GMAT Strategy

Hello Stacey,

Thank you for answering my PM and for helping me to build a new strategy in order to improve my score. It's been almost a month since I explained my situation to you, so here the highlights:

I've been studying for almost 10 months and I am having serious problems to improve my score. I've done the GMAT twice. The first time I did the GMAT I didn't have enough preparation and I really push it too much thinking I was going to do well in a "simple" test by just doing some problems. Very stubborn of my part.
In order to do the test again, I prepared myself very well during the last winter, studying by myself and with a friend who is very good in math (my main issue at that time).

On my second GMAT I got 490. On the practice tests I was scoring between 580-650 and I did all the exercises from the OG 10th and 12th Edition getting 80% on everything, so of course I was very disappointed with the 490. This score difference between my practice tests and my real GMAT makes me think that I already have the knowledge in my head, so maybe the strategy of doing and doing exercises from my books is not working anymore.

One of your advices is to take a MGMAT practice test under full official conditions (including the essays), and then analyze my results using this article. https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/09/ ... tice-tests

What if I do the 1st test without timing? I am not saying I am going to spend an entire day solving it, but I think it would help to see if the problem is with knowledge, with managing the time during the test or even something to do with stamina. I won't spend more than 2min30seg in each question. My analysis here is that if at the end I get a good score, then we'll know the problem is not with knowledge and I will have to work more on managing the time per question. What do you think? Is it a bad idea at all?

I am applying for an MSc in Administration, not an MBA and I am not applying to a top 10 business school. The requirement is at least 550 and even if it sounds that I've given up, after all that I've done in almost 1 year to beat the GMAT, I honestly will be more than happy with 560-600. My 1st language is not English. Lately I'm getting the feeling that this test is bigger than me and I'm getting tired. A month ago I took a CAT practice test and I got 480.
It's been a month since I haven't touched my books, so I'm planning to do some exercises to warm up and do a MGMAT test in 4 days.

I hope to hear from you soon,
Thank you ,

Carol