Lack of concentration on the resetted tests?

[ganurag83]

Hi,
I have written all the Manhattan tests and since I still had two weeks before the GMAT exam in an attempt to keep the practice of writing the tests going, I resetted the tests. A lot of questions were repeated because of which I could not concentrate properly and I quit the test half way through the quant section. Now because of this my confidence level has come down. :(
Does anyone else also face such a probolem?

My scores in the MGMAT tests are as follows;
Free Test: 620
CAT1: 640
CAT2: 700
CAT3: 680
CAT4: 660
GMAT Prep1: 690
CAT5: 720

I still have one GMAT prep to write and I am planning to write it on the 5th Sept.
I have my exam on the 10th of Sept. Are these scores good enough to get me somewhere in the range of late 600's if not in the 700's?
What should I be focussing on in these last few days? I have been doing a few questions each day from all the sections to keep the momentum going.

[StaceyKoprince]

It's rarely a good idea to take a practice test more frequently than once a week. CAT exams are really good for (a) figuring out where you're scoring right now, (b) practicing stamina, and (c) analyzing your strengths and weaknesses. The actual act of just taking the exam is NOT so useful for improving. It's what you do with the test results / between tests that helps you to improve.

If you took the practice tests under full official conditions (30m each for two essays, 10m break, 75m quant, 10m break, 75m verbal, NO USE of the pause button on MGMAT tests), AND if these tests did not have any repeated questions that you already knew, then your scores show that you are in the high 600s range (and, possibly, low 700s).

In the last week, your task is really just to review at a high level and do a *small* number of random, timed practice problems to keep your skills up. Your focus is not on learning new things at this point, just solidifying what you already know and accepting your weaknesses as they are. When you take your last practice test, focus your review on this question: what would I want to do in the same way on the real test and what would I want to do differently? (That can include letting a problem go - just guessing and moving on - in order not to mess up your timing in the entire section.)

Good luck; let us know how it goes!

[ganurag83]

Hi Stacey,
I gave GMAT yesterday and scored 690. I had a tough time handling the pressure in the last few days. I guess the exam is not only about quant,verbal and time management but also pressure management.
Thanks a lot for your help. Manhattan GMAT forums and tests have helped me improve my score from 620 (Attempt 1: Oct '08) to 690. The content and the scoring pattern in Manhattan GMAT tests is closest to the GMAT exam (apart from GMAT Prep) and I would definitely be advising all my friends to purchase these tests and to visit these forums regularly.
Thanks again.. :)

--Anurag

[StaceyKoprince]

Congratulations - that's fantastic! And thanks for the kind words - but you were the one who had to do all of the hard work!

Hope you celebrated after your test and good luck with applications!