I just Beat The GMAT!

Hi There,

I am terribly dissapointed with my GMAT score. I had almost no clue about the test. I hired a personal tutor and studyed for 3 weeks before taking it. I did several reviews from 8080 and also on GMAT Prep software. I was sociring between a 500 and 620.
Surprisingly, the day of the test I scored a pathetic 380. Q 6 V 34 I am truly deppressed and yesterday I left the test area wanting to just get lost.
I am applying to MBA programs that start from May to October, The May prgram was hoping from a 650 and obviously they wont have that. They are all programs in Italy, Holand, Spain and England. I am even thinking of throwing the towel and hope for better luck at the end of 2010.

What do you guys reccomend?
SHould I just plan for 2011 or hope to get good score in March?

I have been reading that people once defeated almost never recover. I need almost 200 points more for a decent score!

I never did really bad in school. My GPA was 2.9 and SAT 1050.

Average. But GMAT makes me look like a retarded student.

I had 4 weeks off work so I had a lot of the day to study. But I took the test yesterday, failed, an Im back at work today...

Please help me.

The program that begins in May... when do applications have to be in by?

The application was sent in December. I do not know when they need the GMAT to make it final...

Hhmm. I would assume it would be sometime in the near future. If you're able to take the exam again I would do just that. If you were scoring between a 500 & 620 on pratice exams I don't know what could have happened that would warrant such a low score. Did you run out of time on the quant section?

Thanks for your replies Money 911.

Yes, totally ran out of time in the 18th question!
What would you guys reccomend, is there a possibiliutty for a 650, or is it close to impossible?
I have heard horror stories of people sacrificing a whole year to make this happen.

This is one of the core areas to pay attention that what are the reasons where one student scores well in his/home practice tests but under-performs at actual exam. Next time before actual test:

1. Find a location away from Home like college library, public library etc.

2. Buy MGMAT simulation scratch booklet and dry marker that helps to practice actual exam marker/pad.

3. Carry timer and use it like actual exam conditions.

4. Decrease some level of artificial confidence, which you have at home, which you lack in actual exam.

5. Look for the structure in multiple choices like if five choice are there then THERE IS ONLY ONE AND ONLY ONE IS LOGICALLY CORRECT! rest all other choices are designed to confuse you such as:
Choice no 1: half right half wrong
Choice no 2: uses the same words as in passgae but encapsulated meaning is entirley opposite of correct an
Choice no 3: out of scope means talks about something irrelavant or something which is not asked in question.
Choice no 4: Correct Answer!
Choice no 5: entirely wrong answer which you can eliminate at first sight

always always ALWAYS ALWAYS do the problems under timed conditions! a lot of people think "oh i just want to figure it out.. then i'll start timing myself" but the caveat is that the time condition IS part of the test... also by timing yourself, you'll become better at guessing which is a skill that must be developed for this exam.

Hi this will be my aparent plan: I just received in the mail the Kaplan 2010 book and the full official book of the GMAt with all the questions.
I will do the online buddy for Kaplan and read the book in its entirety. I will read a couple og hours after work and also do exercisies according to it in the book and in the Offical GMAT book.
After 1 week and a half I will set my GMAT date for early April.
This will be my last try.
I will do a CAT every week and in the weekend I will dedicate at least 6 hours for exercises. I will meet with my tutor twice a week for general advice and progress revision.

MIP is hoping for a better score and I hope to get at leats a 650.

I will keep you posted if my strategy works.

Thanks for sharing your plan! Keep plugging! You can and will raise your score. I hope it works out well for you!

For most of us it just takes time to "learn" how to answer the questions correctly. Three weeks does not sound like enough time for you. This stuff will eventually start to click and you will do better.

So, I just took my first practice test and got a 380. I was really upset, kind of thought about not getting an MBA. I need a 650. The fact is I have learned all the concepts for quant .The Reading portion I missed like the last ten because I was running out of time. Sorry to say so, but I find comfort knowing that I am not the only one. I am a lot smarter than that score. I was hoping to take the GMAT for real in 3 weeks, but I am not going to if I am not scoring in the 600s on the practice. I did drink an energy drink before I started, I wonder if that could be it?? LOL! looking to place the blame, but the fact is I need to refresh my memory of all this stuff. I have learned it all in the last five years. Thanks for the post.

A few thoughts:

1. Yes, you should take the GMAT again in 1-2 months and shoot for a 500+...YOU MUST BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT! I am convinced that at least 50% of the GMAT is your overall state of mind. The GMAT is the ultimate test of psychology, determination, and stamina. Just you and the CAT ... mono-e-mono. You must truly believe you can do it. In addition, I'm guessing you got tired and frustrated and let negative feelings spill over from quant to verbal and from question to question. Do your best not to let this happen.

