit

divs173 · Answer

Thanks for your response.

I haven't received the official score report yet as I just gave it yesterday - I presume that report should provide me some details?

Yes the Quant part set me off initially, but in the break between Quant and Verbal, I recovered mentally from that and I didn't think about it in the Verbal section. I was quite focused on getting the Verbal right, but evidently something went wrong - I don't know what.

How does one improve in Verbal according to you? I know I have issues with CR and RC, and I dedicated a few days to each of these to really dig in and fix the issues - I thought I fixed them because when I do questions individually, I get them right. However when it's in a test, or as a complete section, I seem to get it wrong.

When I figured a pattern of getting a string of 5 qs wrong (beginning, middle and end of the section - experienced it all!), I thought it might be a test taking issue, so I focused on fixing my stamina etc. Still doesn't seem to have worked!

https://gmatclub.com/static/posted_from.png     Posted from    GMAT ToolKit

mfprado1073 · Answer

For verbal, it seems you really need a push if you scores are in a downwards trend.

General tips are the same that you'll find in great topics in the forum such as:
1.  Verbal GMAT forum: Offers great insights  https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-verbal-section-11/ 
2. GMATPrep software question banks help you a lot in each type of question and you should try and do loads of questions

For me personally,  CR is the tricky one . This requires you to be able to differentiate between evidence and argument, which is usually the last sentence in the passage, and find the best possible answer that strengthens or weakens this sentence.

Example: "Market researches have shown that blue products are 30% more likely to be purchased by our target demographics and that blue products are normally 10% more expensive than red ones. Changing our product color to blue would increase our profitability."

The argument talks about changing the product color and profitability, the possible answer should be related to those. Even if the evidence cited mentions price, and volume, it talks about revenues and not profits. A possible answer that mentions that the revenue increase is not that high would not weaken the argument, but one answer mentioning increased costs in blue ink would.

SC is about noticing parallelism patterns and trying to make complicated sentences simpler . This comes only with practice and attention to detail.

Maybe you should save your CATs for later and do a lot of question bank questions for verbal. It seems that doing more CATs would not help you a lot at the moment, as you should focus your efforts.

divs173 · Answer

Yes, CR is the tricky one for me as well. I have heard that CR bible and LSAT practice questions are very helpful - would you suggest the same?

I have done like 1000 qs already for my first attempt, but that was probably the wrong way to go as I've heard gmat is not about the number of questions you work on. Don't know what I'm doing wrong and how to rectify ....

https://gmatclub.com/static/posted_from.png     Posted from    GMAT ToolKit

mfprado1073 · Answer

It is important to try and find patterns between the questions. Exercising a lot is very helpful, I would disagree with anyone who believes it is not important. But you should start at one point to understand the inner workings of each question type.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi divs173,

The Official GMAT is a specific "event" that you can train for, but the more your practice CATs differ from Test Day, the more "off" your scores are likely to be (and often those practice scores are "inflated"). From what you described, you were only taking the FULL CAT on your last few attempts, so I'd like to know those exact scores.

1) What were the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores and the Overall score on each of THOSE CATs?

From what you've described, you did lots of practice questions from print/book sources. That's another 'issue' with your studies - many Test Takers who use a 'book heavy' study approach end up getting 'stuck' at a certain scoring level. Instead of focusing on doing lots of questions, you should focus on learning and practicing tactics so that you can learn to handle GMAT questions in the most efficient ways possible.

To score 700+, you're going to have to make some significant improvements to BOTH your Quant and Verbal scores and that is going to take some time.

2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

divs173 · Answer

Hi Rich,

GMAT Prep 3 - 600 Q45 V28
GMAT Prep 4 - 650 Q49 V30
MGMAT 3 - 610 Q44 V31
Kaplan free test - 650 Q49 V30

I will apply to bschools this year: I understand I need to put in more work and I can work as much required, but what I don't know is how to get there.

What do I need to do to get there? Can you please elucidate on the step-wise review? I have heard earlier as well that GMAT is not about doing 1000 questions, however, this was just one of the many things I tried and didn't work. Apart from this I bought the MGMAT Quant books for content improvement, but I found them too basic.

Is it also possible, in your opinion, that my actual test score does not reflect my current position and the nervousness and tension could have lowered my score significantly?

Lastly, how do you suggest I improve on verbal? I've been told the CR bible book is quite helpful, and MGMAT SC book as well. Please advise.

Thank you.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi divs173,

Since it sounds like you took your last few practice CATs in a realistic way, I have a few questions about Test Day itself:

1) How did you sleep the night before your GMAT?
2) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
3) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
4) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
5) Did you finish any sections early?
6) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?

It's possible that you just had a "bad day", but the V25 means that you were losing points in all 3 Verbal areas (SC, RC and CR), so you really need to become consistent with the tactical approaches you use on these questions.

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

Need help.. terrible test experience

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