Latest MGMAT CAT score 620. Main GMAT in 10 days. Need help.

[n.viswanath.bhu]

Dear Stacey / Ron,

I have my GMAT scheduled for March 12th (10 more days to go).
My latest mock test score in MGMAT CAT was 620. I am stuck in Quant at around 45. And Verbal at around 32. Need help in improving. I am aiming for 780 in final GMAT. Please could you guide me.

Regards,
Viswanath

[StaceyKoprince]

If your goal is 780, your current score is 620, and your test is in 10 days, then you're going to need to postpone your test or lower your goal score. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's better to face the situation and think about how you're going to make some hard decisions.

My first question: why is your goal 780? No school asks for a score anywhere near that high (in fact, less than 1% of all test takers achieve a 780+). The very top-top schools have averages of about 720. So part of the solution here may be that your goal score is too high.

Even then, it's very unusual to increase from 620 to 720 in 10 days. In general, your score about 10 days before is in the same approximate range that you will likely score on the real test.

You can reschedule your test for only a $50 service fee as long as you do so more than 7 days in advance of your test date, so if you decide to postpone, then do so soon.

If you decide to go for a 720, then I'd give yourself a minimum of 2 months to re-take. I don't know anything about your strengths and weaknesses or how you've already studied so far, so I can't give you much of a time estimate, but most people would need at least 8 weeks to lift from 620 to 720.

Okay, so now, tell us about your study so far. What resources have you been using? How have you been studying?

Read these two articles:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/2013 ... lly-tests/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/2013/ ... -the-gmat/

Think about how what you've been doing does and doesn't match up with that and how you may need to change your approach accordingly.

Then, use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CATs (this should take you a minimum of 1 hour):
http://tinyurl.com/analyzeyourcats

Based on all of that, figure out your strengths and weaknesses as well as any ideas you have for what you think you should do. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (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!)

[n.viswanath.bhu]

Thanks a lot Stacey.

I value your suggestions, and I am thinking to postpone the scheduled date, maximum to March end.

My preparation so far has been as follows:
For past one month, I have completed all guides of MGMAT both for Quant and Verbal. And then moved over to OG to implement the strategies. Since I am failing to apply the strategies exactly the same way while doing OG, I think could be the reason why I am failing.

My CR section was poor as well prompting me to refer to additional study materials. So recently studied both CR and Quant from the GMAT 800 book by Eric Goodman. It was lot helpful.

Timed environment is causing more mistakes. I guess practice is what I need the most, so that I learn to apply the strategies within the timed environment.

Thanks a lot for the prompt response despite your busy schedule.

Regards,
Viswanath

[StaceyKoprince]

Practice, yes, but also analysis / review. You learn a ton when you review problems after you've finished doing them - as described in one of the articles I linked in my last post.

You'll also likely need to be going back to your books at times - you can't learn all the facts / rules / strategies first and then be able to apply everything perfectly. It takes a lot of back and forth.

Good luck - let me know how it goes!

[n.viswanath.bhu]

Dear Stacey,

Thanks for your earlier replies.

One query. I have exhausted all the MGMAT CATS (all 6 done). But I need more CATs for further practise. By resetting I feel that I will not be able to gauge my ability properly. And by buying a fresh pack of 6 CAT set, I fear same pool of questions might come up.

Please advise on how I can avail few more new CATs.

Regards,

[StaceyKoprince]

Definitely don't buy our CATs a second time. There's only one big database of questions - there aren't multiple sets.

Before we talk about what to do, I want to make sure of one thing. You don't really get better when taking a CAT. Mostly all you're doing is gauging your progress to that point, and then using the data to help set up your further study plan.

Think of a pro athlete: when Serena Williams is actively playing a match, she's not learning how to become a better tennis player. She's just trying to win. She gets better between matches, when she analyzes how things went during her last match and devises drills and practice sessions to fix the specific areas she's identified as problematic.

