I took my first diagnostic test today and.....

[tali-p]

Hi All,

I took my first diagnostic test today and scored 410
Backround:I graduated 4 years ago and didn't touch math since then.
I am planning to study for 3 months - is 700 a realistic target?
Thanks and good luck,
Tali

[beatthegmat]

Hi All,

I took my first diagnostic test today and scored 410
Backround:I graduated 4 years ago and didn't touch math since then.
I am planning to study for 3 months - is 700 a realistic target?
Thanks and good luck,
Tali

Hi Tali:

Did you take a GMATPrep test? GMATPrep is the most accurate indicator of your current GMAT performance. A Kaplan/PR/etc. diagnostic would not be as telling...

With regards to your target score of 700--it's going to be really difficult. I've never heard of anyone jump from a 400 to a 700. With a really solid study strategy, it might be possible (please see https://beatthegmat.blocked for an example). If you have some money, you might want to think about investing in some professional GMAT courses or tutoring.

Don't give up! Remember, the GMAT is just one factor that MBA admissions folks consider along with many other things. A low GMAT score does not kick you out of consideration.

Best of luck!

[maolivie]

400 - 700 is possible. don't listen to what anyone else would say. and don't follow anyone elses strategies because all I read on every post for anyone asking for advice is to read an irrelevant documentary (blog) on someones life throughout gmat preparation. my advice to you is to do what you feel is best, and getting you the most out of your studying.
I only scored a 530 on my first gmat prep test with minimal studying and not even going over verbal notes before hand.
Here I am, 2 weeks later, my math score went from 39 to 41, verbal from 21 to 29. I'm not going to stop till i get my verbal up in the 40s this way i can achieve my goal of a 700. I'm less than a hundred points away. when I know I can answer each question in the OG without getting them wrong, then i am ready to take the test.
Nothing is impossible dude. If you practiced for the gmat for 10 years, i'm sure you would ace it. All this means is that there is no such thing as a barrier where only smart people can reach 800s. they might get their faster, but with a little more study and time, you will get their too.
My study plan is just crunch in problem after problem. Eventually, you learn the processes to all correct answers. When it comes to test time, you simply mimic.

[tali-p]

Hi Maolivie,

Thank you very much for your encouragement.
You are a fighter - just like me
Of course we can do it, it will be with a lot of hard work, but we will reach 700 !!!!
Good luck,

-T

[GCHall840]

Hi Tali,
I think that it is true that I have rambled on about my "road" to getting ready to take the GMAT on this forum. I also know that what is good for one person is not necessarily good for someone else for that matter. The only reason that I would give my advice about this kind of thing, is because I think that it is a very good thing to share the things that have worked well for me in this process. I would only offer advice to someone else when they have asked for some help or some suggestion about how other people did their preparation process for the GMAT.

I think that if you have a goal that you want to get to in regards to the test, you should do anything that you know will work to get yourself to that point. If you want to score a 700 on the GMAT, I am sure that you will figure it out how to get yourself to that point. You should just use the things that you know would work the best for you. And, I think that having a structured study plan with all of the right learning tools, seems to have worked out very well for me, too. So, maybe that kind of plan will work for you, too?

Greg

[Stacey Koprince]

You don't know till you try. It is challenging to hit a 300-point improvement, but it is not completely impossible. You ask if it is a "realistic target." At this point, I'd call it a stretch target, and I'd set an initial realistic target at maybe 600. Start studying and see where you are in a month, then adjust accordingly.

I do agree with Eric that, if you're looking for such a huge score improvement, you should seriously think about taking a course or hiring a tutor. I know it's expensive, but it's very challenging to achieve such a large score improvement on your own. (And go do the research, too - you may find you don't really need a 700 after all.)

[tali-p]

Hi,

I registered to the GMAX online course, and I am going to study hard.
I took the first lesson yesterday and it was very good.
I am going to take my time and to study slowly and effectivly.
Thanks for all the great advices.
-T