GMAT Strategy

Dear All,

My exam is scheduled in less than 2 weeks. I have taken the 1st practice test of GMATprep and one of Veratis Prep. I scored 740 in the GMATprep exam and 730 in VeratisPrep test.

I will be happy to score 730 in my GMAT exam as well but then the higher the better.

I have been tracking my weaknesses and I am working on them.

I am looking for advice on the right things to do at this point.

Is there a possibility that my scores are ballooned? I guessed on a few of the questions. I used my ear to answer some of the SC questions and I guess that I used the elimination method for most of CR questions. Is it possible that the 'guess' which is working now might not work in the GMAT exam? Is it possible that my thought is tuned to get 730? What should be the things in my head right now? Please suggest

Thanking you all in anticipation of your kind help

Regards,
Vishal

[email protected] wrote:Hi Vishal,

With your two practice CAT scores, you certainly appear to have a strong ability in both the Quant and Verbal sections of the GMAT. You ask a good question about whether your score is "ballooned"/inflated in some way. We can figure that out relatively quickly if you can answer a few questions:

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT both times (including the Essay and IR sections) and in one sitting (meaning you did NOT pause the test)?
2) Had you seen any of the questions before you took the test?
3) Is your Official GMAT scheduled for the same day of the week and the same time of day as your practice CATs?

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

Hi Rich,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I took the entire exam both the times. However, the length of the test was a little less troublesome in the second attempt.

I felt that I had seen 1 or 2 questions before but not more that that. My biggest worry is the following.

While practicing, I had learned a number of techniques such as magic numbers and plugging the answers but while answering the questions in the test, i followed the usual way of solving for the answer. There were a few questions which required more than 2 mins to solve. In these questions, i guessed and i believe that the guess was random for a few questions. The guess was always after spending 2 mins on such questions.

I used the usual technique of solving for the answer because solving is the first thing that comes to my mind as i read the question. This might be because i have been using the usual method of solving for over 2 decades. Now this method is inefficient but my intuition always picks this method.

Now my primary question is
1. I wonder whether I am just lucky to get these scores or is my brain tuned to get these scores. If I am just lucky then what is the way to improve?

Practicing is obviously a great method to improve but I do not have a lot of time to practice a lot. So, what should be the direction of practicing?What are the right things to do at this point?

Thanking you in anticipation of your help.

Regards,
Vishal

[email protected] wrote:Hi Vishal,

You're in an interesting situation in that you've clearly stated that you don't have much time left to study AND when you've taken practice CATs, you DON'T tend to use any of the new tactics that you've learned (in essence, your "instinct" is to do things "your way."). However, you're scoring at a really high level right now, so there might not be any "problems" to fix. While it's possible that you're a little lucky, it's not likely that you would "luck your way" into back-to-back 700+ scores. With the evidence that you've presented, I'd suggest that you keep doing things the way that you've been doing them. I'd have to assume that your Official GMAT score will be within range of your practice CATs.

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

Hi Rich,

Please help me with your thoughts on a new development.

I took Manhattan's test today and scored 660 in it. The method to take the test was exactly the same and I found a couple of questions in the quant section which I had seen before.

The question now is, is Manhattan's CAT tougher than GMATPrep's and VeratisPrep's test or is the score of 660 introducing me to the reality of my actual level.

Thanks for all the answers in the past and wish to get your expert thoughts on this. Thanking you in anticipation of your kind help.

Regards,
Vishal

Vishal -

A few thoughts for you:

1) The Veritas test that you took has been showing very good results in terms of being aligned with the GMATPrep and the actual GMAT. Scoring a 740 on the GMATPrep and a 730 on the Veritas test is an excellent sign.

2) You said

The question now is, is Manhattan's CAT tougher than GMATPrep's and VeratisPrep's test or is the score of 660 introducing me to the reality of my actual level

It is not a matter of being more difficult. The Manhattan Test is known to underscore some people when compared to the GMATPrep and the official test. You have scored well-over 700 on two very reliable tests, why would you allow a 660 to make you think that this is actually your level?

3)

While practicing, I had learned a number of techniques such as magic numbers and plugging the answers but while answering the questions in the test, i followed the usual way of solving for the answer. There were a few questions which required more than 2 mins to solve. In these questions, i guessed and i believe that the guess was random for a few questions. The guess was always after spending 2 mins on such questions.

I used the usual technique of solving for the answer because solving is the first thing that comes to my mind as i read the question. This might be because i have been using the usual method of solving for over 2 decades. Now this method is inefficient but my intuition always picks this method.

Why are you concerned that you are not using tricks? What you are doing is fantastic. You are solving for the answer and you getting these questions right! Do NOT try to change your techniques now. Do not let other people's idea of what you should do ruin your score.

4) Steps going forward. Take the other official GMATPrep test that you get for free. If that test is over 700 then I would advise you schedule your exam and get in there and take the real thing. If you feel like you need more practice tests you can get either the GMATPrep Exam Pack 1 with two more official test OR the Veritas 5-exam package. The GMATPrep exam pack is retired questions so that is really a great thing! The Veritas tests are adaptive based on over 1.5 million responses and have a much better set of tools than the official GMATPrep. I would say in your circumstances to get the GMATPrep Exam pack 1 because I think that you do not need the tools or the 3 extra exams as much as other people would.

Take that other exam, MAKE SURE TO DO ALL SECTIONS so that it is 4 hours long, confirm your score is over 700 and schedule your official GMAT Exam.

Thanks a lot for this, David.

Your statements give me a lot of confidence. I am scheduled to take my exam within a week. I will continue to practice till then and take some more practice tests. Hope that things go well [fingers crossed]

Regards,
Vishal

I am an observant one, right? I tell you to schedule your exam for sometime soon and the subject of your post is "Exam in less than 2 weeks!"

Well I stand by the rest of what I said...I am betting that you will do well on this exam.

Speaking of short cuts and YOU not taking them on the practice tests, the last time I did the actual exam I was pretty inefficient on the Quant side. I had to guess at several questions, I made lists of numbers that would work, I counted on my fingers, and yes, I probably did more actual math than was ideal! I also got a 770. Getting questions right it the key. No one is watching to see if you took a nifty shortcut.

Let us know what that next practice test reveals!

Go for it!

I scored a 730 and my CAT scores are very close to yours.

Ive posted a debrief in I beat the Gmat!

Good luck and be confident!