Scored 640

[gmat_11]

So I scored a 640 - very upset. I have been following this forum for a while.

I need to score above 700 to get into the school of my choice. What is sad is that I scored 690-720 at all tests at home.

I was very very very very nervous when I got to the test center. I have talked to some prep course people if I need to take classes but they said the problem with me was that I was not mentally prepared. I just need to practice more tests and just be mentally prepared. Any advise is appreciated. I have a strong quant background - undergrad and grad in Computer science, perfect SAT Subject Test scores.

Here is what I was scoring at home
2 Kaplan Paper Tests - 730, 750

GMATPrep 1 - 690 (M51 V33)
GMATPrep 2 - 690 (M49 V34)
GMATPrep 1 - 710
GMATPrep 2 - 720 (M49 V40)
MGMAT 1 - 690 (M45 V38)
Actual - 640 (M45 V34)

I took 6 months to study did the following
Princeton Review
Kaplan
Barrons
OG 11, 12
OG Verbal Review
OG Quantative Review
Manhattan Review for SCs when I did not score well on the verbal section of my first practice test - I was mostly getting the SCs wrong.

I have to take this test again and score above 700, aim for a 750. I think I was nervous because I was scoring 690-720 and at least wanted to score that much. Please advise.

Thanks

[Bryant@VeritasPrep]

First of all, you need to remove the anxiety. This can be done in a couple of ways. One, think of taking the test as you would a practice test--in other words, take the pressure off yourself by remembering that you can always take it again and again until you get the score you want. The committess don't really care how many times you take it, just about your top score. The other thing you should do to remove anxiety is to get your mind off the 700. If a school's mean GMAT score is 710, then half scored below that. If you were able to see the distribution, you would see students even down in the 500's I bet ( I personally know of a girl who was admitted to a top 5 b-school with a 480). The GMAT is only part of the equation. If you end up not hitting the 700+, then perhaps your undergrad school and GPA will help convince the committee you can handle the academics of their program, which is really all they are looking for (yeah they want their average GMAT score to go up every year, but trust me, if they find "the right stuff" in your application, they will not let the GMAT get in the way of letting you in). Your score is good! Now go take the test a couple more times and make it even better--no pressure!!