Exam in a week

[kevin.busby1986]

Hi guys,

My exam is in a week (October 12th), with these scores in mind, do you guys have any advices that could help me maintain these (except the third one) score for the test. I am not looking at improving in the 700 before the test. I am aiming for a score above 600. Also any advices for my verbal score? As you can see it seems to fluctuate between average 28 and 36-37, why is there a huge gap?

Also, having scored around 44-45 on most tests, can I expect the same score on the real Gmat? I seem to have been able to maintain this level. But I hope I can do the same on exam day. Any piece of advice for my last week would be greatly appreciated. Here are my four official GmatPrep score ( 1 and 2 with original Gmatprep software and 3 and 4 with exam pack 1):

All these tests were taken with AWA and IR sections

Exam 1: 610, Q 45 with 16 errors and V 28 with 18 errors
Exam 2: 660, Q 44 with 17 errors and V 37 and 12 errors
Exam 3: 560, Q 39 with 18 errors and V28 with 13 errors
Exam 4: 650, Q44 with 12 errors and V36 with 15 errors

Thank you

[StaceyKoprince]

The number of errors has very little to do with your score - that isn't how this test is scored. (For example, as you can see, you had fewer questions wrong on V test 3, but a lower score than on test 4!)

Your quant score is pretty steady but I am concerned about the drop on test 3. Why do you think that happened? Did you have timing issues? Did something else happen?

If you know why it dropped, then you can take steps to try to prevent it from happening again. (Or, if it was a long time ago, then you wouldn't care so much - when was that?)

Your verbal score, as you noted, is fluctuating a lot more. Same deal - why do you think this is happening?

If you are looking for 600+, then you should probably go ahead and take your chances on your scheduled test, but I do have to note that if these score fluctations are based on timing issues, then there's not a lot you can do to fix that in 1 week. But three of your four tests are above 600 (two of them well above), so go for it and you can just take it again if you do fall short.

This week, focus just on review. You're no longer trying to get better - you're just doing a comprehensive review of all major question types, content areas, and strategies.

Read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

And this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/

Take a look through this, but you don't need to do a ton with it right now (you don't have time):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

As you get closer to test day, do less. Pretend you're an athlete getting ready for the Olympics. You don't run a practice marathon (or even a practice half-marathon) the day before the real thing. You stretch a bit and jog a little and have a good meal and watch a movie and relax. So keep that in mind the couple of the days before the test!

[kevin.busby1986]

Hi Stacey,

First off, thanks for your reply. I actually read it but did not have time to reply before my exam. I took the exam ! I ended up with a 640 (Q40 and V38).

I am unsure why my score dropped so low in the third test. I remember getting very hard questions especialy in quant. I got Q 40 in the real exam but I am sure I could have done better. Also I took test 3 and 4 1 week apart. So I have a hard time explaining the huge difference in scores. As for my verbal score, I was happily surprised! I never attained V38 in any practice tests. I must admit that in the verbal part, I was really focused and in every questions, it seemed like the answer was so clear.

For the last week I did what you told me, reviewed, did not try to get better and read the articles you mentionned. They helped me so I thank you for that. 640 is good enough for my purposes, so I am satisifed with my score, even though I could have gotten a better one, I believe!

thanks again.

[StaceyKoprince]

Congratulations! You beat your target by 40 points - that's fantastic!

I'm guessing you probably had some timing issues on that one practice test. A lot of times, when someone does really well (and gets really hard questions), they then slow down, and then they start to get low on time and have to speed up towards the end. This will increase your errors for the last portion of the test, and your score will drop. The GMAT is scored on a "where you end is what you get" basis, so if your score drops towards the end, that's it - that's your actual score.

Also, honestly, I don't think it's necessarily a good thing to study forever to get the highest possible score. Do what you need to do to get the score you need for wherever you want to apply. Then spend your limited time doing other, more valuable things rather than studying more for the GMAT! :)

[fak]

hi Stacy,

CAn you please help me out. I have posted my problem in this forum in a separate thread.

stacey-help-cats-with-a-lot-of-700-800-level-questions-t24365.html

been waiting for your reply.

Thanks

[StaceyKoprince]

Please note that we answer questions in the order received - so I have actually already answered your post now (because your original post was made prior to this post).

I know you've been waiting a long time - that's just how it is this time of year, unfortunately, particularly for free services.

[all.exammasters]

hi
i have same problem

Hi Stacey,

First off, thanks for your reply. I actually read it but did not have time to reply before my exam. I took the exam ! I ended up with a 640 (Q40 and V38).

I am unsure why my score dropped so low in the third test. I remember getting very hard questions especialy in quant. I got Q 40 in the real exam but I am sure I could have done better. Also I took test 3 and 4 1 week apart. So I have a hard time explaining the huge difference in scores. As for my verbal score, I was happily surprised! I never attained V38 in any practice tests. I must admit that in the verbal part, I was really focused and in every questions, it seemed like the answer was so clear.

For the last week I did what you told me, reviewed, did not try to get better and read the articles you mentionned. They helped me so I thank you for that. 640 is good enough for my purposes, so I am satisifed with my score, even though I could have gotten a better one, I believe!

thanks again.

[StaceyKoprince]

Please start your own thread with the details of your situation - we discuss one "case" (one person) per thread. Thanks!