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Stuck in the low to mid 500s! Need advice.

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Stuck in the low to mid 500s! Need advice.

by 04spatel » Thu Dec 25, 2014 8:51 pm
It took me a little over 6 months to learn the foundation and go through all the Veritas Prep 12 Books. The last two months is where I've been really practising and placing more effort, however I have not seen any improvement in my score from September, if anything actually scored lower on my recent CATS on the GMAT prep software at 510 compared to 570 on Veritas Prep as I was unable to do the last 10 questions on Quant due to timing.

I wrote the exam two months ago and received a very disappointing score. One of the schools I really want to attend, their deadline is coming up and so I am scheduled to write the exam in 3 days (prior to year end) and I'm in no where the range I want to be in.

The more I look at the questions now, I can't seem to think given the prolonged studying on this. Part of me wants to give up, as I'm really struggling with the timing and quant portion.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

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by [email protected] » Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:04 pm
Hi 04spatel,

You're not the first person to get "stuck" during their studies, so you're not alone. Since you're posting about this relatively late into the process, I'd like to know a bit more about how you've been studying before I offer any suggestions.

1) What is your goal Score?
2) How did you score on your Official GMAT (including Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
3) What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on your recent CATS?
4) When are the Round 3 deadlines for the Schools that you're interested in?
5) Have you used any GMAT resources besides the books that you mentioned?

Chances are that it will take a bit of time to fix whatever problems you're having, so you might need to push back your applications. I know that that idea probably doesn't make you happy, but if the REAL goal is to get into your first choice Business School, then some adjustments to your plan will likely have to be made. Thankfully, the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Exam, so you CAN train to CRUSH it. You just haven't gotten to that level yet.

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:02 am
04spatel wrote:....I'm really struggling with the timing and quant portion.
I feel for you, 04spatel.
A LOT of students struggle with timing and quants. Here's some advice:

Regarding time management: I suggest that you use the following Milestone Charts to keep you on track:
Image
We (at GMAT Prep Now) feel that these times are easily remembered so you can quickly jot them on your noteboard on test day.

This (and more) is covered in our free GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244

Also, when you're just answering practice questions, it's a good idea to use a stopwatch to help get an idea of what 2 minutes feels like. This tip and others can be found in my BTG articles on "making friends with time on the GMAT"
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/06/ ... mat-part-i
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/07/ ... at-part-ii


Regarding improving at quants:
To improve your quantitative score, I believe that you should compartmentalize your learning and take the time to master each topic (e.g., percents, ratios, exponents, statistics, etc.). This means that, for each topic, you should:
1) Learn the underlying concepts (rules, attributes, notation, etc.)
2) Learn GMAT-specific strategies related to that topic
3) Practice dozens of questions all related to that one topic.
4) Don't stop working on that topic until you have mastered it

Then, and only then, move on to the next topic.

To help you focus on one topic at a time, you can use BTG's tagging feature. For example, here are all of the questions tagged as statistics questions: https://www.beatthegmat.com/forums/tags/ ... statistics
See the left side of that linked page for more tag options.

While completing questions from the Official Guide (OG), you should you use an Error Log (aka Improvement Chart). You can find a free downloadable Improvement Chart here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-error-log. This will help you identify and strengthen your weak areas.

You should also spend A LOT of time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site. They model the steps one should take when tackling math problems.

Finally, you might consider signing up for Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide).
Each day, you'll receive an email with a series of learning activities that guide you, step-by-step, from Day 1 to test day. This will ensure that you will cover everything that the GMAT tests.

Here's an outline of all 60 emails: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide-outline

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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by manyaabroadtpr » Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:25 pm
Hi,

You have a dream and you want to get to it. That's it. Nothing else matters. Everything that comes in the way is a hurdle, you shall cross it and reach your dream soon.

Try this. Take a full length practise test and time it for 2 hours. Spend the next 4-5 hours in analysing your performance. Go through each and every question, find out a better, smarter and a faster way to attempt the same question. Take a note of all points.

Take another practise test after 2 days and apply all the strategies that you learnt in the first test. Keep doing this consistently and we are hopeful that your score will improve.

We would also advice you to get connect with a mentor or may be a coaching institute. Sometimes, an experienced mentor may be to see things which you are unable to. Getting a fresh perspective on your preparation is highly recommended.

Don't get frustrated, believe in your dreams and keep moving forward.

Do let us know if you would have any specific questions regarding gmat preparation and we would be happy to guide. Wish you the best.

www.manyagroup.com
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by 04spatel » Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:02 pm
Thanks Rich and everyone else for the responses.

1. My goal score is in the low 600s
2. On the official GMAT the scores were: Q 27 V 33 - 510 (34th percentile)
3. On the recent CATS it was: veritas Q 35 V 34 - 570
Q 28 V 38 - 550
gmat prep Q V - 510
4. I missed the round 3 deadlines for the schools that I'm interested in starting this April. I'm considering 2016 April start now for which round 1 deadlines are early as April or round 3 deadlines for schools starting in Fall also in April.


5. I have used Veritas Prep's 12 books to master the foundation and used their practice questions and tests, as well as OG and GMAT Prep.

I am struggling with quick thinking on the word problems, number properties/factors & data sufficiency with inequalities.

