Bombed my Gmat (Update: retook, 750 (Q49 V44)

[Sonic]

Ok, I am completely devastated now. Took the GMAT the first time and got 550 AWA 5.5 (V27, Q39), which is lower than any practice test I have ever done. Even way before I started my preparation, I did prep once and scored 620.
I mainly used Kaplan. Here are the scores I did.
Practice 2 Q42V38 640
CAT 1 Q47 V31 660
CAT 2 Q50 V 32 680
CAT 3 Q45 V 32 670
CAT 4 Q49 V51 750

I have absolutely no idea how i could get a 550 on the actual test today. I have never done any Manhattan material. However, now I am thinking about purchasing some and start working on to take the GMAT again in 31 days. Can you analyze my situation for what have gone terribly wrong? I am going to retake the gmat on 08/30. Any study advices?

Update: I retook the GMAT and got 750(Q49 V44) on it. Thx everyone

[vineeshp]

You scored 750 on a Kaplan test and 550 on the real? That must be really devastating. I thought Kaplan had the toughest tests of all.

I suggest you wait a few days before registering for 30/8 until you get a hang of where you went wrong.
Actually what is Practice 2, Your GMAT Prep scores?

Did you take AWA while practicing these tests? Did you practice sitting through AWA atleast once?

Cos otherwise, it is hard to see why your score went down. Maybe you just got nervous n panicked a bit at the test. Happens to all (M the example). Just give yourself a short break to cool down before you decide your next course of action. Hopefully, your next attempt will go much better.

Can understand your pain. Don worry, things will improve. Hang in there!

[Sonic]

Thanks for the reply.
I did get a 750 on the Kaplan CAT one day before the test so I was very confident, and it turned out to be a devastating 550. No idea what happened.
On the second prep I got an 680. I did every AWA every time.
So, when the 550 showed up, I was entirely shocked, quite surreal.
I have already signed up for 0830 since I will need the score soon, I am applying to PhD programs so I will need a 700+ to be competitive.
Super stressed out now. Please advise!
Thx

[vineeshp]

Ok, then I think it was just bad luck. Your next attempt will be much better. I am sure.

Cool down pal. Stress wont help you in any way. Use the next 3 weeks in the right way and you will be fine. Did you work on Kaplan 800 by any chance?

[Sonic]

I have the book but did not work on it before. I am now kinda disappointed about Kaplan now. Haha.
Admittedly, I was very very stressed out on the test day.
Thanks for your advice.
Do you think I need to buy the MGMAT stuff?

[prodizy]

I don't understand your CAT3 and CAT4 scores... In the third you got 32 in verbal and in the fourth, a freaking 51. Either the scoring system is messed up or your test taking habits are not consistent. I am confused.

No offense intended.

[Sonic]

Thx~
I know the V51 sounds some untrue. But 550 is even worse~

[prodizy]

What i am saying is you score high some times and not so high sometimes. is it to do with your concentration levels? Time of the day? or any other factors we are not seeing?

[Sonic]

Thx!
I am sure my stress level plays a big role in this. I was super stressed out, did sleep well for weeks before taking the exam. Really hope to do better on 08/30.

[pemdas]

GMAT CAT is really like a chess engine. If I were you, I would copy/paste all OGs (1,2,3,11,12 etc.) hard questions and compile the paper based tests. Only hard problems. This way you would adjust your strategy and thinking way to the GMAT actual test content and would not need to waste time your time on additional analysis in exam.

[smackmartine]

Did you take all the practice tests without taking longer than 8 min break between quants and verbal ? Did you write essays for 1 hour during your practice tests. If not, you will see a huge difference in your performance because we are talking about one extra nasty hour of TORTURE! which can cook your brain a bit more.

[prodizy]

* Find out your strong areas and brush up on them.
* Find out your weak areas - not only those you are unable to answer but also those you are taking more than 2minutes to answer.
* Revise the concepts weak areas and practice their problems
* Then practice, practice, and practice - take as many practice CATs as you can.
* Once you took an exam, analyze the exam properly and go back to the concepts and revise them accordingly - this is very imporatant
* Other thing you can do is go through each and every question of OG and read the explanations - especially see why the eliminated options are eliminated
* And work on your stress levels. Do breathing exercises, try to be calm, etc etc etc

HTH. All the best.

[Sonic]

Hey~ Thanks to all.
I did not take any breaks on the practice tests and did every awa.
I started preparing for the second time and hopefully this time it will turn out to be better.

[Sonic]

I re-wrote it today and got 750 (Q49 v44). Thx everyone here.

[bijoyajj]

I re-wrote it today and got 750 (Q49 v44). Thx everyone here.

woow really happy for you.. Let us know what you did different this time around?..specially with verbal.. Best of luck with your higher studies..