Help Needed. Third time ended up with 630

[suba_18_2000]

Hello All, Just took GMAT for third time and scored 630 Q(49) V(27). Was working hard to reach 700 + but still not sure what went wrong. Previous attempt was 620.

Practice scores were pretty good though. ( Since July 2010)

MGMAT 1: 650
MGMAT 2: 650
MGMAT 3: 690
MGMAT 3: 700
MGMAT 3: 730
MGMAT 3: 750

GMAT Prep 1: 750 ( Though few SCs are known to me - since i was doing GMAT Prep 175 SC Collections)
GMAT Prep 2: 760 ( Though few SCs are known to me - since i was doing GMAT Prep 175 SC Collections)

Now I am seriously not sure whether to try for 4th attempt, since not able to figure it out why got a low Verbal score. So i am confused on the next step - whether go ahead with the Round 1 for Bschools within Top 40 to 50 or take another attempt.

A little background about me:

Bachelor degree in Computer Sci engg with 3.4/4 GPA from India. Overall 9th rank in the University. Total of approx 6 yrs experience in IT, out of which 4+ years of International Experience.

Extra -curricular activities like Running for a cause, Volunteering for Adult Literacy, Fund Raising for a NGO operating from India etc.

Now wondering what would be my success rate if i go ahead with the Top 30 to 50 Rank colleges. I am kinda Ok for both 1 yr or 2 yrs of MBA(US/Non-US).

Suggestions Required: 1. Do i need to try another attempt
2. Is it worth giving a shot by start applying to schools

So if anybody can share his/her thoughts and suggestions, it would be really helpful.

[StaceyKoprince]

Re: applications, ask your question in the "ask an admissions consultant" folder. Re: GMAT, read on.

So, one thing we need to determine is whether your practice test scores might have been artificially inflated. You saw repeats on GMATprep - how did you handle them when you saw them? Did you answer correctly? Did you answer immediately or did you take full time?

When you took any practice tests (MGMAT or GMATPrep), did you take them under full official conditions, including the essays and the length of the breaks? If not, how did you deviate from official conditions? Skipping the essays, using the pause button, taking longer breaks than allowed, even eating or drinking during the exam - these things may all lead to inflated practice scores.

Also, what about your quant and verbal subscores? Did both scores drop or was it mostly only one? It sounds like it was verbal, but let me know.

I agree that you wouldn't want to take it a 4th time unless / until we can figure out what's going on and how to fix it. So let me know on the above and we'll start to figure it out!

[suba_18_2000]

Thanks Stacy. I have spoken to couple of admission consultants. For schools within Top-30 I was asked to take the GMAT again. So is it worth taking 4th attempt ???

First of all, Verbal is bad and Quans resembled my prep exams.

1. Took GMAT Prep under full conditions including essay and exact break for one prep exam

2. When i get repeats, i usually leave few seconds and mark it correct and proceed.

My strategy for Verbal:

SC: Manhattan SC Guide ( 4th Edition)
Spidey and Psahil Notes
OG 12 and Verbal Purple Book

CR: CR Bible
OG 12 and Verbal Purple Book

RC: Manhattan RC
OG 12

Now my consultant is asking me to take 660+ for Top 30 and 700+ for Top 15 and then proceed with apps.

Any help is greatly appreciated !!!

[StaceyKoprince]

I have spoken to couple of admission consultants. For schools within Top-30 I was asked to take the GMAT again. So is it worth taking 4th attempt ???

I would listen to an admissions consultant before I'd listen to me on an admissions issue. :) That's not my area of expertise.

When i get repeats, i usually leave few seconds and mark it correct and proceed.

This is artificially inflating your scores. You're giving yourself a major time advantage that you'll NEVER get on the real test, plus you're getting something automatically right that you might have gotten wrong if you were seeing it for the first time.

You can still take both GMATPrep and MGMAT CATs with repeats as long as you follow a few guidelines to minimize the chance of artificially inflating your score via question repeats. First, anytime you see a problem that you remember (and this means: I know the answer or I'm pretty sure I remember the answer, not just "hmm, this looks vaguely familiar..."), immediately look at the timer and make yourself sit there for the full length of time for that question type. This way, you don't artificially give yourself more time than you should have. Second, think about whether you got this problem right the last time. If you did, get it right again this time. If you didn't, get it wrong again. If you *completely honestly* think that you would get it right this time around if it were a new question (even though you got it wrong last time) because you've studied that area and improved, then get it right this time.

It looks like you've got good resources, yes. If you would like more specific advice about certain areas of content or timing, then do the analysis described in this article:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/a/2009/09/23 ... tice-tests

Do this on an MGMAT test, not a GMATPrep test (GMATPrep doesn't give you the necessary data). Choose a recent MGMAT test that you took as close as possible to official conditions - so if you know you skipped the essays or used the pause button or saw questions you'd seen before, then don't use that test.

Come back here and tell us the results of your analysis and we'll help figure out what to do!