GMAT Prep score 420 - Help! - The Beat The GMAT Forum - Expert GMAT Help & MBA Admissions Advice

GMAT Prep score 420 - Help!

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Night reader: Legendary Member; Posts: 1337; Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pmFollowed by: 10 members; Thanked: 127 times

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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ashokkadam: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 210; Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:25 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 6 times

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.

Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins.

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Night reader: Legendary Member; Posts: 1337; Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pmFollowed by: 10 members; Thanked: 127 times

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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ashokkadam: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 210; Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:25 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 6 times

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?

Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins.

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Victory_GMAT: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 87; Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:18 am; Thanked: 6 times

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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Night reader: Legendary Member; Posts: 1337; Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pmFollowed by: 10 members; Thanked: 127 times

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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ashokkadam: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 210; Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:25 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 6 times

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?

Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins.

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Night reader: Legendary Member; Posts: 1337; Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pmFollowed by: 10 members; Thanked: 127 times

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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Night reader: Legendary Member; Posts: 1337; Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pmFollowed by: 10 members; Thanked: 127 times

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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ashokkadam: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 210; Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:25 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 6 times

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.

Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins.

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Night reader: Legendary Member; Posts: 1337; Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pmFollowed by: 10 members; Thanked: 127 times

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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