Attempted GMAT twice.Latest score is 650(Q45, V 34)..I have planned my

Question

I have been preparing for GMAT for 6 months now..last 2-3 months I have worked really hard( being a working professional)..though I was getting 700,690 in mocks ( GMAC) ,veritas etc but on the test day I was unable to complete the quant section completely ( guessed last 4-5)
And guessed 4 in verbal..please suggest how and what should be my strategy to.prepare..i am really exhausted and dissapointed after having given GMAT twice and still stuck at 640,650..
Please suggest from where should I study to be most effective as I have around 20 days for my next and last attempt:-( 
I just want an improvement in my score by 40 points ..I have around 7.5 yrs of work experience and want to go for a good supply chain management course..
Please help!!

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EducationAisle · Answer

Hi Shilpi, what have been your score splits and which are your pain areas?

This information will enable us to give more pertinent replies.

JoshiShilpi · Answer

Sure.In the first attempt the score was 640 ( Q 49,V 31) second attempt 650 (Q45,V34). One problem that I think harmed my score most in the latest attempt was timing .I was unable to complete verbal and quant . guessed 4 questions in quant and around 5 in verbal.not sure how much it would have affected my score.
Pain areas: in verbal I am weak in RC .in fact i got a very difficult passage in the main exam and I guess it look a lot of time .

Quant: my pain areas are permutations and combinations.i really suck at this.timing is also one pain area as I always rush with 4-5 questions in the end ,and guess them with no time left.
In fact I also got a very difficult question on geometry this time in GMAT.

I have my reattempt in 20 days .I want it to be more effective where at least I complete all sections and improve my score by at least 40 points.

Please suggest what could be my strategy.i am working ,so can study 2 hours on weekdays and maximum on weekends( probably 3 weekend)

Thanks a ton in advance

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EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi JoshiShilpi,

By having to rush/guess-on so many questions, there are likely some 'inefficiencies' in terms of how you approach the Test (re: the Tactics you use, your note-taking/organization, etc.). Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long did you study before each attempt at the GMAT?
2) What study materials (including practice CATs) did you use for each attempt?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

Ships123 · Answer

Thanks Rich for your response.Please find my responses as below:

Studies:
1) How long did you study before each attempt at the GMAT?
1st attempt : i studied for about 3 months 
2nd attempt: I gave my 2nd attempt after 1.5 months .But i worked really hard in this 1.5 months.And i felt my Mock scores were improving a lot.

2) What study materials (including practice CATs) did you use for each attempt?
I used e-gmat material( Verbal),Veritas prep( quant) ,Official guide ,Gmatclub practice material.

Tests : GMAC official practice tests ( all of them) 
Veritas practice test.
Manhattan practice test

3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
official GMAT scores 640( Q49,V31)
Gmat 2 : 650( Q45,V34)

Practice tests GMAC
1: 680( Q49,V33)
2.650( Q49,V31)
2.700 ( Q49,V35)
3.700( Q49,V35)
4.720( Q49,V38)

P.S: Since i have been consistently hitting Q49 ,i was shocked to seea Q45 in official GMAT this time. i guessed last 4 questions,could be a reason.

Goals:
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
in R1 cycle .Mid october is the deadline for most of my target colleges.
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
HEC,SCM courses ( Ross school of business),University of St.Gallen,MIT course in SCM

egmat · Answer

Hi JoshiShilpi , I am sorry that your scores were not in line with your expectations. To seek maximum improvement in least time, you must set precise goals and then work towards them with utmost focus. To score a 690, you must first define the scores that you will need in Quant and Verbal and then further in the various sub-sections. To do so, you can use GMAT Planner and set a precise goal for yourself. It will help you focus and not spend your energy on things that are unnecessary at the moment. Since you have used e-GMAT course, I would request you to write to us at support@e-gmat.com using your registered email-id so that we can analyze your Scholaranium and Course dashboard data and give you precise inputs on the way forward. Looking forward to your e-mail. Regards, Aditee

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi Shilpi, given the very limited time (20 days) that you have at hand, I would suggest you work on questions and assignments in a times manner and give at least 4-5 mocks, so that you get a sense of time.

Getting over the time management issue alone will fetch you a substantial portion of the jump that you are looking for.

Getting over the time management issue alone will fetch you a substantial portion of the jump that you are looking for.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi JoshiShilpi,

To start, when you were taking your practice CATs, did you ever experience the same pacing 'issues' that you experienced on Test Day (re: having to rush through and guess on a bunch of questions at the end of a section)? I ask because when these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. If these pacing issues are "new", then there might have been something 'off' about how you were practicing. If you can answer a few questions, then we should be able to figure this out:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (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 when you plan to take 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? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE (re: on a prior CAT, in an online forum or in a practice set)?

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

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