Beaten down - avg practice 690, real score 570 - advice?

[jenndaniels]

Hi everyone. I haven't posted before but have been reading the boards for the past few months during my GMAT preparation and really value everyone's opinions.

I took the GMAT today for the first time, and scored an abysmal 570. To put that in perspective, my practice tests have been:

MGMAT 600 (September - first test I took as a "baseline," before any prep or studying whatsoever)
MGMAT 650 (early October, after a month of studying)
MGMAT 690 (December)
MGMAT 690 (December)
MGMAT 740 (January)
MGMAT 710 (January)

GMATPrep 640 (the new software freaked me out) (January)
GMATPrep 690 (January)
GMATPrep 690 (February)
GMATPrep 720 (February - 4 days ago, this past Sunday)

I've taken a GMAT prep course using OG 12, and done four sessions of private tutoring going over every math question I got wrong in my practice tests. I am much stronger verbally, usually averaging around a 45 on that side of the test. My best score on that side has been a 47.
For quant, I tend to score right around 42. On a bad practice test, it was a 36. I fear the math side of the test, while my biggest hurdle in verbal is trying to slow down.

My real score today was Q29, V40, Total 570. TOTAL DISASTER.

My essays were excellent prompts, I remembered the outline I had formulated before the test, and I finished both of those feeling good and not overly taxed.

But then, I was a minute and a half late coming back from my essay break. I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to tell how much time had passed during the break. Then, my proctor forgot to log me back in after walking out of the room. She came back in and logged me in. During this time, waiting at my desk to be logged in, I lost another 2 minutes of quant time. I think knowing I lost 3-4ish minutes on quant flustered me and I totally lost my focus. I was stumbling on easy, basic arithmetic questions. I tried to keep it together for verbal but I was pretty sure I had bombed quant.

Clearly, I will need to take the test again. I'm aiming for a 700 (of course). I've been studying for months and have run out of fresh practice tests. I'm going to give it one more go and try again in March.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice on how to best prepare for round two?

[bblast]

I feel bad for u but there is absolutely no explanation for this ->"But then, I was a minute and a half late coming back from my essay break. I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to tell how much time had passed during the break."


ur practice scores show u are very capable of reaching ur score and the only advice I can give u is next time rush to the washroom in the break, have ur candy bar and rush back for quant within 3 minutes,

[rishi raj]

Sorry to hear about getting a 570. I think that the anxiety of having lost 3-4 minutes made you lose your focus and consequently you ended up performing lower than expected. I'd suggest that you take a break for 2-3 days before getting back on the journey to tame the beast! I think you should be able to manage a good score provided you maintain your composure.

[sallywoo]

Hi Jenn,

My situation was similar (test score lower than the practice scores). do you think anxiety played a role? did you get bogged down in parts of the test and lose valuable time? i think those are a couple major elements...