Low GMAT scores - Need Help Please !!!

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Low GMAT scores - Need Help Please !!!

by yatinbassi » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:16 am
Hi !!

Have been preparing for the gmat since Jan. My GMAT scheduled end of this month. I started with verbal prep and post finishing SC and CR, gave the gmat prep test 1 a shot end of Feb.

660 (Q48 V34) - was quite happy with this since I had not even started Quant. And since I could not recall some formulas in the exam, I was sure that slight revision can also do well. Nonetheless, I finished the OG 12 PS and DS.

But all hopes were shattered when I gave gmat prep 2 test today...

600 (Q45,V29) - innumerable errors in both the sections. Here are my observations :

1. I saw a majority of questions on number properties, which I got wrong, is that true in the real test as well?
2. I saw a more DS questions than PS, is that also true?
3. I was doing fairly well in the first 23 questions of both the sections, then somehow I get 12 questions wrong..Why is that happening?

I know of my weakness in number properties, long RC, DS, and statistics.
Can you please suggest ways to address these weaknesses. Also what should my plan for the next week be? I think since timing was a major issue I faced, I should practice 1 test each day for the week.

Or should I reschedule my GMAT to next month?

Guys, please share your suggestions..since I have 10 days to go and am getting quite nervous now.

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by Bryant@VeritasPrep » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:41 am
Not sure what you are targeting as a score, but if you are averaging mid-600's then you look pretty good to me. What did you mean "all hopes were dashed?" A mid-600 score will put you in the 80% range of most every school in the country. Sounds to me like you are ready to go get a 680 on the real deal! good luck!
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by yatinbassi » Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:07 am
Bryant@VeritasPrep wrote:Not sure what you are targeting as a score, but if you are averaging mid-600's then you look pretty good to me. What did you mean "all hopes were dashed?" A mid-600 score will put you in the 80% range of most every school in the country. Sounds to me like you are ready to go get a 680 on the real deal! good luck!
Thanks Bryant.

I forgot to mention, targeting 700 and so the hopes dashed..since you are an expert, can you please give recommend on my weaknesses stated ?

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by Bryant@VeritasPrep » Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:16 pm
If your scores are trending down and you have some areas you know are weak, I would reschedule and spend the next month focusing on those areas. Have you considered a prep course or individual tutoring? Sometimes working with an instructor directly can really help.
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by rockeyb » Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:56 am
yatinbassi wrote:Hi !!

Have been preparing for the gmat since Jan. My GMAT scheduled end of this month. I started with verbal prep and post finishing SC and CR, gave the gmat prep test 1 a shot end of Feb.

660 (Q48 V34) - was quite happy with this since I had not even started Quant. And since I could not recall some formulas in the exam, I was sure that slight revision can also do well. Nonetheless, I finished the OG 12 PS and DS.

But all hopes were shattered when I gave gmat prep 2 test today...

600 (Q45,V29) - innumerable errors in both the sections. Here are my observations :

1. I saw a majority of questions on number properties, which I got wrong, is that true in the real test as well?
2. I saw a more DS questions than PS, is that also true?
3. I was doing fairly well in the first 23 questions of both the sections, then somehow I get 12 questions wrong..Why is that happening?

I know of my weakness in number properties, long RC, DS, and statistics.
Can you please suggest ways to address these weaknesses. Also what should my plan for the next week be? I think since timing was a major issue I faced, I should practice 1 test each day for the week.

Or should I reschedule my GMAT to next month?

Guys, please share your suggestions..since I have 10 days to go and am getting quite nervous now.

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Admin : Incase this isn't the right place to post this, please let me know from where I should post this
Hey ,

Though I am no expert in this field , I would suggest that if you are not happy with your score and feel that you need improvement in weak areas why dont you postpone your date ?

Give your self some time analyze what went wrong rethink rewire your strategy. May be you are lacking in speed note your time , may be thats the reason you are hurrying in later parts of each section and picking wrong answers.

Believe me if you can score 660 you can also score 700 if you have proper analysis of your tests.

