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GMAT Score:520

GMAT Retest

by anujladha » Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:12 am
Hello all,

I recently scored a poor 520 (Math 33 & Verbal 28). Prior to that, I scored a 440 in November 08. I need some advice going forward. I have really been thinking serious about my studies going forward. Unfortunately, prior courses with Princeton review and Kaplan have not seemed to help in spite of even getting 3 600's on Kaplan practice tests.

Weaknesses involve Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension (which is stronger than CR).

I am not going to give up until I achieve a 670 and that's just the way it is. This is why I started planning all this preparation time almost a year before applications are due. I gave the exam my very best, I certainly could have done better on Math and I thought I was doing well on Verbal. I think a lot of this is getting accustomed to the look and questions of the actual exam. I am planning to retake on August 30 or September 5.

I plan to study going forward with Manhattan GMAT strategy guides, GMAT focus, and MBA.com

Thanks.
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by anujladha » Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:21 am
Hello,

I thought it would be helpful for anyone out there, even instructors to get past progress, so one has an understanding of how I have been performing prior to taking the exam last Tuesday. Here it is:

Diagonostic Paper & Pencil with Kaplan = 480 (start of course on 3/7/09)
CAT 1 550
CAT 2 520
CAT 3 550 (Verbal percentile 48)
CAT 4 540 (Verbal percentile 48)
CAT 5 620 (Verbal percentile 48)
CAT 6 560 (Verbal percentile 48)
Ultimate Practice Test 620 (taken on 5/8) = 70% quant and 43% verbal
CAT 7 540
CAT 8 630

GMAT Prep1 CAT 360
GMAT Prep2 CAT 540

Actual exam 520 (taken on 6/2)


For now, I have bought Manhattan GMAT Strategy guides on areas of weakness affecting my math and verbal aptitude: Number Properties, Geometry, and Critical Reasoning. Hopefully, these strategy guides help me in terms of both content and answering different kinds of questions with more accuracy and timeliness. I plan on reviewing the guides and then flipping to 12th edition Official Guide questions pertaining to each of the guides.

Any feedback, please let me know. Thanks again for your feedback and encouragement.

Anuj
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by 4score20 » Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:24 pm
Kaplan is great for students aiming for 500-650. However, students trying to score higher should use a different source of prep so it's good you're using Manhattan GMAT.
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by anujladha » Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:58 am
I am retaking a course with Kaplan under their HSG (Higher Score Guarantee) while at the same time studying Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides for my weakest areas: Number Properties, Critical Reasoning, and Geometry.
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by Claret » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:04 pm
so you are looking at a 200 points increase in your test scores, that is surely an uphill task and will require a lot of discipline from your side..but it is definitely achievable!

since both your verbal and quant scaled scores require a jump of at least 10 points each, start off from the basics..To see such a steep increase materialize you've got to improvise in all the question types..

for Quant :
brush up your math fundamentals, get a good grip of the question types that are generally tested. Haven't personally tried them , hence cannot comment on the manhattan strategy guides. But the OG is an indispensable tool here. Make flashcards of all the formulas you encounter as you solve this book, revising them at regular intervals during the course of your preparation..

for Verbal:
SC: as has been mentioned umpteen times in various posts, the Manhattan SC does a good job in bringing you to a level higher than what you started off with. Read it as many time as you can , it will bring you something new every time..

RC : there is no other option but to practice here!! If could lay your hands on 1000 RC and do , say 2 of them daily , i guess it will be sufficient.. Also try and get involved in the RC as much as you can , attach your emotions to it, i am sure this helps to get a better hold of the content and translates into a better accuracy..

CR : I cannot really suggest any particular book here , but the idea is to identify the premise and conclusion of the argument and deal with the question stem. If this section is your weakest area , start your preparation with it. Devote, say a week, solely to get a hang of these question types so that a strong foundation is laid and build up on this as you move ahead in your preps.

to be able to quantify your efforts take a test after you have reached a milestone in your study plan. Do not skip the AWA section , remember building up on your stamina is as important as building up on content knowledge..
The analysis of the test will give you valuable insights , it will highlight your areas of strengths and weaknesses . If need be alter your study plan in accordance with the test scores.. Say if you have reached your peak in SC, devote max of your study time on RC and CR while not completely abandoning SC.. Revising the SC rules intermittently will keep the concepts fresh in your mind..

Hope this helps!

And buddy, one thing : No matter how many courses you enroll with for your preparation, at the end of the day it is your discipline and effort that will get you past your target score!

All the best with your preps! Stay motivated..

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by anujladha » Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:08 pm
Thanks for your feedback/post. I will read through it again. I have really been exerting a lot of effort/time/discipline into this GMAT. Was doing this for the last exam, but the results were not expected. But, I have to keep going and continue to be PERSISTENT!

All I can really say else is that I received a "6" on the essay section on my last actual exam score of 520. Also received a "6" on the prior 440. If I can maintain this, I will be in good shape.
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