GMAT Strategy

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

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!