Just got beaten 540 - How to improve?

[leonardogmat]

Hi Everyone,

Different than many who are looking for a MBA, I want to apply to a MSc program in Europe.
I just graduated from university and want to live abroad while studying.
This is a short profile:

- Brazilian, Male, 22 years old
- Graduated in one of the best universities in Brazil (Business Management)
- GPA 3.1/3.2 (81/100)
- 0,5 year Tutor in Finance at the University;
- 1,5 year of internship (Auditing) in the biggest private company in brazil;
- 0,5 year of internship (Marketing) in a startup accelarated by one of the most well know Business Acceletators in Brazil.
- Speak English, Spanish and Portuguese (two exchanging programs, in Canada and Argentina, to improve second and third language)
- TOEFL IBt: Will take it in a week (From 97 - 107)

***However, my GMAT: 540 38Q/ 26V

Given my age and nationatily, I believe that my profile is interesting for the universities, but GMAT is holding me back. I know that MSc programs are not as hard to get in as MBA programs. But I should have a score higher than 630. What should I do?

** Note: My GMAT score range is very broad on Gmat Mocks: Quant 38 - 46 / Verbal 26 - 34

I have been studying for 3 months now, using these materials:

- OG 13th edition;
- OG verbal review 2nd edition;
- OG quantitative review 2nd edition;
- Magoosh account;
- Have taken 5-6 mock tests, ranging from 540 to 620.

Top of mind universities:

1*** Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
2*** Warwick Business School
3*** Hult International Business School
4** City University: Cass
5* Imperial College Business School
6* Manchester Business School

Alternative choices (Don't require GMAT for MSc Programs):

1*** Grenoble Ecole De Management (France)
2*** Copenhagem Business School (Denmark)
3**University of Edinburgh (UK)
4** Bradford University (UK)
5* Durham Business School (UK)
6* University of Bath (UK)

Thanks!

[[email protected]]

Hi leonardogmat,

If you can answer a few questions for me, then I'd be happy to offer some advice:

1) Can you provide the exact scores for each of your CATs and when you took them (relative to your Official GMAT)?
2) When you took your CATs, did you ever skip any of the sections (AWA or IR)? Did you ever take a CAT more than once?
3) When do you plan on applying?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[leonardogmat]

Hi Rich,

1) Can you provide the exact scores for each of your CATs and when you took them (relative to your Official GMAT)?

Unfortunately I didn't keep track on my scores and dates for all tests.

29/09 Princeton review: 590
30/09 The Economist: 550
02/10 GMAT prep 1: 550 Q44/V19
05/10 Manhattan: 590 Q42/ V27
06/10 xxxx: 620

13/10 Real GMAT: 540 Q38/ V26

2) When you took your CATs, did you ever skip any of the sections (AWA or IR)? Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

Yes, I skipped the AWA and IR on 3 of those CATs. No, I haven't done any of them more than once.

3) When do you plan on applying?

I want to apply from january (Starting the program on Sept 2014).

Thank you!

[[email protected]]

Hi leonardogmat,

Based on what you've described, there are a couple of details that immediately stand out (that could explain your score drop):

1) You took 5 CATs in the 2 weeks leading up to your GMAT. With such a compressed practice CAT schedule, there would have been little time for review or improvement. You wouldn't have been able to properly learn from your mistakes (and that's reflective in your scores - which ultimately don't vary by much).

2) Skipping any section on a GMAT CAT (much less BOTH the AWA AND IR sections) creates a shorter CAT that doesn't properly test your endurance. Those scores tend to be "inflated" and unrealistic.

