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GMAT Prep score 420 - Help!

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GMAT Prep score 420 - Help!

by Night reader » Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:53 pm
Got actual GMAT score 420 last year (November) - q 25, v 22. I was studying one month: Manhattan quants+Nova's geometry+SC Manhattan. I did not work through OG 11, only diagnostic test was completed by me for quants - Prbl solving 8 correct/24 questions and Data sufficiency 13 correct /24 questions. Sat for GMAT prep today, got score 420 again - q 28, v 20. I missed last 12 questions - guessed for running out of time in quants; missed last three questions in verbal - no time. Please advise - I need to score high 600s.
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by ashokkadam » Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:34 pm
I would highly recommend you to pick up Princeton Review-Cracking the GMAT or the Official Guide and understand all about how the CAT systems works for the GMAT. I think you must first know the system and work on your test taking ability. Get familiarized how the CAT works. Hope that helps.
Night reader wrote:Got actual GMAT score 420 last year (November) - q 25, v 22. I was studying one month: Manhattan quants+Nova's geometry+SC Manhattan. I did not work through OG 11, only diagnostic test was completed by me for quants - Prbl solving 8 correct/24 questions and Data sufficiency 13 correct /24 questions. Sat for GMAT prep today, got score 420 again - q 28, v 20. I missed last 12 questions - guessed for running out of time in quants; missed last three questions in verbal - no time. Please advise - I need to score high 600s.
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by Night reader » Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:31 pm
ashokkadam wrote:I would highly recommend you to pick up Princeton Review-Cracking the GMAT or the Official Guide and understand all about how the CAT systems works for the GMAT. I think you must first know the system and work on your test taking ability. Get familiarized how the CAT works. Hope that helps.

Ashokkadam, thanks for advice. I have downloaded Princeton Review-Cracking the Gmat, and I got all insights into the testing system. I also get familiarized with the note of another GMAT preparation guru, don't remember exactly at which site I read this - 40% of GMAT score is theory and books for preparation, 70% of score is practice. So I must suffice myself with the GMAT's prep quants scaled score of mine 28 with 12 missed and totally wrong answered questions by now? I am all deep in OG11 at this moment. Please advise if something in my preparation way is beyond the success route. I am intending to sit for real GMAT by the first week of November. Am I able to score high 600s by then, just curious?
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by ashokkadam » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:12 pm
You are welcome. Follow OG11 like a Bible. It is the best book to start with. Ideally 3 months are required to crack GMAT.
I suggest you to follow 3-month study plan. You may visit that article here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... -prep-plan

However, since you are planning to take GMAT in November, you can follow 1-month study plan.
Here is that article-
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... study-plan
Night reader wrote:
ashokkadam wrote:I would highly recommend you to pick up Princeton Review-Cracking the GMAT or the Official Guide and understand all about how the CAT systems works for the GMAT. I think you must first know the system and work on your test taking ability. Get familiarized how the CAT works. Hope that helps.

Ashokkadam, thanks for advice. I have downloaded Princeton Review-Cracking the Gmat, and I got all insights into the testing system. I also get familiarized with the note of another GMAT preparation guru, don't remember exactly at which site I read this - 40% of GMAT score is theory and books for preparation, 70% of score is practice. So I must suffice myself with the GMAT's prep quants scaled score of mine 28 with 12 missed and totally wrong answered questions by now? I am all deep in OG11 at this moment. Please advise if something in my preparation way is beyond the success route. I am intending to sit for real GMAT by the first week of November. Am I able to score high 600s by then, just curious?
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by Victory_GMAT » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:31 pm
Night reader wrote:Got actual GMAT score 420 last year (November) - q 25, v 22. I was studying one month: Manhattan quants+Nova's geometry+SC Manhattan. I did not work through OG 11, only diagnostic test was completed by me for quants - Prbl solving 8 correct/24 questions and Data sufficiency 13 correct /24 questions. Sat for GMAT prep today, got score 420 again - q 28, v 20. I missed last 12 questions - guessed for running out of time in quants; missed last three questions in verbal - no time. Please advise - I need to score high 600s.
Don't worry. Never give up keep working you will get it. Focus on Verbal extensively.
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by Night reader » Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:56 pm
ashokkadam wrote:You are welcome. Follow OG11 like a Bible. It is the best book to start with. Ideally 3 months are required to crack GMAT.
I suggest you to follow 3-month study plan. You may visit that article here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... -prep-plan

However, since you are planning to take GMAT in November, you can follow 1-month study plan.
Here is that article-
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... study-plan

