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Feeling Absolutely Dejected about GMATPrep Scores.

by bizkit_3k » Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:59 am
I've been making a valid attempt to study for quite a while now. I've abused the life out of the GMATPrep software. I continue to keep getting horrible scores. I've figured out what my weaknesses are and what my strengths are, and I'm fine tuning those areas as best as I can, but I still seem to be drastically failing. My data sufficiency is weak, but its coming along painfully, my sentence correction is in the same boat as DS, but neither are impressive. The rest of the questions I have at least an ok ground to stand on, but even then there are times where I wonder if I had exited my body, and left some bumbling moron to take the test. I'm feeling quite dejected because I can't even get a median score!

Last 5 practice attempts as followed:
GMATPrep Test 1: 430 (today)
GMATPrep Test 1: 430 (Earlier this week)
GMATPrep Test 2: 470 (Last week)
GMATPrep Test 2: 470 (Two weeks ago)
GMATPrep Test 1: 420 (three weeks ago)

I have worked through Kaplan's Math Workbook, Vebal Workbook, and I'm only half way through Kaplan's GMAT 800 and the Official Guide, but yet there feels like there's no improvement. I even turned to some former college professors and the only advice I recieved was "borrow a high school math textbook". All that tution and golden nuggets of advice like that.... It seeming like grad school is practically unttainable, especially when my friends are bragging about their fantastic scores and they studied for less then two weeks (One got a 690, another 600 ((Neither were A students)). If there's any advice to be given, it would be greatly appreciated, I keep running at this thing head first and it feels like my head is caving in. I believe I have had a solid strategy and following the books and the advice given on the web, its getting frustrating to not see any improvement!
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by odannyboi » Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:49 pm
I got 420 on my diagnostics... I am up to about 580 (taking the exam on saturday).

You don't need to do a bunch of GMAT PREP CATS... learn some real content! I suggest the Manhattan GMAT guides 1,3 and 4.

I am with you though.. I scored a 530 on my last CAT but I took it while I was pissed off. Stay calm and try to learn the basics... especially equations and inequalities. Then move on to word problems (rates, permutations, ratios<-- seems to be alot on prep CATS).

As for Verbal, really nail sentence correction. It is the easiest to learn and about 2/5 of the Qs on the verbal portion seem to be SC. You'll see a big improvement there.

As for reading passages... pretend to get interested in the articles you read. If the passage is about women's exclusion from labor unions... say to your self "Get the heck out of here! How come?? I gotta read this" You'll feel more compelled to understand it the 1st time.

I'm done taking CATS... I'm reviewing some REAL content then testing it on OG problems... I'll see it does me good this Sat...
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by bizkit_3k » Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:49 pm
Let me know how Saturday goes. I'm interested to see how it goes and let me know if the CATs I've taken truly simulate what you go through. I'm trying my best not to lose my patience. Maybe I'll just have to pound away at the OG again.
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by kushal.adhia » Thu Sep 23, 2010 3:51 am
bizkit_3k wrote:I've been making a valid attempt to study for quite a while now. I've abused the life out of the GMATPrep software. I continue to keep getting horrible scores. I've figured out what my weaknesses are and what my strengths are, and I'm fine tuning those areas as best as I can, but I still seem to be drastically failing. My data sufficiency is weak, but its coming along painfully, my sentence correction is in the same boat as DS, but neither are impressive. The rest of the questions I have at least an ok ground to stand on, but even then there are times where I wonder if I had exited my body, and left some bumbling moron to take the test. I'm feeling quite dejected because I can't even get a median score!

Last 5 practice attempts as followed:
GMATPrep Test 1: 430 (today)
GMATPrep Test 1: 430 (Earlier this week)
GMATPrep Test 2: 470 (Last week)
GMATPrep Test 2: 470 (Two weeks ago)
GMATPrep Test 1: 420 (three weeks ago)

I have worked through Kaplan's Math Workbook, Vebal Workbook, and I'm only half way through Kaplan's GMAT 800 and the Official Guide, but yet there feels like there's no improvement. I even turned to some former college professors and the only advice I recieved was "borrow a high school math textbook". All that tution and golden nuggets of advice like that.... It seeming like grad school is practically unttainable, especially when my friends are bragging about their fantastic scores and they studied for less then two weeks (One got a 690, another 600 ((Neither were A students)). If there's any advice to be given, it would be greatly appreciated, I keep running at this thing head first and it feels like my head is caving in. I believe I have had a solid strategy and following the books and the advice given on the web, its getting frustrating to not see any improvement!

bizkit_3k

This is EXACTLY what i'm going thru now..the exact same thing....

i've done a few of the kaplan tests and the highest i've hit is a 590..
But then, on GMAT prep i mess up real bad.. i took one today and got a 450, and the previous one wasnt any good either (460 =( )

these 400 level scores are reallyyyyyyyyy demoralizing for anyone who's gonna be taking the test...

i really don't know what advice to give you other than to go through the OG a couple of times and review the strategies till you get sick and tired of them. i've scheduled a test for oct 9 but i guess i'll reschedule..


