Stuck in the 500s - GMAT in less than 2 weeks

[sp3GT]

Hi everyone,

I've been a long time lurker on the forum and have read many success stories on here. But I'm struggling and having a hard time improving my quant and verbal scores. I have completed 5 practice tests with scores ranging in this order: 580, 510, 560, 580, 530

My integrated reasoning has improved and I average a 4. My essays are scoring between a 4 - 5.
My quant scores are consistently in the 50 - 60 percentile range but my verbal scores range from 30 - 50.

I have done targeted practice but have not improved.

With scores like mine, does that mean my basic fundamentals need work?

Thanks

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

Tough question.
I imagine there are a few missing fundamentals, so you'll need to identify those and work on them.
In addition to knowing the fundamentals/basics, you need to know GMAT-specific strategies so that you can answer questions quickly. To this end, I suggest that you spend a lot of time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site. They model the steps you should take when tackling questions.

Finally, in addition to learning the core concepts and GMAT-specific strategies, keep working on your test-taking skills (e.g., endurance, time management, anxiety reduction, etc.) by taking several practice tests.

If you're interested, we have a free GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244

Cheers,
Brent

[sp3GT]

Thanks for the reply Brebt. I have seen the video and did learn a few things from it.

I took a course with Kaplan, so I'm trying to utilize their strategies as much as possible. But upon reviewing my tests, I find that I can do the questions I got wrong without too much difficulty. So I imagine it is the test panic and time being an issue for me.

In my mock tests, I don't see any high level questions. Do you have to say get a minimum level of medium difficulty questions right before any hard questions are presented? For example, I'll get 5 straight med level right then get 2 wrong. But not see any high lvl questions.

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

In my mock tests, I don't see any high level questions. Do you have to say get a minimum level of medium difficulty questions right before any hard questions are presented? For example, I'll get 5 straight med level right then get 2 wrong. But not see any high lvl questions.

Are you referring to the Kaplan practice tests, or the official GMATPrep practice tests? I'm not sure how the Kaplan tests work, but (loosely speaking) the official practice tests base the difficulty level of each question on your success on the previous question. If you're interested, we have a free video explaining the GMAT scoring algorithm: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1251

Having said all of that, difficulty levels range from person to person. For example, some students can crush even the most difficult Geometry questions, yet struggle with basic Probability questions. So, it may be the case that the difficulty level (based on the results of other test-takers) is increasing, but the subsequent questions happen to be in your area of expertise. Of course, if you've been taking Kaplan practice tests, something else may be going, since I don't know how their adaptive algorithm works.

Cheers,
Brent

[sp3GT]

^The practice tests I'm doing are from Kaplan and I'm not sure how they're scored either. But I can't imagine them being too far off.
Your example is kind of how I am. My two biggest struggles are probability and properties of sets.

I can do difficulty geometry problems but could fall to a low level probability question.

Does this mean, in order to see higher level questions. I have to get everything at medium level correct first?

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

^The practice tests I'm doing are from Kaplan and I'm not sure how they're scored either. But I can't imagine them being too far off.
Your example is kind of how I am. My two biggest struggles are probability and properties of sets.

I can do difficulty geometry problems but could fall to a low level probability question.

Does this mean, in order to see higher level questions. I have to get everything at medium level correct first?

Basically, each time you answer a question correctly, you will get a harder question (where the difficulty levels are based on the results of TONS of test-takers). So, if you fail to answer average questions, you won't encounter super difficult questions.

With all of that said, you shouldn't spend a lot of time thinking about the scoring algorithm. Your task (always) is to answer each question that pops up in front of you.

Cheers,
Brent