640 (Q40, V37) - Tips for retake

[schmoll-momi]

Dear MGMAT Team,

this week I finally took the GMAT: Although I have already expected such a result I was nonetheless very disappointed 640 (Q40, V37). For my desired B-school I need a score above 700 points.

Now I need some advise how to prepare for my second try.

This is how I prepared for the first try, using the MGMAT books and the OG 13 (Sry for the long text).

I read the books, tried the exercises at the end of each chapter and some of the problems in the OG. When I had finished all of the books I started to work on the OG problems in mixed order. That way I finished all of the quant and probably - due to time problems - half of the verbal questions.

All of the problems I could not get right at first I marked and tried again after a while.

Despite my efforts the MGMAT Cats did not get significantly better over the time:

1) 620 (Q40, V35)
2) 630 (Q37, V38)
3) 670 (Q44, V37)
4) 640 (Q42, V35)
5) 600 (Q39, V34)

The official tests from the GMAT Prep Software both ended with a result of 640.

In general I only get around 50% of the Quant questions right. Questions on the level 300-600 are normally no problem, but from 600 on I only get about 40% of the questions right. There are no special weaknesses (or strengths) in the different content areas.

In Verbal I normally get around 60% right. Sentence Correction is weaker than the rest, I know I have to work on that.

Timing on the actual test was pretty tough, however I left no question unanswered.

Now I want to give it a second try, as I need to improve my score to a 700+ in order to get into my favorite business school. I know I can do it!

Unfortunately I have no clue how to tackle the preparation this time and where to concentrate on. Should I start all over again and review the MGMAT books? Should I just do the OG problems? What went wrong the first time? Should I only focus on quant or do both quant and verbal?

Thank you in advance for your tips!
Greetings

[StaceyKoprince]

Don't apologize for the long text! The more info you give us, the better we can help you. :)

All of the problems I could not get right at first I marked and tried again after a while.

Here's part of the problem. Your primary goal is actually NOT to get everything right. Your primary goal is to make the best possible decisions as to how to spend your two precious resources: time and mental energy.

Implications:
- you do need to review problems that you got right, in order to figure out more efficient ways to do them
- you need to notice careless mistakes and figure out what new habits you can build that will minimize those same kinds of mistakes
- you need to figure out how to know that something is too hard or is going to take too long
- you need to practice letting those kinds of problems go *before* you've spent too much time
- you need to learn how to make educated guesses
etc.

If your focus was on "I need to get everything right!" then you wouldn't have been focusing on all kinds of very necessary things that will help you to lift your score.

Read this (right now):
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

Do you see the distinction that I'm making - why the "get everything right" mindset will actually hurt you on this test?

So that's your first task: to get this different mindset working for you.

Next, read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

That describes how you should be studying. Start doing that (let me know if you have any questions).

Next, we do need to dig into your strengths and weaknesses a bit more. Use the below to analyze your MGMAT CAT (this should take you a minimum of 1 hour):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Couple that with your new knowledge from the earlier articles. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses as well as what you think you should do based on that analysis. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

[schmoll-momi]

Thanks a lot, Stacey! You really opened my eyes!!

[StaceyKoprince]

You're welcome! Let me know how it goes!