Appropriate time for the next GMAT Attempt

[lesnin]

Hi Stacey,

To give you a background of myself, I am 28 years old and I have 6 years of work experience. I have taken the GMAT on two occasions and they turned out to be one worst than the other.

The details of my two attempts are as below:

Take 1:
Test Date - 21 November 2011
Verbal - 29 / 53%
Quantitative - 43 / 64%
Total - 600 / 63%
Analytical Writing - 5.5 / 77%

Take 2:
Test Date - 21 February 2012
Verbal - 27 / 43%
Quantitative -41 / 57%
Total - 570 / 54%
Analytical Writing - 5.0 / 57%

As you can see my scores depleted in the second attempt.

Post that, I have not really managed to get myself together for the third attempt.
Hence, if it is possible, I would like some guidance -from any of you- after the event as to how to move ahead. I plan to take the GMAT once again and this would definitely be my last and final attempt.

I complete the OG 11 during my previous attempt but did not focus much on the timing. Also, I guess I did not do sufficient mock tests before D-day. I barely did the 2 GMAT prep tests in addition to the Kaplan ones, which gave very disheartening scores.

I have a couple of admission deadlines, which are at the end of this month and I am trying to take the test before that. However, I am not sure if this would be the right approach.
Hence, appreciate if you could help me out with advising me on the same.

Thanks,

[StaceyKoprince]

To start - you mention that you have a couple of deadlines at the end of this month - meaning November, yes? Unfortunately, there's really not much that I can do to help you in 2 weeks. Whatever your level is right now is what you should expect to score on the real test.

You don't mention your score goal, but I assume you are not scoring in your desired range or you wouldn't be asking this question. :)

If you haven't taken a practice test recently, do so right now - and take it under 100% official conditions, including essay and IR. Use this article to analyze the test:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

If you have timing problems (and almost everyone does), then you *might* be able to make a *little* progress in that area in 2 weeks - but you still won't fix timing problems competely. Read these 2:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

Other than that, try to do a general review over the 2 weeks, prioritizing these general areas (because they are more frequently tested on the exam):
quant: algebra, fractions, percents, number properties, general word problems
SC: modifiers, parallelism, meaning
CR: find assumption, strengthen, weaken, inference

If, instead, you decide to take more time, then use the above "how to analyze a practice test" article to analyze your most recent practice test (taken under official conditions). Then come back here and tell us the results of your analysis and what you think you should do based on that analysis. (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!)

We can then discuss a longer-term plan. Good luck, whatever you decide to do!