Test Retake Help

[NiyagoF828]

All,

Good afternoon. I need some help building a strategy for my test retake since I thought I was much more prepared. I have been studying for the GMAT utilizing Manhattan Prep along with the OG (12th ed.) since March of this year. I took 8 practice tests total (6 MGMAT, and 2 Official CATs from the mba.com mod), but I only took 1 before finishing going through all the Manhattan review books. Every test I took, I completed all sections and mimicked actual testing conditions. After each test I reviewed every problem and concentrated on my mistakes. The last 4 tests I took were all above 600 (620 &640 from MGMAT and 640 & 680 from official CAT's). I was scoring in the low 40's for Quant, and mid-hi 30's for Verbal.
I just took the actual GMAT test on Sep 5th, and scored a 570 (Q43/V26)....needless to say I was disappointed, but at least I know that I need to focus on verbal. I felt like the Quant was pretty straight forward, but I was all over the place on verbal and the question format for CR/RC seemed a little different than what I had studied the past few months.

I also purchased the ESR to validate what I felt hurt me on the GMAT. CR and RC were my worst sections (CR hurt me the most) just as I thought. I scored in 20th percentile for CR, and 40th percentile for RC....68th percentile for SC. I plan on retaking the GMAT in late Oct/early Nov to allow myself to meet some of the earlier rnd 2 app deadlines.

My strengths were: SC, Algebra, Geometry, PS, Arithmetic (All over 50th percentile)
My weakenessed were: DS, RC, CR (All 40th percentile or below)

Here is my plan:

1) Review entire CR Manhattan guide and focus on using the 4-step process. Make sure I recognize how to approach all types of CR questions. I used the 4 step process when I first began studying, but as I became more comfortable with CR I stopped using it to save some time. Then go back through OG guide problems for CR. (Total time 1.5 weeks)

2) Review entire RC Manhattan guide and focus on being an active reader. Again, I took notes on RC questions when I first started studying, but as I became more comfortable I relied on just reading. Also, go back through OG guide RC questions and break my bad habits. (Total time 1.5 weeks)

3) Stay fresh with other GMAT sections with practice problems interspersed throughout my CR/RC studying so I don't lose what I have gained.

4) Take a practice test a the completion of my CR review, RC review, and 1 more before actual GMAT.

5) I know that I need to improve my DS performance, but feel that my other strengths in Quant will help negate that so I can make it a lower priority than RC and CR. I will spend some time on DS, but need to iron out my verbal weaknesses first.

Also, do you feel it is worse purchasing OG guide 15th edition or continuing using 12ed. and purchase the official GMAT question pack add on if I need additional questions?

Thanks, and I appreciate any help anybody can provide!!

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry that you had a disappointing test experience. As you said, at least your test data is very clear so that you know what you need to fix!

Do you think that mental fatigue could have played a factor in your CR / RC results? I'm asking not only because of the drop in performance in those sections but also because of your comment that they felt different. I recently took it (again!) myself and I didn't see any CRs or RCs that surprised me in terms of format, structure, etc. They were all what I would call "classic" questions. So I'm wondering whether they felt different to you because you were mentally fatigued.

Here are some commons signs:
- you have to read something multiple times to understand (not just occasionally on a hard one, but frequently)
- you read something and then realize that you have no idea what you just read and you have to read it again
- you find yourself getting distracted by other thoughts (other questions that you did earlier, or even non-test-related stuff)
- you find yourself agonizing back and forth over answers, unable to make a decision
- you find yourself in an "I just want the test to be over" mode and you almost don't care anymore about the test

If fatigue was an issue, then we'll need to fix that, obviously.

Read this:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... you-crazy/

Also, build stamina during study. Let's say that you're going to sit down for a 2-hour study session. In advance, figure out what you're going to do for the entire 2 hours. In fact, plan extra, just in case you finish early. Then GO for 1 hour without stopping. No checking email, no chatting with a friend, etc. Take a 10-15 minute break, then GO again for another hour, no stopping.

Then stop. Don't do the above for 4 hours straight. It's actually a lot more mentally fatiguing to study than to take a test. When studying, you're both recalling existing memories and trying to create new memories to use in future. When taking a test, you're only trying to recall existing memories.

So if you try to study for 4 hours straight, you'll be so mentally fatigued for the last couple of hours that you won't make very good memories... and your study time will be very inefficient.

Next, I like steps 1 and 2 of your study plan. BUT I want to make sure that you aren't planning to do CR for 1.5 weeks straight and then RC for 1.5 weeks straight. You learn much better by mixing up your studies. Read this:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2015/07/ ... s-say-what

Oh, now I'm reading #3 and you are planning to intersperse at least a little. Just make sure you're not doing all CR, then all RC. And agree with your 3, 4, 5.

Re: books / more questions, OG2015 will have some question overlap with OG12. The question pack is about 400 questions for something like $30, while the new OG will cost you $45-ish and probably have about 600 new questions (compared to OG12). So cost is about the same for # of questions - just depends how many more you think you need. NOTE, though: question that have been dropped from older editions of OG have made their way into GMATPrep...so you may seem some of your OG12 questions in there, too.

In terms of how to study / re-take the test, read these and do what they say!
http://tinyurl.com/executivereasoning
http://tinyurl.com/2ndlevelofgmat

[NiyagoF828]

Stacy,

Thank you for your detailed feedback, it really helped me take a step back and reflect. All your symptoms of mental fatigue applied to me so I have time to work on this and fix it. One question I did have is if I am planning on doing several study sessions during a day, how much time should I rest between sessions so that I am studying efficiently? Based on your feedback I won't schedule any sessions for more than 3 hrs (except for practice exams).

[StaceyKoprince]

I wouldn't do one study session for more than 2 hours actually. Studying is harder than taking a test: you're trying to both retrieve memories and create new ones. When you're taking a test, you're only trying to retrieve.

If I'm going to have multiple study sessions in a day, my rule is that the break(s) in between should be at least as long as the prior study session. So if I study for 2 hours, I break for at least 2 hours before starting again. That gives my brain some time to start processing all those new memories it's trying to make.

Also, did you know that your brain processes memories while you're sleeping? If you're a fan of the afternoon nap, then make your first session before the nap and your second one after.