GMAT Strategy

mbaorbust3 wrote:I've been studying for the GMAT for about a year now. I've consistently been able to solve the hardest math and verbal problem so I was pretty confident. However, I was completely decimated and cancelled my score (yep that bad). I just feel so defeated<i class="em em-confused"></i>

I'm so sorry to hear that. But you're not alone - this test is hard, and many people don't get the score they're hoping for on the first try.

Here are some possible explanations for why your score went down:

1. You were emphasizing content over strategy (esp timing strategy)
You said that you were able to solve all the hardest ones... but were you doing them timed? Practicing with timed practice exams, and practicing when to guess and move on? If someone does mostly individual problems but not enough CATs, their score will not improve.
https://www.beatthegmat.com/passing-the ... tml#807856
https://www.beatthegmat.com/560-to-660- ... tml#810955
https://www.beatthegmat.com/should-i-re ... tml#759283
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... st-scores/

2. Test-taking anxiety .
The real test is daunting, and a lot of people see a score dip on the real thing v. practice exams. Here are some resources to help you understand & manage anxiety:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/need-advice ... tml#816427
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... aking-out/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... mat-score/

3. You were cramming / getting enough sleep.
That kind of studying may have worked well in high school or university, but it's counterproductive on the GMAT. Your brain needs plenty of rest to perform at peak level!
https://www.beatthegmat.com/cram-60-day ... tml#571991
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -go-sleep/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... t-burnout/

4. Careless errors.
You say that you're able to solve all of the hardest problems... but were you consistently solving them without mistakes? Make sure you're tracking your errors as you're studying.
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -studying/
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-experi ... tml#824015


And here's some advice to think about for the next time:

- Train consistently, as you would for a marathon. The GMAT takes a lot of consistent practice!
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -marathon/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... oal-score/

- There's no harm in taking it multiple times! In fact, almost everyone should plan to take it at least twice.
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... mat-twice/

- The GMAT is not the most important part of your application - it's just one data point! So don't put too much pressure on it. Make sure you'e focusing on the rest of your application, too, and be flexible if you're not able to hit your target score.
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... ying-gmat/

Good luck!

Hi mbaorbust3,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day did not go as well as hoped. Business Schools generally don't care if you retake the GMAT though, so you have little to worry about in that regard. Before we can discuss how you might improve this next phase of your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
4) How did you score on the Official GMAT (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

Goals:
5) What is your goal score?
6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

You might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn't provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Hi mbaorbust3,

I'm sorry to hear how things went with your GMAT. Are you looking for advice on how to prep for a retake?