Scored just 630,please help!

[shreerajp99]

Just came back form test center.Scored a meagre 630(Q39,V37)
Score is heavily skewed and the ironical part is i felt like i was doing well in quant. Plz suggest to me how can i improve my quant score.I was in control of quant till around 28th question and then got stuck in a exponents question.However,i faced around 3 combinations and around 2 probability questions and thus thought i am doing well but alas it wasnt to be
I was getting most of the questions correct in quant but i am sure that was just my illusion.I finally guessed around 3 questions in quant since i was running out of time.
Plz suggest how do i improve my quant score within 1 month by around 10 points since i need to apply for fall 2013.
Should i apply with this poor score to any of the colleges or take the exam within a month's time?
Do u think my score can improve drastically by around 10 points in quant in such a short span of time?

Thanks,
Shreeraj

[StaceyKoprince]

You were probably doing better on quant and then your score went down at the end because of the timing issues. I'm guessing that you also rushed on some in addition to outright guessing on 3, so that gave you the chance to get a lot of questions wrong in a row - which is very bad for your score.

I'm also guessing that you had timing problems on your practice tests, even if you weren't aware of it.

I also just want to mention one thing. It's extremely unlikely that you got 5 questions in the combinatorics / probability category. You likely thought you were getting more because you don't like those (right?). For the questions that count, we actually all see the same mix of topics (though different individual questions). The experimental questions introduce some leeway (they do vary by topic), but the standard count for this category is 1. You might have gotten an extra 1 or 2 as experimentals - but you didn't have 5 that counted, at the very least, and you probably didn't have 5 at all. :)

Right now, you're probably thinking, "No way! I remember it!" I had another student tell me something similar one time about one of his practice tests. I knew this was impossible because we limit the # of questions in those categories, so we went and looked up his test and counted the questions. There were 2 and he also swore he'd had 4-5. He was dumbfounded.

I'm telling you all of this because I don't want you to think that you should now go spend an enormous amount of time studying this area. These types are infrequent and also challenging - there are better places to spend your study time.

Okay, next. You ask how to improve your score by 10 points in a month. I'm guessing that's a typo - did you mean 100? Or wait - do you mean improve quant alone by 10 points?

That would be an increase of about 40 percentile points - that's an enormous amount for one month. Even if part of the problem was timing (not fundamental content knowledge), it would still typically take most people longer than a month.

It might be possible to raise your score 30-50 points overall in a month. For most people, an increase of 80-100 points would take more time.

Timing is clearly one issue. I'd like to get some more detailed data on your strengths and weaknesses in order to advise you further. 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. (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!)

For timing, start here:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

It typically takes about 4-6 weeks to address timing issues (longer if they are more severe), so get started on that today.

Also, I want to make sure that you're studying in the most effective / efficient way. Read this and pay particular attention to the "how to study" section:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

[shreerajp99]

1st of all,happy new year Stacey and other manhattan gmat instructors!
Yes u are correct,i did an analysis of the questions that i remembered and there were 2 questions overall from probability and PnC section.
I am currently planning to submit my current score of 630 to 2 colleges and in the meanwhile also keep chugging along in the quest to beat GMAT.I will send my updated GMAT score later to colleges once i retake the exam(and hopefully score close to 700)
As you've said,in a month's time,an increase of 30-50 points is possible.What would be the best way to go about it?How much practice and how much review?
Should i practice quant topicwise or do it in a mixed way(creating exam effect)
I also want to ensure that my verbal score does not get hampered if i concentrate on quant too much.

Thanks,
Shreeraj

[StaceyKoprince]

The best way to go about it is to follow the articles I linked last time. Analyze your most recent tests, which will tell you which specific content areas and question types to focus on right now. Then use the "how to study" and time management materials to learn HOW to learn effectively. :)

Right now, your study will mostly be focused on trying to make certain weaknesses better, with some review (maybe 5-6 days a week trying to get better, 1-2 days a week review). As you get closer to your test date, you'll start to shirt that more towards review. By the last week before your test, you should be doing 90%+ review.

Read this (says "last 14 days" but can be compressed to 7 days or so):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... an-part-1/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ew-part-2/

The ideal is to continue on the "fix weaknesses" path until you are in the scoring range that you want on the real test, and then you spend a couple of weeks on a comprehensive review and take the test. If you have a hard date by which you have to take the next test, though, then that will dictate your schedule - just work backwards from your test date.

In terms of your study - when you're doing actual sets of practice problems, they should always be mixed and timed at this point, just like the real test.

