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Just got a 540 on GMAT, need 600 or more in two weeks.

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by Juanfer726 » Fri Nov 11, 2016 9:58 pm
Hi Rich,

Thank you! I took it in the same fashion as I have taken the three other CATs I've done.

1. I only took the Verbal and Quant section (skipped the essay and IR)

2. I took it at home on my desk with only my laptop in front of me, just as the other ones.

3. I took it a couple of hours later than the GMAT is scheduled (its at 8am, I took it at 10ish)

4 The only thing I did that I wouldn't be able to do on test day was skip the AWA and IR sections. Everything concerning breaks/pausing etc. was exactly as is in the real thing.

5. This was the first time I had taken this CAT, not repeated questions.

I want to efficiently spend the last 9 days I have of study to ensure getting a 600+ in the real thing. Anymore suggestions?

Thanks
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by [email protected] » Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:02 pm
Hi Juanfer726,

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your scores can become - and that's likely what has happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, taking them at a different time of day, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.' As such, this score is likely a bit 'off.'

While it might be tempting to try to take lots of additional CATs at this point, you really shouldn't. You have enough time to take another 1-2 though - and I suggest that you take one more in as realistic a fashion as possible (so take the FULL CAT - with the Essay and IR sections, take it away from your home, at 8am, etc.). The rest of the time should be spent on general practice, review and honing your skills.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
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