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700 and retaking - short time frame to study

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700 and retaking - short time frame to study

by sdd996 » Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:22 am
I took the GMAT last July and scored a 700 (Q48, V38). I was disappointed because I expected about 10-20 points higher. Looking at only top programs, this score only put at at or below the median. Long story short, I applied to schools this past year and did not get in (1 WL, a bunch of dings).

In the process of improving my application for reapplication, I've decided to retake the GMAT. My test date is in 3 weeks (latest I could get before the nextgen text). I'm not as worried about the quant, as I have a degree in mathematics and was scoring 48-50 in previous practices - I just need a bit of a refresher and some fine tuning. Verbal on the other hand is low. I'd like to get it to at least a 40, ideally even higher.

When I studied last time, I worked primarily off the OG books and didn't really learn a proper strategy for the verbal section. I have the MGMAT SC book, which I just started with last night. I like it so far, but worry it might be too time consuming. Otherwise I have just the 3 official guides.

I was leaning toward trying the GMAT Pill, since it seems to focus on people with shorter time frames. Does anyone have a similar experience and some feedback on GMAT Pill verbal? I can't decide if it's worth getting the entire package or just the SC, which is what I'd consider my weakest of the verbal areas.
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by sunman » Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:40 pm
sdd996 wrote:I took the GMAT last July and scored a 700 (Q48, V38). I was disappointed because I expected about 10-20 points higher. Looking at only top programs, this score only put at at or below the median. Long story short, I applied to schools this past year and did not get in (1 WL, a bunch of dings).

In the process of improving my application for reapplication, I've decided to retake the GMAT. My test date is in 3 weeks (latest I could get before the nextgen text). I'm not as worried about the quant, as I have a degree in mathematics and was scoring 48-50 in previous practices - I just need a bit of a refresher and some fine tuning. Verbal on the other hand is low. I'd like to get it to at least a 40, ideally even higher.

When I studied last time, I worked primarily off the OG books and didn't really learn a proper strategy for the verbal section. I have the MGMAT SC book, which I just started with last night. I like it so far, but worry it might be too time consuming. Otherwise I have just the 3 official guides.

I was leaning toward trying the GMAT Pill, since it seems to focus on people with shorter time frames. Does anyone have a similar experience and some feedback on GMAT Pill verbal? I can't decide if it's worth getting the entire package or just the SC, which is what I'd consider my weakest of the verbal areas.
I'm retaking as well, but I'm leaning towards the "quant" pill.

The MGMAT SC book is money though. Serious money. I'd do all the questions and analyze the answers.

And with a 48/38, if you even score a 49/39, you'll probably be up to a 720. So part of it might just be luck.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has" - Margaret Mead
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by sdd996 » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:59 am
sunman wrote:
I'm retaking as well, but I'm leaning towards the "quant" pill.

The MGMAT SC book is money though. Serious money. I'd do all the questions and analyze the answers.

And with a 48/38, if you even score a 49/39, you'll probably be up to a 720. So part of it might just be luck.
Thanks. I'm liking it so far. I'm figuring even if I only pick up a few techniques, it's better than what I went in with. I was thinking the same as you mentioned - hopefully I can get quant up a point or tow and verbal up 1-2 points. I'll take luck just fine!

Good luck - I didn't really look into the quant pill so I'm not sure how it is. The few reviews I did see tended to speak higher of the verbal side, but none said anything bad about the quant. I am liking the video approaches for alternatives from just more reading. I'll probably refresh myself on quant by randomly going through questions and looking at the khanacademy videos for any I have questions on. Not sure if you've checked them out, and they're not a proper study strategy, but most of his videos are really well done.
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by sunman » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:43 pm
sdd996 wrote:
sunman wrote:
I'm retaking as well, but I'm leaning towards the "quant" pill.

The MGMAT SC book is money though. Serious money. I'd do all the questions and analyze the answers.

And with a 48/38, if you even score a 49/39, you'll probably be up to a 720. So part of it might just be luck.
Thanks. I'm liking it so far. I'm figuring even if I only pick up a few techniques, it's better than what I went in with. I was thinking the same as you mentioned - hopefully I can get quant up a point or tow and verbal up 1-2 points. I'll take luck just fine!

Good luck - I didn't really look into the quant pill so I'm not sure how it is. The few reviews I did see tended to speak higher of the verbal side, but none said anything bad about the quant. I am liking the video approaches for alternatives from just more reading. I'll probably refresh myself on quant by randomly going through questions and looking at the khanacademy videos for any I have questions on. Not sure if you've checked them out, and they're not a proper study strategy, but most of his videos are really well done.
I emailed them (GMAT Pill) and asked them if their point increase guarantee applies if I already have a 730. It has been 3 days and they have no bothered to respond, so I'm assuming the answer is no.

Of course I don't expect the "50 point guarantee" to apply and get me a 780, but if they could help me get a 750 or 760, it would be well worth the price.

Based on the fact that they did not even respond to my email, I'm assuming that their product is tailored for lower scorers, and for people like you and I who have scored fairly high but are not necessarily transcendentally intelligent, there is no magic pill except our own tenacity and hard work.

*fist bump*

Let's get after it bro!

I'm retaking sometime June-Sept as soon as I get home from Afghanistan.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has" - Margaret Mead
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by Lasve » Tue May 01, 2012 2:22 pm
I used te MGMAT, it is indeed time consuming but I've improved a LOT.
I think that MGMAT is the right tool to go over 40.

In my first prep test I was around 31, in my last I got 44; and only 5 of the 41 were question I had already seen...
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by arun@crackverbal » Thu May 03, 2012 4:13 am
A quick suggestion - you seem to say you have 1 month and within that you need a 750 (presumably since you already have a 700). The better way to look at the problem would be - you need a 750 so what needs to be done for that.

Remember - you rather have a great score and miss the deadlines than a similar score yet again.

My take is you already have a Q48 and V38 - so there is little room to improve. I would suggest you really look into the your approach on each question type and try improve on them. You cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach when you are already at a 700.

Arun
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