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Hi Nancy,

I'm sorry to hear that you're not scoring at the level you need to be scoring. Unfortunately, there's really no advice I can offer that will significantly increase your score in a 5-day period.

Since it's too late to reschedule your test (without paying the full $250 anyway), I'll offer a few things.

Given the limited time, you need to work on concepts that have the greatest return on investment (ROI). These are concepts that are tested frequently and require the least amount of time to learn. In my opinion, these concepts are:
- Sentence Correction
- Data Sufficiency strategies
- Percent
- Integer Properties
- Powers/roots
- Algebra
- Geometry

Be sure to take at least 2 more official practice tests in order to build your endurance and to help identify areas of weakness that you can work on.

That's about the best advice I can think of.

Now, if it turns out that you don't achieve your target score on test day, I think it's important to say a few things about your current study materials.

To begin, a score of 300 tells me that you are probably having difficulty with some of the concepts that serve as the foundation for more complex concepts. The Kaplan 800 is a good book, but it contains very difficult questions, and it tests advanced concepts. So you should leave that book until you've mastered the basics first.

Algebra for Dummies might not be the best resource to prepare for the GMAT. Granted, I love all of the "For Dummies" books, but this book is not designed to help you prepare for the GMAT. You need a resource that teaches you GMAT-specific strategies. Also, the Algebra for Dummies book will invariably have material that is not tested on the GMAT, and it will be lacking material that is tested.

The OG by itself is not enough to learn GMAT-specific content and strategies. For example, what resource are you using to learn strategies for Sentence Correction, Data Sufficiency, Geometry, Integer Properties, etc.?

One last piece of advice: it's a good idea to schedule after you've achieved your target score at least once. That said, if you do schedule your test in advance, be sure to take one or two practices tests before the 7-day cutoff for rescheduling your test. That way, if your practice test scores are still quite far from your target score you can reschedule your test (for a $50 fee).

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Brent

_________________
Brent Hanneson, BSc, BEd, MEd
- Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
- Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
- Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
- Our top 3 free videos:
1) The Double Matrix method
2) Calculating combinations in your head
3) Managing your time on the GMAT

Hi Nancy,

I'm sorry to hear about your score. Don't be disheartened. If you read the forum posts on this site, you'll find hundreds of stories of people who took the test many times and ended up reaching their target score. You're not alone.

So, at this point, it's important to put all of that behind you, and start looking forward.

Given your story, it sounds like you need to start with the basics and work your way up. So, your plan of attack should be as follows:
1. Learn the basic concepts
2. Learn GMAT-specific strategies
3. Practice those strategies until you reach your target score
4. Schedule your test
5. Ace the test
6. Celebrate

This time around, ensure that you get the study resources that cover all of the necessary GMAT concepts (no more, no less).

Also, you might want to consider some kind of learning guide.
BTG has one here: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide
I have a Learning Guide on my website as well.

Cheers,
Brent

_________________
Brent Hanneson, BSc, BEd, MEd
- Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
- Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
- Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
- Our top 3 free videos:
1) The Double Matrix method
2) Calculating combinations in your head
3) Managing your time on the GMAT