Stuck at 670-Stacey need your advise!!

[shubhunk]

Hi Stacey,

Hope you come accross this post quickly!!I have been reading your advise to other aspirants and hence chose to write to you seeking your advise on my peculiar situation.I have given GMAT twice. March 2008 got 650 and August 2009 got 590.
I have been preparing for more than 5 months now.
I am targetting a score around 730.I have been working at the MGMAT tests for the last 6 weeks,and I gave 4 of the tests.
My scores have been like this
MGMAT 1 690(43 Q 40V)
MGMAT 2 670(46 Q 36V)
MGMAT 3 670(45Q 36V)
MGMAT 4 680(47Q 36V)

Now I do not want to waste the next 2 sessions getting a score lesser than 700.Since this is will be my 3rd attempt I have decided to take my date only if I cross that threshold of 700+.Please advise what all can I do to achieve a score closer to 730.I also cannot devote more than 2 hours daily,as I am working full time.

Regards!
Shubh

[StaceyKoprince]

I agree that you don't want to take another practice test until you think you've done enough to see some kind of significant improvement in score. In my opinion, so far, you've been taking them too close together. (I generally recommend every 3 weeks or so for students who are studying every day, and even then, the student should only take it if he feels he's really made significant progress since the last test.)

The first thing to do is a thorough analysis of your strengths and weaknesses. Use this article to help you conduct that analysis:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/a/2009/09/23/evaluating-your-practice-tests

That will allow you to draw up a list of things you need to do, which you need before you can go ahead and do them! (Here's more on developing a study plan: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/02/09/developing-a-study-plan)

Once you've done this analysis, you can also browse through the archive to find relevant articles that address your particular weaknesses. http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/manhattan-gmat

Also, just a couple of things:
1) make sure you take any practice tests under full official conditions, including the essays!
2) don't take another practice test until you can list at least 5 weaknesses from your previous test that you think you have now fixed (or mostly fixed)
3) if you want help in interpreting your test results or setting up your study plan, come back here and post after you've done the above and we'll discuss!