GMAT Strategy

Hi,

So I have been studying for the GMAT for about four months (pretty full time) and am having A LOT of trouble seeing any significant increase in my score and feel very stuck at this point. I have taken the complete in person 9 week Manhattan Course. Completed all the homework and extra questions

After each practice test I do a complete analysis of the test and work on top few areas I am having trouble with (I have mostly only been working on quant). I have been using the Manhattan guides and method to study. The only extra purchase I made was getting buying the 5 extra exams from 800Score (test scores listed below as well. And I have completed both the test on the GMATPrep software.

My seven test scores are listed below:

Cat 1 540 (Q37 V28)
Cat 2 510 (Q31 V29)
Cat 3 590 (Q38 V33) ** this was not timed
Cat 4 600 (Q42 V32)
Cat 5 550 (Q37 V29)
CAT 6 570 (Q37 V31)
Cat 1a 630 (Q41 V35) ** there were a lot of repeat questions

800Score.com
Math 1 600 (Q34 V37)* the quant and verbal were not taken at the same time.
Math 2 (Q37) ** did not take verbal
Math 3 (Q37) **
Math 4 640 (Q38 V39)*
Math 5 660 (Q40 V40)**

GMATPrep
PrepTest1 510 (Q35 V33)
PrepTest2 590 (Q59 V28)

I am not sure how to move forward. ANY suggestions ... tips... anything ???

Hi sqazi01,

It looks like you are scoring pretty consistently in the 550 - 600 range. What are you learning from the feedback from all of the mock tests you are taking? There seems to be a knowledge gap and knowing what your problem areas are will help in developing a strategy for you.

Regards,

Elizabeth

Hi,
I hv seen your scoring and i feel there is a perticular area(a set of problems) which you are continuesly attempting wrong. There are a couple of topics in ur quant section which you are not prepared of. I suggest go to all the tests attempted and get only those question which u have answered wrong and undertand and refresh the only topics again before reattempting any test.

I am sure you would excel becuase with the type of efforts you seems to have put in, i am confident you will come out with flying colours also you are progressing on verbal sec so the improvising trend is clear.

Although i have recently joined this portal but i have 14 years of overall work experiance in one of the company of repute at a mid mgnt level but yes even i want to attempt GMAT and get a score of 730+ this Oct2014.

Best Luck for your next test and do share ur result.

Hello,

Thank you for your reply. Sorry for the delay on my end, I did get an email indicating anyone had replied so I had not checked the post in a while, but this feedback is great!

So to answer some of the questions:

I think learning from my mock test is one of my biggest problems. I am not doing this effectively or efficiently. After I complete the test I run an " assessment report" on the test data and work on the topics which I had the lowest percent right. As of my last three cat exams (not including the one with repeats):

- the percent right is about equal for ALL question formats (PS 47% and DS 49%)
- lowest percent right is in Geometry (also has the highest average time for right answers (avg 2:25)) and second lowest is Word Problems (has the highest average time wrong answers (avg 2:23))

Any suggestions on how to best utilize practice test? Or even GMAT questions in general. I am trying to put together a new plan of studying since this old one doesn't seem to be working.

I do seem to have a pacing problem in both of sections but in opposite manners. I am too slow with the quant and too fast on the verbal.

Also, I have been working on the OG questions in the areas of my weakness using the Manhattan Navigator to track time and percent correct (I have even gone into the subtopics of each content area to see where my weakness is within the content area.)

Any input on next steps?

Hi Rich,

My goal is to take the GMAT in five to six weeks. My goal is to get a score in the mid 600s.

I am not sure what my "lock in" content is. What is a good way of figuring that out?

Thanks for the tip, Rich. I had not bought about which topics I am good at.

Any guidance on a study plan or how to best use my remaining time? I am a still stuck on what to do next. I seem to have used up all my practice test and my score is not moving, so I am doing something wrong. I've completed the Manhattan in-person course as well.

Any suggestions on how to best utilize practice test? Or even GMAT questions in general. I am trying to put together a new plan of studying since this old one doesn't seem to be working.

Hi sqazi01,

What's your timing strategy for both Quant and Verbal? How well are you utilizing time in both sections? How's your manager(I mean time manager)?