Last visit was: 26 Apr 2026, 20:39 It is currently 26 Apr 2026, 20:39
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
User avatar
TrillTalk
User avatar
Joined: 13 Jul 2008
Last visit: 15 Dec 2008
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 1
Scored a 550 today, how can I improve my score by 100 pts? 03 Nov 2008, 15:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I took the GMAT for the first time today and scored a 550 (36 quant, 29 verbal). All in all, considering I never broke 550 on any of my practice tests I was not disappointed. I didn't clam up or get nervous at all.

There were just some quant questions I had no clue how to do, geometry and algebra questions come to mind. And no matter how much I practiced, I just really, really struggled with data sufficiency.

On qualitative, I guess I did just average, I am not particularly strong in any of the three subjects. I need to get better in all three phases. During my practice tests I would consistently struggle with CR and SC.

Bottom line is I would like to get a 650 at the very least. I just need to figure out how to get there. Your help is appreciated.
avatar
HBSBound
avatar
Joined: 23 Jul 2008
Last visit: 27 Nov 2008
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
60
 [1]
Posts: 22
Kudos: 60
 [1]
Scored a 550 today, how can I improve my score by 100 pts? 09 Nov 2008, 16:27
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
36Q is probably due to not remembering a lot of your High School math. If I were you (and I am almost on the same boat), I'd work on getting my fundamentals up to par. Perhaps purchase MGMAT's strategy guides and/or GMAX Online. After your fundamentals are solid, the way to improve is by practicing from OG, which you'll also do by following the above mentioned resources, and by taking CAT's. Gmat Prep and MGMAT's CAT's are the way to go. GMAT Club's "challenges" are also great practice to increase your Q score. Try not to be satisfied with just working through the problems, but also understanding the details behind each question - why an answer is right or wrong. For Verbal, I'd go with SC Strategy Guide from MGMAT and Powerscore Logical Reasoning Bible for CR. You'll get access to MGMAT CAT's with the purchase of any Strategy Guide. Lastly, and perhaps equally important, reading through this forum will help you a lot by learning from other people's mistakes and achievements. Hope that helps.
User avatar
Av
User avatar
Joined: 04 Oct 2008
Last visit: 19 Jun 2012
Posts: 884
Own Kudos:
303
Given Kudos: 86
Status:Badgerine!
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44
GPA: 3.3
WE:Project Management (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44
Posts: 884
Kudos: 303
Scored a 550 today, how can I improve my score by 100 pts? 09 Nov 2008, 21:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
HBSBound
36Q is probably due to not remembering a lot of your High School math. If I were you (and I am almost on the same boat), I'd work on getting my fundamentals up to par. Perhaps purchase MGMAT's strategy guides and/or GMAX Online. After your fundamentals are solid, the way to improve is by practicing from OG, which you'll also do by following the above mentioned resources, and by taking CAT's. Gmat Prep and MGMAT's CAT's are the way to go. GMAT Club's "challenges" are also great practice to increase your Q score. Try not to be satisfied with just working through the problems, but also understanding the details behind each question - why an answer is right or wrong. For Verbal, I'd go with SC Strategy Guide from MGMAT and Powerscore Logical Reasoning Bible for CR. You'll get access to MGMAT CAT's with the purchase of any Strategy Guide. Lastly, and perhaps equally important, reading through this forum will help you a lot by learning from other people's mistakes and achievements. Hope that helps.
Show more

I agree with everything said here. It's absolutely essential that you master the fundamentals. It's not a quick solution, but you'll see a very significant increase in your score. When I started preparing for the GMAT, I didn't even remember what an integer was. I fumbled around with Kaplan 800 and OG11 right out of the gate, but they weren't the best materials for me. I significantly improved my Quant fundamentals by using the Kaplan Math Workbook (took to me about a Q43-45). Shortly after finishing the Kaplan Math Workbook I purchased access to the GMAX Online course, which I cannot say enough about. I'm testing somewhere around a Q47-48 and Verbal 39-42 now. Once you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals, there's nothing left to do but practice and increase your speed.

P.S. Don't underestimate the difficulty of Verbal :)
User avatar
jallenmorris
User avatar
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Last visit: 09 Oct 2014
Posts: 1,226
Own Kudos:
967
Given Kudos: 32
Location: Oklahoma City
Concentration: Life
Schools:Hard Knocks
Posts: 1,226
Kudos: 967
Scored a 550 today, how can I improve my score by 100 pts? 09 Nov 2008, 21:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Avernusaur
HBSBound
36Q is probably due to not remembering a lot of your High School math. If I were you (and I am almost on the same boat), I'd work on getting my fundamentals up to par. Perhaps purchase MGMAT's strategy guides and/or GMAX Online. After your fundamentals are solid, the way to improve is by practicing from OG, which you'll also do by following the above mentioned resources, and by taking CAT's. Gmat Prep and MGMAT's CAT's are the way to go. GMAT Club's "challenges" are also great practice to increase your Q score. Try not to be satisfied with just working through the problems, but also understanding the details behind each question - why an answer is right or wrong. For Verbal, I'd go with SC Strategy Guide from MGMAT and Powerscore Logical Reasoning Bible for CR. You'll get access to MGMAT CAT's with the purchase of any Strategy Guide. Lastly, and perhaps equally important, reading through this forum will help you a lot by learning from other people's mistakes and achievements. Hope that helps.

I agree with everything said here. It's absolutely essential that you master the fundamentals. It's not a quick solution, but you'll see a very significant increase in your score. When I started preparing for the GMAT, I didn't even remember what an integer was. I fumbled around with Kaplan 800 and OG11 right out of the gate, but they weren't the best materials for me. I significantly improved my Quant fundamentals by using the Kaplan Math Workbook (took to me about a Q43-45). Shortly after finishing the Kaplan Math Workbook I purchased access to the GMAX Online course, which I cannot say enough about. I'm testing somewhere around a Q47-48 and Verbal 39-42 now. Once you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals, there's nothing left to do but practice and increase your speed.

P.S. Don't underestimate the difficulty of Verbal :)
Show more

Also, don't underestimate the importance of Verbal. In my 2 GMAT's, my overall score was 2 % points lower than my verbal score and the exact same % the second time I took the GMAT. 84% for verbal and 82% overall and 95% for verbal and 95% overall.
Moderator:
bb
Founder
43163 posts