BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

130-point score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Stuck in the 500s - GMAT in less than 2 weeks

Expert replies
by sp3GT » Mon Jun 10, 2013 4:46 am
Hi everyone,

I've been a long time lurker on the forum and have read many success stories on here. But I'm struggling and having a hard time improving my quant and verbal scores. I have completed 5 practice tests with scores ranging in this order: 580, 510, 560, 580, 530

My integrated reasoning has improved and I average a 4. My essays are scoring between a 4 - 5.
My quant scores are consistently in the 50 - 60 percentile range but my verbal scores range from 30 - 50.

I have done targeted practice but have not improved.

With scores like mine, does that mean my basic fundamentals need work?

Thanks
Join the discussion
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Jun 11, 2013 5:43 am
Tough question.
I imagine there are a few missing fundamentals, so you'll need to identify those and work on them.
In addition to knowing the fundamentals/basics, you need to know GMAT-specific strategies so that you can answer questions quickly. To this end, I suggest that you spend a lot of time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site. They model the steps you should take when tackling questions.

Finally, in addition to learning the core concepts and GMAT-specific strategies, keep working on your test-taking skills (e.g., endurance, time management, anxiety reduction, etc.) by taking several practice tests.

If you're interested, we have a free GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Join the discussion

by sp3GT » Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:19 am
Thanks for the reply Brebt. I have seen the video and did learn a few things from it.

I took a course with Kaplan, so I'm trying to utilize their strategies as much as possible. But upon reviewing my tests, I find that I can do the questions I got wrong without too much difficulty. So I imagine it is the test panic and time being an issue for me.

In my mock tests, I don't see any high level questions. Do you have to say get a minimum level of medium difficulty questions right before any hard questions are presented? For example, I'll get 5 straight med level right then get 2 wrong. But not see any high lvl questions.
Join the discussion

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:28 am
sp3GT wrote: In my mock tests, I don't see any high level questions. Do you have to say get a minimum level of medium difficulty questions right before any hard questions are presented? For example, I'll get 5 straight med level right then get 2 wrong. But not see any high lvl questions.
Are you referring to the Kaplan practice tests, or the official GMATPrep practice tests? I'm not sure how the Kaplan tests work, but (loosely speaking) the official practice tests base the difficulty level of each question on your success on the previous question. If you're interested, we have a free video explaining the GMAT scoring algorithm: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1251

Having said all of that, difficulty levels range from person to person. For example, some students can crush even the most difficult Geometry questions, yet struggle with basic Probability questions. So, it may be the case that the difficulty level (based on the results of other test-takers) is increasing, but the subsequent questions happen to be in your area of expertise. Of course, if you've been taking Kaplan practice tests, something else may be going, since I don't know how their adaptive algorithm works.

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Join the discussion

by sp3GT » Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:33 am
^The practice tests I'm doing are from Kaplan and I'm not sure how they're scored either. But I can't imagine them being too far off.
Your example is kind of how I am. My two biggest struggles are probability and properties of sets.

I can do difficulty geometry problems but could fall to a low level probability question.

Does this mean, in order to see higher level questions. I have to get everything at medium level correct first?
Join the discussion

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Jun 11, 2013 12:13 pm
sp3GT wrote:^The practice tests I'm doing are from Kaplan and I'm not sure how they're scored either. But I can't imagine them being too far off.
Your example is kind of how I am. My two biggest struggles are probability and properties of sets.

I can do difficulty geometry problems but could fall to a low level probability question.

Does this mean, in order to see higher level questions. I have to get everything at medium level correct first?
Basically, each time you answer a question correctly, you will get a harder question (where the difficulty levels are based on the results of TONS of test-takers). So, if you fail to answer average questions, you won't encounter super difficult questions.

With all of that said, you shouldn't spend a lot of time thinking about the scoring algorithm. Your task (always) is to answer each question that pops up in front of you.

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Join the discussion