GMAT Strategy

i just took a cat yesterday, which was a bad move because i bombed it, my worst score ever. I lost my confidence in myself and my abiliites. Test is on Fri. Sept 12th. Dont know what to do. I feel like I should cram but this site tells me not to. I need over a 500. I cant believe that I m struggling to get such a low score. ANy adcvice needed and appreciated.
Thank you

Yup, it always stinks to get a low practice test score so close your actual exam date.

Can you be more specific regarding what went wrong? Was your verbal fine but your quant bad? Vice versa? Did you have pacing issues? Do you usually score higher but freaked out this time?

We'll be able to help with some more info.

I scored a 580 one week before my test (after LOTS of full time Studying for 2 weeks). I had never scored below 600 ... not even on my very first CAT without any practice whatsoever. My confidence was shattered. I slowed down the studying and started working out again. Watched a few movies and did only light prep the last week. Actual score was 750.

There may be many reasons why you scored lower than usual. Bad test SW / test running out of questions (happens with MGMAT and Kaplan sometimes) / bad day / exhaustion and over studying. The one thing that these have in common is that cramming won't help. Make sure you treat yourself well the last few days before test day.

Good Luck on Fri.

For your reference - my test history

Date / CAT Source / Total Score / V Score / V% / Q Score / Q%
Nov-07 Kaplan Free CAT 600 (no V / Q split)
Nov-07 MGMAT CAT 600 V32/64% Q42/63%
Apr-08 GMAC CAT 1 640 V38/83% Q39/55%
Apr-08 MGMAT CAT 600 V32/64% Q41/61%
Aug-08 VP CAT 730 V42/95% Q54/99%
Aug-08 MGMATCAT 640 V39/87% Q38/53%
Aug-08 MGMAT CAT 670 V38/83% Q43/68%
Aug-08 GMAC CAT 2 740 V47/99% Q45/75%
Aug-08 MGMAT CAT 610 V38/83% Q35/42%
Aug-08 MGMAT CAT 580 V45/98% Q28/24%
Aug-08 GMAC CAT (repeat)skipped test portionskipped/skipped 45/75%
Aug-08 MGMAT CAT (repeat)68036/78%47/79%
Aug-08 GMAC CAT (repeat)70045/98%41/61%
Aug-08 MGMAT (repeat)skipped test portion37/81%skipped/skipped
Aug-08 GMAC CAT (repeat)skipped test portionskipped/skipped 47/79%
Aug-08 MGMAT (repeat)71038/83%48/84%
Sep-08 MGMAT (repeat)skipped test portion44/97%skipped/skipped
Sep-08 GMAC CAT (repeat)skipped test portionskipped/skipped 49/88%

thanks for the advice
the only studying i intend to do is look over past mistakes and read over some awa essays. I hope it was just a freak incident, because I lost a lot of confidence by my test scores as it is. I c ant believe that I am not scoring high, the test is unusual and I am just not getting the score that I want. 530 is not a high score and thats all I need. I wont stress it and just give test my best shot.
Thank you for the advice

Jim,
I bombed the entire test v and q was down
my score was a 390, so that will tell you that both were terrible

It sounds like you need to work on your basic, foundational knowledge. Get yourself a math workbook (non-GMAT related) and practice doing calculations and using simple algebra. It's hard to improve your math score when the basics aren't there.

Same for verbal - review your grammar rules (for SC), and start reading more (for CR and RC). Then, later, start working on GMAT problems again.

my test is on fri so it might be too late for that
i did get scores in the 500,s and hope i can do it again on test day

Friday is soon! Unfortunately, it's too late to postpone your test without forfitting the fee (that requires 7 day notice at least), so I think you might as well go for it. Just make sure that this experience hasn't ruined your mental game. Stay positive, and envision that goal score!

Since your time is so short for studying, I would not recommend taking more CATs right now. The best thing to do is review the problems you missed, and get a good understanding of how to solve them correctly.

Best wishes,

Tatiana

should i study a little the day before?

I definitely agree with Tatiana - try to stay positive.

I wouldn't study the day before (i.e., today), since it will only make you more stressed out. The GMAT is not a test for which you can cram. It takes a few weeks of repitition and practice before things start to make sense, so you may actually do more harm than good at this point. If you MUST do something, review a few of the most common concepts, but don't try to learn anything new.

Take the night off, watch a movie, and go in fresh tomorrow. Let us know how it goes!

good luck today. Let us know how it goes