Hi ethanjbeau,
Your Official GMAT Score is right in line with your practice CAT scores, so you're performing consistently. In this context, consistency is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's "good" in that we now know that once you get into a certain mindset, you stick to it. It's "bad" in that your current mindset earns you a score in the low 500s.
At this point in the process, you have a couple of options:
1) You mentioned in a prior post that your target school has a "minimum" GMAT score requirement of 500. If that's truly the case, then you might be able to apply with your current score and be fine.
2) If, however, the 500 is just the "low end of the range", then you might not be fine and a retest might be required. When (and if) you choose to retest is up to you. You might consider applying and seeing how things go, then retesting if the school asks you to.
3) You're in the GMAT "zone" right now, and a retaking sooner rather than later is the best course of action.
In the event of a retest, you have to face a harsh truth: however you've been going about this whole process, "your way" of doing things has not (and probably will not) produce the desired result (your new goal: a score in the low to mid 600s). You're "stuck" at this level. Doing more GMAT questions and taking more CATs is NOT the answer, especially if you're just going to keep going at this material in the same way.
This means that you need to invest in some new resources. You need consistent, professional guidance and thankfully there are plenty of options to choose from. I suggest that you take the weekend off and relax. In the next week, you should look into other GMAT study options and find the one that best matches your timeline, budget and personality.
Remember that the GMAT is a predictable, standardized exam. What you're going through right now is not hopeless and saying that "it wasn't meant to be" is simply defeatist. You CAN score higher; you just haven't yet.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Your Official GMAT Score is right in line with your practice CAT scores, so you're performing consistently. In this context, consistency is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's "good" in that we now know that once you get into a certain mindset, you stick to it. It's "bad" in that your current mindset earns you a score in the low 500s.
At this point in the process, you have a couple of options:
1) You mentioned in a prior post that your target school has a "minimum" GMAT score requirement of 500. If that's truly the case, then you might be able to apply with your current score and be fine.
2) If, however, the 500 is just the "low end of the range", then you might not be fine and a retest might be required. When (and if) you choose to retest is up to you. You might consider applying and seeing how things go, then retesting if the school asks you to.
3) You're in the GMAT "zone" right now, and a retaking sooner rather than later is the best course of action.
In the event of a retest, you have to face a harsh truth: however you've been going about this whole process, "your way" of doing things has not (and probably will not) produce the desired result (your new goal: a score in the low to mid 600s). You're "stuck" at this level. Doing more GMAT questions and taking more CATs is NOT the answer, especially if you're just going to keep going at this material in the same way.
This means that you need to invest in some new resources. You need consistent, professional guidance and thankfully there are plenty of options to choose from. I suggest that you take the weekend off and relax. In the next week, you should look into other GMAT study options and find the one that best matches your timeline, budget and personality.
Remember that the GMAT is a predictable, standardized exam. What you're going through right now is not hopeless and saying that "it wasn't meant to be" is simply defeatist. You CAN score higher; you just haven't yet.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
