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

Redeem

Plateau at 650 - 3 weeks until test. Reschedule?

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 5:23 am
Followed by:2 members

Plateau at 650 - 3 weeks until test. Reschedule?

by PKGguy » Sat Jun 10, 2017 1:57 pm
Hey guys,

I have been studying for about a little over 2 months - about 9 weeks and I seem to have hit a plateau with my score. My study strategy has been to study using Magoosh for about 2 hours on week days and 4ish hours on weekend days. I have been pretty consistent with this, missing at max one day every 2 weeks. Practice test scores are below.

(1/4) GMATprep 1: 560 - Q31, V36, IR 5 - Completely cold. Took a long study break of zero studying due to work after this.

Since picking studies back up:
(4/23) MGMAT 2: 630 - Q41 V35
(5/7) MGMAT 3: 650 - Q41 V37
(5/21) GMATprep 2: 630 - Q35 V40 , IR 8
(5/30) MGMAT 4: 640 - Q41 V36
(6/3) MGMAT 5: 650 - Q38 V41
(6/9) GMATprep 3: 650 - Q39, V40, IR 8

My practice CAT succession is below. I have been hovering around 650 for over a month now. I sit for the exam on July 8th and I'm not exactly sure how to proceed. I will finish my scheduled study plan in the next 2 weeks, which will give me about 1.5 weeks to review material that I need help with.

Should I reschedule the test? I'm shooting for at least a 700 in order to be competitive at the my desired schools.
Top
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2095
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:22 pm
Thanked: 1443 times
Followed by:247 members

by ceilidh.erickson » Sun Jun 11, 2017 2:29 pm
If you're hitting a plateau, but you think that you can improve, you should reschedule the test. If it's a true plateau, though, more time spent will probably not change the outcome.

If your score isn't changing, you need to change the way that you're studying:

- Have you been keeping an Error Log / Review Log for every mistake you've made? This is the #1 indicator of whether scores will improve. It's not enough to know the content; you need to know yourself as a test-taker. What mistakes are you prone to? What can you change about your process to fix those?

More here: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -studying/

- Have you simply been taking practice tests, or have you been working on specific topics and specific strategies? Practice tests will measure your improvement, but they aren't very effective for helping you to work on particular skills, say, for example, Backsolving: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... m-solving/

- Have you been monitoring your timing and your mindset during the test? Make sure you're balancing your time, breathing, and making good decision about what to commit to and what to skip.

Also, you should plan to take 2 tests regardless, so it might not hurt to take one in 3 weeks, then try again a few weeks later. Here's why: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... mat-twice/
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1