I am considering purchasing Magoosh to restart the studies after a 3 week break. But before that I wanted to re-strategize so I'm not studying the same way and thus getting the same results. I feel I have already spent way too much time studying (incorrectly perhaps) and want to focus how I can develop a study plan of a month or two to achieve the desired results without spending too much on resources.

Any feedback/tips would be grately appreciated.

Thanks
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by MartyMurray » Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:23 pm
04spatel,

In addition to being involved in education, I am into helping people heal. So from hearing a person talk I can get a pretty good sense of what is going on with him.

To me it sounds as if part of the reason you are having difficulty raising your score is that are repressing something, and maybe even experienced earlier in life some emotional trauma that is affecting you to this day. Having something like that going on can take up much energy and can also slow down a person's thought processes.

So you might want to look into meditation, introspection or using some kind of emotional release technique to process whatever it is you have going on.

I for one have noticed immediate results from doing a little meditation to process any issues that might get in the way of accuracy or success, and I have seen others radically change the results they are getting with just a little change in psychology.

Beyond that, what you have been doing so far sounds a little book heavy, as if you are studying for a math test. My suggestion is that at this point you start playing this test more as if it were a video game. Maybe Magoosh would be a good forum for that. I know that for quant, but not really verbal, the BellCurves question bank can be a great video game. Even their question bank is computer adaptive. So you could go there and do question after question and see the results in terms of time and accuracy. The explanations are sometimes great and sometimes not so great, but with those hundreds of problems to do, you can get used to figuring out your own cool approaches to solving problems.

Still, seriously consider what I said about the emotional stuff. From just doing that you could see a huge change, as could pretty much anyone really.
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by manyaabroadtpr » Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:26 pm
Hi 04spatel,

As you are pretty sorted with the study material.Here's something that you should try from hereon to improve your scores and make them reach towards where you want.

Give as many mock tests as possible in next few weeks in the real test taking environment. However, more than giving the mock test, it is critical that you spend enough time in analyzing your performance in the same. Typically if you spend 2 hours on mock test, spend 5-6 hours in analyzing your performance in the same. Go through each and every question and figure out a better, smarter and a faster way of doing the same question.

Take a note of all the points and then make sure you apply them in the next test. Keep doing this consistently and you will see your score going up.

In case, there are any specific queries, please do let us know and we would be happy to guide you.

Wish you the best for your preparation.

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by [email protected] » Tue Jan 20, 2015 11:37 pm
Hi 04spatel,

Since you've been studying a certain way for the last 6+ months, you've likely developed some "bad habits" that are making it difficult for you to score at a higher level. You're actually not that far from scoring in the 600s, but some changes will clearly have to be made.

When it comes to investing in a GMAT product, it's usually best to try it out first. Most GMAT companies offer some type of free resources (practice problems, Trial Accounts, videos, etc.), so that you can "test out" a product before you buy it. The gauge is relatively simple - use the resources and see if they help you to improve (re: they show you easy ways to answer questions, help you to understand the content, show you tactics, etc.). In that way, you can try out the product(s) before you buy it/them and get a better sense of the usefulness of the material. You're ultimately looking for something that matches your personality, timeline and budget.

Taking a short break is a good idea, just don't wait too long to get back into your studies. While having to continue studying and retake the GMAT is rarely anyone's goal, you do have some advantages for this next round of studies. You've experienced the GMAT and you know what's on it, so there won't really be any surprises. You also have a pretty good sense of the subject matter than you're not great at YET. It's now going to be about learning new ways to "see" (and respond to) the Test so that you can pick up those missing points and fix your pacing problems.

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by VivianKerr » Wed Jan 21, 2015 12:24 am
Low 600's is SUPER do-able. I'd perhaps migrate from Veritas Prep to MGMAT and perhaps consider a few sessions with a reliable tutor. MGMAT is slightly more challenging material, IMO, and there's NO WAY your Verbal score won't improve with some quality time with the MGMAT SC book. Here are the questions to answer:

1) Strategy -- HOW are you approaching each question-type? Are you utilizing your scratch paper in the most efficient way possible. See attachment for some ideas. And an RC example here:

2) Content -- how well do you know WHAT you don't know? Can you rank for me the top 3 CR question-types you miss the most often? No? Then you need to REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW. Create an Error Log. An Error Log is a spreadsheet designed to help you track your incorrect questions for later review. Add to it on an ongoing basis after every CAT then select 3-4 concepts to MASTER over the next week based on what you're missing the most often.

3) Pacing -- you should be doing pacing drills at least every other day! Both within certain Q-types (all RC, or all DS, for example), and using a mix of problems. The OG is a great resource for this! You should also be utilizing benchmarks in all your CATs.

Hope this gives you food for thought. If I were you, I'd buy MGMAT's SC and Number Properties books, work from their 6 CATs as well as go through all 4 of the official GMATPrep CATs with a fine tooth comb, and use the OG15 for any additional practice that is needed. Use a tutor to set up a solid Study Plan and keep you motivated and then STICK WITH IT. Your target score is extremely possible!! :-)
Attachments
GMATRockstar - Strategy Cheat Sheet.pdf
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GMAT_ScoreRubric.gif
PacingBenchmarks.png
Vivian Kerr
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Former Kaplan and Grockit instructor, freelance GMAT content creator, now offering affordable, effective, Skype-tutoring for the GMAT at $150/hr. Contact: [email protected]

Thank you for all the "thanks" and "follows"! :-)
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