740 in mock, 660 in real exam.

Question

Despite achieving an average of 720 (Q49, V37) in Expert's Global 15 tests and 730 (Q51, V37) in official GMAT prep test 2, I received a lower score of 660 (Q50, V31) in the actual exam. The school I'm aiming for has an average GMAT score of 720. Is there a chance I can achieve that in a future attempt (probably in a month)? I have my ESR available and would appreciate your guidance.

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GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Q50 V31 to Q50 V40 retake: https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-online- ... 68599.html May be some quick tips you can take. If you share/attach the ESR (after wiping any personal info), people may provide some specific suggestions as well. -contact: gmatknight site | gmatclub dm

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi nikhilasharma,

I think you have a shot! Here are two articles I'd like you to check out:

Why Was My GMAT Score Lower Than My Practice Test Scores?

How to Improve Your GMAT Score

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi nikhilasharma,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. 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. Before we discuss any of those potential issues though, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to - and what specific application deadlines are you facing?

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). Since you purchased the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you. Before you can include attachments with your posts/PMs, you need to have at least 5 posts in the forums (right now, you have just 2 posts). If you would rather not go through those extra posting steps at this point, then you can feel free to email me directly (at [email protected]).

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]
www.empowergmat.com

MBAGuide · Answer

nikhilasharma Did you take the test online or at an exam center? A few years ago, I too wrote on this forum about my experience taking my first GMAT attempt. If anything, my first unfortunate/unsuccessful GMAT attempt familiarized me with exactly what to expect the next time around - the infrastructure, the small dingy test booths, old bulky desktops, keyboards with hard keys (you had to press twice to type anything), a tiny notepad for calculations (I could list many more and it does stress applicants more than we think). But this experience helped me to prepare mentally for the next attempt, because I could picture the exam venue every time I sat for a mock exam, and my brain was not shocked when I was in the same exam center the second (and last) time. I also feel that the quality of the material you use for your preparation and the quality of the mocks does play into your performance on the official exam. Also, did you often take breaks between sections during your mock tests or felt tired on the 2nd section (maybe the verbal section)? I can share some general tips I used to train my brain for the GMAT exam back in 2018 (hoping some of these could still be relevant). 1. I visualized the exam environment as accurately as possible during my mock exams. Visualizing the exam day at each mock exam helped me prepare better, and my brain was not surprised when I walked into the same (horrible) testing center the second (and last) time. 2. I followed a set study routine and planned my mock exams in advance, just like the actual exam. I took the mock tests at the same time as the actual exam. Having a set schedule during the prep phase tricked my brain into believing that exam day was no different than my routine weekly exam. 3. I did not take a break between sections of the exams to build up my stamina. Since it was the first time I was preparing for an exam after almost five years of school, I realized that my concentration and physical stamina were not enough for such a long and intense psychometric exam (this was in 2018). Therefore, in my tests, I decided to always take the verbal and quant section in one go, which was very difficult at first. But gradually my stamina increased, as well as my ability to focus on the questions. 4. Since Quant was always my weak point, I took the GMATClub mocks, which were considered the most brutal Quant mocks in the market at that time. Over the next two months, I tried each of the 26 mock exams and immersed myself in them. I kept a log of my mistakes topic-wise and went over the logs again and again. I did the same for Verbal preparation. Quant is your strong suit, but you might want to reinforce that method for verbal. For AWA, I practiced and memorized a format that I knew would work for most of the questions and that I would score no less than a 6. This way, realistically, I only had to deal with two sections. IR did not exist back then. 5. For thinking skills reinforcement and recreational reading, I recommend a great book that I would not have read had it not been for my GMAT exam - "Thinking fast and slow" by Daniel Kahneman . Preparing for a psychometric exam and reading a book on psychology in parallel put me in nerd mode and it was fun to see how the GMAT questions (especially the verbal ones) could trick me into choosing the wrong answers. Overall, I prepared in a very structured way, kept a log of my mistakes, and was able to categorize SC, RC, and CR into question types. Once I reached this stage, I knew that I would be able to recognize and solve similar patterns in the actual exam. My preparation method was probably too structured and hard for me, but I knew I needed the confidence. For this reason, I tried to control every variable that existed. I got a V42 with the above strategy and I was happy with it. Best Get personalized advice tailored to your specific situation. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process. We do not cap discussion hours with our applicants Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

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