Timeline require to grow from 270 to 650 ?

[simmi13]

With zero preparation, I gave demo GMAT test and scored 270. With the score like this, should I practice further to aim for admissions in the year 2017 or should defer it for 2018 ?

[[email protected]]

Hi simmi13,

Many Test Takers are unhappy about their initial CAT scores, but that score is a measure of your knowledge and skills BEFORE you start training, so you could very likely improve hundreds upon hundreds of points during your studies. That having been said, raising a 270 to a 650+ will take LOTS of time and effort on your part. Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent, guided study before they hit their 'peak' scores, so it's likely that you'll need to commit to that type of timeframe as well.

1) What practice materials do you have so far?
2) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
3) How many hours do you think that you can commit to studying during a typical week?

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

[simmi13]

Thanks Rich.

I am a full time working professional, so can devote upto 2 hours on a week-day and 4-5 hours on weekends. Will that suffice to score 650+, as I plan to apply to Top 50 American Universities ?

[[email protected]]

Hi simmi13,

Unfortunately, there's no way to know exactly how much time will be required for you to hit your score goal. If you can commit to a consistent study routine for the next several months though, then you'll certainly be putting yourself in a position to succeed. Given the type of increase that you're looking for, you would likely benefit a great deal by investing in a GMAT Course of some type (either Guided Self-Study or instructor-led).

1) Do you have any GMAT study materials yet?

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

[Matt@VeritasPrep]

We'd have to know what was causing you to score 270, but in my experience the further you start from the center, the slower you tend to progress. (If you start low, it's hard to get to average/above average, and if you start high, it's hard to get to super high.) It's possible, but at the low end of the curve that's often a language barrier that itself takes a lot of time to break through, and it's really really hard (and totally unfair!) on a student to have to learn difficult English AND the GMAT at the same time.

Three months doesn't seem sufficient to me (though it might well be) but in any case you really want to think in terms of hours, not weeks or months. Start with 20+ hours a week of study and see how much you're able to progress in a month, and that will give you a strong idea of exactly what lies ahead of you.