GMAT Strategy

I am very ashamed about my GMAT scores. I have taken it twice. The first time, I did not study at all and scored a pitiful 350. I deserved it! On my second attempt I study with the Princenton Review and tried to brush my math concepts with a tutor for 3 months. My scored was even worst! I scored a 330!
I need some help. I know I am not a complete inept because I do have an undergraduate GPA of 3.85. I need moral support. I am terrified of taking it again. What would an admissions committee think about presenting it more than 3 times? I can't afford to present a lower score each time.
I have a realistic goal of 550-580. I have taken the GMAT prep test and scored a 450. Do you think I can achieve between a 550-580 score? And, do you think I can prepare myself for a third attempt during a period of 5 weeks?
My plan is to concentrate on learning math concepts because when I took it the second time I was not fast enough, and I had to choose an x answer so that I would not be penalized for not finishing. I honestly do not know how to tackle to study for this exam, because whatever I am doing, it is not right or I would have improved. Please help me!
Thanks

Hey, you don't have to be ashamed of this crazy test. This is just as exam like you have gone through many years. If you feel that you are weak in quants, you can do one of 3 things,
1. If you are ready to invest more, invest in getting a good private tutor.
2. If you don't want to take a private tutor, get enrolled in an online course or a classroom course.
3. If you are willing to study alone, get the best materials that are available in the market.

I also emphasize in various posts that if one feels that one is weak in quants, get a high school math book and start from ABC. This will do wonders as you progress in your preparation. You will have all concepts intact which will help you attack the GMAT problems because GMAT problems are just high school math problems in a very convoluted, complex language. Once you are confident in the math concepts, only then proceed to practicing GMAT problems. Until then, sit patiently and get your fundamentals strong!

How is verbal for you? Tell us where you are exceptionally weak (RC, SC or CR) We will help you with some tips.

Hello there,
Don't worry because it will only slow you. Here are some points that might help you:

1. Honestly, think whether you have put in your 100% the second time around while preparing for the test. If not ask yourself one question "can i put in my 100% towards preparation for the next time." Also how motivated are you to study by yourself, dedicate your time and sincerely prepare? If the answer to any of the above is a "No", then probably the best way to improve your score is to get some external help.

2. Please note that online classes and taking a course is might not fulfill your needs either. Since neither do you get personal attention nor will you be urged to study. A typical GMAT class will be filled with 2 kinds of people, one who have taken the test and want to improve their scores by another 50-100 points and then other who have never faced the test before. This is not your case, as you need a drastic improvement.

3. The solution - I guess in your case the best solution would be to find a tutor, a very good GMAT tutor. A personal tutor would invest the entire class time customizing the lessons towards your specific needs. Unlike a classroom course, a personal tutor will be able to identify your weaknesses and the lapses that you have in your prior preparation and help you towards your goals.

4. I think if you are planning to do an MBA, consider the cost of a tutor as an investment. Remember, for every 20 points your score, your salary post MBA could bump up to $5000. Hence spend the money and hire a tutor, as i think this will yield a better return on investment than a classroom course.

Hope these helped.

Wishing you all the very best.

- HK

Well I can't afford a tutor anymore. After reading several postings I have found out that I need to get different materials and comprehend truly each type of question.
With such scores you might think i need to improve in all areas. However, I think I should concentrate in PS, DS and CR. If I still feel that I am lacking I may have to invest in a course. I may have to work on being calm for the test or I will be so anxious and blow it again! I will continue to be active in these forums because I need all the help that I can get.

I am following your advise. I just started to review high school math and in around 3 weeks I am investing in an online prep course. I believe it will help me get into a better routine and improve my discipline.

Hi,

Your goal is realistic and possible. You should try enrolling in a class or taking a tutors advice in my opinion as an expert can better suggest where you can improve and what your problems. Its just like a doctor diagnosing your GMAT troubles by looking at the symptoms and then giving you medicine (books and materials) and then if you take the medicine you heal and you get the score or if you slack off, are not thorough enough, you will keep continuously making the same mistakes (thus, not learn- if you make the same mistake twice you haven't learned)

So, you have a 3.85 GPA you are obviously capable. Given this, can you look at how you like to learn best? What attributes your success to that walk of life? Are you the person that attends every class? Do you tend to skip classes but work on your own mostly? Is it a mix? Accordingly, you can see whether you will need a tutor, a class, or do it on your own. I suggest that you try something different if it didn't work the first time. You truly need to practice practice practice. But remember practice doesnt make perfect, it makes permanent. So you have to practice the right way with all the tools, strategies in place so that you can keep improving.