Also just taking 2 GMAT prep dose not reflect any thing . But I believe you need to repeat the test at least twice each .

Hope this helps .
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by yatinbassi » Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:58 am
Thanks Bryant, rockeyb !

Gave another try today at the gmat prep test 1 again..670 now (Q48 V34)
Would you agree that test 1 is easier than test 2 especially in Quant?

Kept a pace this time and finished the V well in advance. In Q however, i was still short. And I made a number of silly mistakes !

In the V section, I got 12 questions wrong, out of which 8 were RC. So RC is basically my weakest area.
Any suggestions or strategies that can help for RC's? or is there any source similar to spidey's notes or so for RCs?

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by rockeyb » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:00 am
yatinbassi wrote:Thanks Bryant, rockeyb !

Gave another try today at the gmat prep test 1 again..670 now (Q48 V34)
Would you agree that test 1 is easier than test 2 especially in Quant?

Kept a pace this time and finished the V well in advance. In Q however, i was still short. And I made a number of silly mistakes !

In the V section, I got 12 questions wrong, out of which 8 were RC. So RC is basically my weakest area.
Any suggestions or strategies that can help for RC's? or is there any source similar to spidey's notes or so for RCs?
Now thats improvement . Yes I would agree that prep 1 is a bit easier than prep 2 and normally people score more in prep 1 than in prep 2 . So an average of the two scores should get you pretty close to an actual GMAT score .

For RC I would suggest start reading the passage slow first try and understand as much as you can , remember you get marks for correct answers and not for finishing the section quickly .

since you finished your Verbal quickly I can guarantee that you just skimmed the passages and hence your understanding was poor and that reflects in your low score in RC .

Practice RC without the clock one passage at a time push your self to be as accurate as possible then slowly increase your speed .

Rest is up to you .

Best of luck :)
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by yatinbassi » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:56 am
True. Will try this approach..but this would take time. Looking at my weakness at RC, I have rescheduled my exam by around 3 weeks so that I can focus on this. Any tips on math? I know Q48 is decent, but as an Indian, just hurts !

How is your prep coming along? What scores are you seeing and when is your G day?

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by rockeyb » Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:35 am
yatinbassi wrote:True. Will try this approach..but this would take time. Looking at my weakness at RC, I have rescheduled my exam by around 3 weeks so that I can focus on this. Any tips on math? I know Q48 is decent, but as an Indian, just hurts !

How is your prep coming along? What scores are you seeing and when is your G day?
Mate I gave GMAT once scored 480 (Q35 , V 22) ye I know very poor . I went back to the drawing board literally analyzed what went wrong , prepared a plan and a emergency plan .

Part of the plan is to get drill basics as much as possible as I have the experience of the real thing I can tell you if you are not sure even for a second in the test :) mate the test will take for a ride .

The plan I prepared will take another 60 days to complete till then I am just getting those drills in .

;) Quants what can I say may be being an Indian you have solved R.S .Agrawal a couple of times nothing like it . Try Kaplan 800 I hear its good havent solved it my self but intend to do so .
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by yatinbassi » Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:18 am
Don't worry..at least you're certain to score well above your first attempt. GMAT isn't easy, atleast i'm sure now !

I don't plan to try Kaplan..I prefer Manhattan for the way they have explained the concepts. Would recommend that to you as well - especially for SC and CR.

R.S Agarwal ! Those were the days..solve this book and you'll certainly get a 90..but our dear GMAT is adaptive.

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by rockeyb » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:23 pm
Hahaaa :) true mate .

I agree with you that Manhattan books are good and I do refer them . They are extremely important to build up your base for GMAT .

But I also agree that they are not enough and I can tell that because the moment you start getting the basic questions correct you are bound to face some tough ones where you can argue that two options will be correct .

So if you are looking for a 50 score in maths i would say Kaplan will help . I am doing that as I have finished with my Manhattan books .

I feel no single prep company can get you to 700 + score and one needs to tailor his / her prep according to his/ her strengths or weakness and target score .

Thanks again for the advice I appreciate it a lot .

Regards ,

Pranab Banerjee.
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