Pls help! low score for the 2nd time -- new game plan?

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Desperately seeking advice.

Background: I took the test 2 years ago (in 2008) when I spent minimal time studying because I was very stressed out with work at the time. I scored a 480.

Starting late August this year, I took the Kaplan 9 week course and took several Kaplan CATs:

Diagnostic: 470
1: 490
580
580
520
540
560

As you can see my test scores are hovering around the middle 500's. Not ideal and not my target score (650's). I finished the Kaplan course late Sept. and decided that I'm still not ready to take the test so I studied on my own for another month. My test is THIS SATURDAY on the 6th.

I took the GMAT practice tests this past Sunday and today. My scores were HORRIBLE.

CAT 1: 500
CAT 2: 480

I've been doing problems out of the OG book, out of the Kaplan online every night for 3-4 hours. Today's score finally made me breakdown. I have no idea if I should even take this test on Saturday anymore.

If I take it, I'm risking getting another low score (based on my current trends). This will likely cause AD's to see 2 low scores and wonder why this person have not improved over the course of the 2 years.

If I don't take it, and wait a couple weeks, I'm skeptical a couple weeks will really help boost my score. Moreover, this would cut into my time with writing essays and other parts of the application.

Last option would be not to apply this year, and just hone in on the GMAT for as long as it takes to get a good score.

Can someone please provide some advice? I'm thoroughly confused, stressed, depressed, you name it.

Thanks.
Last edited by amiee02 on Sun Nov 07, 2010 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by Viper83 » Fri Nov 05, 2010 4:43 am
I would recommend not taking the test now. Study for a few more weeks and see how you do, if your scores are still too low and apply next year instead...or take 1 month off work and study only gmat during that time...
cheers

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by MAAJ » Fri Nov 05, 2010 7:51 am
I guess you should not rush results, it will come to you with time. About your admision to the school, there are other aspects that you should consider to look. If you have a realy good background you might get in with a 550 score.

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by BXTeacher » Fri Nov 05, 2010 9:10 am
I had a Professor who used to always say "The Hangman's noose concentrates the mind...", in reference to tests. Even though you recently had a setback, I think you'll score toward the higher end of your practice test scores if you take it in two days. I would suggest going for it. It sounds like you've studied a lot and you might be better prepared than you think!

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by amiee02 » Sun Nov 07, 2010 9:45 am
So after talking to multiple people (MBA and non-MBA) I decided to take the test since it was my 2nd try. I utterly FAILED. Half way through the Quant section I was getting really low level math questions that indicated I must have started really poorly. I never had an issue with the AWA part with time and usually cruise right through those, I was nervous and ran out of time.

All in all I'm back to where I started before I even took Kaplan classes. I've come to the conclusion that perhaps classes or (Kaplan) classes (granted I've taken Veritas 2 yrs ago) isn't the best learning method for me. I'm thinking of trying the tutoring route so that someone can spend time 1:1 with me and walk me through their train of thought or reasoning.

Can anyone provide some suggestions on what my next steps should be in terms of studying strategy? I feel like this is a unique use case, but I'm hopeful someone else out there have gone through the same thing and can relate...

Bottom line is I've spent all this time studying and taking classes and I'm getting no results. That indicates to me I need to change strategies, but what is the question.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.