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Is there such thing as a GMAT plateau?

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Is there such thing as a GMAT plateau?

by Gabrielle_TO » Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:12 am
Hi there:

I've been studying for the GMAT for over a year, a long journey like for some has included hundreds of hours, classes, books, practice exams and (two) actual GMATs. I'm gearing up for my third attempt at the GMAT but I feel like I've hit a bit of a plateau, both in terms of my score but also my motivation. I'm wondering if there is such thing as a plateau score (i.e. that number that's very difficult to get beyond) and if you have any tips to push past this. My next exam is scheduled in 11 days and I'm wondering if more time will really make a big difference. I can't imagine I'll want to take the GMAT a fourth time.

My main gap is Quant which has stayed around the 55-65% range, with Verbal being my consistent strong suit at 88%+. I have the most problems with Problem Solving in Quant, including number properties and algebra. On the Verbal side it's consistently Sentence Correction that lowers my score (almost all other Qs I can get correct).

In terms of resources, I've done the following since March 2013:

- Veritas Course (twice) + online exams
- OG13 (almost all of the questions), mostly focused on quant
- OG Quant supplement (just started)
- MGMAT books
- MGMAT CATS
- GMAC exams #1-4

GMAT1: 660 (Q42, V39)
- December 2013
- In line with practice exams before actual GMAT

GMAT2: 630 (Q36, V40)
- March 2013
- choked on the math due to stress, was hitting 700 on GMAC practice exams leading up to this take, which was really heartbreaking when that score popped up

Any help and motivational tips would be very much appreciated :) I hope to share my "I beat the GMAT" story here one day, but until then, I'm fighting to stay afloat.

I'm also questioning if I should just focus on my strong suit (Verbal) and aim for 99%+ to bring my score up, even if I get a 55-65% in Math. Not a perfect strategy, but desperate times...

Gabrielle
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by Dan@VinciaPrep » Mon Jun 16, 2014 8:36 am
Hi Gabrielle,
Yes, there probably is a plateau, but no I don't think you've hit it. I usually have all of my students do all of the OG 13, and the OG quant book, and then have them redo all of the questions that they had trouble with. It's this second review that is particularly powerful. Also, since you've done so a bunch of practice tests I would go back through and work through all of those mistakes again as well. A lot of people make the mistake of doing thousands of questions without doing the questions really well. This results in making the same mistake over and over again (although you probably wouldn't realize it if you didn't redo all the questions a second time.) I probably wouldn't do the RC and CR questions a second time though because most people don't get much out of doing them twice.

As for what you should focus on, you should probably finish up the math questions and then start your review. You should also probably do at least two more practice test (probably the GMAC tests for a second time if you haven't already- you probably won't get any repeats)

Finally, for motivation, perhaps one of the best ways to get motivated is to see improve. Here again- this is the nice thing about reviewing and seeing that you've gotten better. Remember- as long as you're learning you're moving in the right direction even if you don't see a linear increase in your score

Good luck!
Dan
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by [email protected] » Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:41 am
Hi Gabrielle_TO,

There's certainly an argument to be made that most Test Takers have an "upper range" to their respective abilities, but on the GMAT, that range is defined more by HOW you approach questions than anything else. This means that "your way" of doing things has gotten you to your current score level. Since there are clearly more points to be had, you'll have to change your approach a bit to raise your score.

The tricky part right now is that you've been approaching the GMAT in this way (for so long) that 11 days is probably not enough time to teach you some new tactics AND have you practice them enough that they become your "go to" tactics. Do you have any flexibility to push your Test Date back? An extra month of study time, along with the proper materials, could be just what you need to bump up your Quant score.

I assume that your goal is 700+. While you could squeeze out a few more points from the Verbal section, you have a much greater "opportunity" in the Quant. In general terms, Business Schools tend to be more impressed by a higher Quant score than a higher Verbal one. Earning a high GMAT score with a higher Verbal would not hurt your application though.

Both of your GMAT scores are solid (both are right around the 80th percentile), so neither is a "bad" score. What schools are you planning to apply to? A retest might not be necessary.

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by VivianKerr » Tue Jun 24, 2014 12:42 am
Hey Gabrielle,

What a great question. Absolutely. We all "plateau" because we just don't know what to do anymore. The problem is most GMAT-preppers equate time-spent, books-read, and questions-answered with automatic improvement. But I get a LOT of private students who are refugees from test prep courses that they thought would do it all for them, or their own haphazard study. You might be a mix of the two.

It sounds like you've had an intense year, and you could very well be burnt out. At the end of the day, you have to decide what GMAT score you REALLY want (and if you can afford the time/effort it takes to achieve it), and when you're willing to "walk away."

With Quant in the 55-65% range, I'd venture to say there's still some serious gaps in your content knowledge. Do you REALLY know what you don't know. You say problems with "number properties and algebra" but those are BOTH two of the widest categories of GMAT Quant. Can you pinpoint even more specifically which Q-types you're missing and WHY? What was your practice CAT schedule. It really sticks out to me that your GMATPrep 1 and GMATPrep 2 were 4 months apart. Did you take other CATs in between (MGMAT/Veritas Prep, etc.)?

One year of part-time GMAT study is tough, because you're probably spreading yourself too thin. I personally think it's better to take 2-3 months off work (or work part time) and wholly devote yourself to GMAT. How on earth you can remember something you learned 9 months ago is beyond me. It's inconceivable and a recipe for lack of success.

Bottom line: I think you're spread way too thin. I would take the GMATPrep 3 now (you'll have to buy this on mba.com) so you can accurately see where you're really at, but my guess is somewhere in the mid-600's still. If you know you need a 700+, you should push your GMAT back 2 months and set up a realistic study schedule with a tutor.

In the meantime, here's 10 ways you can step up your GMAT study (hopefully it puts you back in the GMAT mood!): https://gmatrockstar.com/2014/06/17/10-w ... this-year/

Good luck!
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]

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