Taking the GMAT in 2 weeks- for the third time :(

Question

Hello everyone,

I'm pretty new to the forum. There is soo much information and support here, it's great. 
As my title states, I am heading into the Pearson room for the third time in 2 years!

The first time I took the test last July I got a 480 and was content with this until my MBA goals changed a bit. I am aiming to get into MBS and a woman in admissions told me my spot is pretty solid if I could score about 600 on the test.

I took it again this past April and got 490!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously, this didn't cut it so I'm going in a third time for entry in Fall '09. I've been studying for about two months. As my test date is on the 27th of this month (October), does anyone have any tips or last minute things I can do in these last two weeks of fervent preparation.

I took a practice test last weekend. 570 with over half wrong in the Math section but I'm pretty good in Verbal.

Any thoughts at all are appreciated. 
  
Thanks!!!!

foodstamp · Answer

Good luck on the exam!

If you don't feel ready, maybe you should reschedule the test? If you aren't scoring in the 600s during your practice tests, what is the chance that you will actually break 600 on the real thing? If I were you, I'd practice until I got somewhere in the 600s and then take the test for the third time.

If you decide to take it on the 27th, I'd spend some time on the Manhattan GMAT guides (quant) and then take the two GMATPrep exams two times each or so. Google the questions you got wrong to learn how you can improve.

Poots · Answer

Thanks foodstamp. Do you recommend Manhattan over OG for the final weeks of study?

phelpsian · Answer

Don't do  anything  over the OG!!! The OG is an absolute must and should be your most important practice question resource. The official materials are the best.

Someone in another post here recommended not doing MGMAT near the end of your prep. The quant is not particularly representative of the real thing. There is an OG just for quant...I would get that.

I don't know who has the best "strategies" for quant, so I don't know that I can recommend another book for that, but if you can improve on the fundamentals, you won't need too many shortcuts. Get the OG quant book ASAP!

Poots · Answer

Thanks! I have it already and that's what I've been using this whole time.

Btw, I just want to say that I took another practice test yesterday and scored a 610. Although I got the same amount of questions wrong. I guess it's because I got less wrong in the beginning of the Quant section this time than last time.

Anyway, I am basically trying to improve in my Verbal now since that is my strongest point and I heard it weighs more in the overall score.

What do you think?

sumidi · Answer

From what I have seen on various forums that is accurate. if you improve your verbal score it tends to improve your overall score more then if you just increased your maths. However if you are trying to nail 600ish you might want to consider your maths if you are better at that.

I mean what is your breakdown?

For a 600 it is a rule of thumb(not always true, but it has been fairly close for me) your combined score needs to be around 75ish.

ie (Q38, V37) or if you are better at maths then (Q43,V32). At the minimum your verbal score will need to be close to 30.

Good luck!

Sumi

Poots · Answer

So, my test is on Monday (27th) and I took another practice test today on which I scored 620 (Q35, V41).

Like I said, I've been really working on my verbal skills because I think I can easily improve in that area as English in general is my strong point.

Sumidi, my break down for the last test on which I scored 610 was Q36, V37.

It's funny though, everytime I take the test my score improves but I get the same amount of questions right and wrong. I guess it's really a matter of important questions being at the beginning of your test. Also a matter of how many in a row you get wrong.

sumidi · Answer

Wow V(41), I want a v 40 something.....

Good work Poots!! Important thing is fine tuning your strengths just the way you are and also strengthening your weaknesses. Is there anything in particular you are doing to improve verbal or just practicing alot! Sumi

amitdgr · Answer

Poots .... just focus on the Official material (OG/GMATPrep) for the last few days .. Keep cool

Poots · Answer

One thing I failed to do the previous two times was spend a lot of time on SC or CR because I thought it was just natural. But no matter how good you are in real life, you still need to familiarize yourself with the 'GMAT way.'

So lately, I've been practicing the list of idioms and really paying attention to every detail of my wrong answers. But at the end of the day it's practice practice practice... mostly from the OG.

Thanks for all your support guys!

I will take another practice test on Saturday.

Poots

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Taking the GMAT in 2 weeks- for the third time :(

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