10 days more to go ! Preparation tips please?? M nervous

[laklucky]

Hi,

I took gmat last year and scored 680. I had left the last 4 questions in quant unanswered and came back 5 min late to the verbal section. I was very depressed but have taken it up again now. It is on sep 6th. I took a month's leave and am preparing from past 20 days. I took my first prep test gmat prep 2 days back and scored 680 again :(. Took manhattan gmat CAT2 and scored 740 but I remembered almost all answers in the verbal section. I have finished going through Manhattan SC, CR plus quant. I had already done OG twice last year so I have begun going through those questions now. Very sorry for the lengthy story but can you please help me in boosting up my confidence? I am very nervous. PLease let me know, given the status and time left for the exam, what should I do ideally in these 10 days...

[StaceyKoprince]

You don't mention what score you want to get, but you scored 680 last time and you're taking it again, so I assume you are looking for at least 30 to 40 additional points.

As a general rule, your practice test scores from about 10 days before should be in the same range as your goal score. Your MGMAT practice test score isn't valid because you remembered a bunch of answers, so we have to go with your GMATPrep score, which was 680. This is about what you should expect, then, if you take the test in the next 7 to 10 days.

If you hope to score significantly better, then you should consider postponing your test until your practice test scores are more in line with your goals.

If you decide to do that and you want to talk about how to continue to improve, then please use the following article to evaluate a recent practice test and tell us the results of your analysis:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/a/2009/09/23 ... tice-tests

If you share your analysis with us, then we will give you advice about what to do to improve.

These two articles will also be helpful for you whenever you take the test; they describe what to do during your final two weeks of preparation.

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/08/ ... -game-plan
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/08/ ... -to-review

[laklucky]

Hi Stacey,

Thank you very much for the detailed and informative reply. I will take another gmat prep tomorrow and if I dont get the score I intend to, then I would consider postponing. Hope to see my score improve. Will post the results. Thanks a lot. :)

Regards,
Lakshmi

[laklucky]

Hi Stacey,

I took 2 more MGMAT tests after that day scoring 720(40Q,45V) and 730(43Q,45V) in those. I took Gmat Prep 2 yesterday for the first time and got 720(49Q,40V). So I have decided to go ahead with the exam on monday. Hoping to get a 700+ score. Will post the result on monday. I still have issues with math timing. I really hope that I dont repeat the blunder I did last time.

Regards,
Lakshmi

[StaceyKoprince]

I hope it went well! Yes, given those practice scores (and assuming you took those tests under full official conditions), then it's the right call to go ahead and take the test!

[laklucky]

I hope it went well! Yes, given those practice scores (and assuming you took those tests under full official conditions), then it's the right call to go ahead and take the test!

Hi Stacey,

Well, I did take the test that day itself and it did not go as I expected.. I got 690 which is a 10 point improvement :( . Break up was 48Q, 35V. So since I have already taken the test 3 times, I have decided to apply and start my mba next year. My fiance stays in California, so I am looking for some good schools in that area. Can you please tell me where can I get some help with the admission process? I mean to discuss the right kind of program and financial help and all that. I always had the dream of studying in top ten colleges. So I was wondering if there is any program in Berkeley I can take up with this score? I know it is nearly impossible to get into the regular MBA but any other course related to management is available there?

Regards,
Lakshmi

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry that you didn't get the score you wanted, but 690 is still an excellent score. If the rest of your application is very good, you still have a shot - even at the regular Berkeley MBA program! Not everyone who is admitted has a 700+ score.

If you're one of our students, you have access to a free 30-minute consultation with the admissions consulting firm MBAMission. They will have you fill out a form first in order to gather information - be as thorough as you can. The more info you give them, the more they can help you. You can also post questions here on the forum in our Ask An Admissions Consultant folder.

Good luck - let us know how it goes!