420 To 550 Now Aiming for 700

Question

Hi Everyone,

So I just wanted to share my GMAT experience and the lessons I have learnt so far. I had my first go at the GMAT on the 27th of November 2015. I'll be the first to admit that it was a disaster. After reading for almost 2 months, I got a 420. This was a big blow to me. I have an Actuarial Science background so I thought I'd ace Quants. I got a rude shock with a Q10 score. I couldn't believe it. I was so disappointed in myself. Looking back, I realised I had focussed too much on content and did few practise questions. I was using the Economist GMAT practise which though very resourceful in content, was difficult to tailor towards my strengths and weaknesses. After talking to a friend who got an almost perfect score on his GRE, I signed up to use Magoosh GMAT prep that he highly recommended.

Having all my essays ready for Round 2, the only thing hindering my submissions was my low GMAT score. So I registered to take the test just after the New Year on the 4th of Jan 2016 to meet the Round 2 deadlines. Unfortunately, I was not able to dedicate enough reading time over the holidays due to travelling between countries so I only focussed on the Very Hard questions on Magoosh. I sat the GMAT for a second time and much to my surprise, got a 550 score. I was even more surprised that I got a 76 percentile score in Verbal with little practice.

Going forward, I intend to take the exam on the 4th of March, hopefully in time for Round 3 submissions. I plan on exhausting all the Magoosh questions but would like more advice on the best practise questions available. From the practise questions I have done so far, I know that Data Sufficiency is my biggest challenge. I plan to do up to 40 questions daily, exhausting my MAGOOSH and KAPLAN question banks. What other sources would GMAT Club members recommend to improve my Quant score?

Look forward to everyone's input.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi phoenix254,

From what you've described, the approach that you've taken each of the two times that you've studied for the GMAT has led to disappointing results. The 700+ score is the 90th percentile, meaning that 90% of Test Takers either can't or won't do what it takes to score at that level. Given the relative difficulty of that task, and your past results, you might want to try investing in a GMAT Course of some type (and not just in more practice questions).

With your current Test Date, you have about 6 weeks of study time remaining. Raising your scores 150+ points in that time will be difficult, so you really have to be efficient with how you work through all of the necessary content and Tactics.

1) What is the application deadline that you're facing?
2) What is the latest that you could take the GMAT?
3) If you don't score 700+, will you still apply for Round 3?

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

phoenix254 · Answer

Thanks for your response Rich! Yes, you are right, both approaches failed me miserably. To answer your questions

1. The earliest Round 3 Deadline I have is March 30th while the furtherst is April 13th
2. As I have everything but the GMAT score ready, I'd say 29th March is the latest I can take the GMAT.
3. Yes, I will still apply for Round 3 regardless of my score. This is do or die.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi phoenix254,

Pushing back your Test Date, even if it's just for a few weeks, would provide you with significantly more time to study (relative to the timeframe that you're currently planning for).

When was the last time that you took a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)? How did you score (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

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

phoenix254 · Answer

I haven't taken a full length test since taking the GMAT 2 weeks ago.

phoenix254 · Answer

So my GMAT score on the 4th of Jan was as follows
Quant - 31
Verbal - 35
IR - 3

Prior to that I took a Full Prep Test early December and I got 500.
Quant - 31
Verbal - 29
IR - 3

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi phoenix254,

With the Scaled Scores from your last Official GMAT, you're going to have to make some BIG improvements to how you handle the Quant section and you'll likely need to pick up a few more points in the Verbal section (to hit your overall score goal). Given your description of your prior studies, I think that you might be letting your 'pride' get in the way of properly studying for the Quant section. That portion of the GMAT is NOT, strictly speaking, a "math test." While you will do lots of little calculations as you work through questions, you really need to develop your Test Taking skills, learn/practice Tactics, and build your knowledge of GMAT patterns, Number Properties, etc. Trying to self-teach all of those subject while working through lots of practice questions will be difficult in the time that you have.

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

PugLyfe · Answer

You need reasonable advice here. Do not apply in the round 3 deadlines to the schools you have listed unless you can really improve the GMAT to close to your target score. The odds of admission diminish as you approach later rounds and if your GMAT is 100 + points below the mean score of the program, you will not make it. That will also force you to become a reapplicant the following year. Definitely prep and apply only if you are able to achieve your target score. Good luck

phoenix254 · Answer

Hi Rich,

Sorry for the late response. You are definitely right abut the pride aspect. I've given your input a lot of thought and will push my GMAt test date. I've also signed up for classes with a personal tutor. I'll keep working on Magoosh as well because I like their video lessons.

Thanks a lot for the great advice!

phoenix254 · Answer

Hi Adz25,

Thanks a lot for your post! That's definitely something I am thinking critically about. You're right, I have to make sure I prep very well for my yes which I am working on now.

WayneHam · Answer

You mentioned repeatedly that you have finished your essays, but are the essays specific for each school? Your approach, even though it's too late, seems illogical to me. My essays took a lot of time to write, if yours did too then wouldn't you have been better off studying for the GMAT?

phoenix254 · Answer

Hello Wayne,
Thank you for note.Yes,all my essays are specific to the schools. I was writing them within the same period I was reading. As mentioned, within that said period I sat the GMAT twice. My goal was to have everything ready in time for Round 2 submision.Thanks.

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