Taking GMAT in 2 weeks, requesting a reply to my post

[geetika_gemini]

Hi,

Please find attached my performance on the MGMAT practise tests. I did not study for Quant once I started taking the tests except for the initial bit.

I cannot gather why my scores fluctuate so much!

Test score in the order I took tests, cat1 being the first.
cat1 580 (Q-42, V-28) (Took more for prep,thus was expecting a bad score as I just got started)
cat2 Skipped
cat3 610 (Q-38, V-35)
cat4 650 (Q-44, V-35)
cat5 620 (Q-37, V-37)
cat6 580 (Q-40, V-31)I took the next test on the very next day as I was shocked with the 580 the day before.
Cat1A 700 (Q-44, V-40)
Cat2A 680 (Q-45, V-37)
Cat3A 580 (Q-42, V-29) (Really!)

I consistently ran short on time on the Quant section, guessing on last 10-15 questions in the last 10 mins.

I have not taken any test in 2 weeks now and want to do so only when I am confident of doing well.

As as work full time only have weekends or vacation days to study. I plan to take GMAT in three weeks and most likely will take some time off from work before the test.

Appreciate expert help a this point.

Best,

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry you're finding this frustrating.

I cannot gather why my scores fluctuate so much!

You do know actually! You just don't know that you know. Here's why:

I consistently ran short on time on the Quant section, guessing on last 10-15 questions in the last 10 mins.

As long as this time management problem exists, your scores are going to fluctuate - and the problem will probably be worse on the real test (because you will be stressed out and so will have even more timing problems than usual).

So, first, unless your goal score is in the 600 or so range (the lower end of your scoring scale), I would not recommend taking the test in 2 weeks. It typically takes a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks to fix the kinds of timing problems you describe.

Second, you need to fix the timing problems - and you're going to do that by learning how this test really works. Read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

Really, go read it right now and then come back here. Is that how you've been approaching the test? I'm guessing not - so your first task is to change your mindset.

Read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Follow the links to the other articles embedded in that article. That's how you're going to study.

And this is how you're going to fix the time management specifically:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

In the second article, pay particular attention to section 4. It's not enough just to finish the section on time; you need to make sure that you're balancing time well among the individual questions. You don't want, for example, to spend 3+ minutes on a bunch of questions and then spend 1 minute on a bunch of others in order to make up the time.

Finally, what are you going to study? Use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Figure out what you think you should do based on that analysis. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (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 CATs 1A, 2A, and 3A - how many repeated questions did you see? What did you do when you saw them? You may have given yourself an artificial advantage by answering them more quickly than you would have if they'd been truly new...

Oh, and finally, read this (and start doing what it says!):
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... many-cats/