GMAT Strategy

Hi all,

I just took Veritas Prep's free practice test that they offer and I scored really well, like 90 points higher than what my normal score is on other CATS, and that has me thinking my score might be skewed. I thought the verbal questions were really easy and I remember having to guess on quite a few questions in the quant while also seeing unusually easy questions. Has anyone else who has taken Veritas' practice tests experience this? Am I just over-analyzing?

Jesse

If you scored 90 points higher than your other CATS on any exam I would consider that an outlier.

If the other tests you have taken were pretty recent then something about this exam just really worked for you. You might have guessed well on the math questions where you guessed. It may be that the verbal questions you saw were just the types that really work well for you. For you the exam may have been easy.

I would give the greater weight to the bulk of the exams and be cautiously optimistic that you might be improving. What exams have you taken (scores) and what do you still have left to take?

Recently I have been taking MGMAT tests and scoring 580-600 on them (scored 640 once). I've taken about six of them and have a few of them left (I purchased additional tests).

That can be the difference MGMAT tests generally score pretty hard (low). And if the Veritas test scored you a little high that could be 90 points right there. Have you taken the GMATPrep tests?

I have not taken the GMATprep test in several months. I was thinking that that would be the next CAT I take.

Just quit a GMATprep test halfway through the quant section because I started to freak out and become frustrated with the amount of guessing I was doing.

Jesse -

When did you take that test? What time of day? What had you been doing before that? The decisions you make during the day are cumulative and trying to take an exam after any sort of long or stressful day can be a disaster.

I know that this is going to sound a little unrealistic, but realize that the unhappiest people in the world are the ones who focus on goals over process. Seriously. Think about an athlete who is making millions of dollars and getting to play a game for a living. That is a great life - but so many are unhappy because they focus on a championship. Focusing on the goal is the wrong way about it. If while you are studying for the GMAT you continuously focus on your goal score - and the fact that you have not reached it - then the process will always be a painful one.

If you can look at this as an opportunity to learn and to test yourself then it can be a pleasant experience.

Rather than stopping the test halfway through you might have continued it with the attitude that you will learn something from reviewing the questions. Obviously these are questions that you need to review. Unless you took the exam when you were already tired, etc. In which case it is not a good idea to even begin a test under these circumstances since it is not going to be a pleasant experience.

Remember that anxiety is "the gap between where you are and where you want to be." Accept where you are and work from there. It is the only rational way!

Now, can you schedule a day where you will not have any frustrations or distractions before hand, and where you can take the practice test at the same time as your actual GMAT exam will be taken? And can you look at each question as one step in the journey? And can you promise me that as you are taking the exam you will not think about your score - not even one time?

If so then you should get back at it and not let something like this bother you.

I am rooting for you.
David

Rastis wrote:Just quit a GMATprep test halfway through the quant section because I started to freak out and become frustrated with the amount of guessing I was doing.

Hi,

Firstly, just 1 test may not really be indicative of your performance or how you will perform on the test day. You performance will eventually depend upon how much you score on a consistent basis and whether you are improving upon your score with every test.

Secondly, we would like to understand why you became frustrated. Remember with competitive exams like GMAT, it is never over until it is over. Today you got frustrated because you thought you were guessing more, tomorrow there could be some other uncomfortable situation which may frustrate you. You cannot during those times lose out mid-way. You need to keep fighting it out.

We feel you need to calm down a bit - we know this is easier said than done. But with each test, we would suggest you to identify your strong and weak points. Analyse each question to figure out a better, smarter and a faster way to solve every question. Make a note of these points and then try them in the next test. If you stay consistent with this, you will definitely see a regular improvement in your score.

In case you have any other specific question regarding GMAT preparation, please do let us know and we would be happy to help.

Wish you the best.

I found the Veritas quant slightly tougher to finish than the official quant, while the verbal seems about the same.

For more good CATs, find and download PowerPrep, an earlier GMAC software package that has two official CATs.

On another note, quitting in frustration in the middle of a test does not make sense to me. Better to get into the habit of sucking it up and continuing, as that is what will lead to the most success. I often practice when I am super tired, just to be used to the feeling and to get into the habit of finding within resources to answer questions.

FYI Marty, you need to know a lot more about me and my history with this test before you try to tell me to "suck it up". If you were battling this test for four years and have taken five official exams with 500 being your highest and you're still having trouble achieving, then maybe you'd feel the same way I do. In the future, I'd appreciate if you not comment on anything I post.

Hi Rastis,

Many of my students have been taking Veritas and then GMAT and most of them have given me a feedback that Veritas is a little on easy side than actual GMAT but still it's closest to actual GMAT

Surprisingly, The actual scores of those students are very close to actual GMAT results.

Manhattan are too toucher on Quant side else they are good practice

Kaplan is not that appropriate as it's approach is more bookish than GMATish.

Hope it helps.