GMAT 400 and not increasing

[K. Ali]

Hi Stacey,

I'm working for more than 6 months on GMAT.
Before GMATPrep 1st and 2nd test I studied following books along with instructor's guidance:
OG 11,and 12,
Manhattan Verbal books: SC,RC and CR

Then my GMATPrep 1 score was:
310 (Q 20 & V 12)

Then I worked on my weaknesses
So my GMATPrep 2 score was:
340 (Q 21 & V 16)

Then I read KAPLAN 800 (for both Verbal and Quant)
and did OG10 (Quant only)
And took MGMAT CAT 1. This time the score was:
400 (Q 21 & V 20)

Reviewed both wrong and right answers
And took MGMAT CAT 2
380 (Q 25 & V 13)

Again, Reviewed both wrong and right answers
And took MGMAT CAT 3
400 (Q 26 & V 17)

I took many breaks only in first test GMATPrep 1
All other test are 95% GMAT test environment

(5% : I took little longer breaks among sections)

My target score is 550, which seems impossible to achieve. My score is not increasing from 400. Last month, when my score GMATPrep 2 score was 380. I didn't feel confident and reschedule my date. Now I have left with 15 days to my GMAT exams. (It's on March 26th, 2012)

I can't reschedule my date as the deadline to my admission is in the end of April 2012.

What should I do to get 550? Please help

[StaceyKoprince]

Unfortunately, it's unlikely that you will improve by 150 points in 2 weeks. I have never personally heard of someone achieving this (and I've been working with the GMAT for more than 15 years).

I know you don't want to hear that, but I want you to know so that you can make some hard decisions for yourself. If you take the test in 15 days, your score is likely to be around the level that it is now - perhaps a bit higher, but probably not 150 points higher.

You said that the deadline for your program is the end of April. Most programs allow you to take the test right up until the deadline, so why can't you take the test at the end of April? Do they have a test deadline of end of March?

Next, you've made good improvement so far. I know you want more - but I just want to acknowledge that you've done some hard work already and you've picked up about 90 points. That's great.

How's your timing? Almost everyone struggles with timing on this test and, in particular, I find that people whose scores are stagnating tend to struggle especially hard with timing.

Read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
and this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... anagement/

In terms of specific feedback on what to study and how, I need to know more about your strengths and weaknesses. Use the below article to help you analyze your MGMAT CATs:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and share your analysis. Note: do not just post the raw data. We want to see your analysis - what you think it means and what you think you should do. You actually need to develop this skill so that you can figure out your next steps for yourself over time, so make this your first step. We'll tell you whether we agree with your analysis and also advise you about what to do. :)

[K. Ali]

Thanks for the reply Stacey,

Guess what? 2 days back I took the MGMAT CAT 5
and I scored 550!

Quantitative 32 (Percentile 35 %)
Verbal 34 (Percentile 72 %)

I have noticed that I can't improve much on Quant.
On the other hand; It is easier for me to improve score in Verbal.

How? I have noticed that If I give 2 min to SC and 2:30 min to CR, I can correct most of the 600 to 800 level questions.

I'm not very good a RC, again If I can give more time to RC, I can make up to 35% correct. But RC is my least priority while doing exam.

What's your thought on that?

[StaceyKoprince]

Wow, that's great!

Spending extra time on some questions obviously means rushing on others - and rushing means you're much more likely to make careless mistakes.

Are you sure you really need all of that time? I find that a lot of people use inefficient processes on verbal and take more time than the really need.

For example: you should plan to go through the answer choices twice. The first time through, you are NOT trying to find the right answer. You're ONLY focused on eliminating wrong answers. If you see something that *might* be right, just make a note on your scrap paper next to the corresponding letter and keep going.

--> If you try to ask yourself whether this is the *right* answer at this stage, you're wasting time because you haven't looked at all of the answers yet. Verbal = finding the BEST answer. You can't even know which is BEST until you've actually looked at all 5. :)

Next, once you've narrowed down to 2 answers, compare the 2 answers ONCE more, but then pick and move on. Do NOT go back and forth and back and forth. You either have a hunch after the first comparison or you don't. That's not going to change after going back and forth 2 or 3 more times. So just pick and move on.

People can easily waste 15 to 30 seconds (or more!) on each of the two steps above. Don't do it! :)

The other danger to just saying "Oh, forget RC" is that you always have 3 or 4 RC Qs in a row. You don't want to get them all wrong - there's more of a penalty to your score for getting 3-4+ questions wrong in a row.

[K. Ali]

Thanks,

Perhaps, the best advise I have ever received.

Related to CR,SC and RC, I never took notes of CHOICES given. I just eliminate or keep them in mind. Please give example of the following statement of yours:

"If you see something that *might* be right, just make a note on your scrap paper next to the corresponding letter and keep going."

[StaceyKoprince]

Oh, that's really important!

Okay, for every verbal question, you need to keep track (on your scrap paper) of what you think as you review the answers. You can do one of two things: write down ABCDE for each problem and keep track right on top of the letters, or write down ABCDE once at the top of a page, with some space between each letter, and then go down the page using a new row for each problem (where you just put the symbols that I'm going to describe below).

You need symbols for 4 circumstances. I'll tell you the symbols I use; you can use any you want as long as you're consistent.

1) This is definitely wrong and I'm never looking at it again. X
2) This could be it; I'm not sure yet. ~
3) I have no idea. ?
4) This is the right answer! (circle)

So, on your first pass through the answers, you'll have some combination of symbols 1, 2, and 3. When you realize it's a 2 or a 3, just write the symbol down and STOP thinking about it! Move on to the next answer.

Then, ignore all of the Xs.
If you have multiple ~, compare them, then pick.
If you only have one ~ and no ?, pick the ~.
If you have no ~ and 1 or more ?, pick a ?.
If you have any mix of ~ and ?, ask yourself whether the ~ is pretty close or whether you feel like you're "forcing" it because you really don't have anything else. If it's the former, pick the ~. If it's the latter, pick a ?.

See? :)