My first GMATPrep Test - 530 - Bad Score?

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I remember many in the forum advice to take a GMATPrep test at the time when we begin to prepare.

Today I took the test
Score 530
Quant 39
Verb 25

Somewhere I read the max that can be improved from the initial score is generally 100. Does that mean even if I prepare hard I will not be able to score beyond 630 after 2 months?

Getting demotivated. I was aiming 720 to 750.

Anyway, some questions.
In actual test AWA scores are included, right? So when people talk about great scores of 750 or 770 that includes AWA, am I right? In that case my today's GMATPrep test, marks of 530 which does not include AWA may go a little higher if AWA scores are included?


Second question
I am unable to find the AWA essays in Review section. Is it somewhere stored in computer? If yes, where? I thought if I can get it reviewed by someone, it will help to assess my AWA skill.

Third question
Is GMATPrep a computer adaptive test?

If I install the software in another computer of retake the same test in same computer will I get different set of questions?

Thanks in advance.

I will appreciate if you help me to understand where I stand with 530 score? How much typically people score when they before they start preparing?

I am planning to go through the 60 days course that BeatTheGMAT launched today.

Since I am targeting at Jan 2011, I will have time after these initial 60 days to brush up my skills. For the time being let me see how the 60 days guidance emails help me.

Thanks
Aurobindo
Thanks
Aurobindo
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by NotinFresno » Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:03 am
I don't think you can call any one score bad, it's all relative. It just tells you that you're a long way from where you want to be so you have a lot of ground to cover. I don't think you should listen to people saying there's a "max" that you could improve your score by. It varies by individual, obviously. And it's not like people haven't improved by a lot more, so you have to believe that you're one of those people. Believe that you could break the record.

As for the AWA, it bears no weight on your actual score whatsoever. It is graded separately than the Verb and Quant sections. However, it might have an impact on your final score if you are not used to practicing all three sections simultaneously. I see a lot of people write on these forums that they felt their score might have been lowered because they didn't have the stamina.

I believe that there are AWA examples out there but you can't get yours scored automatically. The GMAT is a computer-adaptive, but the AWA is reviewed and scored by humans.

As far as installing on a different computer, yes, you will get different questions for the most part. I know a lot of people have taken the test multiple times and have reported seeing a few of the same questions here and there. I'm not sure if they used a different computer, or just installed and reinstalled the software on the same comp. I'm actually trying to find out myself.

Lastly, I would strongly recommend that you spend some time reading through these forums before you start studying. It sounds like you're brand-new to the GMAT, so it will benefit you tremendously to see what other people are saying has worked for them and come up with a study plan based on what you think might apply to your studying style.

Oh and I just remembered - the 100 point thing, I think I've heard people say that it's going to be hard to improve more than 100 unless you have help. But again, there are exceptions, many of them, so why not you be one of them? :)

Good luck and keep us posted.

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by fleckre » Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:21 am
I haven't taken the test yet, but have seen improvement indicating that I could raise my score more than 100 points from my first practice test.

I took a MGMAT practice test (no essays, timed precisely including 8 minute breaks) and got a 580 (Q36, V37). A month later, after only studying quant from MGMAT, I took a GMATPrep test and scored 680 (Q42, V40). I know I have a lot of room to improve as 4 out of the nine questions I got wrong in quant were from sections I had yet to get to from MGMAT and I have not (still haven't two weeks later) looked at any verbal sections.

I think you can absolutely improve your score more than 100 points with the right and right amount of preparation. In fact, I think it is crazy to suggest you cannot. But, my wife does always say I can beleive six impossible things before breakfast...

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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:48 am
My first diagnostic score was a 550. I just got a 730 yesterday, so you can definitely improve by more than 100 points.
https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-retake-o ... 51414.html

Brandon Dorsey
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Veritas Prep

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by NotinFresno » Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:56 pm
osirus0830 wrote:My first diagnostic score was a 550. I just got a 730 yesterday, so you can definitely improve by more than 100 points.
Osirius0830,

Congrats! I'm assuming the 730 was the real thing? If so, would you mind sharing how long it took you and what methods you employed? Or maybe if you've posted a debrief in the "I just beat the GMAT" forum, the link? Thanks. Great job!

P.S. Ooops, never mind. Sorry, I just noticed your sig. :)

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by AurobindoSaha » Sat Jun 26, 2010 7:18 pm
Great replies, thanks to all of you. Feeling inspired now. Thanks a ton for rejuvenating my morale.
Thanks
Aurobindo

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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Sat Jun 26, 2010 8:20 pm
NotinFresno wrote:
osirus0830 wrote:My first diagnostic score was a 550. I just got a 730 yesterday, so you can definitely improve by more than 100 points.
Osirius0830,

Congrats! I'm assuming the 730 was the real thing? If so, would you mind sharing how long it took you and what methods you employed? Or maybe if you've posted a debrief in the "I just beat the GMAT" forum, the link? Thanks. Great job!

P.S. Ooops, never mind. Sorry, I just noticed your sig. :)
Thanks for the congrats. Here is my debrief.

https://www.beatthegmat.com/hold-on-let- ... 60147.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-retake-o ... 51414.html

Brandon Dorsey
GMAT Instructor
Veritas Prep

Buy any Veritas Prep book(s) and receive access to 5 Practice Cats for free! Learn More.

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by gmatmachoman » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:20 am
Congrats Osirus!!

Well done bro!!

That was a solid score...Congrats once again..