Battlecruiser, still not Operational

Question

Hey fellas,

Just got back from the GMAT. Very devastated with my performance. I usually get on average in the lower 600's. About 610-650 I would say via Kaplan and Manhattan.

Unfortunately, today I got a 550. Obviously this is not good but a big improvement from my initial 430. I just don't know what went really wrong. My split is 42Q, 25V. I usually get in the low 30's for verbal but obviously that is not something that happened today.

I'm kind of lost right now. After 3 months of preparation between my 430 and 550, I felt that I was fully prepared to take on the beast again. Looks like we're gonna have another encounter. Any suggestions, ideas, would be great.

And please, study your quant. I felt that the quant was definitely definitely harder than in any other test prep I've done to date. Thanks.

Womiwom · Answer

Tough break bro. If you were to take anything positive from this, it would be that you made significant improvements in your quant and verbal score from your previous test. I think that if you adjust your prep a little more, you should be able to crack 600 at least. Good luck on your next try!

vwjetty · Answer

I mean, I'm kind of at a standstill right now.

Because I graduated college back in May and I wanted to get back in to do my Master's as soon as possible but now that kind of got delayed. I studied my a$$ off for the last few months like I didn't party, didn't go out, didn't hang out with friends. Just pretty much closed myself into my room and kept on studying.

And when I felt like I was able to really be able to conquer it, I get a 550. Right now I'm kind of speechless in terms of what I need to do. The obvious answer would be to improve on the Verbal but I've exhausted all my resources I've gotten from Manhattan GMAT. I went through every book religiously. Consistently scoring 30-33 on the verbal side and today I fall flat on my face.

I'm thinking about just registering again for November. Clearly, this score does not represent my potential especially in verbal. I've NEVER had such a low verbal since my first GMAT attempt. I don't have a job. I just graduated so this GMAT is like my life right now. And I live at home so getting after 4 months and then coming home with a 550 doesn't look too good with the folks at home cause now they think I've just been dicking around the house all this time... (sigh).

by the way, Womiwom, if you wanna meet and go hardcore down on verbal and I can help you with Quant, that's a deal. My buddy just took the GMAT's with me today and he got a 560 so he's pretty happy with that since his program's average is a 540. So any additional motivation would be great right now :-D

Womiwom · Answer

I'm cool with meeting up and going over some stuff. Just to give you a heads up, it might turn out to be you showing me the ropes in quant. I can help as much as possible with verbal, so hopefully it turns out to be an even exchange.

vwjetty · Answer

yo i am 100% down. GMAT right now is my life. I need to break 600 to have a chance at getting into the Master's of Science in Finance program @ VCU. Because it's the only school in the state that offers it. So its mad competitive for local people like me who don't have the cash to go out of state but still want to do finance. Writing you a private PM now.

Unfortunately, the PM system might be a little slow because it's still in out box and have not budged yet. However, if you shoot me over your e-mail or just gimme a holler at [email protected] that would be awesome. I can meet anytime, anywhere (within reasonability) I drive a slammed Jetta VR6 so no off-roading :-D

shaselai · Answer

if you applying for masters of science is it better to take gre instead? and i wouldnt put yourself down so much cause you did show improvement from your last test although it might not be your liking but improvement nontheless.

Dawgie · Answer

VWJetty, congrats thats 120 PTS!!! Take a week off and do it again! You'll be at 670!

gurpreetsingh · Answer

Take some time off Gmat and shoot back again with sound preparation.

For verbal I think revision is the key. Even if you have exhausted the material, I advice you to revise them again.

vwjetty · Answer

Thanks yall. On my next attempt I hope to finally cross the 600 mark. It's been a longer journey than expected but I have the squeeze is worth the juice. I just took all of today off. Unfortunately, for my MSF program they want to see a GMAT. I have no idea why. It's dumb but hey I don't have enough authority to make the rules around here; I just follow them. gurpreetsingh, you're 100% right. Beginning tomorrow I'm gonna start cracking the MGMAT RC for the 2nd time. Probably gonna redo problems and whatnot. Didn't do anything today. Went out with some friends, did a car photo shoot. Probably none of yall really want to see pics of my car anymore since its my avatar :-)

but yeah, had some lunch and went out with my friends to go the Social Network about Facebook. Good movie - although it definitely wasn't the best and I thought they could have made it more intriguing but hey that's just me. After some careful analysis I think my problem lies specifically in the reading comprehension. because that's the only reason that could have caused such a sharp decline. I got some pretty intense passages and reading comp is my rival in any CAT but I usually get some easy ones but this time I felt that I got some pretty intense questions so I want to say that it is definitely my downfall. I will giving the GMAT a 3rd run sometime in the new 1.5-2 months once I start gaining some confidence and review of the manhattan series on reading comp although I heard there is technically no magic book out there to help with reading comp like there is for SC. Who knows, maybe my third run will be a charm. Math was intense I thought but I came out with a 42 which is ok for me. I usually get around 44-45 but like most folks, I expected a slight decline on the real deal. Ive never really been lucky in anything in my life so go figure.

vwjetty · Answer

by the way, if anyone of yall got some pointers other than the ones on MGMAT on how to better prepare for RC, my ears are wide open.

I'm fairly well in sentence correction after doing the MGMAT SC; that book does wonders. End of story.

For CR I just ordered the CR bible but is going in it with some mixed ideas as some people love and some people hate it. I also downladed whiplash's CR guide. That real good. Colors are definitely going to help. Mad props to you. Haven't started on it yet but I will definitely break that open soon and start cracking on that.

gurpreetsingh · Answer

Do both og's + daily reading. check improve-verbal-using-free-resources-101626.html If you still have some time, then you may try LSAT RC. I think for CR- both the og's are sufficient. The LSAT cr is quite different. Do consider online course such as knewton, which offers 50 point guarantee.

vwjetty · Answer

most definitely will check that out for sure.

shaselai · Answer

it is suspect that reading comp is the culprit... i think you need to reevaluate all the verbal sections since the score indicates a lack of understanding on all fronts (unless you like totally bombed RC....)

vwjetty · Answer

yeah most def.

so I'm starting with the MGMAT reading comp guide...for the second time. I guess I'm picking up on a lot of the stuff I've missed before. Guess I will have to start implimenting some of the writing and note-taking tactics. Hopefully it will be a big boost to my RC performance - cause I need it, bad.

it's a thin book and just working the examples. after that going to use the same tactics on the OG. And then maybe try another CAT. Follow up with some review of SC & CR. Then, maybe give it another go. Probably in 1.5 months. Wish me luck fellas :-D

Dreamy · Answer

Good luck.

Do work on RCs. Read minimum RCs a day. While doing most of my mock tests, I felt i am doing well in RCs but ended up scoring much lesser than my expectation. Preparation is the key.

vwjetty · Answer

thanks. will do work for sure.

bb · Answer

Sorry to hear about the experience Man

vwjetty · Answer

appreciate that. life throws you curve balls, just gotta deal with it. in any event, on the bright side, i know my math is pretty decent :-D

bb · Answer

Not only that but you have improved 120 points!

vwjetty · Answer

true. one step at a time. thanks for the support. there will be another duel between the jetty & the gmat monster. guaranteed :-D

honestly, i didn't even think i would cross 500 a few months ago. so i guess its just motivation and determination. big thanks out to bb for helping me so much and making me part of this community.

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Battlecruiser, still not Operational

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