1.5 year later and still not breaking the 600-barrier.

Question

Hi All,

I have been studying for the GMAT the past 1-1.5 year and unfortunately I am not able to break the 600-barrier. I just had my third GMAT test today and scored a miserable 480 (Q39, V18). My previous GMAT scores have been 300 and 400 (although this was a year ago). However, in my last GMATPrep test I scored 530. I am not sure where I am going wrong? When it comes to studying, I am consistently answering 600-700 level scores correctly/easily and I have been reading articles/books the past 3 months to improve my verbal score but to no avail. I understand the concepts of quant and verbal quite well, but have problems translating the learned concept and applying this when it comes to GMAT questions. During the past 1-1.5 year, I have been using the following resources:

MGMAT live classes
MGMAT Strategy Books
Powerscore CR bible (not entirely)
GMATclub
GMAT Official Guides

I have until June to achieve my target goal of 600 or else I will not be admitted to my Master programme. Could anyone please tell me where I am going wrong? Is there anything that I should change or so? I am afraid that I will not have enough time to increase my score by at least 120 points, considering that I was only able to increase my GMAT score by 180 points the last year. I am thinking about retaking the GMAT exam again in a month or so. I am able to spend 6 hours a day, 7 days a week the coming month(s). Could anyone please give me any advice? Thank you very much.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Does your performance drop because of time pressure? That's one possible reason for what you're going through (good understanding of concepts, but lower than expected score). That said, we shouldn't assume that all our concepts are in place, because time pressure is generally not the reason for a V18.

On a slightly different note, don't lose sight of the fact that you've improved a lot (from 300 to 400, and then from 400 to 480). This is very encouraging, and you should keep at it.

saiesta · Answer

Thank you for responding. I appreciate it. 
I do believe that my performance is severely affected by anxiety but I do not know how to keep myself together at times when taking the test. I think it is also a confidence issue. I often don't feel confident at all when taking the GMAT (mosty thinking that I am going to fail) and I think this is affecting my score as well. How do you think I could go on from here? Should I revise the concepts that I have learned already or do you think I should do something else?

AjiteshArun · Answer

I would ask you to focus on sets of easy and medium difficulty questions. The 600-700 "level" questions that you referred to are problematic, because (a) that classification is quite unreliable and (b) I think you should focus on making a lot of the easier work an automatic process. Once you've got that down, and if you're looking to get a 600, you might need to prepare yourself mentally to let go of some questions on exam day. So, for example, don't let yourself get into a situation where you feel that you can solve the question in front of you if you give it another 2 minutes.

saiesta · Answer

Thank you very much. I just made a new study plan and plan to retake the GMAT again in the first week of May. I have decided to do the following:

Take an GMAT Diagnostic test (tomorrow)
Thereafter, spend the next 24 days revising Verbal and Quant concepts and doing questions while maintaining an error log.
Thereafter, spend the next 7 days reviewing my verbal and Quant notes from the previous 24 days while maintaining an error log.
Thereafter, spend the next 7 days taking one diagnostic test per day
2 days rest
GMAT Doom Day.

What do you think?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saiesta,

You've made some nice improvements on your own, but you've been studying for so long that you've likely developed a number of 'bad habits' that it will take time to 'fix' (and replace with new 'good habits'). As such, if you continue to study and see the GMAT "your way", you will be likely to continue scoring at this same general level (high-400s to low-500s). As such, you will almost certainly have to invest in some new study materials and learn/practice some new Tactics.

If you recently took the GMAT for the 3rd time, then there's no reason to take another CAT right away (we have your Official performance to use as a basis for comparison). There are a variety of score combinations that will get you to 600+ and you won't have to correctly answer ANY 'hard' questions to get to that score. So first off, you shouldn't be focusing on any "high level" questions - you simply don't need them - you're losing too many points right now to silly/little mistakes.

You've given yourself just a little over 5 weeks of study time, but you're likely going to need the better part of 2 months (or more) to hit your score goal. Taking 7 CATs in 7 days (at the end of your studies) is also NOT a good idea.

1) What is the latest that you can take the GMAT and still apply for this Program?

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

saiesta · Answer

Hi Rich, Thank you so much for your response. I appreciate it. I read your post a little too late and already took a CAT test (I took it yesterday) and scored 580 (Q39, V31) both of the quant and verbal score are in line with my previous CAT score (Q35, V28) but deviates from my previous GMAT exam that I took this week (Q39, V18). I had to guess a lot of answers with this CAT exam due to time constraints and fatigue and would have probably scored 600 or just above 600, under better conditions. However, this was a MGMAT CAT exam and my MGMAT CAT scores have always been much higher than my GMATPrep test scores. So, I guess if I keep practising I might achieve a 600 score quite soon :-D

. I have decided to work both my on verbal and quant skills but put an extra focus on my verbal skills. I will be reading a LOT more, while working on study materials and practice questions. You mentioned new study materials, I have been using the MGMAT strategy books and the official guides. What other study materials could I use as well? Instead of taking 6/7 CAT exams in one week, should I spread these over a couple of weeks? Moreover, does the GMAT exploit weaknesses during the official exam? Rate/Work problems, especially those that involve machine work are one of my weaknesses. I noticed that during my GMAT exam last week, 40% of the quant questions involved those Rate/Work problems. I was shocked! I even said to myself, this is too much! I did not experience this in my previous GMAT exams or during the GMATPrep tests. ETA: Sorry, I did not answer your question. I have until the 1st of July to take the GMAT. I already applied for the programme and I am conditionally admitted. The only thing left is the GMAT. I would like to take it in May preferably, so I at least have one-try left just in case it does not work out in May.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saiesta,

Your recent CAT result (and some of the others) seems suspiciously high relative to your recent Official GMAT Score, so we now have to take a detailed look at how you've been taking your CATs:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

As a general rule, you should take no more than 1 FULL CAT per week and you should take your CATs at regular intervals.

