610-630 Practice Exams, 6 Months Studying.. Aiming for 700+ - Help?

Question

I have been studying for the GMAT since June (took a week off for vacation, and two weeks off on an extended business trip). I completed the Online MGMAT Prep Course, and have been taking MGMAT practice exams once a week for over a month. I also just completed the Kaplan practice exam, and I have yet to get a score above 630. My aim is to score above 700.

Here are my practice test results:
06/28/2015: Manhattan Prep #1 – 630 (38Q, 37V)
09/06/2015: Manhattan Prep #2 – 610 (2.26IR, 37Q, 36V)
10/23/2015: Manhattan Prep #3 – 620 (3.03IR, 38Q, 36V)
10/31/2015: Manhattan Prep #4 – 620 (3.37IR, 39Q, 35V)
11/07/2015: Manhattan Prep #5 – 620 (1.77IR, 39Q, 36V)
11/16/2015: Manhattan Prep #6 – 610 (1.7IR, 37Q, 36V)
11/23/2015: Kaplan Test Prep - 630 (3IR, 40Q, 37V)

After each exam, I review all questions- right and wrong. I know my Quant is weak, so I review all the questions in detail. I'm taking the exam in a month, and I'm starting to get worried that my practice exams aren't cutting it. Does anyone have any advice? I've read a bunch of posts on the forum...and gained some advice, but if anyone has any feedback, that would be greatly appreciated!

My general study habits are to study for 1-2 hours after work every day Monday - Thursday. Friday or Saturday is usually the day I take the practice exam (though today I was able to get off of work early so I took advantage and took a practice exam). I review the exam fully for the two days after I take the exam. Then I do timed practice quant problems using study materials I have (MGMAT books, GMAT Club quant problems, and the GMAT Club 700+ Quant problem packet at this point).

My biggest challenge to a regimented study schedule is that I live in the US, and work with resources around the world - often times I am awake and on calls with Europe at 4AM, and am expected to be in the office until 6PM or later. I am also a traveling consultant, so finding the right space to focus is also difficult at times (though I find that airport lounges are a great place to zone in!).

Does anyone have any tips? I'm struggling to figure out how I'm going to get my score to my target 700+ in a month. Any advice is appreciated!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi glochou,

These CAT scores are remarkably consistent, meaning that you do certain things consistently well, but you are likely also making the same consistent mistakes. Since this pattern goes back several months, you've likely developed some 'bad habits' that will take time to get you out of. A month might be enough time, but you might need longer than that.

1) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
2) Do you have the flexibility to push back your Test Date?

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

glochou · Answer

Thanks for the response, Rich! I'm planning to apply next Fall, so there is some time to push back my test date. I'm mainly anxious to get the test out of the way, as I foresee a busy work schedule upcoming in the new year. I'm also reluctant to push the test back, as I have waited a long time to schedule, and finally found a time when I will be home for more than two days in a row, and can take time to relax a couple days before the exam.

This is great insight into what may be going on with my exam scores. Any tips on discovering my "bad habits"?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi glochou,

Some of the 'issues' that you're having might be 'tactical' in nature (meaning that 'your way' of dealing with questions is causing the problem) or they might be 'mechanical' (meaning that you're missing details, making calculation errors, not taking enough notes, etc.). If you work through your last coupe of CATs question-by-question, you might be able to better define WHY you're getting questions wrong. In that way, you have something specific that you can 'fix.' The reality is that it's probably a mix of the two - you'll likely need to learn and properly practice some new Tactics to pick up the bulk of those missing points.

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

WayneHam · Answer

based on those scores it looks like you do a lot of tests. Have you asked yourself why you're not improving? Maybe you're spending too much time on practice tests rather than studying to improve? I only used the 2 gmatprep tests and on my second write I didn't even care to do a full CAT because I was so confident that I had improved on my mistakes. I also studied for 3 months and pretty much only on the weekends. it sounds like you're doing a lot of studying but maybe you're not studying in a way that improves what you're doing.

GMATPILLBILL · Answer

Hey glochou,

Here is a customized one month study plan that can help boost your score: https://www.gmatpill.com/gmat-practice-t ... study-plan

Use this as a guideline. You don’t have to follow it exactly but the structure of the study plan should be the same structure that you take in your approach. This helps to optimize your retention and learning.

As you study, we recommend that you focus on one particular subsection for multiple consecutive days before moving onto the next. You can see this in our study plan where we recommend 5 days on nothing but SC -- before moving onto CR and then RC.

Here is a sample SC video to help you start your journey: https://www.gmatpill.com/sentencecorrect ... ythons.mp4

Best of luck- we are here to help.

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610-630 Practice Exams, 6 Months Studying.. Aiming for 700+ - Help?

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