Official GMAT Score Assessment Please :)

[ghong14]

Hi I finally took the GMAT for the second time and I wanted to see if you could give me some insight on my score distributions.

July 2013 Q 47 V 40 T 710
Aug 2013 Q 48 V 38 T 710

I was really disappointed that the second time I took the exam the score came out to be the same with just a different combination. The reason I decided to take the exam back to back was because I was sick during the first time I took the exam and I thought that affected how well I could have scored (I guess it didn't :)) However, I was hoping to score around 730s because that is the median/mean score for the schools I am trying to apply for.

What has really bothered me is the fact that I have put so much work into verbal it has not crossed the V40 boundary and all I have been able to improve is math (consistently increasing since i first took my diag test). I think I have a pretty strong verbal background as a result of my work.

I hate to put it this way but what is the secret to scoring a 42 or 43 on verbal? I went through the verbal section and didn't feel like I was doing anything incorrectly. Or any questions that popped up that I had to scratch my head for....I am just really frustrated because I don't know why my verbal score is so stagnated. Can you give any suggestions on some of the reasons why this may be happening and ways I can prepare myself in case I do decide to do this again in the future????

[StaceyKoprince]

First, nice job! Remember that a 730 median or mean indicates that there were a lot of admitted students with scores below that level as well. A 700 is not going to keep you out. It won't get you in - but, honestly, a 750 doesn't get you *in* either. They'll think "7xx, that's fine. Okay, let's see what's going on with the rest of the application." :)

Next, take a look at the percentiles associated with each score:
http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/gmat-scores ... means.aspx

Your V40 score on the first test is the 90th percentile - a fantastic score! You're scoring better than 90 percent of the people taking the test. Going to 42 (96th) or 44 (98th) basically means having an almost perfect day. NO careless errors (or maybe just one). Falling into zero traps. No timing issues. You're in the zone. You're not suffering from mental fatigue (or it's so minor that it's not messing you up AT ALL). Etc.

If you really want to go back into this someday, then two things will help:
(1) A clear, systematic process for every question type (or question sub-type, for CR and RC). You know exactly what you need to do for everything so that your brain is almost on auto-pilot for the process. That way, ALL of your conscious brain energy is focused on the details of this specific, unique question. (So you already know exactly what you're supposed to do for CR Strengthen, what characteristics the correct answer must have, what the common trap answer types are, etc. You don't even have to think about it.)

(2) The ability, when studying, to do the following analysis on the hardest questions. On the two most tempting answers (the right one and the most tempting wrong one):

a) why was the wrong answer so tempting? why did it look like it might be right? (be as explicit as possible; also, now you know this is not a good reason to pick an answer)

b) why was it actually wrong? what specific words indicate that it is wrong and how did I overlook those clues the first time?

c) why did the right answer seem wrong? what made it so tempting to cross off the right answer? why were those things actually okay; what was my error in thinking that they were wrong? (also, now you know that this is not a good reason to eliminate an answer)

d) why was it actually right?

You can do this so well that you could actually explain it to someone else - not just in a way that YOU understand, but in a way that the other person understands.

That's what it takes to score 96th+ percentile in verbal. :)

But, honestly, you don't need this! You scored better on verbal than on quant. By a LOT! If you wanted to retake, your best bet would be focusing on improving quant - there's more room for improvement there, percentile-wise.

Even then, you should talk to an admissions consultant first. Depending upon your profile, re-taking the test might not be the best use of your time. There might be something else that would be more valuable in helping to improve your overall profile.

[ghong14]

Thank you Stacey! On my second attempt with the Q score I got a 48. I think my ceiling on quant is probably a 49. Really doubt I can get myself to perform to a 50. However, a 49 on quant just doesn't have the same caliber at a 42 on Verbal:) Hence the reason why I wanted to focus on the later. But I can see that in the really upper 40s score Quant does seem to help your overall score alot.

Any suggestions on those uber high quant scores? Thanks Stacey!

[StaceyKoprince]

What did you use to study quant before? What materials do you have access to now?

If you did use our books, did you also do the "Extra" chapters towards the end of each book? And did you really learn the test strategies in the Strategies chapter in each book? If not, go back and tackle those again.

If you didn't use our books, then you might want to. :)

To advise you more precisely, I need to know more about your strengths and weaknesses. Use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and tell us the results of your analysis and what you think you should do based on that analysis. 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!)