Lower than expected GMAT score

[amit.sakhuja]

Hi,

I took my GMAT yesterday (1st time) and scored a 560 (Q47, V23). This was much below what I expected. My Q scores on practice tests ranged from 47 to 49, and V scores ranged from 29 - 34. Never got 23 on V.

Now that I look back into the past and read through some of these blogs, I feel that there was an inherent flaw in my study plan. I had spoken to a buddy of mine who scored a 730 on how he prepared. He said just OG12. And basically that's what I started with. I should have instead started with concepts, which I did but only mid-way during my prep after I had realized I was making several mistakes with OG12 verbal questions.

I finished the OG12 two times and took all the Manhattan exams among use of several other GMAT resources including Grockit etc. I think I spent ~ 300 hrs of study over 3 months - plenty with a full time high-intensity demanding job, besides a wife in my life who has a full time job and a 16 month old bundle of joy!!

I feel that during the test, my key problem was time management. I left myself approx 10 mins with 13 - 14 mins to go. Then got a passage which threw me into oblivion. I then got into a panic mode, on top of it had heavy cough... it all went downhill from there. I started to make my best guess just to try to catch up with.. I think I ended up getting several of my later questions wrong which affected my score. I had the same issue in some practice tests, but said to myself that I'd ensure not to repeat this during the actual test. I don't think I succeeded much...

Anyways, I am not done... I want to retake. Looking for some help from others based on their experiences. Given I have already taken several practice exams, I will need to signe up for a prep course with Manhattan, Kaplan etc. But does someone have an alternate approach?? What books, resources can I refer to? Also, if a prep course, which one will help me improve my weaknesses?

Thanks in advance!!

[StaceyKoprince]

The good news is that you had a pretty significant time management problem on the test. Why is that good news? Because it means we know what happened, so we can do something about it. :)

Read this and start doing what it says:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... anagement/

If you want to uncover other specific weaknesses and discuss what to do about them, use the below article to analyze some recent MGMAT tests:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back and post your analysis here (not just the raw data - your actual analysis!).

The resources you mention are mostly practice problems. What did you use that taught you actual rules, facts, formulas, problem-solving techniques, etc?

Re: whether to take a prep course, and if so which one... well, I'm obviously biased. :) But I did write an article about how to decide this for yourself; see this:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/06/ ... s-or-tutor

If you want to find out more about our particular program, you can sit in on a class for free and/or call the office for more information.

And, of course, you can continue to ask questions here - the forums are free! (Though you may wait a little for a response.)