First Attempt: 470 Q/31 V/28. More determined than ever

Question

Well guys after 5 months of studying this is the result. Upset. Sad. Devastated. You name it. However, I am more determined than ever to reach my target score: 700. However, I received a conditional offer based on my gmat and feel confident that anywhere between a 620 to 650 would suffice (AVG is 640  an  EU b-school). Please comment.

It's difficult to gauge where I went wrong, given that we can't review our answers, but I'll give a run-down of what I think went wrong.

Quant Section:  
- I was nervous, which led to...
- rushing a majority of the questions and silly mistakes, which led to...
- not applying many of the strategies (Test It, Test Answers, Triage, dumping questions), which led to...
- a Quant score of 31

Verbal Section:  
- Not nervous in the beginning, which led to...
- taking good notes, staying organized, dumping a few difficult questions.
- Then, got nervous half-way (due to time) which led to...
- not taking notes, taking several guesses, which led to...
- a Verbal score of 28.

Reflection:  
- Overthinking is a bad habit I need to kick. It immobilizes me to a point, such that I miss simple calculations (i.e 1/2 +1/2). I'm relaxed when I do practice questions and usually average around 2 minutes per question. However when I rush, I make silly mistakes and it actually takes me longer to complete a question.

On practice exams I jump anywhere from 450 to 600 (GMATPrep Tests). My scores are sporadic. I really can't figure out why....

Advice?!?!?!  
I know I'm not doing something right while I study and while I take practice exams. I will list out my previous study plan and a revised approach. Please comment and provide and suggestions you think may help.

Study Materials:

- MGMAT 6th edition Entire Series
- MGMAT Advanced Quant Booklet
- MGMAT 4th edition: Word Translations
- OG 2016
- OG 2015 Verbal and Quant
- EMPOWERgmat
- GMATPrep
 Phone Apps 
- Magoosh Math and Idiom Flashcards
- MGMAT Pocket Flashcards
- Prep4Gmat (don't use too much though)

Typical day of my previous study plan

- 1.5 hours: Quant Review Different topic each day (Usually watching EMPOWER videos or reading over MGMAT books and doing practice questions in the OG 2016 guide)
- 1.5 hours: Verbal Review Different topic each day (Usually watching EMPOWER videos and doing practice questions in the OG 2016 guide)
- 1 hour: 10-15 practice questions on GMATPrep and review.

Problems with this...   
To me, and what I have read, it seems like a solid study plan but I realized the problems I've had with this:
1.) Sometimes I'm reviewing things I already know. Content is not the issue. Lack of practice on my weaknesses are.
2.) My attitude: Sometimes, in fact many times, I'm just going through my study plan like a check list as if more is better. I'm not spending the time to really digest the material.
3.) Not taking enough full practice exams.

Revised Study Approach   
  Sunday:   
- Take  Full Practice CAT Exam , perform diagnostic, enter into error log, and plan study week.

Monday:   
-  Study Quant:  2 hours - Review content/strategy on areas I got wrong on the practice exam. 
- 1 hour - Perform 20 Timed Practice Questions on those specific areas
- 1 hour - Review, enter into error log, and plan.
* Throughout the Day on phone app: Review SC idiom Flashcards and use Arithmetic app (to address silly arithmetic mistakes)

Tuesday:  
-  Study Verbal:  2 hours - Review content/strategy on areas I got wrong on the practice exam. 
- 1 hour - Perform 20 Timed Practice Questions on those specific areas
- 1 hour - Review, enter into error log, and plan.
* Throughout the Day on phone app: Review SC idiom Flashcards and use Arithmetic app (to address silly arithmetic mistakes)

Wednesday:   
- Take  Full Practice CAT Exam , perform diagnostic, enter into error log, and plan study week

...then repeat Monday and Tuesday on Thursday and Friday.

Saturday:  
- 1.5 hours - Review my week and plan accordingly

Please chime in with any suggestions. I am feeling defeated and running out of solutions.

WayneHam · Answer

From what I've read on here, people almost always score lower on the real test relative to practice tests.

How long do you plan on studying before writing again?

John36 · Answer

I'm planning on studying for one more month then retaking the test. I'm also planning on taking IE admissions test around the same time so I will be quite busy.

What do people think? re-take in 1 month or wait longer?

WayneHam · Answer

you're looking for a 700 and you just scored a 470 after 5 months studying. I think one month is optimistic. 
A 470 is 25th percentile. Basically I'm saying you most likely have a lot of studying to do and based on your prep test scores you should be scoring in the 500's, which is below your goal. You have real improvements to make before reaching your goal based on what you've written.

Did you only do 2 practice exams? Saying you jumped from anywhere between 450 to 600 implies that you scored 450, 600 and other scores in between. Also many of the questions on the second exam have the same questions as the first exam.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi John36/Mike,

I'm sorry to hear that you didn't score higher on this GMAT. However, based on the PMs we exchanged (on September 8th and 9th), you seemed to understand that you probably weren't going to score all that well on this Test Day (you stated that this GMAT was going to be a 'learning experience') and that you were planning to retest again later (with the intent of scoring much higher). The way that you described your CAT results (in the below link)....

og-2016-q-s-vs-mgmat-q-s-vs-gmatclub-q-s-205112.html#p1570834

...also seems to support the idea that you currently make far too many silly/little mistakes to score a higher level. This is meant to say that you seemed to know that you weren't going to score very well and your GMAT results match-up with how you described your work thus far.

Thankfully, all of these issues can be fixed. I think that much of your self-analysis is spot-on; you likely know the content and Tactics just fine, but the 'work' that you do is incomplete and prone to little mistakes. Once you start making those initial little mistakes (and you realize it), then everything starts to get worse (and you start feeling 'pressure') and you make more mistakes... You'll need to work more on YOUR process, and we're here to help.

You mentioned a 'conditional offer' to attend School; what details were you given about the 'conditions' that need to be met?

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

John36 · Answer

Thanks Rich for reaching out again. I actually just finished the curated RC module and took a little break to check out the forum.

I'm taking a more cautious, slow approach to studying and answering practice questions. I'm not turning a page or clicking next until I COMPLETELY understand what's going on. After a few pages of notes are written, I go back and quickly review what I just learned. Kind of like a "two step forward, one step back" approach.

You're right. I did not expect a great score. I knew I was not applying anything I learned while taking the test. My notes were sloppy, I was rushing it, etc. I got exactly what I deserve and anything more would have felt undeserving. When I take my time, I answer questions accurately and in a timely manner. I just have to get over the fear of thinking I don't have enough time.

The school did not provide any details on what score would meet their requirement; however, the average GMAT score is 640. I want a 700 but at this point, I feel confident that a score near their average would suffice. As far as deadlines go, I've sent them an email asking when's the latest date I have to submit my GMAT. They are aware that I took the test last Saturday but have yet to respond. Their application deadline is in the beginning of November but I've already completed that process.

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First Attempt: 470 Q/31 V/28. More determined than ever

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