Hi Ashokkadam, I have done GMAT prep test 1. By being cautious about CAT and how I should walk through the test I ended up with the same amount of mistakes and the same number of missed questions in quants, but at this time my scaled score was 38! Last time I scored 28. My actual GMAT score in November 2009 was even less 25. I am still drilling into OG11 quants and working with verbal content. My question is how I should cope with the time constraints of test. I feel like even after finishing OG11 I will not be able to navigate myself time-wise in the real exam. Please, advise. Also, I have noticed at this time that CAT was very responsive to my answers, and every time I picked up the seemingly correct answer the next question would be more challenging and time consuming for coming to solution. Only for one question I gave up during the test. The remaining questions were clear to me; my problem in the test was time constraint. I started quick guessing after the question 22 and ended up with 14 incorrect answers (not total though - only questions from 22 through 37). Please advise. If I were able not to guess but to answer on at least 50% of the missed questions correctly (after question 22) would my scaled quants score be positively affected and how in your opinion this could be reflected in GMAT quant scales?
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by ashokkadam » Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:51 pm
I get you. it seems you are good at concepts but struggling with timing issues. Just try taking un-timed practice tests and analyse the score. If you do very well, then start taking timed tests for each section(PS,DS,CR,SC,RC) and then move on to timed full-length test.
Night reader wrote:
ashokkadam wrote:You are welcome. Follow OG11 like a Bible. It is the best book to start with. Ideally 3 months are required to crack GMAT.
I suggest you to follow 3-month study plan. You may visit that article here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... -prep-plan

However, since you are planning to take GMAT in November, you can follow 1-month study plan.
Here is that article-
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... study-plan

Hi Ashokkadam, I have done GMAT prep test 1. By being cautious about CAT and how I should walk through the test I ended up with the same amount of mistakes and the same number of missed questions in quants, but at this time my scaled score was 38! Last time I scored 28. My actual GMAT score in November 2009 was even less 25. I am still drilling into OG11 quants and working with verbal content. My question is how I should cope with the time constraints of test. I feel like even after finishing OG11 I will not be able to navigate myself time-wise in the real exam. Please, advise. Also, I have noticed at this time that CAT was very responsive to my answers, and every time I picked up the seemingly correct answer the next question would be more challenging and time consuming for coming to solution. Only for one question I gave up during the test. The remaining questions were clear to me; my problem in the test was time constraint. I started quick guessing after the question 22 and ended up with 14 incorrect answers (not total though - only questions from 22 through 37). Please advise. If I were able not to guess but to answer on at least 50% of the missed questions correctly (after question 22) would my scaled quants score be positively affected and how in your opinion this could be reflected in GMAT quant scales?
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by Night reader » Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:35 am
How I can get CAT and untimed modes with the same practice test. I wonder whether GMAT prep allows for over-timed testing, e.g. 75 min-s past the Quant section?

Please advise untimed practice test resources.
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by Night reader » Mon Oct 04, 2010 3:03 am
Night reader wrote:How I can get CAT and untimed modes with the same practice test. I wonder whether GMAT prep allows for over-timed testing, e.g. 75 min-s past the Quant section?

Please advise untimed practice test resources.
Ashokkadam, my performance in OG11 follows correct answers - 82% DS, 88% PS. OG11 diagnostic test score for SC section was 10/18 (10 correct). At that I am an experienced foreign language practitioner (not national). In 2003, my TOEFL Pbt scaled scores were 100% grammar and writing expressions and 96% reading comprehension. I understand that GMAT verbal is a way different and tough though. Still, I count on my knowledge in verbal area.

After analyzing my pros and cons and all whereabouts I came to devise the plan through early November - the expected date of GDay. For Quants - I shall complete OG11 and sit for OG12 with time controls. Some questions will overlap, yet I may coach myself time-wise. I will keep doing a 15-question set with GMAT prep to develop further CAT test taking ability and be placed under time control. I will take all seven-eight freely available on-line tests - Knewton, MGMAT, Princeton, etc. to assess my abilities at the close end of October - last week.

For a verbal I will use my knowledge and work extensively with flashcards to reinstate the forgotten concepts and install GMAT verbal formulas into my disposal. I will test myself with OG11 and keep testing with GMAT prep 15-question sets under time control. I face no time constraint in verbal. Usually I finish with 5-10 mins to spare. It is just the stamina I miss to put into test process for verbal. When I approach verbal, I want just to skip this to see my quant score sooner. At this time, my approach will differ, and I should work extensively through verbal part.

CR of verbal part will not be too much challenge for me, as I have taken a dozen of professional designation exams. The latter would require solid critical reasoning abilities. I will go over all OG11 CR questions surely.

Please advise how realistic is my plan? I need to cross 700 for PhD programs. The app. dates are early December.

Thanks in advance.
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by ashokkadam » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:14 am
Manhattan GMAT allows you to take their 6 CATS in untimed mode.
Night reader wrote:How I can get CAT and untimed modes with the same practice test. I wonder whether GMAT prep allows for over-timed testing, e.g. 75 min-s past the Quant section?

Please advise untimed practice test resources.
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by Night reader » Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:12 pm
Hello Ashokkadam, I am done 50% with OG11 for quants (PS, DS). I did not look any into verbal materials in OG 11. I have completed another GMAT prep today for level identification purpose of mine. My quant score is now 42, and verbal sucks below what I scored last year, it's only 21. I have read BTG flash cards. My weakest areas in verbal are RC - just terrible to my surprise and CR - the same.

Any advice appreciated. Basically I am targeting at least 39 score in verbal.
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