Need a gameplan to go from 600 to 750 +...

Question

I recently gave the GMAT after couple months of preparation...scored 600 :-(

I am extremely disappointed in myself... I come here for advice from the Gurus who have cracked the GMAT...Please help me with a game plan to improve my score to 750+ plus...I have set myself a target date to give the test again, 5 weeks from now. Here is my split scores : V 31/61% and Q 42/67% I just purchased the Challenge package to work on my Quant....What is the best plan to improve my score....?

raconteur · Answer

Hey nono - looks like you and I are in the same boat. I just scored about the same as you (Q42,V31 -- 610) after studying really hard for a couple months. Really disappointing score, especially since I was doing quite well during my practice. 

I'm aiming to top 730+ and my weakness is Verbal too. This is what I am going to try to get my score really up there:

Quant: I'm going to do all of the gmatclub Challenges and REALLY take the time to understand why I'm missing problems. I made the mistake of taking a few minutes to answer a question, get it wrong, look up the explanation, slap myself for being so stupid, and then just moving on to the next problem. This time around I'm going to really work out how to answer these questions without help...even if it takes 20 minutes to do so on a single problem. The timing for me is not a problem - it's a matter of not knowing how to answer the questions. I also have the OG Quant workbook with another 300 questions to practice with. I think that approach, along with the Challenges should be able to put my Quant score to 47+.

Verbal: Our weakest links and obviously the place for the most improvement. I'm not totally sure on how to improve my verbal from a 31 to 42+ so if you have any ideas/suggestions i'm all ears. For me, I got my hands on the Manhattan SC guide and I plan on going through that along with the OG10 questions that it refers to. I also plan on taking a crack at the SC/CR/RC 1000 sets available from this site for more steady practice. I also have the OG Verbal workbook that gives another 300 official questions that I plan on going through for more practice.

I have 1 GMATPrep exam left and 2 of the older PowerPrep tests that I haven't taken yet. I'm gonna space those out to measure my progress, but I'm really gonna hold off a while, until I really put in some time with the Challenges and the SC guide and OG10 questions that it refers to.

Let's keep in touch because we can conquer this beast I know it. I just took my exam 2 days ago so I'm gonna chill for aobut a week and then I'll get back into the swing of things. 

When are you planning to take it again? How much time can you put in per week? I will not sign up until I feel prepared. As for the time I put in, I can put in a good 20-25+ hours per week.

Edit: I just re-read your post and saw that you plan on taking it again in 5 weeks. If you MUST take it in 5 weeks then you have to do what you have to do. If you have the time then perhaps take it when you're ready. Keep me posted on what you do...

mlchang616 · Answer

eom

mlchang616 · Answer

I recently just took my gmat. after about 3 months of preperation, i came away with a 600 Q47, V27....I was not a happy camper after having spent 3 months. Now, i'm debating whether it makes any sense to hunker down for another 3 weeks and go head to head with the test again or to just take my time and really focus on the verbal. 

The odd part for me was that math was quite simple and straightforward. I didn't have a whole lot of trouble answering the questions. The verbal was a bit different and I knew something was up when I was up to question 10 and didn't even see a "BOLD" CR question. Needless to say, my score was a disappointment. 

Any killer strategy out there to help the folks in the 600 club move up to the 700 club?

Mishari · Answer

Almost the exact same case here

I took the GMAT once and scored a dissappointing 600 Clearly my verbal is the weakest link as with you two guys, but a lot worse

. I am working aggressively on my verbal skills using this forum, the OG, and MGMAT SC. I also plan to purchase the challenges to raise the bar for my Q score from the 48 to 50 or 51 if possible. I'm getting alot better at the CR and my SC is not nearly as bad as it was when I took the GMAT the first time. By the way, I'm planning to take the GMAT in about 5 weeks to 8 weeks.

mlchang616 · Answer

I have a copy of the 1000 SC problems but without the solution. Do you know where I might find the solutions on gmatclub? Is it even here?

raconteur · Answer

It's always nice to know there are others going through the same **** haha. Just reading these forums helps a lot. But for the few of us right now, we all seem to be in the same boat more or less.

As for the answer key to the SC 1000 - I'll keep my eyes open for it and if I come across it I'll post it. I'm sure it's around here somewhere...

I think all of us could go in there and take the test again today and score a good 50 points higher w/o putting too much more effort in. I honestly think nerves plays a huge part, especially during your first attempt. So don't get discouraged bc knowing that you guys are feeling the same thing that I am right now is really reassuring - we're gonna beat this bastard eventually!

surbab · Answer

The answer to the 1000SC is available in the same question itself. Ont hing you have to do is click the button as per the attached figure.

All the best...!!!!

All the best for your efforts and i am sure that you guys will make it up.

nono4answer · Answer

My plan at this point :

improve my score at the rate of 30points/week...at the end of 5 weeks i will have to hit the 750+ target.

as i see it, all of us have scope to improve (better to best) in every question type...i am pretty confident/comfortable with the question format and related concepts/principles...

i took my GMAT couple weeks...i took a good 1 week break and started with preparation again this week ...

plan is to quickly browse through the strategies and spend 75% of my prep time on practice...i plan to spend 3hrs every weekday and 5hrs on weekends..~ 20-25 hrs every weeks...stick to the ~100hr plan 

for CR and RC : I am going use OG and LSAT books, Kaplan800
for Quant: GMATclub challenges and Manhattan Challenges, Kaplan800
for SC : revise on Manhattan SC book, OG,Kaplan800

and review strategies from all the prep material every material...

I have ordered the testdayscratch's gmat scratch too...

If I do not hit my target as planned,...I will reschedule...

I am open for any advice...and would love to have some study partners..

sammie21 · Answer

i've used a lot of similar materials (shoot, i'll try anything to get the score i need!) but one set of materials you've overlooked is manhattan review's guides. really underrated material and very thorough. check em out and if you don't like it i'll shut up.

maddymail · Answer

My Weakness is Verbal too .. esp SC

	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

Need a gameplan to go from 600 to 750 +...

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards