Should I postpone the test?

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Should I postpone the test?

by eki » Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:35 pm
Hi Experts,

I have taken GMAT twice in the past (640 and 660, both in 2011) with V32 on both the tests. My target is 720+, hence this time I want to be really sure of myself before I retake the test. I have booked 29th Dec for the test. I have been studying for 2.5 months now (avg 2 hrs a day) with few breaks in between. Here are my mock test scores (all tests taken under std conditions and with IR & AWA):

3rd Nov - GMATPREP : 710 (Q 48, V 39)
10th Nov - MGMAT 1 : 630 (Q 42 V 34)
24th Nov - MGMAT 2 : 700 (Q 46 V 40)
8th Dec - MGMAT 3 : 660 (Q 44 V 36)
14th Dec - MGMAT 4 : 630 (Q 45 V 32)

I was feeling confident after I took the 1st GMAT Prep test. But the last two MGMAT tests have shaken my confidence. I am seriously planning to postpone the test by a month to prepare more. I have used all the standard material (OG-12,13, OG Verbal and Quant, Manhattan qaunt books, Manhattan SC and powerscore CR).In verbal all the sections are equally problamatic. For eg., If I study SC for a week, I see improvement in SC score but a drop in CR and RC scores.

Please tell me whether my idea of postponing the test by a month is right. Please guide me in formulating a plan for next one month to increase my score.

regards,
Eki
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:37 pm
I think your decision is a good one. You definitely need more time to feel more confident.
If you feel that the verbal is your weak subject, concentrate on it more for the time being. Firstly, go through a comprehensive course once again. It will take you much less time because you will be revising the topics and not learning from a scratch. Only after you revise the lessons, start taking tests and focus on timing.
One more important element in preparation to the GMAT is effective debriefing of tests. It is crucial to be able to learn from your mistakes and come back to question types that you tend to solve incorrectly.
One last tip - don't concentrate on only one part of the verbal section, when you are preparing. Use the material from all three parts (SC, RC and CR), do less concerning each but make sure that you concentrate on all three and revise all three of them every day.
Kasia
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