GMAT Strategy

I just took a Kaplan paper diagnotic test and scored a 410 I know my math is very weak but I thought my verbal would be strong as I am a high school Social Science/English teacher. I refuse to give up but I need a 700 score to even get considered at the schools I want to apply to. Is it even possible to raise my score 290 points by July?

Help!!!

AnitaW wrote:I just took a Kaplan paper diagnotic test and scored a 410 I know my math is very weak but I thought my verbal would be strong as I am a high school Social Science/English teacher. I refuse to give up but I need a 700 score to even get considered at the schools I want to apply to. Is it even possible to raise my score 290 points by July?

Help!!!

Please don't take this personally but I believe a 290 point improvement in three months is very ambitious. For most people it's not realistic. Based on what you say, it would probably be wise to put off the GMAT until you've completed six months of studying.

You need to find a way to learn the basic math that's covered on the GMAT. I would advise you to work out of a couple of basic books for two months, then take the diagnostic tests again. Assuming you've worked hard, the second round of diagnostic tests will give you a better idea of where you stand in terms of potential, and how much you may or may not improve going forward from there. At that point you'll be in a better position to figure out how to tailor the final months of your study plan.

After you take your second round of diagnostic tests, you might want to consider some kind of course (such as those offered through this board) or private tutoring to round out weak areas.

You can download diagnostic material from sites such as MGMAT in order to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are.

Best of luck!

Two points I would make:

(1) Kaplan low-balls on its practice tests (probably so it can fulfill its money back guarantee). Your true score is almost certainly higher. Have you taken one of the official practice tests?

(2) If you look at the I Just Beat the GMAT Section, you will see people who have made TREMENDOUS score gains. Granted, some do not and it is heartbreaking, but there are people who are making great improvements.

I know it is a huge jump to make that is why I am considering taking time off of work. I have to apply this fall so even if I take the GMAT in August...with full time study for two months, I am wondering if I may burn out?

I look to the people who have worked hard and made it and I hope and aspire to be one of them.

Thanks

I haven't taken an official practice test. Yesterday was the first day of the Kaplan course I had enrolled in and I took their diagnostic. I heard they low ball, but I assumed I would score avg. 500 and then go up from there. Granted, I have been out of school for a while so there are many variables at play. I have to make this happen...even if it kills me!

Never give up, that's my mantra.
I can tell you about my personal experience. I took the first mock test in December and scored 490. Was kind of devastated. I am hitting 620 now. And even though I am studying consistently, I was on vacation in December -January for 3 weeks, and recently 2 weeks at work were so busy and crazy, that I just dragged myself home without doing anything else.
I improved my math from 20 to 42-43. And I intend to do even better during the test.
Do you know what is your math problem? U have difficulties with it, or it's just that you forgot a lot?
I forgot a lot since my day to day work has nothing to do with math, well apart from arithmetics, but it came back kind of quickly, and I was pretty good at math at school.
Give yoursef some time and then try again.
Good luck!

Dont get disappointed by your score. People have, in past, have improved tremendously on their diagnostic score. Possibly, you have not been in touch with studies for some time. Maybe all you need is to review the basics.

What i will suggest is that:-

1) Study the basics and give another test.
2) Review your weaknesses and improve upon them.
3) Keep giving the practice tests at regular intervals.
4) Take it as a challange and not doubt yourself.

@AnitaW,

You can be assured that if you put in the hard work needed you will be able to improve drastically in 3 months. Now how much you improve will definitely depend on the quality of the work that you put in.

But i would strongly suggest you to take the GMAT after 3 months of hard work. Research has proved that after a certain period of time your improvement will go down. So there is something called over studying. For me, its about 3 moths, but it may vary for you. So what i suggest is take the GMAT in 3 months and if you have put in the right effort you'll get a good score. If you think the score is not enough you can always spend another month on tuning your prep and retaking the exam!!!

AnitaW wrote:I just took a Kaplan paper diagnotic test and scored a 410 I know my math is very weak but I thought my verbal would be strong as I am a high school Social Science/English teacher. I refuse to give up but I need a 700 score to even get considered at the schools I want to apply to. Is it even possible to raise my score 290 points by July?

Help!!!

I hope you can do it, but 290 points would be a HUGE improvement. Please keep us posted. If you have trouble with Verbal I suggest you have a look at the verbal lessons from gmatfix. They will help you really get the basics on a topic by topic level, and this can make a big difference

Also you mentioned that the 410 is from a Kaplan paper test. I'm not familiar with this test but the 410 may be far from what your actual GMAT ability is. Remember that the GMAT is a CAT. To better gauge your GMAT ability, use GMATPrep

Hey Vitalina!
Great imrovement from the 400 to the 600's! Can you share with us how you did this? What was your approach? How often did you study? Which books? And how are you monitoring your scores? Are you using the CAT (blue downloadable software) from MBA.com?


Well done!

Hi,

as an update to my last post I am now at a 580 on my last Kaplan CAT. My math is still really poor but I am finding I am now losing focus and staring to feel overwhelmed by the GMAT. I have 5 weeks to bring my score up to between 680-700. Can this be done and how?

Anita

I would say Yes You can.

AnitaW wrote:Hi,

as an update to my last post I am now at a 580 on my last Kaplan CAT. My math is still really poor but I am finding I am now losing focus and staring to feel overwhelmed by the GMAT. I have 5 weeks to bring my score up to between 680-700. Can this be done and how?

Anita

i think you should try teh GMATPrep and then evelaute your self.

Hi,

Its ambitious but achievable. Its besides the point how much time you study, its how you study. Try to understand what you do and really understand it. Of course, time is important because you don't want to over exhaust youself but if its that much important to you, as you say, go for it.
I first test I took, I scored 450. That was in February. Since then I have been studying, not on a very regular basis I might add, and I am hitting at 620 these days. Maths was my problem. I hired personal tutor, got offical GMAT prep material and studies when ever I had time, not preocupying myself too much.
Also, don't forget, GMAT is only one of the components B-schools consider. My school's avarage is 690 and I was told by my admissions advisor that 620 will be fine due to other parts of my application which, according to admission board, are very strong. So you see, perhaps you will be fine with little less then 700.
Good luck

Just as a note of encouragement -- my first ever GMAT practice exam, I got a 480. 1 month later I got a 620 on the actual exam (and that was very low in comparison with my other practice tests) and a few months after that (with only one month or three weeks of actual prep) I got a 760.