The same is true for GMAT study. So, if you are taking a ton of practice tests in hopes of having that improve your score, stop! Most of your learning / improvement comes between tests.

Next, 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. Unless you have taken the previous CATs within the last few weeks and practically memorized the problems, the chances are good that you won't remember the questions you've seen before (and there are lots of questions in the database, so you'll see plenty of new ones, too).

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. But only if you are really confident that you've learned what you need to learn to get it right on your own.

Have you also done the GMATPrep tests? There are two free ones (at www.mba.com) and you can buy two more for $40. They don't have the same kind of analysis / data that our tests have, but they are the best gauge of your current scoring ability (since they're made by the people who make the real test).

But remember that the goal is not simply to do a ton of tests! You're not actually getting (much) better by doing a bunch of tests without thoroughly reviewing and devising a study plan based on what you see in the results. :)

[n.viswanath.bhu]

Dear Stacey,

Gave my GMAT finally. Failed badly. Scored 660. 50Q + 27V.

Couldnt postpone to a farther date due to my other engagements. But now that I have given it and have done a fair amount of practise. Planning to retake in few days once I consistently start scoring high.

But dont know where to start the Verbal. Exhausted 6 MGMAT CATs, 2 GMAT Prep + 2 additional purchased GMAT Prep tests. My past practise was from OG, did it entirely 3 times. Did ensure a conscious practise at the OG. Also Manhattan RC,SC, Quant and CR books were my main guides. Read them thoroughly and practised their chapter exercises duly. My second guide was the GMAT 800.

Please could you guide.

Regards

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry that you didn't get the score you wanted.

You did not fail badly. You're not allowed to say that in my "classroom." :) A 660 is still a very good score, even if it's not the score you wanted.

Further, you scored a 50 on Quant - this is a great score. Give yourself credit where you earned it!

Exhausted 6 MGMAT CATs, 2 GMAT Prep + 2 additional purchased GMAT Prep tests. My past practise was from OG, did it entirely 3 times.

You need to change the way in which you're studying. The "do everything 3 times" approach is not getting you to where you want to be. You need a more high-quality approach, not high quantity. (Note for others reading this: the high quantity approach rarely works. Don't do this!)

Next, we need to dig into your practice test data to figure out what and how you do need to study. I'm going to copy in something that I said in my first post in this thread.

Read these two articles:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/2013 ... lly-tests/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/2013/ ... -the-gmat/

Think about how what you've been doing does and doesn't match up with that and how you may need to change your approach accordingly.

Then, use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CATs (this should take you a minimum of 1 hour):
http://tinyurl.com/analyzeyourcats

Based on all of that, figure out your strengths and weaknesses as well as any ideas you have for what you think you should do. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (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!)

We need that data and analysis to figure out next steps from here.

[n.viswanath.bhu]

Dear Stacey,

What you said was right. The do everything 3 times strategy didnt work for me. So working on qualitative study this time.

One request, since I am a patron of Manhattan, having used its guides and MGMAT Cats, I am planning to join one of the Manhattan Review classes in my city (Hyderabad, India).

The price they were quoting was very high. But since I dont need Quant tutoring, and since my Verbal need not be groomed from ground zero, is there a way you could speak to the Hyderabad team to lower the price.

Regards,

[StaceyKoprince]

We don't hold classes in India. Manhattan Review is a different company - it is not affiliated at all with Manhattan Prep (my company). FYI!

[StaceyKoprince]

FYI - I just heard that Manhattan Review is trying to change their name to Manhattan Elite Prep, which is basically almost exactly our name (Manhattan Prep).

Manhattan Elite Prep is NOT us. If you are looking to take one of our classes or buy one of our books, make sure you are coming to this website to do so.

[n.viswanath.bhu]

Haha. They are enchashing the name.

Anyways thanks for the info. I will be wary of it.

[StaceyKoprince]

yeah, our lawyers are talking to them. :)