Kush
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by Tani » Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:22 am
Don't reject your teacher's advice so quickly. You are clearly lacking basic math skills as well as the ability to apply them. If you are scoring in the 400s, working with an 800 book will only frustrate you. You need to first gain competence with the lower level questions. You are trying to run before you can walk. I have seen many students in your position who are so calculator-dependent that the don't have the basic arithmetic skills needed - addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Those students also often lack the ability to manipulate variables accurately. The math on the GMAT is tenth grade level. You need to master those principles before you can apply them to GMAT problems. Consider a sports analogy. When your tennis game is falling apart you don't go out and find the strongest possible opponent. You go back to hitting balls against a backboard and practicing your serve.

You can do this, you simply need to approach it methodically and from the bottom up, not keep running at the wall.

Good luck
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by bizkit_3k » Sat Sep 25, 2010 3:45 pm
I appreciate the tip, I decided to work through Kaplan's Math workbook, despite it not being a high school math textbook. What's really striking to me is in the workbook I had answered at least 3/4 of the questions right ranging from Basic to Intermediate to Advanced questions. That's where I really start to lose it. For whatever reason the book material I'm doing at least ok if not well with. I just don't know what happens when I leave the book and work with the GMATPrep software. I approach the questions the same as I do in the book material, I just can't figure out why I'm not coming up with the right answers when it comes to the practice test software.
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by Tani » Sun Sep 26, 2010 3:45 pm
Part of the difference is the CAT format. CATs don't look at percents. If you get 100% of easy questions right, you will still get a poor score on the CAT because you are not handling any hard questions. You should be spending time isolating concepts to see what mistakes you make consistently and try to correct them. Focusing on number correct will not help.
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by tammybg » Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:07 am
Hey guys,

Look I took my first MGMAT CAT before I started studying, or even before I was familiar with the test, and got a 460. (I took the GMATPrep 1 too and got a 530).
Like you, I sucked at DS questions (my forté is definitely SC though). My quant was more than weak and my verbal wasn't outstanding either.
Now after a month of studying (I wanted to give myself time to really absorb and understand the concepts on the books) I took a second MGMAT CAT and got a 590. I haven't scheduled the test yet (will do once I get a score near or above 700, on at least 2 consecutive CATS). I still have to go through most of the guides and take many more cats (every month or so)!
My recommendations are:
1) You might want to get some of the MGMAT prep guides (SC and quant ones), they're GREAT! The CR powerscore Bible and Veritas Prep Reading Comp are very good too. OGs are a must! I've also heard Kaplan 800 is good for advanced questions.
2) Take time to study and understand the concepts. If you study for a week and take 5 CATs during the weekend you're probably going to be tired. Overdoing it is never a good idea! Give yourself time to improve before you take the next CAT!
3) MGMAT cats are great cause they will give you a FULL report on what you're doing right and wrong. That way you know what you have to improve at the most.
4) Are you taking the GMAT prep tests in a quiet uninterrupted environment? I have found that concentration is a key element on the GMAT.
5) Try to find other CATs. There's lots of free cats on veritas, powerprep etc.
6) Work on your timing. As for me, that 590 was definitely an improvement but I know for sure that I could've done a lot better if I had worked harder on my timing.
7) The day before you take a CAT try and review what you've studied so far (don't overdo it either!) and then rest! Just like you would if you were taking the real test.
8) Try to find the right strategy for DS. It helps if you take a look at each statment individually, see if they're sufficient alone and then start eliminating possibilites! Learn the answer choices by heart!

I wanna end this post by telling you that, in my honest opinion, b-school is NOT unattainable! I know for a fact that if we want it badly and work hard we will make it!!!
Good luck and let me know if it helps!
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by MissTee » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:12 pm
Im sort of in the same boat, but worse! I just started a Manhattan GMAT prep course last week, so I took my first CAT exam today, and scored 390...Yikes! Im totally devasted! But I know that I need to brush up on my math skills, which is the main reason I decided to take a course in the first place. Also, I feel very rushed when im timed...so I definitely need to relax and not freak out under pressure. I also need to work on my timing because in the Verbal section towards the end, I had to guess on the last 5 or 6 and the very last question, I left blank because I ran out of time...a total disaster! Im hoping this course will save the day! Is it possible for me to at least get in the 600's??? I need a strategy fast...I plan to take the GMAT in December as I will be applying for b-school for the fall 2011 semester and some of the deadlines will be approaching soon. Any advice will greatly be appreciated!
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