Old, New, Both?

[jpgmat]

Hello.

I'm writing you because I am a little confused and very worried about my GMAT performance and my upcoming GMAT date. I would really appreciate an advice...I really don't know what to do.

The situation is:
- I want to score 700+

- I've done the 6 Manhattan CATs and two GMATPrep and my maximum score has been 660 (Q45 V35). I've been improving in Math but my Verbal score seems to be stuck between 32-35.

- I haven't been able to finish the Math section. On average I'm missing 3-4 questions.

- I'm taking the GMAT in two weeks (March 31st).

- I will be on a business trip for almost all April.

Based on my situation, what would you recommend?

Is it good to keep my current appointment and take the exam as a test and then try to take it again before it changes?
Or should I reschedule to late May or early June, considering I won't be able to study during April?
Should I just take my current appointment as a test, and start thinking on the NEW GMAT?

Thanks for your time and your kind help.
Rgds,
Jan

[StaceyKoprince]

You won't be able to study at all in April - not for 15 minutes here, 30 minutes there, maybe a few hours on the week-ends? It doesn't need to be your full study schedule.

You're close, but you probably will need more than just 2 weeks. If I were you, though, I'd want to get it done before June so that I didn't need to worry about the new test.

If you're the kind of person who would benefit from taking the real test this month as just a "practice run" - so you can see what it's like, get used to the test center, etc - but you won't stress out about not reaching your goal score yet, then taking it this month is fine. No big deal, because you know this was just a practice run.

If, though, you think it'll stress you out more to know that you took it and didn't get your goal score, then you may not want to take it in March. (As far as the schools are concerned, they don't care if you take it twice. They'll take your higher score.)

You mention some timing problems; read this and start doing what it says immediately:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... anagement/

You may make progress on this before your March test, but know that it typically takes people about 4-6 weeks to fix timing problems.

Now, in terms of what else to study and how, what are your strengths and weaknesses? You can use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and share. Note: don't just tell us the raw data. We want to know what you think the data means - you have to be able to analyze this yourself and think about what you're going to do about it. Critical study skill! :)

We'll then let you know whether we agree and advise you accordingly.

By the way, have you been taking those practice tests under 100% official conditions, including essays, length of breaks, etc? If not, your score could be artificially inflated - make sure to take practice test under official conditions.

[jpgmat]

Hello Stacey!
Thanks for your help!

I really think you gave me a good advice and helped me clarify my alternatives.

I will be taking my exam in two weeks, keeping in mind it would probably be just a "practice run", and then I'll try to study some time during April and deeply focus during May.

There is still a little problem, because the new GMAT will be starting in June, appointments during May, and specially during the last week, are getting very limited. Do you know If I can book an appointment for May having not presented my next week exam? Or should I have to wait for me to present the first exam and then schedule it for May? Basically my question is: can you have two appointments for the GMAT? I've been trying to look for the answer at mba.com but nothing seems to help.

I hope you could give me an answer.
Thank you.
Jan

[jpgmat]

Hello!
Just found out.
You can have multiple GMAT appointments!

I'll keep in touch to describe a little further my process.

[StaceyKoprince]

Oh, good, thanks for letting me know that. I didn't know!

Good luck - let us know how it goes!

[jpgmat]

Hello!

Ok so I took the GMAT and the score was somehow what I expected: 620 (46Q 29V). Although I say expected, I must say that my verbal score is well below my last CATs.

I am retaking it on June 2nd. I think I can improve a little in math with more practice, aiming to a 49Q.
Verbal is my real problem, I am not a native english speaker and Im finding a lot of problems specially in SC. No matter what the question difficulty level is, I usually get 50% correct.

I think I'll be reviewing my math questions, OG, and more CATs. But I really don't know how to approach verbal!! I don't see any progress on my results!

I have access to your online CATs because i bought the OG Companion. I've done around 8 CATs and I'm starting to get the same questions which in math is not a problem but in verbal is really easy to memorize the correct answer...

Does your online (paid) content include additional (different) tests?
For example, what will I get if I already have access to the 6 CATs and I buy the "Online Practice CAT Exams & 9 Question Banks" or the "Online Computer Adaptive Practice Exams - 1 Year Access"?

Thanks for your help!!1

ps. Do you think it is possible to get a +700 after a 620 with a 1 month study period?

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm going to send you back to my previous post. :) I need to know very specific data on your strengths and weaknesses in order to give you any detailed advice.

Here's what I said before:
Now, in terms of what else to study and how, what are your strengths and weaknesses? You can use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and share. Note: don't just tell us the raw data. We want to know what you think the data means - you have to be able to analyze this yourself and think about what you're going to do about it. Critical study skill! :)

We'll then let you know whether we agree and advise you accordingly.

By the way, have you been taking those practice tests under 100% official conditions, including essays, length of breaks, etc? If not, your score could be artificially inflated - make sure to take practice test under official conditions.

So do the above and let us know - and also let us know if you took your practice tests under very nonofficial conditions that could've resulted in an artificially inflated score (especially on verbal).

Don't buy "more" CATs from us: you already have access to what we have and you will continue to see repeated questions. You can also get tests from 800Score, but first: taking tests is not HOW you improve. Taking a test just shows you *whether* you improved from all of your study since the last test. So don't go take a bunch of additional tests expecting that to help you progress.

Instead, we need to figure out how you need to change how you have been studying (because something's not working). So go do that test review.

Do you think it is possible to get a +700 after a 620 with a 1 month study period?

Possible, sure. Common or very likely, no - unfortunately. Most people would need more time. If the test weren't changing, I'm guessing that you would give yourself more time than that, right?

But the test is changing, so we're kind of stuck. Read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... t-changes/