Advice for retaking GMAT

[JSP]

Hi,
I gave my GMAT yesterday and scored a disappointing 550. I was expecting to get score above 600 atleast. I am going to retake the GMAT again on Oct 22. Any suggestions as to what strategy to use during the course of this next one month. My previous scores are as follows

MGMT CAT 1 :Q-39 V30 590
CAT 2 : Q 46 V 29 610
CAT 3: Q 44 V 31 610
CAT 4 : Q43 V 28 580
CAT 5 :Q 45 V 31 610
GMAT PREP CAT 1: 580
CAR 2 : 610

GMAT : Q 42 V 25: 550
I used MGMAT strategy guides and the 3 GMAT books available including quant & verbal review. My preparation was progressing well, then I had to take a 1 month break due to deadlines at work. The score did not increase after the break.

Any suggestions would be valuable?
Thanks
J

[StaceyKoprince]

Hi, sorry for the delay.

Both verbal and quant dropped on real test day - there wasn't one section that dropped a ton. Also, you didn't drop a ton in general - you were only 30 points below your GMATPrep score of 580.

Did you take your practice tests under 100% official conditions? Did you do the essays? Did you stick strictly to the timing and NEVER use the pause button? Did you limit your break time to the officially-allowed times? Giving yourself artificial advantages could account for the modest score drop you experienced (eg, if you were skipping the essays, then you weren't really prepared for the stamina needed - you don't get to start quant till after an hour of writing, and your practice tests would already have been over by the time you started verbal on the real thing!).

In terms of more detailed advice, we need more data from you. Use the below article to analyze a recent MGMAT test. If your most recent test was taken under very nonofficial circumstances, then use the test before that one.

http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and tell us your analysis (not just the raw data itself). We'll tell you whether we agree and what we think you should do from here. (Also - is your goal score 600+? Or were you just hoping to get that last time, but your actual score goal is higher?)