BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

2nd attempt same score...

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:30 am

2nd attempt same score...

by stillhopeful » Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:07 pm
Hi Everyone,

Would be really grateful if I can get some feedback.

I just retook the GMAT today for the second time and got the same score: 680. I took it the first time three years ago and always knew I would retake it before actually applying to business school. This time my quant improved (from 46-48) and verbal went down (37-35). However I have spent the last week studying everyday and taking lots of practice tests. I have relied solely on OG 12, GMATPREP, and MGMAT.

Here are the results of practice CATs:
9/1/09 - GMATPREP 1 - 720 (49Q,40V)
9/3/09 - MGMAT 1 - 710 (48Q,38V)
9/7/09 - MGMAT 2 - 750 (48Q,44V)
9/21/09 - GMATPREP 2 - 670 (46Q,36V)
9/22/09 - GMATPREP 1 - 2 - 720 (47Q,41V)
9/24/09 - MGMAT 3 - 730 (48Q,41V)
9/25/09 - GMATPREP 1 - 3 - 760 (48Q,47V)
9/26/09 - GMATPREP 2 - 2 - 750 (50Q,41V)
9/27/09 - GMATPREP 1 - 4 - 770 (50Q,44V)
9/28/09 - GMATPREP 2 - 3 - 770 (50Q,44V)
9/29/09 - REAL GMAT - 680 (48Q,35V)

As you can see, I retook the gmat prep cats several times because i read from several different people that it really helps, granted that towards the end I did get about 1/3 repeat questions. I am a native english speaker and actually made extra effort this time around to strengthen my verbal. During the actual test I thought i did horrible on math and actually was quite confident as I was going through verbal. Needless to say, I was quite shocked and in disbelief when I saw my score. The MGMAT scores (even if the gmatprep results were inflated) showed much better verbal. I know I can do better in verbal but I don't know if I'll be in the same situation again for the third time. I was also wondering if the test center where you take the exam has any effect on your final score (i.e. your final score is compared to other people who have taken it that day or month at that center??). Can anyone please confirm or deny this?

Thank you for reading and I am looking for any and all feedback/advice!
Top
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 6778
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 1249 times
Followed by:994 members

by beatthegmat » Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:29 am
Hi stillhopeful,

Surprisingly, you have a very common story that has been shared a lot within Beat The GMAT. It is GOOD to feel like you are doing poorly in a section while you're taking the test. The reason why is that the GMAT is serving you harder and harder questions because you are getting a lot right and have been bucketed in a higher tier. Feeling like the section was easy is bad because you may be getting a lot of questions wrong, and thus receiving easier questions. Strange, huh?

To answer your last question, your test center has no bearing on your GMAT score, the test is not calibrated based on test center locations.

Are you planning to retake? A 680 is a solid score, and your time may be better spent on your app.

Good luck, and welcome to the Beat The GMAT community!
Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:30 am

by stillhopeful » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:11 am
Thanks for the info! I am going to retake again. And this time really focus on verbal and buy some more books and practice tests. Any recommendations? Clearly taking only CATs are not helping. Should I retake asap (i.e. 31 days) or wait a few months???
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 6778
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 1249 times
Followed by:994 members

by beatthegmat » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:19 am
When are you planning to apply to business school?

For verbal materials, I highly recommend checking out Manhattan GMAT's Sentence Correction Guide and PowerScore's Critical Reasoning Guide. They will serve as great resources to boost your Verbal!

Good luck!
Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:30 am

by stillhopeful » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:24 am
was applying first round but now delaying till second. Have most of my essays and apps done so just waiting for a better gmat. Plus I heard R1 are for the overachievers right? :)
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 6778
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 1249 times
Followed by:994 members

by beatthegmat » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:28 am
Haha, overachievers like you I bet. :)

If you plan to apply R2 this year, then you probably want to shoot for taking the test in late October or early November, to give you enough time to solely focus on your apps for a couple weeks prior to submitting.

I don't recommend studying while writing your apps, but for most schools you can take your GMAT right up to the date the app is due. Don't recommend that though!

Good luck!
Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:30 am

by stillhopeful » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:35 am
Thank you! Do you recommend that I still take some CATs beforehand? mgmat and gmatprep? and how often should i take them... given that it didn't really help me last time. I am really still baffled by the fact that mgmat gave me such good verbal consistently and it's supposed to be one of the more reliable sources right?
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 6778
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 1249 times
Followed by:994 members

by beatthegmat » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:39 am
I do think you should take CATs--in fact I recommend taking them frequently, like once per week. It's a good way to train your mindset to the CAT format of the test.

You need some fresh tests though. GMATPrep and MGMAT seem spent to you, check out some of the free GMAT practice tests here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/a/resources

If you buy tests, I personally like the Kaplan and The Princeton Review practice tests too.

Good luck!
Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:30 am

by stillhopeful » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:46 am
Do you recommend that I retake the test at the same center as well? I live abroad and plan to go home for thanksgiving so was going to do it then in the States. Or is it probably better to retake at the same place so i know the environment, etc?
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:54 am
Thanked: 1 times

by ben wade » Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:45 pm
Hi Stillhopeful,

I am in a similar situation as you are in. My first 2 attempts have yielded scores of 650 and 680. But I need to get beyond 700 to have a fair chance at getting into the schools that i want to get into.
I am planning a retake in the first week of November. Similar to you, i have done the GMATPreps and OGs several times. So for this time, I planning to use Kaplan material (even though old).
I have a similar break up too on my second attempt (48Q, 36V). So my plan is to improve on my verbal skills to consistently hit over 40. I am confident about my Quant for now.
I could see that you have similar plans. Do let me know if you planned to use any other prep material which might help.
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1