wrote my first gmat sadly scored lower that I wanted with 680 46Q 38V

Question

Hey guys

been studying for the past couple months preparing for this beast.

My latest practise test was DEC 15 and scored 710 (49Q and 38V) so today was a bit of a letdown of 680 .. but i knew there was a few questino in Quant I didn't like and 1 RC passage that my mind was lost on, just lost interested in the topic. So may have lost marks there.

GPA is 3.5 (85%) with a CPA in accounting.

Targeting Stanford, Wharton and Harvard So really trying to hit the 730 score to meet the average.

Would like to know some people strategies for getting my GMAT score a bit higher to the mid 700 mark

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

GMAC has stated that there can be a variation of 30 points in your score. So you are not that far from 710.
However, to reach the 730 level, you need to improve both the sections.

Answers to the following questions will help me suggest you a plan:

1. Did you take the GMAT prep CATs? If yes, did you take them including AWA and IR?
2. Did you solve the OG and Verbal Review completely?
3. When do you plan to apply to B-Schools?

GMATDemiGod · Answer

1. Did you take the GMAT prep CATs? If yes, did you take them including AWA and IR? Yes I did, did the full things and got 710 (49Q 39V ) 2. Did you solve the OG and Verbal Review completely? Define completely? I did all the OG problems yes. 3. When do you plan to apply to B-Schools? Plan to apply for round 3, if I have to wait until 2017 it isn't a big issue I will just work until then. Points I know there was a few Quant questions I drew a blank on, only to remember how to do them once I got in my car on the way home

Also totally zoned out during one of the RC questoins. So those 2 problem areas definitely made an impact on my score.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi GMATDemiGod,

First off, a 680/Q46 is a strong score (it's well above the 80th percentile overall), so it could be enough to get you into one of the Schools that you listed. You named some really competitive Schools though, so you have to make sure that you have a strong OVERALL application AND that you properly 'market yourself' to each Admissions Committee.

GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +/- 30 points of actual ability. This means that your Official Score is almost the same overall performance (+ or - a few correct answers on certain questions). By extension, you could have easily scored 710+ on Test Day, but you made a few too many little mistakes.

You still have plenty of time to continue studying, if you choose to retest though.

1) How long did you study?
2) What resources have you used so far?

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

GMATDemiGod · Answer

Hey Rich,

Do you do profile evaluations as well?

Studied for about 3 months

Resources

Complete Manhatten Prep Course
Complete Veritas Prep Course
e-Gmat SC
OG materials

Plan to rewrite in 5 weeks, hopefully trying to increase my score 10 points a week. I know for certain I missed some pretty easy math questions due to minor test stress. So that accounts for the slight drop in Quant.

I just am trying to formulate a proper study plan for the next 5 weeks. Any suggestions?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi GMATDemiGod,

I leave the specifics of Admissions Consulting to the Experts. There's a Forum full of them here though, if you're looking for insights into your profile:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

With your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores, you don't have a big 'weak category', so the missing points that you're looking for probably can't be traced back to just one GMAT subject. The questions that you got wrong were likely due to a mix of improper use of Tactics, disorganized work (or lack of work on the pad) and other little mistakes. Thus, this is ultimately an issue of Tactics and precision. On your last CAT, how many questions did you get wrong that you SHOULD have gotten correct? If you redid those questions from scratch right now, what work would you have to do to make sure that you didn't repeat the same mistakes?

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

GMATDemiGod · Answer

yeah i understand,

I admit, sometimes I get so into the question and the work I lose focus on the task

and other times I get really excited and work in a disorganized fashion.

Lastest CAT 
Every CAT I have taken I have about 8 silly mistakes, when I redo the question during the review period I get it quickly.
There is only ever 2-3 questions on a CAT were I do struggle.

How about the verbal, how woud you recommend bringing that up?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi GMATDemiGod,

With a V38, you don't have a major 'weak area' in the Verbal section, so to find the missing points in that section, you will really need to 'nit-pick' your work. There are likely a number of questions that you got wrong that you 'narrowed down to 2 choices, but "guessed" incorrectly.' In those questions, you were very close to getting the correct answer, but you still missed something. That level of attention-to-detail (and knowing how to spot the common wrong answers) will be what it takes to pick up points in the Verbal section.

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

GMATDemiGod · Answer

Is there any solid way to imrpove on CR and RC ? I feel its hard to come up with a strategy to improve these area's

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi GMATDemiGod,

Yes, both RC and CR are just as predictable and standardized as any other major category on the GMAT. You do have to 'shift' your perspective a bit when dealing with these questions though, since you're looking for patterns in the logic used in the prompt, the specific question that is asked and the common patterns in the wrong answer choices.

1) What resources have yo used so far to practice RC and CR?

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

	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

wrote my first gmat sadly scored lower that I wanted with 680 46Q 38V

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