GMAT Strategy

Hi all,

Just looking to see if there's anyone out there who has continued to score below desired range in the final days before taking the test, but ended up scoring way higher on test day. I began my preparation back in July 2012 through the Manhattan online course, which I thought was great and really helped a lot. My first practice exam, before any prep, was a 510. This was frustrating, but I didn't think much of it since I had literally not yet studied for one minute. Weeks later I took another MGMAT CAT and got a 670 (I'm aiming for a 700+), and I was very happy to be getting into close range of what I'm shooting for. The first thing I told myself was to not let this score get to my head since I still had lots of preparation to do. After the course ended I went away for 2 weeks and did not study in that time, but upon coming home got right back to the grind. I took another MGMAT CAT about a month ago and scored 580. I was really disappointed, but continued to work real hard. 3 weeks later scored another 580 and was crushed. I got over it quickly, continued to study 3-4 hours a night after work and more than that on weekends, and a week later (last week), got up to 640. I was happier with this but still know I need to do better.

Today I took my first practice exam with GMAT Prep, since I heard its generally more accurate to the real thing. I overall did better on Quant but much worse on Verbal, and felt my heart sink when I just saw 590. I'm scheduled to take the exam in 6 days and not seeing my scores improve is a sickening feeling when I think of how hard I've worked these last 4 months. I've read through the Manhattan guide books each twice, spent hours upon hours in the OG, and spend at least as much time going over wrong answers as I have actually doing the problems. I've done the online labs from Manhattan, taken tons of notes on everything and gone over them. I don't understand what I'm doing that's preventing my scores from improving.

The #1 thing for me right now is trying to stay positive and not get discouraged, but with 6 days until exam day and the feeling that all this hard work has been for nothing except for the "I did my best" feeling (which doesn't make me feel any better, and unfortunately doesn't help with B School admissions), I need any advice or motivation anyone is willing to give.

I'm particularly hoping there are stories of people who may have been in my situation not having done well on practice tests, then getting it together on test day and scoring much higher. My plan is to calm myself down this afternoon and watch some football, then get back to the books tonight and this whole week and praying for a miracle on Saturday.

Please help!

If you had given your best in the gmat prep test, then it is highly improbable to score 700+ considering your present score. While it is good not to get demotivated or lose confidence you should decide whats best as well. If you hav enough time for the deadlines, it would be wise to reschedule the test. Also ensure that you have crossed the 700 barrier in the mocks. Another option would be to give it now for experience and retake if you dont get your target score. Again this depends on the deadlines and the time you are about to spend for application. Equal importance should be given to application as well. Decide soon. Hope this helps.

I agree with sam2304 that you should consider rescheduling the test. GMAT Prep is the most reliable prep test available and it is highly likely that your score from the real exam will be very close to the result from the GMAT Prep test.

If you're taking the test within seven days, I don't really see any advantage in cancelling - go and take it. You'll get the actual test center experience, you'll be able to see how you perform in that type of pressure situation, and you won't have just flushed $250 down the toilet!

I don't see any disadvantage to taking this test versus not taking it and forfeiting the $250 fee, but if there is - please someone post that reason. Would a b-school look unfavorably if Jimbo took the test and got a low score and brought it up on the next test? I don't think so, but possibly.

My advice to you would be, take the next GMATPrep, see how you do. This might boost your confidence a bit, but those GMATPrep tests are insanely accurate. Either way, I don't see any advantage to cancelling or rescheduling at less than 7 days out. According to the GMAT website, you lose your fee.

Good luck.

Sometimes people do well on the actual GMAT inspite of poor performance on practice tests but the word here is "sometimes" i.e. it doesn't happen often. I'd rather take the GMAT a little later than end up taking the test on the hope that a miracle will happen