Advice Requested - 660 GMAT (Q42, V40)....Top 10 schools...

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I just took my GMAT after 2 months of preparation and scored much lower than any of my practice tests, and was essentially quite upset by the above score. I used the OGs, Manhattan GMAT guides, and GMATPrep. On 5 Manhattan GMAT CATs and on 4 takes of the GMAT Prep I consistently scored in the 720-740 range, with one score of 770. In fact, my lowest score ever was a 690 (Which was the very first practice test I took). Needless to say, I expected to do better than I did.

My verbal score is pretty reflective of where I had been scoring, but my quant is much lower than where I had been consistently scoring. I am retaking the test, but could use the advice of people on this forum on how best to prepare.

I can't tell if I just had an off day, and am pretty confounded as to what to focus my prep on over the next month. In general, like most people, my weakness is in data sufficiency, so the best plan I can think of is to focus on getting all the data sufficiency questions in the OG right in 2 minutes or less, and really understand why the answer it is what it is.

FYI - I plan to apply to select top 10 schools...HBS, Stanford..

Lastly, I know people say schools like to see scores in the 40s for both sections, but given my quant on this performance is in the 63 percentile, I am assuming this will hurt me for the top schools. Right?

Any advice/thoughts/encouragement would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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by hajarf » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:56 pm
I am very sorry for ur experience :( did u get nervous or did u lose concentration or sth?

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by convolutedsignal » Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:39 pm
Hi,

Guess we are in the same boat - I too scored 660 (Q 49, V 31), AWA 6.0, on 1st July, when my scores in GMATPrep were 730 and 740; I never scored less than 710 on any test, and 660 was quite a shock - however, life must go on -

I made a detailed repertoire of my exam experience and areas of strength/weakness, etc., right after I got back. I am now practising MGMATs (710 on M1 Free, 700 on M2) and am realizing that I need to work on RC and SC, and somewhat DS.

The key is, working on your weak areas - did you feel that you were struggling in some particular section of the paper? I think, I did on DS and mainly RC - and also need to mend SC, which is difficult to gauge, i.e. whether you are right or wrong.

That is 20% - i.e. the preparation part. The other 80% - is exam temparament - which means you need to shed this baggage at the end of the day - you worked hard, managed to score really well on the prep test, but nature/god/destiny did not stand by you on the test day - it pains bacause you scored earlier - but remember - it would ain even more if you did not score in your reattempt. Colleges will only consider your actual score.

I would recommend - leave everything for the next few days - go watch movies - chill - and get back to the study table in 2 weeks. No need to nitpick any errors - just practise your weak areas. People have scored 100-120 more points in their 2nd attempt - be positive, and start with a full vigor.

There is no other cookie cutter.

Best of luck, and wish me best of luck :)

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thx!

by top10hopeful » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:51 am
thx convoluted - it's encouraging to know im not alone. i think i struggle with data suff. so that is where i am going to focus my "re-prep." i honestly felt the verbal was "easy" but I should have done better than V40 if it was that easy - so clearly there must be room for improvement. best of luck! when are u retaking?

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by convolutedsignal » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:43 am
I have not decided..but one can choose a date even 0-1 days in advance, as for any given day/slot, people start rescheduling a week earlier..and if you feel on Monday that u are ready...take it on Tuesday! Going by that mindset.

I am meanwhile, not preparing for the next few days...My original date for the exam was August 18, but I felt I was ready so took it on 1Jul..atleast I have some time to improve now...so that was a positive..

whats your profile ?