380(Q27V16) GMATPREP1 - Target score 750 (Experts help reqd)

[mba.sk29]

Hi Stacey,

I am preparing for the last 3 months and gave my Gmat Prep 1 last week and got the following scores : Q27 , V16 , Total : 380. This is the only CAT I've attempted so far. I've just started solving OG11 questions and I guess my score will increase as I move forward with the OG11 and do more practice problems regularly. So far problems that I've tried are from the MGMAT end chapter problems plus 1st 60 questions from the OG for DS & PS and around 1st 50 questions from the OG each for RC, SC & CR.


Following is the analysis for the problems I've solved from the OG11 under timed conditions:
PS (problem 1- 60) - 39 correct
DS (problem 1 - 60) - 35 correct
RC (problem 1- 47) - 24 correct
CR (problem 1 - 40) - 15 correct
SC (problem 1 - 50) - 31 correct

Books used:
Quant (ALL Manhattan GMAT)
1. Number Properties
2. Fraction, Decimal & Percentage (FDP)
3. Equations, Inequality & VICs (VICs - Variable in answer choice)
4. Word Translation
5. Geometry

Verbal
1. MGMAT - Sentence Correction - SC
2. MGMAT - Reading Comprehension - RC
3. The Powerscore GMAT Bible Critical Reasoning - CR

Books for practice problems:
1. OG 11
2. OG Quant & verbal (yet to start)
3. Kaplan GMAT 800 (yet to start)


My target score is 750. I know this is going to be a exceptionally tough task but I am not giving up.

I desperately need an expert advice to help me formulate the strategy to achieve my target score. I would also like some opinion about my GMAT PREP 1 score. As I have mentioned I have not solved many problems, is the score of 380 represents my full potential on the GMAT (as of today)? I need to admit that I can handle Quant as I move forward with my studies but I am really struggling with my Verbal. Any help to improve the Verbal score will also be appreciated.

I know it is fairly hard to predict but any guesses how much time (in weeks or months) it will take from my current level to my target level? As far as time is considered I am in no rush to give the GMAT. All I can say is I am fully committed and ready to put in whatever it takes to reach my target (750).

Thanks in advance.I'll look forward to your comments and opinions. Please suggest.

[StaceyKoprince]

A lot of your post talks about solving problems. Solving problems is a good way to practice what you've already learned, but you actually don't learn a lot about how to get better just by solving problems. How have you been using the prep test books that you have?

It would be good for you to start by reading our free GMAT e-book The GMAT Uncovered. You can find it in the Extras section of your student center. That will give you a better idea of how the scoring works, how the different test question types work, etc. Also read this article about developing your study plan:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/02/ ... study-plan

Next, I'd suggest that you take an MGMAT practice test and then do the analysis described in the below article on your practice test:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/e ... -part1.cfm

(Note: I'm suggesting you do this with an MGMAT test because GMATPrep gives you almost no data with which to evaluate your performance. Save your other GMATPrep test for MUCH later in your study, when you're getting close to taking the real test. GMATPrep is good for determining your current level but there isn't enough there to help you get much better.)

If you would like, you can share that analysis with us here and we'll help you figure out what to do. (Note: please do not simply post the data here - data is simply a list of numbers or information. Actually figure out what you think the data means and tell us what that is. We'll then tell you where we agree and where we disagree and we can discuss what to do about it. :)

In terms of what your test shows, yes, the score does show your current ability to take the GMAT. That doesn't necessarily mean that your knowledge of the content is at that level - it could be higher. If your timing, for example, was very off, and you left questions blank, had to guess on many questions in a row, or finished the test way too early, then your score could be lowered a great deal. That still reflects your ability to take the GMAT, because HOW you take the test (timing and other strategies) is also part of doing well on the GMAT.

In terms of how much time it might take, I can't give you an estimate for the scoring improvement that you want to achieve beyond saying: more than 3 months. You are aiming for a very ambitious score improvement - that doesn't mean you can't do it, but it is going to take a while and there's not a way even to estimate how long.

Because you are aiming for such an ambitious score improvement, you may want to look into taking a class or working with a tutor. Given the scoring level you've discussed so far, you might first want to look into our Foundations of Math book and workshop. (We're working on a Foundations of Verbal workshop but it's not done yet.)

I'd start first, though, with an MGMAT CAT and then the analysis that I discuss in the article I linked above. That will give us a much better idea of exactly what's going on, and then I can advise you better. :)

[zheng.wang6]

mba.sk29, from my experience, I think it will take you about a year with 20-25hrs per week to get above 700, but I am not sure when you will be able to achieve 750.

[StaceyKoprince]

Thanks for weighing in, zheng!