scored a 640:Retake in a month : please help with strategy

[arrastra]

Hi,
I scored a 640(Q43V35) a few days ago and am very disappointed as I was targetting a score of 700+
I will be retaking the test in around 35 days .Please help me defining a strategy to get to my goal.I do not want to waste time learning the concepts I already know.I have been using below mentioned resources:
SC: EGMAT SC
QA: OG13,Jamboree books
RC: OG13;MH guide;Jamboree
CR: OG13;MH guide;Jamboree

Thanks in advance!!

[GMATinsight]

Hi,
I scored a 640(Q43V35) a few days ago and am very disappointed as I was targetting a score of 700+
I will be retaking the test in around 35 days .Please help me defining a strategy to get to my goal.I do not want to waste time learning the concepts I already know.I have been using below mentioned resources:
SC: EGMAT SC
QA: OG13,Jamboree books
RC: OG13;MH guide;Jamboree
CR: OG13;MH guide;Jamboree

Thanks in advance!!

The material you are using is quite exhaustive and doesn't need much change however I am not sure what do you mean by "I do not want to waste time learning the concepts I already know"? Because if you know all the concepts the way they should be known then the score should have been as you want them to be or certainly there is some problem in the way you have learnt the concepts which is working as hinderance in improving your score from the current level.

I suggest that if you are already taking help from some expert then you must ask them the reason of you below par performance and in case you are not taking any help then you must consider taking it as you have very less amount of time to bring the substantial improvement in your performance and you don't want to waste time, money, energy just for not taking the prompt decision.

We can help you assess the problem area in a free demo session so you can contact as per your convenience.

[GMATinsight]

On the outset it clearly looks that you are lacking in Quant section which has immense potential to improve from the level of 43 to 48 and this can certainly get you to your desired target with consistent Verbal.

One Line Suggestion : Focus on Quant

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Hi arrastra,

I'd like to know more about your studies:

1) How long have you been studying?
2) What were your scores on your practice CATs (include the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)?
3) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time or did you skip the Essay and/or IR sections?

With a Q43 and V35, you have the potential to pick up points in BOTH sections of the Test. Since you've been working primarily from books, you might need to invest in some new computer-based resources to help you improve.

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

[arrastra]

Hi arrastra,

I'd like to know more about your studies:

1) How long have you been studying?
2) What were your scores on your practice CATs (include the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)?
3) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time or did you skip the Essay and/or IR sections?

With a Q43 and V35, you have the potential to pick up points in BOTH sections of the Test. Since you've been working primarily from books, you might need to invest in some new computer-based resources to help you improve.

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

Thanks for Ur reply..

I have been studying for last three months...but my prep was interrupted due to some family problem before last month of exam.So for almost 20 days I could not study.
As for CATs ,I took these in the last month:
Mgmat : 630 q41v35
Veritas prep free : 670q48v32
Gmcondition 670 q47v35
GMAT prep 4 : 740 q49v42 (second attempt first was in June where I scored 660)

I took all the sections of the exam and followed all timing constraints.

Also on the test day, I think I answered first few quant questions hurriedly to save time and assumed they were easy.I thought I did well in this section and hoped to at least score above 46.
In my verbal section I slowed myself down and in the end was chasing time.To make it worse I faced an Rc towards the end which I couldn't read and attempt nicely.To save time I had to guess on it and move towards next few questions.So my verbal was messed up because I tried too much.

[BestGMATEliza]

If you want to improve your score efficiently, then an effective way is to pinpoint your weaknesses and work to improve them. In order to do this, take a look at your last few CATs and figure out exactly where you are going wrong. Write down which question type and topics you are getting wrong (for example, SC: idioms or PS: geometry). Also, make a note of why you got it wrong. Was it because you didn't know how to answer the question or because you just made a simple mistake like adding wrong? Then, focus on studying the topics you are getting wrong because you didn't know the answer.

I also think that another important part of breaking the 700 mark is to train your brain to function on full capacity for the full 3.5 hours, by taking a lot of full length (with awa and IR) practice tests. I took about 15 in the final few weeks before my test.

Hope this helps!!