Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 15:08 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 15:08
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
wingsauce23
avatar
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Last visit: 25 Nov 2006
Posts: 7
Posts: 7
Kudos: 0
Half-a'd attempt at GMAT 650 (Q44 V35) Need advice. 23 Nov 2006, 11:03
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Just took the GMAT yesterday and got a 650. Not too sure how to explain how I preppred for the test but I purchased the OG and the supplemental questions and did all these books. I never actually made it through a practice test (I had meltdowns on the quant and never finished the exam). This was probably my first mistake by not guaging where my progress was. I thought I would do 700+ with going through the books and reading all the explanations several times. Guess not....

Not sure where to go from here... I definitely wish I walked away from the test saying I did everything I could have done to prepare. Should I take a prep course (need recommendation on which is any good) or do I need to buy other books? I really need to improve my score to 700+... I think its possible given my lack of 100% preparation and never taking a full practiec

Thanks for anyone's help.
User avatar
johnnyx9
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Last visit: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 958
Own Kudos:
100
Posts: 958
Kudos: 100
Half-a'd attempt at GMAT 650 (Q44 V35) Need advice. 24 Nov 2006, 10:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What do you mean meltdown?

I think you'll be fine if you just take five or six CATs before retaking the test. If you got a 650 without taking any practice tests I bet you'll hit like a 680-720 if you actually take a bunch of CAT's and get a feel for timing and pacing yourself.
avatar
wingsauce23
avatar
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Last visit: 25 Nov 2006
Posts: 7
Posts: 7
Kudos: 0
Half-a'd attempt at GMAT 650 (Q44 V35) Need advice. 24 Nov 2006, 23:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hi sorry. Meltdown as in total loss of composure. I would do one problem and get really frustrated and quit (great attitude i know). Do you think i could possibly improve to 750 with a course? I'd like to make this my second and final time taking it so I wnat to make sure i've done everything possible to prepare and although that's a lot of CATs maybe intensive studying through a course (maybe GMAX) might help?

Let me know. Thanks for the reply!
User avatar
johnnyx9
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Last visit: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 958
Own Kudos:
100
Posts: 958
Kudos: 100
Half-a'd attempt at GMAT 650 (Q44 V35) Need advice. 25 Nov 2006, 07:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think a mid-700 score is probably a good goal for you, sounds like with minimal preparation you did well already.

If you're not sure whether you want to retake it, why not spend a couple weeks doing practice problems from the OG, then a couple PR or Kaplan or MGMAT CATS. And then, after two or three weeks of that, take a GMAT Prep test. That will tell you how well you will do if you retake the real test.

I think most people on this forum agree that GMAT Prep is basically the same thing as the real test. The main difference is just anxiety that people may feel on test day. But that's why it's good to do a ton of CATs, you get used to the timing, and you get a feel for when it's time to give up on a question, guess and move on.
avatar
wingsauce23
avatar
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Last visit: 25 Nov 2006
Posts: 7
Posts: 7
Kudos: 0
Half-a'd attempt at GMAT 650 (Q44 V35) Need advice. 25 Nov 2006, 14:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
thanks for the advice. I think I should go ahead and do that. DO you know if when you get your official score back if they break out your performance on all the sections CR, SC, etc etc? Then I could focus my energy on specific sections because I think what killed me on math was all number properties (which suck) and then verbal was the SC.

Any opinion on a prep course though... is that too much money and work for something that could be substituted by doing a bunch of CATs?
User avatar
johnnyx9
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Last visit: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 958
Own Kudos:
100
Posts: 958
Kudos: 100
Half-a'd attempt at GMAT 650 (Q44 V35) Need advice. 25 Nov 2006, 18:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Unfortunately, they don't break your test out between sections when you get the offical report, just quant/verbal/AWA.

I didn't take a course so can't say from firsthand experience. If you read through this forum, it seems like not many people here take courses. Which isn't surprising, I think courses are mainly for people that don't have time or motivation to research and design a study plan. The people that have found this site are probably a little more motivated than most, and as such, they would rather study on their own because they know they can do a better job on their own.

I think classes are more of a hand-holding way to go about studying. People I know who have taken classes say they do it because they "can't force themselves to study" so the class is a good way to force them to study. There are no "secrets" revealed in these classes. If you purchase something like the Princeton Review "Cracking..." or the Kaplan 800 you'll get everything you would get from a thousand dollar course.

A common complaint I've heard from people who take classes is that people in the class ask very basic questions that take up time from the class. So if you've already memorized the Pythagorean theorem and you already know how to handle a rate problem, you might be bored in a prep class. I think the prep classes are good for people who (a) desire a structured schedule to force them to study or (b) are seriously behind in math or verbal and need to learn the basics in a classroom environment where they can have teachers help them.
Moderator:
bb
Founder
43156 posts