Take an exhaustive look at this website and look at the courses, resources, blogs, post debriefings and this will somewhat depict what it takes to make it to the top 700s. Study yourself as well and see how you can match your resources with your learning aptitudes/preferences and make a venn diagram.

An admissions commitee will probably look at your test taking history and question why you didnt take a different approach after the second time if you dont improve. Its part of being an MBA you need to know what works for you. I suggest you take the test when you feel ready and this is when you get to that range of 550-580. Here are some resources:
Math - https://www.khanacademy.org/
Verbal - https://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.htm (Sentence correction)
Read the economist, WSJ, McKinsey Quarterly on a daily basis to comprehend thorough texts.
Go thru the list Dana J made on quantitative concepts (search it in the forum) and then go thru each one one by one making notes and watching youtube videos if you get lost or dont know what happens. If in doubt post the question in the forum. If not google your question. Use the internet, be resourceful. These are all cost effective methods yielding great returns on knowledge. I myself am far away from my score but I am learning as I go. These things have worked for me so far. But I am in the 530 range and I would love to get to the 600 range... but it seems far away :( Little by little with patience and practice I will get there I hope.

I wish you the best.
Jas

Thank you for posting the links to the websites. Very helpful!

I was just thinking about how the GMAT challenges us and generates in us introspection. I thought that I was going to be able to acquire an MBA without much effort. I have a good GPA, my current employer likes the way I work, I have great references from professors in the Accounting and Finance fields.... and then... there is the GMAT. Quite funny and Ironic!

Well, I just started from 0's again. I just purchased a multimedia high school math program. I can't just sit down for hours and solve math problems or read boring articles to prepare for it. So, I am changing the way I approach some of the topics for this exam. I think interactive media will work for me! at least for the math section. These is part of the topics the program includes:

Math Review: Factors & Factoring, Infinite Possibilities, Radical Operations, Absolute Value, Integers & Order of Operations, Number Lines and Relationships, Multiplication & Division of Signed Numbers, Fractions & Fraction Forms, Reducing & Changing Fractions, Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying & Dividing Fractions, Decimals, Percents, Ratios, Proportions.

Algebra 1 & Statistics: Order of Operations, Rules of Exponents, Scientific Notation, Binomials & Polynomials, 1st & 2nd Degree Equations, Distance, Time, Rate of Work, Inequalities & Factoring, Graphs and Coordinate Systems, Slope of a Line, Radical & Linear Equations, Systems of Equations, Quadratic Formula, Functions, Venn Diagrams, Statistics, Probability.

Algebra II: Factors & Radicals, Fractions & Inequalities, Formulas and Functions, Equations with Absolute Values, Rate, Distance, Velocity & Time, The 5-Step Method, Word Problems with Quadratics, Word Problems with 2 Unknowns, Break-Even Analysis, Graphs, Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Systems of Equations.

Geometry: Deductive & Indirect Reasoning, Conditional Statements & Variants, Venn Diagrams, Points, Lines, Planes, Space, Solids, Line Segments, Distance, Midpoints, Rays, Angles, Degree Measure, Angle Relationships, Intersecting Lines, Parallels & Transversals, Triangles, Polygons & Circles, Coordinate Geometry, Similarities & Ratios, Transformations.

I am going to check that list you mentioned and see what I am missing.

I'm going to take another route and recommend you not take a class, assuming you have a lot of time to study. In classes, you have to go at the pace of the instructors and everyone else, while you may be a slow learner.

If you have the time, buy the resources (Manhattan GMAT books, Official Guides, etc) and study diligently. For every question you get wrong, analyze it, and when you still can't figure it out, come here for help.

It seems like you were rushing too quickly to get these two tries out of the way - now is the time to slow down, learn the fundamentals, and practice a lot. If you have a couple of months to invest, then you should achieve your goal.