GMAT Strategy

Hi all,

I was hoping some of you guys might be able to give me some advice. I've just taken the GMAT for the first time and scored 610 ( 34th percentile in quant and 88th percentile in verbal). I've struggled with quant from the beginning but worked with a tutor and worked through the Manhattan books to better understand the concepts involved. In practice tests (GMAT prep, Princeton, Manhattan, Kaplan and The Economist) I raised my quant percentile from the 24th percentile to the 66th percentile and so I was expecting a much better quant score on the day.

I feel so deflated and I'm not sure how best to approach the retake. Does anyone have any advice on this?

Thanks in advance,

T

First, take a break from the GMAT. At least a week.


To answer the rest, I need a little more information to give an in depth answer, but here are some things you should consider:

1) How realistic was your test taking environment when taking practice exams as compared to the facility on the day of the exam?

2) How consistent was your scoring?

3) As you hint at time spent studying concepts, how would you rate your knowledge of fundmental principles on a scale of 1-10?

Hope this helps a bit.

Hi,

Given your Quant percentiles, my first reaction is "Are your concepts clear?". Most times it is the basic concepts that trouble people at a sub 40-raw score on the GMAT.

You can consider adding these 2 resources to your prep plan:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/storeitems ... 1&catid=10
https://www.manhattangmat.com/storeitems ... 7&catid=10

Arun

Hi again,

Thanks so much for your quick responses.

@Jim - Sorry should have provided more info!

Re. testing environment: I'm currently a student so have been taking practice tests in the library, wearing ear plugs. However, I only did the AWA & IG sections twice - the rest of the tests I simply did the quant and verbal.

My scoring was pretty consistent, that is to say that my verbal has always been very high and my quant has been slowly getting better since beginning of January.

I thought I was all over the quant fundamentals but I guess on the back of this score I must be missing something. I did a lot of drills whilst also working through the questions in the Official Guide, but I find it difficult to apply the concepts I covered in the drills to the word based problems. Do you have any advice on this?

@Arun - Thanks for the recommendations