need advice

[kuldeep_rojans]

I took GMAT after my first heart break, when I attempted first time I scored 500(Q-42,V-17) my lowest score ever I got. After that I studied for another 2 months (10-15) hour per days. I have already left my job to ace the GMAT. Then I scheduled GMAT on 9 Feb., but I was cancelled due to some issues at the center and I rescheduled my GMAT again on 22 Feb. At Delhi.

My mock scores

Before first GMAT

GMAT prep-1 (start) 520(Q-45, V-20)
GMAT prep-1 repeat 530(Q-45, V-21)
GMAT prep -1 repeat 650(Q-47, V-30)
Manhattan -1 580(Q-38, V-32) I left with out attempt around 14 question in quant section and V. was untimed.
Manhattan -2, 620 (Q-43, V-32) again untimed
Manhattan -3, 620(Q-48, V-28) Timed
Manhattan-4 580(Q-40, V-31) Timed
Manhattan -5 650 (Q-44, V-35) few repeats in S.C. section (2-3)
Manhattan-6 , 660 (Q-46,V-34)
Then before the actual GMAT I tool GMAT prep-2
GMAT prep-2, 560 (Q-42, V-25) I Gave half heartedly mean I stop several times and back and could not concentrate on Exam.


After I decided to retake the GMAT

I started American scientific for R.C.(science),network times ,WSJ for comprehension .
Manhattan quant (word translation, fraction) and went on Manhattan forums and GMAT club.
Then I gave Veristas diagnostic and got 650 (Q-47 only 7 wrong, V-37only 11 wrong)
That boosted my moral.
GMAT prep-2 repeat 620(Q-46, V-29)
GMAT prep-2 (3rd time) 680(Q-49, V-33)
GMAT prep-2 again 740(Q-49, V-42) almost 20 Q were repeated
Manhattan-1repeat 700(Q-44, V-40) few were repeats
GMAT prep 1 650(Q-47, V-31) in quant few repeats
GMAT prep -1 again 640(Q-48, V-28) I lost momentum in verbal I did 2-3 mistake in first 18 question and then I annoyed by the noise, because I was giving test in my uncle office.
GMAT-2 cancelled
Then again GMAT prep-1 3 rd time 700(Q-49, V-35)7-8 repeats in V. section
GMAT prep -1, 4 th time 760 (Q-49, V-44) V-22 repeats.
GMAT- 580(Q-45, V-25)
I started well in Quant they give me straight 4-5 tough coordinate problems in middle of the exam. I finished the section on time. I rarely had tough time in Quant section in my prep. Then I took break and drink red bull. Then I started Verbal part. First few were S.C. and C.R.6th question was R.C. I managed to deal with (I got 100% accuracy in last few GMAT prep even in fresh R.C.). My 18th problem was Boldface a tough C.R.I took more than 3 min. then solves few more questions then I got 3rd R.C. AT that time I realized that I was falling behind time and started guessing and trying to solve more quickly. Finished on time with more Guesses .Then saw suicidal 580
.I was totally shocked .I did my best and gave my 100%.and saw that kind of result. I just back on study. Don’t know what to do this kind of score.

I have just bought Manhattan Number properties book from Delhi don’t know from where I should start and should I leave the idea of GMAT or find a job. And which mocks I should buy. I am thinking to buy 800 score .com mocks in$39
I have 6 Manhattan guides Except (Geometry and inequalities ).
Ron need u r advice what i should do now?

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry you're having a tough time with this test. I know you're still not happy with your score, but I do want to congratulate you on improving 80 points between your first and second official tests.

The first thing I notice is that you have taken an enormous number of practice tests. 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.

That leads me to suspect that you have been focused more on the quantity of your study so far than on the quality of your study. Quantity can only get you so far - maybe to about where you are right now.

The other problem is that we really don't know what your scoring level was between your first and second exams because you were taking exams with too many repeated questions.

So, to start, stop taking so many practice tests. That's not actually how you get better.

Second, read this article:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/02/ ... study-plan

And this one:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm

That's how you actually get the most out of your study. Here are 5 articles that illustrate how to do the above analysis:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/GMATprep-SC.cfm
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/CR-assumption.cfm
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... estion.cfm
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm
http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/a ... roblem.cfm

Those will give you examples of how to do this yourself.

For quant, this article is also useful:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/09/ ... t-problems

Because you've done the MGMAT CATs at least twice now, I would recommend using 800Score for your next tests, but DO NOT take any tests for at least a couple of weeks, and don't take a test more than once every 2 to 3 weeks. Make substantial progress before you even think about taking another test.

As the "developing a study plan" article (the first one, above) discusses, you may need to identify additional resources (books or other materials). I don't know what you've used so far, but you do need to make sure that you have a comprehensive set of materials for the things that you are trying to learn. Read that article for me.

Finally, you can use the below article to analyze the most recent test you took that had the minimum possible number of repeated questions (so that it's not completely invalid):

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... sts-part-1

Then, if you like, you can come back here to share your analysis and we will help you decide what to do more specifically. (Note: do not post only the data from your tests; also post your analysis - that is, what you think the data means.)

Good luck!

[marvinjiwan]

Hi Stacy,
I gave a MGMAT test today ,a d saw a score decrease from 640 to 500. I have to mentioned i froze in the maths section and cant seem to get over the 34 hump on the verbal. For three tests I have been getting 43 on the quant. I want to get over this hump..and sort out my timing issues..is it wise to solve testts without timing to get a better understanding ?
Thanks
From one bay area resident to another !

[StaceyKoprince]

I don't live in the Bay Area any more! I live in Montreal now. :)

Also, I'm going to reply here, but please start your own thread to reply, as the student who originally started this thread may want to discuss more things and I don't want your two "cases" to mix.

Let's see. No, do not take tests without timing. That's exactly the OPPOSITE of what you want to do. You don't learn (much) while taking practice tests - practice tests are simply ways to test yourself on what you already learned before!

The drop you mention is substantial. Use this article to help you figure out what's going on:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/a/2009/10/26 ... went-wrong

And you can also use this one to analyze your most recent test:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... sts-part-1

In your new thread, give us your thorough analysis based on the above two articles and we'll help you figure out what the problems are likely to be and where you need to go from here.