Just got beat. Need help. 500 (28 quant, 31 ver.)

[rwchambers]

Took the GMAT for the second time today, and needless to say, i got beat. When I took the test last year, i got a 540, with moderate preparation. This time around, i studied for 3 months, at least 6-8 hours a week, and was just dumbfounded when that score showed up on the screen. I know there is no magical answer, but if someone has some insite, that would be great. I plan on taking it again, possibly in a month? Any suggestions?

[calical]

what material did you use to study? Did you keep an error log?

[rwchambers]

I used the official guide for gmat review, as well as the two smaller official guide books for quant and verbal. I also downloaded the practice tests from mba.com. The more i think back to the test, I feel like i didnt use any of the skills and I had studied for the last three months. Once i sat down, it was like i was taking the test for the first time. When timing myself and answering pracitce problems from the official guide books, I was doing well (80%-90% correct). Is there a particular book that covers strategy or overall logic of the test?

I did keep an error log. I would study is sets of 10 questions, reviewing the ones i got wrong at the end of the set.

Thanks for your response.

[calical]

I would start off with Manhattan GMAT and cover one topic a week thoroughly. Then I would do practice problems from the official guide on the weekend. I would start off with 40 questions in quant and try to finish them in 75 minutes.