I have some thoughts as to why some individuals' actual GMAT score differs significantly from their GMATprep scores:

- Not taking the practice CATs under timed conditions

- Not taking the practice tests with the laminated sheets and marker (DO NOT USE PAPER/PENCIL!)

- Taking the practice tests multiple times and seeing 25-50% of the same/similar content (especially if reviewing a lot from OG 11 and OG 12)

- Not taking 1-hour on the practice tests to do the essays. (Yes, they are not graded on the practice exams, but that is not the point. It is a stamina issue. You must do the essays on the practice tests!)

- Letting the GMAT dominate your life. (I have tutored people that cannot stop thinking about the GMAT. Guess what? It is only a test and won't ruin your life if you score poorly)

- ManhattanGMAT practice CATs will give you a better indication of where you will score on the actual GMAT. In my opinion, Manhattan quant is harder than you will see on the actual GMAT. However, Manhattan verbal is a bit easier than you will see on the actual GMAT.

- I truly believe the actual GMAT is more difficult than the GMATprep exams for a multitude of reasons. One reason (in my opinion) is that as the mean GMAT score continues to rise, GMAC is making the test more difficult. Some people will disagree with me on this...

2. Remember that the GMAT is only one part of your MBA application package. I interviewed a guy who got into Harvard Business School (HBS) with less than a 600 on the GMAT. How did he do it? He set himself apart from the "typical" applicant. MBA programs do NOT want the typical applicant. You must show programs how you are different. Have you started a foundation? Have you started a business? Do you freelance on the side? Have you ever volunteered in a third-world country? Do you know a ton about Internet marketing? Have you ever produced measureable results when nobody else could? What is your estimated future return for the program? Will you contribute as an alum? Did you play sports in College? Have you ever been a team captain?

I think a lot of people stress way too much about the GMAT. Yes, you need to get out of the 300s, but you do NOT need a 700. Most programs will take a unique person with a 500+ any day of the week.

3. A practice score in the 300s indicates you need to spend more time with the basics. Many people study with 600-700 level questions without focusing on the basics first. Remember, you will not get a 600-700 level question without dominating the 300-400-500 level questions first. The best way to learn the basics is to study with FLASHCARDS. TestSoup has the best GMAT flashcards available as well as a BlackBerry app: www.testsoup.com

Best of luck to you my friend! You can BEAT THE GMAT!

wow.. I can't believe that we both have same situation....

scores in practice test ranged from 510-560

GMAT prep 1: 430
MGMAT prep 1: 540
MGMAT prep 2; 560
MGMAT prep 3:550
GMAT prep 2; 510

I was expecting something in the same range, but guess what ? I got a 380 as well. I did everthing...

1) Took Test at a public library
2) on laminated sheet and a marker
3) I stopped drinking/clubbing/partying for 3 months so that I could focus on this damn exam.

Things I have learnt from my experience...

1) This test is designed to see, if you break in pressure..
2) I am a fan of MGMAT's material, but not their CAT's... DON'T trust their scores.
3) GMAT is atleast 30 % luck, it all starts from what kind of questions you get ? Right from question #1. I got a probability as question #1 and I hate that topic. and guess what ? I got it wrong and it just created a mental block and because of that I could not focus on the next questions.
4) DS questions are IMP, because problems alone won't take you that far.
5) I don't know, if the test is getting any easier or harder, but the wording is defn tricker.
6) Math fundamentals should be ROCK HARD ! then issues like mental block and all don;t happen.
6) To all those struggling with quant (Including myself, before you move to any test prep company for your Math, get a math high school book to work the quant).
7) Doing bad on verbal, hurts your score more than doing bad on Math.
7) And Finally, don't make any drastic changes to your lifestyle like I did. It did not get me anywhere. Let me see how I do now..


Any suggestions/changes anything that can help me is welcome.

Thanks.

Well it has been awhile since my first post. I honestly did not get to study a lot because I was finishing my undergrad and working. I did do the practice test a couple more times and scored only as high as 420. I gave up the idea of going to an upper echelon program, but I still needed at least a 500. Well, I got a 510. I started the program two weeks ago and I am excited to be there. Although I would have liked to go to U of Oregon or U of Washington, I am happy at Washington State U in Vancouver, Washington. I would highly recommend it to anyone. It is very underrated and also very under priced. Feel free to shoot me questions about the program at [email protected]
And no I don't work for them, just hate to see people waste their money for programs that cost three times. Ultimately, we are the ones that make our future, not our transcripts alone.

HAHHAAH... dude... if you see my earlier post.. I had a 380 as well.. and now I got a 510 as well.
Its kinda strange huh? our both attempts have similar scores? Good Luck.