Scored 550 only in all my 3 GMAT test appearances

[v800]

Hi All,
I am stuck and lost...
In all my previous attempts have have just managed to score 550,just not able to increas my score.
My scores:
1: Q 46 V: 22 AWA : 4.5
2. Q 37 V: 26 AWA: 3.5
3. Q 36 V: 28 AWA: 4.5
Need expert guidance and advice.

My breif background:
6 years of IT consulting,worked in 4 different countries.
Masters in Computer Science from University of Houston,USA
Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from India.

My next attempt is on July 8th 2009.

Regards,
V800

[StaceyKoprince]

Are these practice test scores? Official test scores? When did you take the tests?

How have you been studying so far - on your own, with a class or tutor? What materials have you been using? How have you been studying?

Do you have any ideas about why your quant score decreased so much after the first test? What changed? Same with verbal - your score increased. Any ideas why? What did you get better at?

What is your goal? What would you like to score on the test?

[v800]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
Well,My scores are all real GMAT scores.
I have taken the
1st in Dec 2007
2nd Nov 2008
3rd Feb 2009.

My quant from the first exam was good because I have concentrated more on Quant and less on Verbal.And from then on,I concentrated on Verbal more and it kep increasing but my quant kept decreasing...
I did OG,Kaplan 800,Manhattan SC and CR books.Last time aroung I did veritas prep course.
My goal is to get 680+.With my background and education and other social activites,650+ score will land me into the top 1 year schools like Insead,IMD,SB etc.

I have booke my exam again on July 8th 2009.

Please advice,as your are the expert.I am in lot of distress and stress.

Reards,
V800

[v800]

Hi Stacy,
Could please advice on my case and enlighten me.
Thanks.

Regards,
V800

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time with the test. FYI, it's not a good idea to reply a second time to your own post! We reply in order of "oldest post first" and if you reply a second time, then you move your post later in the queue (the date associated with it is the date of the last post). You'll just end up waiting longer for a reply!

What were you getting on your practice tests? Similar scores or very different? I'm trying to understand whether your score really dropped somehow when you took the real test or whether your practice tests were similar to your real tests.

As you found, your score in one section will go down if you aren't spending much time studying that area. It's important to balance your study so that you can maximize your score in both sections.

It looks like you've made some very nice improvement on the verbal section. If you can regain your quant score (mid-40s), you will still need to make some more improvement on the verbal to reach 650 - you'll need maybe about 35 on the verbal.

So, first, go back to doing whatever you did before to get your quant score up into the mid-40s; it worked the first time, so do the same thing this time.

At the same time, you need to continue improving in verbal. That might mean continuing to do whatever helped you to improve so far, or it might mean getting some additional help.

Do you feel that the improvement you have made on verbal so far is just the beginning, and you could keep getting better if you keep moving down that same path? If so, it may be enough for you to continue working on your own with the resources that have helped you to improve so far.

Or do you feel that you have improved as much as you can with the resources you've used so far and you would need something new to make the jump from 28 to ~35 on verbal? If so, then you may benefit from taking another class or working with a private tutor. (Full disclosure: obviously, I work for a test prep company and have some bias in this area. You should take that into account when listening to my advice.)

[v800]

Hi Stacy,
Thanks for the reply.
I will follow your advice,and not reply to my post.

Frist time around all I did was scoretop Quant problems.And that too not completely. May be that is the reason for my quant score.
And then on I concentrated only on Verbal and did OG,Manhattan CR and SC.I was over confident about my Quant score,and during the second attempt,I was thinking (for some quant questions),that they were experimental and just clicked away and went to the next question.This lead to my downfall in Quant score.
3rd time around,I only did Veritas prep course(correspondance) + OG 11th edi.Improved a lot on my CR.
This time I was very calm and composed and thougt I was doing very well.But when I again saw 550...I was shocked and stunned...and just could not believe my eyes.

In Gmat Prep 1st test I score 610 and in 2nd I scored 630.

GMATPrep 2008-12-21
V31 Q41 600

GMATPrep 2009-02-10
V31 Q46 630

Please please help me,I do not know what other material to do or if I have to do the same material,where to start and how..
I need Mentoring and advice....
I have booked my next exam ie July 8th 2009.I have to get 650+ score...
Eagerly Awating for your reply...

Regards,
V800

[StaceyKoprince]

Okay, so the first time you concentrated solely on quant, and your quant score was the highest on the first test. That makes sense. And then you kind of ignore quant and concentrated on verbal, and your quant score went down while verbal went up. That also makes sense.

The goal now is to do well on both on the same test! You need to balance your study more, so that you can peak on both quant and verbal at the same time. If you can do that, you will be able to get closer to your 650 goal (though not quite all the way).

Quant is obviously your strength. Do you think you have the capacity to do even better than you did the first time, or do you think that 46 already maxed out your likely score there?

