Horrible score / extremely discouraged

Question

Seeking any guidance/insight anybody can provide on scoring so poorly. I have been studying RIGOROUSLY since mid-September. I took the exam in October and got a 490. I took it again after having gone through all of gmat material and concepts (using e-MGAT for verbal and TTP for Quant) early December and scored a 530 (V31 / Q32) ... I'm getting ready to take it again in a few days and just took a practice exam and scored less than 400. Not deferring to next year, and honestly don't think I'd get in if I wait until round 3 so it's all pretty much hopeless at this point. How should I even think about my situation?

My undergrad GPA is a 3.0 (did excellent in finance / accounting curriculums/my degrees, and business courses in general but struggled freshman year). Have a CPA and 5 years of extremely quantitative experience.

My undergrad GPA is a 3.0 (did excellent in finance / accounting curriculums/my degrees, and business courses in general but struggled freshman year). Have a CPA and 5 years of extremely quantitative experience.

GuiCeitlin · Answer

I feel very sorry for your experience!! I would recommend you to check eGMAT course. I improved 100 points with them in 2 months. Send me an inbox if you wanna talk more. All the best

) Posted from my mobile device

frickthegmat · Answer

I did. They have been great, and I owe my success in Verbal to them.

GuiCeitlin · Answer

Damn, I really cannot advise you on any other resources as I have not used any but E gmat.

I am trying to think here what you can do to increase your scores.

Maybe my score got better because I have a quant background and egmat was enough for the verbal part.

If quant is your weak spot, I have heard that TTP course is really comprehensive.

Now, if you feel that you have developed a blockage with GMAT (I developed one myself after two attempts got disrupted by glitches in the GMAT system, it was traumatic), maybe consider taking the GRE.

It can really happen that the more you fail the more you feel you will keep failing and this cycle needs to be broken in order for anything to change.

I am sorry I dont have any other advises for you!!

I really hope you can go past this awful phase called gmat study and never have to sit for this test again.

Posted from my mobile device

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi frickthegmat,

I'm happy to help. Can you please send me a screenshot of your TTP analytics page, so I can see what is going on in your TTP course? Once I have that information, I can provide some additional advice.

bb · Answer

Sorry about the experience. Sounds like you have had a lot of material and pretty good stuff too! I wonder of something is off with doing review and carrying all that material with you and into the test - it is a lot of stuff to keep in your mind. I would also look at your study habits. The solution to a higher score is like there. I don't think there is anything wrong with you or the materials you have used but you should sit down and review what you have and how you can perform better. P.S. I also wonder about the surprise in scores. There are lots of posts from people on GMAT Club who go to the test center and they are surprised with their score. That should not be happening. If you are surprised, that means it is not matching the expectations and your practice tests... how were your practice tests? They are a better indicator than CFA and GPA. By the way, we have had some really pissed off MENSA guy here who really struggled with the GMAT and expected to be able to master it easily. Did not happen. Which proves that it is not a test of intelligence (I am sure it is helpful but it is good to know that if you are not performing, it is not a problem of intelligence but just study habits - just need to critically look at them and see if you are doing your best). Good luck. Hope this is somewhat helpful - if not, feel free to yell at me

(nicely)

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi frickthegmat,

At this point, I assume that you've now taken the GMAT for a 3rd time; how did you score (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)? In addition, what were your Quant and Verbal Scores for your 1st attempt. If this recent Official result is similar to your prior 2 results, then it's likely that you developed some 'bad habits' during your earlier studies that are keeping you from scoring higher. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level (we just might need to define - and fix - whatever issues are keeping you at this lower level first).

If you took your 3rd Official GMAT at a Test Center, then you might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

frickthegmat · Answer

Hey EMPOWERgmat.. I did take it again and scored significantly better. I actually tried to DEL this post but can't seem to figure out how. Nonetheless, thank you for the kind words.

I believe that my early December score of 530 was a fluke by happenstance, and not at all representative of my capability.

10/2021 - 430 - Q29 / V29
12/2021 - 530 - Q32 / V31
01/2022 - 630 - Q39 / V37

egmat · Answer

Good.. you just need to improve your quant score to Q47 and you should be able to close in on that 700 score. Figure out your relative strengths and weaknesses in Quant and then work on the same appropriately. Let us know if you need help.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi frickthegmat,

This 630 is a really nice improvement over your initial 490. Since your prior posts did not include any information about your overall plans, are you planning to apply to School at this point (or are you going to continue studying and retest)? What was/is your overall Score Goal?

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

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Horrible score / extremely discouraged

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