Thankfully, Business Schools don't care if you retest, so that's not anything to feel bad about. Also, you have enough time before your applications are due to properly study and score at a higher level. You're going to have to adjust your plan a bit, but you're not in bad shape.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[saidov.mikhail]

Hi Everyone,

Different than many who are looking for a MBA, I want to apply to a MSc program in Europe.
I just graduated from university and want to live abroad while studying.
This is a short profile:

- Brazilian, Male, 22 years old
- Graduated in one of the best universities in Brazil (Business Management)
- GPA 3.1/3.2 (81/100)
- 0,5 year Tutor in Finance at the University;
- 1,5 year of internship (Auditing) in the biggest private company in brazil;
- 0,5 year of internship (Marketing) in a startup accelarated by one of the most well know Business Acceletators in Brazil.
- Speak English, Spanish and Portuguese (two exchanging programs, in Canada and Argentina, to improve second and third language)
- TOEFL IBt: Will take it in a week (From 97 - 107)

***However, my GMAT: 540 38Q/ 26V

Given my age and nationatily, I believe that my profile is interesting for the universities, but GMAT is holding me back. I know that MSc programs are not as hard to get in as MBA programs. But I should have a score higher than 630. What should I do?

** Note: My GMAT score range is very broad on Gmat Mocks: Quant 38 - 46 / Verbal 26 - 34

I have been studying for 3 months now, using these materials:

- OG 13th edition;
- OG verbal review 2nd edition;
- OG quantitative review 2nd edition;
- Magoosh account;
- Have taken 5-6 mock tests, ranging from 540 to 620.

Top of mind universities:

1*** Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
2*** Warwick Business School
3*** Hult International Business School
4** City University: Cass
5* Imperial College Business School
6* Manchester Business School

Alternative choices (Don't require GMAT for MSc Programs):

1*** Grenoble Ecole De Management (France)
2*** Copenhagem Business School (Denmark)
3**University of Edinburgh (UK)
4** Bradford University (UK)
5* Durham Business School (UK)
6* University of Bath (UK)

Thanks!

Hi, Leo

it looks like we are in the same situation with almost the same scores (Look through my post above yours in the forum)
If I were you, I would find the weakest area in Verbal part and try to improve on that. Also Rich noted correctly that you should not skip IR and AWA in your mock tests

Misha

[leonardogmat]

Hi Rich and Misha,

Thanks for the advices!

1) You took 5 CATs in the 2 weeks leading up to your GMAT. With such a compressed practice CAT schedule, there would have been little time for review or improvement. You wouldn't have been able to properly learn from your mistakes (and that's reflective in your scores - which ultimately don't vary by much).

Looking back I understand that I should have done the CATs before. When I realized the real test was coming, I just wanted to practice as much as I could. However, I did go through all my erros after each test and tried to understand them. I also gave myself a few days to relax and just used flashcards on the last 4 days.

2) Skipping any section on a GMAT CAT (much less BOTH the AWA AND IR sections) creates a shorter CAT that doesn't properly test your endurance. Those scores tend to be "inflated" and unrealistic.

I always had good endurance throughout 4-5 hours test. That's why I was more concerned on getting the scores from verbal and quantitative. I haven't received yet, but believe that I got AWA 5 up and IR was 6.

Thankfully, Business Schools don't care if you retest, so that's not anything to feel bad about. Also, you have enough time before your applications are due to properly study and score at a higher level. You're going to have to adjust your plan a bit, but you're not in bad shape.

Yes. I still have time to retake it at least 2 times before I start applying. What ajustments would you recommend me? This is what I had in my mind:

For the verbal, I think I have to start it all over again:

- Read, Read, Read. I have to do some reading everyday (NY times, Financial times, Wall St. Journal)
- I have a magoosh account so I will watch all of the video-lessons.
- I really need to understand my mistakes. I was very focused on doing as many exercices I could, to practice a lot, and I did review the wrong anwsers, but probably I didn't learn from my erros.

On the Quantitative I know I can perform a lot better, since Q38 was the worst score I have gotten so far:

- Keep studying the books, and reviewing all the questions (correct or wrong). Whenever I cannot understand the question, watch some videos on that specific topic, for example, probability. Sometimes I'm not understanding it because I couldn't consolidate the knowledge on that subject.