I ask because it is generally easier to improve our strengths than our weaknesses, so if you think there's more room for growth there, then that can help you to improve your overall score.

You will still have to improve your verbal even if you improve quant, though. The good news is that it looks like your studying has been working - your verbal score has been increasing. The question now is whether you think you'll get even better if you keep doing what you were doing before, or whether you think you need something new to help. It's possible that you might need some help from a live person who can discuss things with you and correct your mistakes.

The most efficient process at this point would probably involve a private tutor who excels in verbal, but tutoring is also very expensive, so I don't know whether that's an option for you. But a tutor would assess your strengths and weaknesses very particularly and help you in just those areas where you most need the help.

If tutoring is too expensive, you might consider a class. Your teacher will have to help everyone, not just you, so it isn't as efficient, but you will have access to an expert who can answer your specific questions and concerns.

If you decide to work with someone, make sure to determine whether the person's teaching style works for you. If the company offers any kind of free opportunity to see the person teach something, do that. Or if you can talk to or exchange emails with the tutor before deciding to work with him/her, do that. Explain your situation and see what the tutor says - are you comfortable, based upon his/her response, that he/she can come up with an effective plan to help you?

One last thing: if the test-writers do their jobs right (and they usually do), it's impossible for us to tell which questions are experimental. So always give your best within 2 minutes - don't just decide something's experimental and pick anything. :)

[v800]

Hi Stacy,
You correctly understood my situation. Thanks a lot for that.

Comming to Quant,I think I can still progress and get 2 to 3 points more.I want someone to understand my weak areas and advice me on those areas.
In verbal,I was just practicing more harder and applying some techniques.Last time I improved my CR a lot.Still I would require someone to pinpoint my weakness and mentor me.
Presently, I am doing SC from OG 11 edition (for the 3rd time now) and scoring around 82%.

The bottom line is I need a good mentor.I still have a zeal to study and be a winner.
"The game is not over untill I win"

Taking class in India,is not good option as the tutors are not that great.And as you said PT is way to expensive.

I was thinking of Guided self study(one of the Manhattan courses),where in I can have 2 half hour sessions with a tutor + I can also get the 6 tests and questions banks etc... Hopefully this tutor can assess my weakness and guide to my victory.

Please advice soon.

Regards,
V800

[StaceyKoprince]

Yes, the guided self-study could help, as you would get a couple of sessions with a tutor (though only an hour total, so it's usually more like homework help).

We do offer our classes via a live online format - you're meeting live with your teachers and fellow students, but it's not physically in person. You can do that from anywhere in the world - all you need is a computer and high-speed Internet access. (I have had students from India before!)

So that might be something to think about because then you can ask questions while you are learning the lessons. The online classes also have the advantage of having 2 teachers in every class session, so while one is teaching, the other can answer questions in the chat window.

You can sign up for a free session to see what the live online classes are like. Go onto our web site under "Prep Programs" and click on the "Free Events" link to find upcoming free events.

I'm glad to see that you're very motivated - that's what it takes to improve! :)

[v800]

Hi Stacy,
Thanks for the advice,the on-line thing is little expensive. Will this be worth it all the time and money?
At the end of the day I want a score of 650+,that all.
Anyways, I have registered for the free session starting tomorrow.

Please give me un-baised advice,as I have alreay spent so much and time.

Regards,
V800

[StaceyKoprince]

It's tough for me to give you totally unbiased advice, since I work for a test prep company. I really do believe that our programs are valuable and help students to get better scores. I also review the end-of-course student surveys (for everyone, not just for my own classes) and the vast majority of students indicate that they think the program is worth the time and money. Not everyone is 100% satisfied, though.

The major difference I think we're dealing with here is the self-study, which offers 1 hour's worth of private conversation with a teacher, and a live class, which offers 27 hours of interaction but with others as well as you and the teacher (that is, not private one-on-one). You'll have to make the call about how much interaction you think you will want going forward. In my experience, 1 hour is enough to discuss one topic or to review one group of questions, but it's certainly not anywhere near enough to do a thorough review of your weaknesses. If you want the former, then the self study is the way to go. If you want the latter, though, then you should consider taking the class.

[v800]

Hi Stacy,
Well,I understand your position too.
Anyways,I have attended one of the free on-line live sessions with Jonathan as lead instructor. It was very interactive and good.
I think,I will get into this class,which ends on June 20th and my actual exam is on July 8th 2009.

What say?

Rgerads,
V800

[JonathanSchneider]

Glad you've decided to take the class! I hope you enjoy it!

[v800]

Hi
Thanks for the reply. I will update you soon.

Regreds,
Vikas

[StaceyKoprince]

Sounds like a good plan; Jonathan's a great teacher. (And that's kind of funny - Jonathan subbed for me on forum duty last week, so he was the one to reply to your last post!) :)