GMAT 700, Q: 47, V: 39

[ds.savio]

Hi Stacey,

I took my GMAT about 24 hours ago in Dubai and needed your help in my analysis. My profile is as follows: An Engineering Graduate with a good GPA and I have completed my first MBA part time from the University of Strathclyde in Dubai around 3-4 years ago. On the workfront side, I have been responsible for setting up new operations in a sales and country managerial role from greenfield sites for a major multinational operation.

My aim towards taking the GMAT was to apply to one of these five schools and help my career and entrepreneurial ambitions gain further traction.

I started on March 8th with a Kaplan diagnostic test and hit a 690 with a 48 Q and a 32 V. From there on, I worked with the Manhattan guides and self study kits and whilst there were a number of personal and health issues over the last three months, I took my first MGMAT CAT 1 on 22/6 getting a 640 ( Quant 43 or so and Verbal around 35). Rectified my mistakes went through the analysis you suggested and saw good improvements. Scores started to improve upwards as follows:

8/7 MGMAT 2: 710 45 Q 41 V
17/7 MGMAT 3: Q 45 V 44
27/7 MGMAT 4: 720 Q 48 V 40
1/8 MGMAT 5: 740 Q 46 V 45.

In addition to this my GMAT Prep scores interspersed in the middle gave me scores of 750 and 740.

In all these tests I had timing issues with Quant and most of my mistakes were on the DS part and towards the last test I strugggled a bit with the Verbal timing ( still completed all questions) and got a V 45

I took my GMAT yesterday and was reasonably well placed in IR and AWA ( Although I used to struggle with IR in practice). Finished almost 11 IR questions and hope to get a good IR score.

Quant was a little more easier than I expected and whilst I did guess and move ahead on a few DS questions to get the timing placed right, I finished on time ( a first in all these tests) and I did have this gut feel that I would overall get a reasonable quant score.

On the Verbal, I found that the GMAt started off with SC questions unlike the MGMAT CAT's which start with much more of CR. Being much more confident on CR's ( I usually get about 12 out of 14 right in practice... and a dittor result on RC), I used to have good timing in the practice tests. However yesterday on the GMAt, I was way too slow. At halfway stage I was on question 13or 15. And I crossed question 20-21 when there were 28 minutes left. That was a big shame because I had to guess on a tough scientfic passage. Moreover on the later CR questions I had to read just once the stem and the options and tick ahead and go. That still left me with one unanswered verbal question. I believe the score reflects my bad time management.

Coming back to the main point, I do believe that this score does not reflect my potential. Moreover my choices and options are limited to namely as under:

(a) Insead ( b) London Business School (c) Indian School of Business (d) HBS and (e ) Wharton. With a slightly more broader perspective, I was looking to apply also to Sloan or Columbia. But I am more keen on the first three namely due to the long nature and expenses involved with the US MBA.

My query is

(A) Do you feel a 700 stands me a chance for the schools mentioned above vis a vis Do I need to retake the GMAT?

If yes then,
(B) I leave for my annual vacations in ten days time (and honestly quite fagged out with my studying). So was looking at just keeping a bit of momentum going during my vacations and coming back on September 5th and writing the exam either on the 19th or in October i.e it leaves just 2 weeks for tests, practice timing, etc. Would that be sufficient?
(C) What would you recommend as steps towards improvements. Namely on DS, SC and timing issues. SC: I have gone from some tests from 9/15 right to 11/ 15 right. CR, RC have been great scores all along. DS accuracy of around 50 percent.

[ds.savio]

Hi Stacey,

Just to mention missing info above: MGMAT CAT 3 was a 730

[ds.savio]

Hi Stacey,

Would really like your help on my query above. I tried sending a message to you on another forum as well. Based on the place I am in, I have just 2 dates available in September and 1 in October for taking a repeat. Hence would like your advice on the queries above as soon as it is possible ( Sorry to post again, as I am aware of your busy schedule responding to 100's of student queries).

Savio

[StaceyKoprince]

Please remember to read the forum guidelines before posting. Please don't "bump" your own post. We respond to all posts in order, oldest first, and the date of your post is based on the date of the last post in the thread, not the first. If you bump your own post, you will wait longer for a response.

In this case, you did wait longer for a reply because you bumped your post. :(

Please also note that the forums are a free service, open to the public. Because of the volume of traffic we receive, it is not unusual to wait a week from the date of the last post (sometimes longer) for a response. If you see that older posts in the same folder have not yet been answered, then you know that we haven't missed you - we just haven't gotten to your question yet.

Okay, on to your question. I'm a GMAT expert, not an admissions expert - it's really best to ask an admissions consultant what they think re: your scores and those specific programs. Also, are you going for a regular, full-time MBA? Or an evening / week-end program or EMBA or something like that? The requirements are usually higher for regular, full-time MBA programs.

We have a folder on the forums called Ask An Admissions Consultant. Most admissions consulting firms also offer free consults, or you can ask questions directly (forums, email, phone). If you were one of our course students, then you have a free half-hour consult with MBA Mission - details are in your student center.

If they do say that you should consider re-taking it, then it's perfectly fine to take a break and go on vacation without worrying about the GMAT - but you won't want to take it again in September (2 weeks after you get back). That's not enough time to make any difference. You'll need to take it in October (or later).

You mention timing problems; these often take a good 4-6 weeks to fix, so you may want to start working just on timing, even if you otherwise take a break from studying. Read these two articles:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

And start doing the exercises described in section 4 (1 minute time sense) of the second article.

In order to provide more specific advice, I need more detailed data on your strengths and weaknesses. 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!)

You may also want to read this, particularly the "how to study" section:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/