** By the way, I have been studying for GMAT and TOEFL at the same time. I don't really know if that could have affected my scores or no. Hopefully next week I will be done with TOEFL, so I will focus solely on the GMAT.

[leonardogmat]

By the way. As a plan B.
What are to odds on getting into this universities with my profile? (Since they don't require GMAT for MSc programs)

1 Manchester Business School (UK)
2 Grenoble Ecole De Management (France)
3 Copenhagem Business School (Denmark)
4 University of Edinburgh (UK)

[[email protected]]

Hi leonardogmat,

Studying for 2 major exams at the same time can certainly affect your performance(s), so that could also be a factor in your score drop. You seem to have the necessary time to continue studying, so you should stick with your plan for the next month and then post back here with a score update. We can make any adjustments once we see how you've responded.

As to any questions about the strength of your application at any particular school/program, you would probably be better served if you speak with an Admissions Consultant (they have their own Forum on this site) - try posting your profile and questions there.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[leonardogmat]

Hi Rich,

TOEFL is not at all a major exam if you compare it to the GMAT hahaha.
Jokes on the side, I understand your point.

I will try to retake the GMAT in a month and a half or two. I'm not really sure If i will be prepared in just a month. So soon I will update the scores!

About the Admissions Consultant: I had seeing it before, however the forum is focused only on MBA programs in the Top 10-20 universities in US and a few in Europe.
Since that's not my goal, I'm not sure if they can actually help me. But thanks anyways!

[leonardogmat]

Just an update! My TOEFL score was 102 with all sections 24+.

In the past 2 weeks I haven't study at all because I needed to rest and feel motivated to start all over again. I intent to retake the GMAT in Dec 7. Meanwhile, should I start writing the motivation letters? Or should I only focus on GMAT for now?

[[email protected]]

Hi leónardogmat,

If you're still following your original timeline, you're probably going to have to multi-task for the next couple of months. It takes time to study for the GMAT AND it takes time to put together an effective Business School application (in addition to everything else that you might have going on in your life right now). Treat this process as you would any other part of your life - plan it out, schedule certain days to study and certain days to work on your application. You CAN get it all done in the timeframe that you have; you just have to be smart about it.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[aks9389]

Hii Leonardogmat,

I,too,am in the same boat and ohh yes,sailing in the same direction !!In the first attempt I had got a 570,but am going to retake soon.I,too,aim at Msc Mgmt,but in the US,but dont have too much idea about good colleges there.Could you please help me out into this?

[Jaixe]

Hey Leonardogmat,

Just wanted to send some encouragement. You mentioned you might be taking up to two more times so I wanted to see if you had sat again yet?

Also, wanted to give you my input for whatever it's worth: your 38Q, while not the strongest score in the world by any means, is not weak. Quant, in my opinion, has been given a very tough place in most of our lives because of the amount of people, including international students, who absolutely excel in mathematics. However, this does not generally hold true for verbal, as is evidenced by the vastly different percentile rankings in raw scores between the two sections. Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because, point for point, a 1 point increase in your verbal will raise your score vastly more than a 1 point raise in your quant. For example, a 45Q is only the 66th percentile for quant, while a 45 in verbal, the exact same raw score, is in the 99th percentile! If you get a 45/45, though your score is only 66th percentile for math, will still put you around 730 overall which is around the 96th percentile.

In other words, your verbal raw score holds a vastly greater deal of weight on your overall total compared to your raw quant score. I'm not saying ignore quant, but I can almost certainly say that, point for point, focus focus focus on whatever weaknesses you have in the verbal section. Is it any particular part? CR, RC, or SC? Or is it just, in general, trouble with them all. I know language barriers and lack of time spent with written English can really damage the verbal, but if I had limited time available and wanted to get the most out of my study to raise my overall score, with a 38Q, I would start immediately looking to raise that verbal score which will benefit you so much more in your overall score per verbal point increase.

Good luck if you haven't yet sat again and still plan to!

[leonardogmat]

Got 640 - 46Q 32V.