GMAT Strategy

Hi! Friends,

I have been giving the MGMAT mock tests for few weeks and my score has been bad, It's between 450 to 550. Each time I gave the test, atleast 12 to 15 questions on the quant and 5 to 10 questions on verbal were left. I could not complete all the questions on any of the tests. I was planning to take the GMAT on 2nd JAN 2012, but now it seems impossible.

Now the deadlines for universities are approaching; most of the deadlines are on the first week of JAN 2012. Now I really do wish to be considered for the second round of those programs as they provide funding opportunites for admitted students. My primary concern in applying to MBA programs is the Funding opportunities provided by the programs in terms Loan without a cosignor. Now after 1st week of Jan, no MBA programs will be left that has such funing opportunities.

SO, in a desperate hour like this, what should I do: Shall I take the appointment for JAN 2 and prepare like anything for this week and take the test or shall I wait for some time and take the date only after I consistently get score above 750 on mock tests. One drawback in my profile is that I have already taken the GMAT multiple times and my highest score has been 610. I am at loss of wits about what to do, as I desperately need that funding but don't want to make a single damage to my record. If any decent university could provide such funding opportunity and has deadlines at a later date I would willfuly take the GMAT later. If anybody could advice please do

+/-30 on mock tests is super-common in my experience, but gaining 200 points in a week is simply not that likely. If the only way you can take part in an MBA program is via funding, and the only way you can get funding is a 750, I think you are almost certainly wasting your time and money by taking it on January 2. You clearly could benefit from a longer preparation arc.

Jim@Grockit wrote:+/-30 on mock tests is super-common in my experience, but gaining 200 points in a week is simply not that likely. If the only way you can take part in an MBA program is via funding, and the only way you can get funding is a 750, I think you are almost certainly wasting your time and money by taking it on January 2. You clearly could benefit from a longer preparation arc.

Many thanks !! JIM for the advice and helping me avert a disaster. My last mock test got me a score of 640 no way near to my target. So I did not took the appointment. I will take the appointment only when I score 740-750+ consistently on 10 to 12 mock tests. I think that might be a sensible strategy. Would you suggest a better strategy !

I don't think you need to be consistently that high, but higher (in general) is better when you have a high target score.