Also, you won't need to do a TON of work on verbal to keep your skills up, but you do need to do some work, obviously. Do about 2 to 4 parts work on quant for every 1 part on verbal. Plan to do quant every study session as a default but when you're feeling burned out on quant, do verbal that session instead. You're better at verbal, so you'll feel more energized and then that will help you get ramped back up on quant again.

[shreerajp99]

Thanks,will keep u posted!

[StaceyKoprince]

you're welcome!

[shreerajp99]

Hi Stacey,

Since in my earlier attempt i had solved both Manhattan and gmatprep tests,i downloaded powerprep tests(old software).Do u think these tests are worth solving?
I actually wanted something official and hence got these 2 tests.

Thanks,
Shreeraj

[shreerajp99]

I did take the poweprep1 test and scored 690(Q47,V38).I got 10 questions incorrect in each section.
I did see few overlapping questions from OG and in general i found the test to be easy.
Should i take the powerprep 2 test as well or it will be waste of my time? Should i instead take some 3rd party test maker test?
I am going to tentatively schedule my test for 22nd feb.I need to get atleast 680 and i am working towards it :)

Thanks,
Shreeraj

[StaceyKoprince]

I would go with a different test, not powerprep - too old. You also won't get IR with powerprep. I know you don't care so much about the IR score, but you do care about having a representative test experience. If you're going to have IR on the real thing, you should have it in practice as well.

You can try 800Score. Also, in the meantime, do not look at MGMAT or GMATPrep questions AT ALL. Then, in a few weeks, you might be able to do them again (because you'll have started to forget the questions).

[shreerajp99]

Thanks Stacey,i have purchased access again for Manhattan tests. I had given these tests long time back and anyway dont remember the questions now.
Also,i have hurt my knee badly recently and am currently resting at home.( house arrest :( )I have about 3 more weeks till i recover but i have been practicing on off since 28th December(When i last took GMAT).I am seeing this in a positive manner and what my strategy currently is:
Work on my application for half day and other half of my day i do gmat related stuff and ofcourse the prescribed exercises :).My focus is mainly on improving quant and trying to ensure that i do not miss any of the easy/medium questions before attempting hard questions.
Do u think it sounds ok,let me know if u have any suggestions.Also,i have told colleges about my condition and after submitting my essays,i will send across my scores when i am fit to go out and give the test.

Thanks,
Shreeraj

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry to hear about your knee! I hope you get better soon.

Yes, I think that sounds like a good plan. I like that you're spending half your day on applications and half on GMAT - moving back and forth actually helps to keep you motivated (and helps keep your brain more fresh when you're studying).

And I agree that you need to tackle the careless mistakes and holes in your foundation that might lead to missing lower-level questions - after all, if you miss too many lower-level questions, then it doesn't matter how much you studied harder ones because you won't even see them on the test!

Good luck with everything - let us know how it goes!

[shreerajp99]

Sure!

[shreerajp99]

Hi Stacey,

As mentioned in my earlier post,i purchased access again to Manhattan exams.I don't remember any questions that i had faced earlier which is a great thing :)
I have given 3 tests as follows:

18/02- 590 Q38,V34
23/02- 640 Q43,V35
02/03- 660 Q45,V35 IR 3.73

Good thing here is that my quant seems to be improving(i hope so).Manhattan quant is really tough i feel;i had to use every ounce of my energy to solve these questions :)

When i solve mixed sets from gmatprep question pack,i get 23-25/37 correct.I dont know if thats a good hit rate.

My target score is anything above 680.Now the catch here is i have submitted applications to 6 colleges but havent submitted my GMAT score.Now the admissions committee is asking me by when i am taking GMAT.I need to take it up soon else they will push my application to last round which will mean almost no chance of getting an admit.
Can you help me decide by when approximately i should take GMAT? 2 weeks from today,do u think i can get the score i want?

Thanks,
Shreeraj

[StaceyKoprince]

As a general rule, whatever you're scoring about 1-2 weeks before the real test is roughly in the same range you should expect on the real test. Your scores are moving in the right direction, of course, but you shouldn't expect to go from 660 to 700 in 2 weeks. (It *could* happen - but it wouldn't be *expected* to happen.)

If I understand correctly, you don't really have much leeway, though, right? I mean, we're not talking about the difference between 2 weeks and 6 weeks - it's more like 14 days vs. 17 days or something like that?

At that level, there's no difference - a few more days won't make much of a difference. You'll just do your best in the time that you have left! Schedule it whenever is good for you.

Good luck - let us know how it goes.

Also, have you read these two articles yet?
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... an-part-1/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ew-part-2/

[shreerajp99]

Thanks,will let u know :)