I just Beat The GMAT!

Hi All,

So after three months of pretty diligent study, I finally took the GMAT today. My goal was at least a 700. I used gmatprepnow.com videos, Official Guide, as well as Official Guides Verbal & Quant 2nd Edition supplemental books.

Exam scores were as follows:
610 - Q33, V40
580 - Q39, V31
690 - Q42, V42
690 - Q40, V44

My actual GMAT ended up being:
650 - Q42, V38

Obviously, based on my scores from before I would have expected the opposite - a lower Quant score compared with my Verbal score. Needless to say, I believe that my nerves got the best of me during the end of the exam - I started to get anxious to finish the test. I didn't leave any time on the clock for either section, but my focus probably wasn't 100% there towards the end.

One key takeaway that needs to be communicated to all is that you NEED TO BE CALM, COOL & COLLECTED during this exam. Definitely, the exam itself (content, structure) is hard enough, but this exam is also an exam of your test taking skills. If you work hard, you will be able to conquer the GMAT.

I'm writing for another reason too. I'll definitely be retaking the GMAT in the future because I know I'm capable of a 700+ score. I'm reaching out to the forum for a few pieces of advice:
1. Are there any recommendations on how to raise my Quant score? Like I said, I prepared by using gmatprepnow.com and the OG guides. I'd like to get my Quant score up to 44 or 45 (ideally). For my 700+, I definitely need to get better but apparently I wasn't doing the right thing.
2. During my 3 months of prep, I believed that my Verbal was my bread and butter, but based on my official 38 score, I'm starting to think otherwise. So I'll ask if there are any advanced Verbal resources I can use to get better. I really expected to get at least 42 in this area and was really upset about the 38.
3. I need to take some time off from the 3, 4 hours a day, 5,6 days a week studying that I was doing the past 3 months. That said - 2 questions: 1) if I take 2 or so months off the hardcore studying do you think that's a big problem? 2) Are there "maintenance" materials I can utilize that aren't as intensive as some other resources?

This forum is great and I know that if I continue to work hard, I'll break 700.

Thanks for the continued support.
Mike

Mike,

Congratulations on the score...!!
Taking a 2 month break will definitely impact your preparation and score.
Hence, the first advice that we could give is to try to take the test as soon as possible- since it helps you in revision, staying in touch with the subject and also leverage on your previous preparation...
About additional resources- let us know what resources are you looking for- we will be happy to help you..
Regards,
Edufortune.