Re-take required, environmental issues

[SmallUser]

Hello!

I am a graduating senior and I just took the test today and, unfortunately, it was much too hot during the Essay/IR and some of the Quant section. It was a verified AC issue and was fixed by the time Verbal started. Needless to say, I was a bit uncomfortable during the test. I ended up with a 710 Q47 V41 and I am disappointed as I was aiming for 730 or 740. The issue was reported to GMAC, but I have some questions about what to do during the time I wait to take it again.

My MGMAT scores averaged around 700 to 710, while my 3 GMATPrep (2 included and 1 purchased) were 710, 750, 720 respectively.

My questions are:
-Will GMAC do something about this, or give me a refund? Clearly they will not bump up my score, but a refund seems fair.

-I've used the majority of the GMATPrep software (bought the other questions) and OGs (including verbal and quant review). What should I do while I wait the 31 days to re take?

-Is it possible that my lower-than-expected score is what I should have received due to being in the environment for the first time, and not the heat? If so, I guess re taking it is the only choice anyways!

-I'm just at a little bit of a loss because I feel like all this time was wasted and have to go through the stress again to take the test under "normal" conditions.

Thank you!

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry you had this problem (but you still got a 710, so congratulations! :)

Has there been a formal complaint filed and you're waiting for them to get back to you with a resolution? If so, then you'll need to see what they offer and, if they don't offer a free re-take, then you can ask for one. If not, then make sure to file a formal complaint and ask for that. (Ask nicely, naturally - the nicer you are, the more likely the person will want to help!)

There's a good chance you can re-do many the official questions you've done in the past - if you did all / most, that would be about 2,000 questions, so you're unlikely to remember them all. When you run across one that you do remember, just skip that one. You can also look into GMAC's GMAT Focus product for quant (www.gmatfocus.com).

I do have a question for you. You talk about your "lower than expected" score but most of your practice tests were in the 700 to 720 range, so 710 is exactly in the middle of that range. Was there another reason why you expected a score jump on test day?

To your question, 710, 730, and 740 are all within one standard deviation on the official test, so those scores aren't really all that different (though I know it feels like it). If someone scores 720 one day, that person is just as likely to score 700 or 740 (if they could take it again the next day, say, without any additional prep).

Your quant score is the lower one, so if you do want to aim for 730+ next time, more of your effort should be focused there. At the same time, don't neglect verbal - you don't want that one to drop. Maybe 2/3 of your time on quant and the other 1/3 on verbal.

You may also want to read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... and-a-760/

Think about what you need to add to your study this next time in order to give yourself the best shot at a 730+ score. (And, of course, feel free to ask for advice here.)

Here's another resource to help with that:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

[SmallUser]

Stacey-

Thank you for the reply, I appreciate it! I will definitely be working on quant more while trying to maintain verbal. I have the advanced quant book from Manhattan as well, so I will begin to look at that and other official problems as you suggested.

To your question, I was hoping for more because I had gotten a 710 on a GMAT prep test just 2 weeks into studying and got a 750 a week before the test (followed by a 720 on short rest, though). I've heard the GMAT prep tests are the most accurate, and that some people feel than Manhattan's tests (especially the quant) are harder than the real thing. I don't think there is a verifiable way to see this, though.

One last question: I get nervous before tests, often waking up hours earlier than normal but also having trouble falling asleep. For this reason I scheduled a 12 pm test for my first try. Unfortunately the only options for my second one were 4pm and 8am. Given that I will be on summer break before my job starts, I don't plan on waking up too early so I chose the 4pm one. I worry that this will be too late in the day and I will fade as the test continues and get myself nervous before it starts, wasting precious energy. Also, I may wake up early and have trouble falling back asleep and thus will be tired. For my first test I arrived 45 minutes early and started right away (wish I hadn't because of the AC) but perhaps this will be the case again, minimizing this problem? Or, do you suggest going for 8 am...?

Thanks so much.

[StaceyKoprince]

First, check the test scheduling website daily. People cancel and slots open up, so you may see a 12p slot open and you can switch for a $50 fee as long as it's more than 7 days ahead of your test. (If it's within 7 days, you have to pay the whole $250 again.)

If you are not naturally someone who is awake and alert at 8a, then I wouldn't take the test then. If you keep the 4p time, then about 2 weeks before, start doing some light exercises / stretching around 3p and then study or do something intellectually taxing for a couple of hours starting around 4p. (If you're at work, then take a 15-minute break to do the stretching and then just work hard for a few hours.)

I would also arrive an hour early next time, hoping that they will be able to get you in. Get there at 3p, do some light stretching outside the room, then go in and see whether they can take you. If they can't, plan to bring a book or go for a walk - and don't just sit in their waiting room. Go somewhere else.

Try using earplugs when you sleep and make sure any windows in the bedroom are really covered up. When you're nervous, you'll sleep more lightly, so sounds or light are more likely to wake you up. But if you can't hear many sounds / see as much light, then you might be able to sleep longer that morning. :)

Try using the earplugs for a week or two before (on the week-ends, if you don't want to do it on work-days), just to get used to having the earplugs in.