1) On what specific dates did you take your 3 GMATs?

Considering you have until July 1st to take the GMAT and hit your score goal, you might want to consider lengthening your current study plan (as you will likely need at least 2 more months of consistent, guided study to hit your goals).

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

GMATinsight · Answer

You have already overworked on GMAT Preparation. GMAT preparation should be limited to only a 3 months (13 weeks) and one finds the best score one deserves.

Several points that I would like to mention are

1) The material that you have been referring to is the finest material available in Market 
2) Reconsider if Live MGMAT Classes have helped you the way they were expected to and if the answer is NO then certainly you should find alternatives and take FREE Trial classes with other tutoring companies as well
3) How many full Length CATs have you taken before you took the exam and how deep analysis you did and how much was the analysis helpful are most important questions to be answered while figuring out whether your preparation was sound enough on all points
 
 Fest of Motivation (and FACT):   I have seen any sane student who has done consistent practice for GMAT for 3 months getting a minimum score of 650 and the I have seen the highest scores with the same plan. So You probably have not worked the way it is expected out of a student to deliver the best score.

Suggestion:  Take a break of 2 weeks from studies... Unlearn what you have learnt and then take expert help again after having done proper market analysis. Join the tutoring with teacher who can identify (has identified in Trial class) your problem areas and who can give you a trustworthy and reliable solution.

Now you have more experience than many GMAT trainers in the industry so I am sure that you can make an intelligent choice.

Make a sound plan based on identification of your problem areas and work on them diligently for 3 months.

Crossing your barrier is certain.

All the best!!!

Feel free to contact for a FREE trial class if you need.

saiesta · Answer

Hi Rich,

To answer your questions:

I did not take the entire CAT, as this is not required by the business school I am applying for. They only take the quant and verbal score into account. During the CAT, I skip the IR and Essay part. I did the same with the GMAT Official tests.
 I took the CAT at home, however, not under exam-like conditions/circumstances.
 Yes, I took it around the same time as my official GMAT exam. I figures out that I should take the exam in the afternoon (around 12:30 PM). This seems to be a good time for me. (I am not a morning person)
 I took the CAT at home, however, not under exam-like conditions/circumstances. (e.g. paused the CAT exam, did not take breaks). However, I felt MUCH more relaxed taking the CAT exam than I did when taking the official exam. I had less anxiety and felt much less nervous.
 No, I did not take the CAT exam more than once. However, I did answer some questions (a maximum of four questions) before on gmatclub. These questions reappeared on the exam.

Moreover, I took the 3 GMAT exams in: March 2015, July 2015 and March 2016.

Thank you very much.

saiesta · Answer

Thank you so much for your response. You mentioned something very interesting, you said that there are students who have been able to achieve a high GMAT score using a specific study plan. Which study plan are you referring to? I think it might help if I use the same study plan as well.

tuandoan92 · Answer

Hello,

I have just finished my second GMAT test yesterday and i was in similar position as you. The first time i did the GMAT is in 17/02/2016. I underestimate the test and mainly focus on Math and underestimate Verbal. My target is 600 but i scored horriblely which is 500 (Q49,V15). After that failed, i registered for the retake on 30/03/2016, during that time, i bought OG2016, OG quantitative, verbal review, Manhattan Sentence correction, Critical reasoning Bible. That is all you need, even i have to work half of the day, the rest i spend all of the time doing Manhattan SC and CR Bible, after knowing the basic, i do all the question in OG. Before the test, look at them again, try to redo them following the topics of Verbal. Then I broke my target just more than 1 month, which is 680 (Q49,V34). I shall retake next year for &50+ target. Cheer.

saiesta · Answer

Thank you very much for your story. It is quite encouraging. Good luck on your journey!

sfhbau · Answer

Hi! Im taking my exam on the 27th of April. Im still so horrible.

Do you still have that study group?

saiesta · Answer

Yes! Please check your PM

tuandoan92 · Answer

Good luck. No i dont. I will restart in the next few months

HiLine · Answer

If you have been studying that long for the test without seeing the improvement you wanted, perhaps it's time you hired a good GMAT tutor, someone that can watch the way you take the test and the kinds of questions you get right/wrong. Scoring in the 500's on the GMATprep tests indicates a lack of fundamental understanding of the test materials, IMO. You need to restart your studying, but you have to do it right from the beginning this time. A tutor would be tremendous help to get your started, and then you can follow the momentum and study on your own.

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1.5 year later and still not breaking the 600-barrier.

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