GMAT Strategy

[email protected] wrote:Hi Setarehrrr,

Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort yet. This is meant to say that since you've studied for just one month, you will likely improve as you continue to study, learn all of the necessary content and hone your Test-Taking skills.

1) From your post, it's not clear whether you've taken 2 practice CATs or more. Have you taken the FULL CAT each time (with the Essay and IR sections)?
2) What is your exact Test Date?
3) How do you know that a 550 is all that you 'need?'

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,






Hi !
Yes I took 6 CAT actually and started from 400 now I am getting 500 to 510 ...
I want to write May 20th, I have full time dedication to studying and I need 550 bcz I am already accepted conditionally and need a 550 to make it

[email protected] wrote:Hi Setarehrrr,

To start, it's important to remember that taking lots of CATs will NOT make you a better Test Taker. A CAT is really a 'measuring device' - when used correctly, it will give you a realistic score and help define your strengths and weaknesses, but it will NOT help you to fix any of those weaknesses. To raise your scores, you have to put in the necessary practice and repetitions. The CAT will show you whether your studies are helping you to improve or not. As such, you really shouldn't take more than 1 FULL CAT per week.

With your current Test Date, you actually have closer to 8 week of study time remaining - which is plenty of time for you to continue to study and hit your goal score. I suggest that you wait 2 weeks before taking your next practice CAT - then report back here with that score. We can use that result to determine whether you should adjust your studies or not.

1) Just to confirm - did you take the FULL CAT (with the Essay and IR sections) each time?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[email protected] wrote:Hi Setarehrrr,

You still have plenty of time to study and improve - so you just have to be disciplined about how you approach the next phase of your studies.

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 practice scores can become - and that's likely what has happened here. By skipping the Essay and IR sections, you took shorter, easier Exams that required less work from you - and that is NOT what Test Day will be. As such, when you take CATs in the future, you really MUST take the FULL CAT (with the Essay and IR sections) and do so in a manner that 'matches up' with the variables that you'll face on Test Day (strange location, time of day, travel time to the Test Center, etc.).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

I am now starting from scratch using Manhattan prep all course books and seeem to be learning but I have fear !!!