GMAT 600 45/28

[anir123456]

Gave my GMAT exactly a week back at this time. Scored 600 (Q45/28V). How to improve it to 710?

GMAT Prep (Official Conditions) - 650 (45/34), 710 (week before the test, 48Q/40V)

Random Guessed 7 in Quant and 5 in Verbal. How should I make my strategy for the next attempt (3 months from now)?

Thanks,
anir

[StaceyKoprince]

If you took our course or one of our Guided Self-Study packages, then you're eligible for a free Post-Exam Assessment (if you haven't done it already). This is a phone call with an instructor to figure out what went wrong and come up with a plan to re-take the test. If this applies to you, please send an email to studentservices@manhattangmat.com and request the Post-Exam Assessment.

If you aren't eligible or also want to get advice here, then I'd like to get some more detailed data on your strengths and weaknesses in order to advise you. Use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):

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

Then come back here and tell us the results of your 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!)

Also, your official test score represents a drop from practice (especially on verbal). We need to figure out why. Read this and do the analysis described:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ent-wrong/

You mention guessing on 7 in quant and 5 in verbal. Was that in a row? (eg, at the end of the section, running out of time?) If so, then we know that timing is a significant part of the problem. Read these and start doing what they say:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

[anir123456]

Hello & thanks for replying, Stacey. I am not eligible for the evaluation because I was not a student before I appeared for my GMAT. I took the free CAT (score 640 - 41Q/36V) but I wouldn't read much into it because I was in the initial stages of my preparations then.

You mention guessing on 7 in quant and 5 in verbal. Was that in a row?

Yes that is correct, I random guessed on the last 7/5 in Q/V respectively. Timing is certainly a problem and has been throughout all the GMAT Prep Mocks that I have taken. I read through the time management links that you provided and would follow them going forward.

Got my official score AWA - 5 , IR - 5 (I remember skipping 3 questions at the least which were taking too much time). I don't think I would bother much about these scores for my next attempt, date for which, by the way is official now - 17th November :)

Here is what I will follow for the next attempt -

SC - Pretty basic raw "study-theory apply_to_OG questions" approach for SC. I am never very good with mutliple materials, I feel OG13 (&12) and the MGMAT SC Guide are quite a handful.

CR / RC - Timed sets of 16-18 Questions from OG.

Quant - OG 12 & 13

Does this look alright?

Thanks,
anir

[StaceyKoprince]

Yep, you're fine on both essay and IR. Do them for practice tests but otherwise don't worry about those sections.

Guessing on the last 7 / 5 in the two sections would have brought your score down a decent amount. Possibly 30 to 50 points. So timing is obviously one major thing to fix. That alone won't get you to the 700 level though. :)

Next, you asked me whether your study plan looks good. You didn't tell me much (and you didn't give me any information about the strengths and weaknesses that you uncovered in your test review), but as it is, no, it doesn't look that great. :(

SC is the only area in which you mention using a book to help you learn what you need to learn. For the other 4 question types, you only talk about doing questions. You learn very little when doing questions, in particular if you are not using materials that teach you how to get better. (OG is great as far as the quality of the problems goes - but OG does NOT teach you how to get better.)

Please read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... an-part-1/

Pay particular attention to "What Resources Do I Need?" and "How do I Learn?" (Note: that second one is in the second half of the article; you can find the link at the end of the first half.)

Take a look at all of that and let me know if you have questions.