GMAT prep=~570, real GMAT=480

[rparchen]

I have to say that I'm at a complete loss with this. I originally took the GMAT (with very little studying I may add) and got a 460 (both Q/V were in the low 20's if I remember right). My GMAT prep scores were pretty low as well, in the mid 400 range so my real scored seemed appropriate. I knew that wasn't going to be enough and I didn't really like the Kaplan materials so I got the OG11 materials and studied consistently for the past 2-3 months to retake the GMAT. My test scores averaged about 570, Q35/V39 or so. The program I want to enter into only has a 570 average so I figured I would be fine with a slightly lower score but with my great work experience. I just retook the GMAT today and got a dismal 480 Q28/V29. I am completely shocked that I was only able to raise my score by 20 points. I barely had any studying for the first test and felt so much stronger for this second time. The easiest math problem that I encountered on the real test was comparable to the hardest one from the OG11 materials. Everything just seemed off from my practice tests. I have pretty much exhausted my OG11 and Kaplan materials, what else can be recommended? I seemed to get 8-9 out of every 10 problems correct in my practice so OG obviously wasn't good for me for some reason. Any help would be appreciated for better study materials so I can take this miserable test for a third time.

[dubc1982]

I'm in the same boat. I scored a 540 on Saturday when I was scoring 590-600 on GMATPrep tests. I don't know what happened. Felt the Quant. section was much harder than any prep. I've been getting almost all of the questions right in the OG 11, so I'm at a loss. I don't know about you but I'm not giving up. If I can score above a 570, I should be good. I'm completely revamping my study method and will take the test again the second week in September. I have the 6 MGMAT tests, so I'm doing half of one each morning and will then review everything on the third day. So basically I will be taking and reviewing a complete practice test every three days for the next month and a half. I hope this works because I don't know what else to do. I felt comfortable going into the test and thought I'd do well.

[mgross]

I do not think that MGMAT CATs are good practice for Quant. Get the online quiz bank from Kaplan.

[rparchen]

I'm in the same boat. I scored a 540 on Saturday when I was scoring 590-600 on GMATPrep tests. I don't know what happened. Felt the Quant. section was much harder than any prep. I've been getting almost all of the questions right in the OG 11, so I'm at a loss. I don't know about you but I'm not giving up. If I can score above a 570, I should be good. I'm completely revamping my study method and will take the test again the second week in September. I have the 6 MGMAT tests, so I'm doing half of one each morning and will then review everything on the third day. So basically I will be taking and reviewing a complete practice test every three days for the next month and a half. I hope this works because I don't know what else to do. I felt comfortable going into the test and thought I'd do well.

It sounds like we had a very similar experience, the quant section was completely different from what I was expecting. I don't think I got a single probability or even a geometry question. I saw a few f(x) questions which I didn't see in any of my practice materials so I thought I may have been into the harder questions but I guess not. I am also at at loss as to why my verbal dropped a good 10 points. The only good note is that I got a 5.5 on my AWA. I have my application in for fall quarter so there isn't anything I can do in the short term. I'll retake the test, for a third time, if I have to but I'm hoping my work experience and AWA will be sufficient to get me in. I will need to find some better study material for the math section, OG11 was useless. As for improving my verbal, well, I really don't know what to do there.