Got 480. Need Help!

[saadsaab_19]

Hey guys,

I took GMAT yesterday and got 480 (Q35,V21,IR3). I have been preparing using Kaplan Gmat resources for 2 months. I am feeling so shattered that I could not get a good score because I needed to submit this score to my grad school. I have one other and only chance to retake it with in 30 days and submit a score of 600. Please guide and help me how can I do it in best possible way. I have resource material of Veritas Prep and Kaplan as well as the books from Manhattan and Princeton. May be I need to change my strategy this time. All I did was that I kept solving Kaplan CATs after learning the content.
My Kaplan CATs were as follows:

CAT 1: 490
CAT 2: 580
CAT 3: 510
CAT 4: 510
CAT 5: 560

[DavidG@VeritasPrep]

Hey guys,

I took GMAT yesterday and got 480 (Q35,V21,IR3). I have been preparing using Kaplan Gmat resources for 2 months. I am feeling so shattered that I could not get a good score because I needed to submit this score to my grad school. I have one other and only chance to retake it with in 30 days and submit a score of 600. Please guide and help me how can I do it in best possible way. I have resource material of Veritas Prep and Kaplan as well as the books from Manhattan and Princeton. May be I need to change my strategy this time. All I did was that I kept solving Kaplan CATs after learning the content.
My Kaplan CATs were as follows:

CAT 1: 490
CAT 2: 580
CAT 3: 510
CAT 4: 510
CAT 5: 560

Mastering the test content is different from mastering test-taking strategy. What has your process been for reviewing your old practice exams? Have you been making adjustments from practice test to practice test? If so, what have these adjustments been?

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

I suggest a systematic (even methodical) approach, in which you take the time to master each topic/concept (e.g., percents, ratios, assumption questions in critical reasoning, comparison questions in sentence correction, etc).

So, for each topic/concept, you should:
1) Learn the underlying concepts (rules, attributes, notation, etc.)
2) Learn GMAT-specific strategies related to that topic
3) Practice dozens of questions all related to that one topic.
4) Don't stop working on that topic until you have mastered it
Then, and only then, move on to the next topic.

To help you focus on one topic at a time, you can use BTG's tagging feature. For example, here are all of the questions tagged as statistics questions: https://www.beatthegmat.com/forums/tags/ ... statistics
See the left side of that linked page for more tag options.

You should also use an Error Log (aka Improvement Chart) while completing questions from the Official Guide (OG). You can find a free downloadable Improvement Chart here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-error-log. This will help you identify and strengthen your weak areas.

I also suggest that you spend a lot of time reviewing the responses from the Experts on this site, since they often model the steps you should be taking when answering questions.

Finally, in addition to learning the core concepts and GMAT-specific strategies, be sure to work on your endurance and test-taking skills (e.g., time management) 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

[[email protected]]

Hi saadsaab_19

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day.

If you can answer a few questions, then we should be able to figure this out:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

Your score goal is reasonable, but you will likely have to adjust how you 'see' (and respond to) the GMAT.

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

[saadsaab_19]

Hey Dave, thank you for replying. I did those CAT tests during the last 10 days before my GMAT exam. I have been making adjustments, for instance if I did poor on a specific section of the test then I would review the section and then take another CAT.

[saadsaab_19]

Hey Brent, thank you replying. I think this is exactly what I need; a systematic approach by mastering each section. While taking the GMAT test I realized that there were times when I spent too much time on a question from a specific topic just because it was testing the concept in a different or probably longer way that I was not accustomed to. Therefore I think I should start by mastering the topics.

However, I am going to do this by studying from Veritas Prep books. Do you guys think sticking to one publisher to prepare for the whole test (like just Veritas) is a good idea or should I also review others like Kaplan or Manhattan guide?

[saadsaab_19]

Hey Rich, thank you for replying.

1) I took the entire CAT including ARA and IR
2) I took the CAT's at my school's library
3) I took some of them at the same time of my GMAT test and some of them during the midday (my GMAT was at 8am
4) I think I took some extra pauses between the sections which I can not take on a Test Day
5) I did not take a CAT more than once.

[[email protected]]

Hi saadsaab_19,

Taking 5 CATs in 10 days was NOT a good idea. Working through a FULL CAT is a 'draining' experience and it takes time to properly review each CAT, find the areas that you need to work on and properly practice before you take your NEXT CAT. As such, you shouldn't be taking more than 1 CAT per week. By extension, you were likely 'burned out' by doing all of that work right before your Official GMAT, so your performance suffered on Test Day.

Thankfully, you still have a reasonable chance at scoring 600+.

1) What is the latest that you can retake the GMAT?

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

[saadsaab_19]

Hey Rich,

I totally agree with you. I believe that's what happened. I was burning out myself by doing full length CATs over and over again;moreover, it did not give me time to review my mistakes and learn from them properly. The latest I can take the GMAT is January 22, 2015. I would like to add that I go to school 3 days a week, so I have like 4 full days per week to study for GMAT. What do you suggest should I do to get the best possible score in my situation?

Resources that I have to study for GMAT:
Veritas Prep (Books and Video Workshops)
Kaplan (Book)
Manhattan (eBook)
etc

[[email protected]]

Hi saadsaab_19,

The later your can schedule your next GMAT appointment, the better - any extra time that you can put towards your studies should be beneficial. If you can push it to January 22nd (give or take), then you have about 6 weeks of study time remaining.

You've been using a book-heavy study approach, which might be part of the problem. Many Test Takers who study in that way end up getting 'stuck' at a particular score level. However, many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) on their studies before they hit their 'peak' scores, so it's also likely that you just haven't put in enough time and effort yet.

At this point, you have to decide whether you want to stick with the resources that you have or invest in some new non-book resources.

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

[saadsaab_19]

What can be the non book resources that I can do and will considerably help improve my score? Can you give any examples?

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

Hey Brent, thank you replying. I think this is exactly what I need; a systematic approach by mastering each section. While taking the GMAT test I realized that there were times when I spent too much time on a question from a specific topic just because it was testing the concept in a different or probably longer way that I was not accustomed to. Therefore I think I should start by mastering the topics.

However, I am going to do this by studying from Veritas Prep books. Do you guys think sticking to one publisher to prepare for the whole test (like just Veritas) is a good idea or should I also review others like Kaplan or Manhattan guide?

I think sticking with one publisher is fine, and Veritas has great books.

Cheers,
Brent

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

What can be the non book resources that I can do and will considerably help improve my score? Can you give any examples?

One example is our free video course - https://www.gmatprepnow.com/
It covers everything you need to know.

You might also consider signing up for Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide). Over 40,000 Beat The GMAT students have already done so.
Each day, you'll receive an email with a series of learning activities that guide you, step-by-step, from Day 1 to test day. This will ensure that you will cover everything that the GMAT tests.

Here's an outline of all 60 emails: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/gmat-guide-outline

Cheers,
Brent

[[email protected]]

Hi saadsaab_19,

Most GMAT Companies offer some type of free materials (practice problems, Trial Accounts, videos, etc.) that you can use to 'test out' a product before you buy it. We have a variety of those resources at out site (www.empowergmat.com). I suggest that you take advantage of all of them then choose the one that best matches your personality, timeline and budget.

If you have any additional question, then just let me know.

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

[DavidG@VeritasPrep]

What can be the non book resources that I can do and will considerably help improve my score? Can you give any examples?

I'd also recommend doing the exercises in the books through your Veritas account online - this way you can become accustomed to seeing questions on the screen, in addition to receiving feedback about how much time you've spent on each problem.