Question

[mjjking]

Hi there,
I'm a student ready to take for my first time the GMAT. I have the test in 8 days already! I've been studying for a month and a half, starting with a GMATPrep score of 590. Now, I obtain 640 regularly on my Manhattan GMAT tests. My question is: do you think I can really achieve a 650-670 score? My math score fluctuate from 42 to 45 regularly, while my verbal score is stuck at 36. I'm sure that with training I can get to 40 in V! I have plenty of time (I plan to apply for my MBA in 2-3 years), but the sooner I take the GMAT the better!
What do you suggest me to do? I aim at schools such as Rice, U. Minnesota, U. Connecticut... do you think they are on my reach?
Thanks for your help!

Roberto

[Stacey Koprince]

If you're regularly scoring in the 640 range, then it's not unreasonable to think you can score in the 650-670 range... but that may not happen in 8 days. Remember, too, that a lot of people take a hit on the real test compared to their practice tests b/c they get nervous during the real test and it negatively affects performance.

When you take practice tests, do you do the whole thing just like a real test, including the essays? If not, then your practice scores may not be great indicators of your current level.

I don't know the stats for the schools you mention, but I encourage you to visit their web sites and look up their median incoming GMAT scores to see how competitive you are. (Don't forget to look at other things too, like GPA and work experience - GMAT is only one part of the picture, and your work experience is actually more important than your test score.)

Also, I'd take another GMATPrep test - that test is the closest to the real thing. No private company's tests (including ours) will be as good as GMATPrep b/c that one is actually built by the people who make the official test.

[mjjking]

Hi there,
I'm aware that scoring high on the very first test could be difficult! And I'm quite aware I'm not 100% prepared for the test yet. Nontheless, I want to apply to MBAs next or in two years time, so I'm just planning ahead! I want to get a feel of the real test, see how it goes and then decide what to do. After all, the score is valid for 5 years!
Let's just see! I've taken some prep testswriting the essays and some don't writing them: core hasn't change significantly. In both situations, I tend to get nervous at about half of the verbal section, I tend to lose concentration: I really must avoid it! Also, I keep finishing the verbal part with 15/20 minutes still available...

[mjjking]

Is my approach strategy correct?

[Stacey Koprince]

Sure - if you've never taken the test before, then there's nothing wrong with going in and seeing how you do! Taking the test a second (or even a third) time won't cause the schools any alarm. Good luck!

[mjjking]

Hi again! Yes, I think it wouldn't hurt! But by the way, what do you think would be the max amount of times I should take the test to be ok in let's say 1 year? 3? Would 4 be one too many? 'm really scared about the test, I hope I'll do well...

[Stacey Koprince]

Generally, schools won't care for up to 3 tests on your record (not in one year - on your record in general, which lasts 5 years). After that, some schools or some individual admissions people may (or may not) care, so you just want to be careful.

Don't use the official test as practice - it's fine to get in there once to see what the experience is all about, but the second time you go in, you should feel as though you have prepared as well as you can.

[mjjking]

Thanks for your input! I'm trying to do my best now already, but I just feel I can improve on certain fields. I hope to score well enough now already, otherwise - as I have plenty of time - I will prepare thoroughfully for the test. The fact I score in range in the MGMAT gives me hope, even though scoring let's say a 590 in the real test would daunt me very much!! I'll try not to make it happen anyway!

One more thing: the quantitative and the verbal score are somehow linked? I mean, can I score let's say 30 in Q and 40 in V? I've always scored higher in Q part, so this is why I have this (silly) question.
thanks!!

[Stacey Koprince]

The 2-digit scores apply only to math and verbal individually - they are not linked and they are not on the same percentile scale (so a 30 on Quant does not mean the same thing as a 30 on verbal).

The three-digit score, however, is a combination of the math and the verbal. The way in which the two scores are combined has not been made public, but generally the verbal is weighted a little bit more heavily than the math, though this varies depending on the scoring level.