Got a 600 in my first MANHATTAN GMAT test . Devastated

[mahesh.psundararaman]

Hi,

I have been consistently preparing for my GMAT for the pas two months. Took my first MANHATTAN gmat mock today . I got a score of 600 (q44 v30). I will be writing my GMAT on August 17th . I am looking for 720+ score . Can you please suggest me ways to improve my score and on how i can optimize my preparation to achieve my goal? . Looking for some advice .

[priyotech]

You did not mention which component of verbal is bugging you the most? That would be a good starting point for introspection.

[mahesh.psundararaman]

I seem to be getting a decent score in the Sentence correction and the Critical reasoning sections but the reading comprehension seems to bother me at times . But i feel for a 720+ i need to improve in all sections equally. When i reviewed my answers i found that i had made some obvious errors in the SC section , while i was worried about doing bad in CR i got a decent hit rate in the CR. RC seems rather unpredictable. In one of the comprehensions i got all answers wrong which eventually while in the other i got all right. This seems to be the case at times.

Does that help?

[StaceyKoprince]

Good question, priyotech. :) That is a good starting point - and, actually, I could use even more information.

Mahesh, please let us know what you have done so far and what materials you have available. Are you studying on your own or have you been taking a class / working with friends / using a tutor?

I'd also like to get some more detailed data on your strengths and weaknesses in order. Use the below to analyze your MGMAT CAT:
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, you mention that your goal score is 720+ and you have about 6 weeks until your exam date. A 120+ point improvement in 6 weeks is an ambitious goal - most people would need more time. If you are not locked into a particular deadline, you may want to keep in mind that it's possible you will need to postpone your test date. (I'm not saying you definitely will have to do so - you'll just have to see how things go.)

I also recommend reading this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Make sure to follow the links to the other articles within that article.

[mahesh.psundararaman]

Thank you Stacey !!

With the help of the articles that you shared i was able to reach a score of 680 in my 3rd MGMAT ( Q 47 V 36)

I worked on the areas where i went wrong predominantly with every passing exam. In Maths i guessed two questions and got them right but i also made some blatant errors in the end.

I have been working on my Verbal quite hard which has helped me improve this far. As i mentioned earlier i am looking for a 720 + and my exam is on exam August 17 th .

As far a verbal is concerned i feel that i am good at Sentence Correction . But in Critical Reasoning i seem to make some silly mistakes ( the bold faced types, inference , strengthen questions) . I find RC manageable with practice) .

As far as quants is concerned I am using the MGMAT guides to work on topics where i do badly. So far there is no specific topic i am weak at . It varies from exam to exam . So based on my performance i work on my techniques .

My scores so far

MGMAT1 - 600 ( Q 44 V 30)
MGMAT2 - 620 ( Q 46 V 30)
GMAT Prep - 640 ( Q 46 V 33)
MGMAT3 - 680 ( Q 47 V 36)

Can you suggest same ways on how i can enhance my performance so that i can reach my target of 720?

And is it possible to achieve the 720 mark considering the time I have?

All tests were written under timed conditions with AWA and IR.

Looking Forward for your reply.

Thanks!
Mahesh

[StaceyKoprince]

That's great - nice work!

I'm going to repeat something I said in my first post:

I'd also like to get some more detailed data on your strengths and weaknesses in order. Use the below to analyze your MGMAT CAT:
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!)

In order to give you any kind of detailed feedback, I need to know more about your strengths and weaknesses.

Do you have our CR guide? If so, how much of it have you done? If you don't have our CR guide, what are you using to study for CR?

I'll give you some articles here; if you find them helpful but you don't have our CR guide, then you might want to get it (or, if you have it but haven't used it much, then start working on it).

overall process:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... g-problem/

Question types:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... e-Problem/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... n-problem/

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... ce-problem

Next, you have about 3 weeks left and are hoping for another 40+ points. It's possible, but most people would probably need more time, especially because the higher you go, the harder it gets to go even higher.

You don't need to worry about that right now, though. Keep studying and take another test about 10 days to 2 weeks before. Then decide whether you think you'll be ready or whether you should reschedule to give yourself more time. (As long as you reschedule more than 7 days in advance, you only have to pay $50.)