Exam tomorrow, 530 GMAT Prep! :( What to do?!?!

[sojiz02]

Exam tomorrow, 530 on GMAT Prep! That's terrible! Is there anything i can do between now and tomorrow? About reviewing answers from GMAT Prem to the test. Thinking of practicing more with the Manhattan CATs between now and tomorrow, or is this a wrong strategy? This was my first full test.

[futurebluejay]

I am not an expert by any means, so don't take my advice too seriously (I am a student like yourself) but I am afraid MGMAT staff will not be able to offer advice before your real test.

That being said, I would strongly recommend against NOT doing any more preparation on the GMAT. You want your brain to be as refreshed as possible, and working through even more questions and answers will only confuse you further. Getting a 530 on the GMAT prep (unless it was due to a timing issue) means that you don't fully grasp the fundamentals of the GMAT content yet. HOWEVER, nothing you do between now and tomorrow will substantially help your score besides 1) relaxing (taking deep breaths and using positive self-talk in order to combat the negative talk that exists with you right now) and 2) realize that you can take the test again and that a majority of business schools will only consider your BEST score.

I really do think that worrying about the test and over-preparing the DAY BEFORE THE REAL TEST, will do nothing but cause you to worry more and exhaust your brain!

[sojiz02]

Thanks mate, much appreciated. Just been revising areas i know typically startle me when i see them. I'm quite confident i've mastered the content but weakness if any was timing practice which i didn't pay too much attention to. Besides, this was my first real test so was sort of freaked at the outset when starting. Positive it will be fine. Hope to have good news in 21 days time! :)

[StaceyKoprince]

For others reading this, here is one of the primary reasons why it is NEVER a good idea to take a practice test the day before the real thing. The BEST-case scenario is that you get a score you do like... but now you've just tired yourself out mentally the day before.

Also, for future, if you ever have an urgent query, please call our office (800.576.GMAT). We don't check the forums every day - by the timeline here, you posted 2 days ago, so your exam was yesterday.

futurebluejay, thanks for responding - good post.

In general, people should expect to score in the same range on the real test - so best expectation is that your real test score will be in the 530 range. If you don't like / want that (and I'm guessing you don't or you wouldn't have posted), then the best response would have been to postpone the exam.

Some people do, of course, do better on the real thing, but that's not a super-common outcome.

Unfortunately, no, there is really nothing you can do in one day to make any substantial difference in score. The next step is to figure out what happened and why it happened, using the data from the test, and then set up a study plan accordingly - you can remedy the situation in general, but again not (typically) in 24 hours.

Let us know what happened - did you take it? How did it go?

[sojiz02]

Thanks Stacey, appreciate the feedback. Yes i did take it and like you mentioned, difference between actual score and gprep wasnt much - too shy to say actual (-_
-). So anyways, haven't given up on it, will be retaking. Overall it was a good experience taking the exam...now want to give myself two months to dig deep and give it another shot.

Do you have any advice on what to do from here on? My english was better than my maths. My plan is to practice, practice, practice. What i think i did wrong was spending more time reading the MGMAT contents and less time practicing. Also only took one full practice test...ONE DAY BEFORE THE EXAM, and yes, i think i noticed the mental fatigue on the day, Shame! Overall, practiced for just about 2 weeks.

Now i plan to practice all questions in 12th and 13th edition official guides and use an error log alongside. Will also take all the MGMAT CATs and other timed tests i can find. Idea basically is to feel very comfortable before retaking it. Ideas are welcome. Thanks.

[futurebluejay]

Thank you Stacey,

I was glad to answer as best as I could. I also posted a question earlier in the week but have not had anyone answer me. But I was wondering, when do you think would be an ideal amount of time between the last CAT we do and the real GMAT. I am taking my real GMAT on December 15th, and I plan on doing a GMATPrep exam (my 1st of 2) tomorrow (exactly 1 week before with exact same test-writing conditions). Do you feel this is a good strategy, or would you recommend I take the second GMATPrep sometime next week before my December 15th test date?

Thank you very taking the time to help everyone help! I really do appreciate it.

[StaceyKoprince]

sojiz02, start here:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... an-part-1/
Make sure to read both parts (second part linked at the end of the first part)

In particular, start by analyzing your practice test to figure out strengths and weaknesses (article explaining how to do this is linked in the above article). Also, pay lots of attention to the How To Learn section in the second half of the article. Then come back here to ask questions, tell us about yours trengths and weaknesses, etc.

futurebluejay, did you post in this folder or in another one? I'm usually able to answer posts in this folder within about one week, but other folders have higher traffic and people wait longer for replies.

Last CAT ideally is 1 week before, same time of day, exactly like the real thing. If that particular day doesn't work, you can do it sometime around then - but the LAST day you can take it is 5 days before the real thing. :)

And now I'm reading the rest of your post and you're planning to take it 1 week before, so perfect! (And your test is in 2 days now. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!)