SOS:Third Attempt

[mandakini.kotia]

Hi,I have taken the GMAT twice Score in First Attempt 670 (Q 48, V 34),Score in Second Attempt 660 (Q 48,V 32).The second time I took the GMAT, I found the exam tough.The Quant questions were long and not direct.In the Verbal section, the CR and a couple of RC passages were tough.

Given the strengths and weaknesses of my profile and the Schools I am targeting, it is absolutely essential that I score above the 90th percentile in the exam.I am thinking of taking a third attempt.In terms of preparation I have already covered all the OG material and practiced Manhattan, 800score, and power pres tests under real time conditions .I consistently scored between 88-94 percentile in the practice tests.But I don't understand what happens during the real exam.

In case I decide to take the third attempt, I cannot spare more than two weeks for preparation.Could anybody suggest if a third attempt is advisable and should be my strategy for it.

[StaceyKoprince]

Good news and bad news. The exam has a standard deviation of about 30 points, so it's conceivable that you could take it again with the same kind of preparation and get closer to a 700 (if not 700). If you want to make it more likely that you hit that target, though, then a lot more work would be required - and 2 weeks likely would not be adequate time.

On the one hand, you say that it's "absolutely essential" to score above the 90th percentile. On the other, you say that you can devote no more than 2 weeks to this goal. Those two things don't really go together.

You can go for it in two weeks, but if you really think the 90th percentile is "absolutely essential," then I would suggest that you're going to have to make a hard choice - either devote more time or decide that the two weeks is more important and relax your goal score. (I'm guessing, by the way, that you only have a couple of weeks either because of a deadline or because you are also working on applications - either way, it's a tough call.)

I would talk to an admissions consultant right away about the relative importance of your GMAT score vs. other parts of your application for the schools to which you plan to apply.

Next, I would do a thorough analysis of your last MGMAT test in order to determine whether there are any "quick hit" weaknesses that might be able to be improved more rapidly. In particular, pay attention to timing - if you are having any timing problems at all, you may be underperforming on the test relative to your actual knowledge / skill level at this point. If you want advice about how to deal with any weaknesses you uncover, come back here and post.

When you took your practice tests, did you take them under 100% official conditions? Both essays, two 8-minute breaks, nothing to eat or drink during the test (except on breaks), no pausing or anything else that wouldn't be allowed during the real test? If not, then your practice test scores may have been inflated, and/or you may not have been fully prepared for the stamina requirements of the test (if you, say, skipped the essays or took longer breaks than allowed).

[mandakini.kotia]

Thanks for your inputs Stacey.The standard deviation figure is comforting.

[StaceyKoprince]

oh, one more thing!

If you have taken an MGMAT practice test recently, you can use this article to help you with your test analysis:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/e ... -part1.cfm