Hi, This is embarrassing but the best way to get better is to learn and persevere. I am targeting to sit my GMAT at the end of July or early August 2017 for first round MBA applications in September.
Just sat the MGMAT practice test 1 as a diagnostic and scored an appalling 430 (Q25/V26); did not do AWA. Overall - I had little to no prior practice. I'm more of an analytical personality - really only feel comfortable/confident when I've at least dabbled in the subject matter of what I'm tested against. Quant - felt hard from the start and knew I bombed it before finishing. Verbal - got to Q35 and ran out of time
Do you think I can improve my test scores dramatically over the next 154 days with full-time work?
Study plan was 1-2 hours per day + Focus Saturday sessions (6+ hours) commencing today.
Resources I intended on utilsing were: - MGMAT books (potentially the online course also) - Original Guide 2017 - Economist GMAT (if beneficial) or perhaps just the trial
Please help..
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Scoring below 650 (or actually 700) on the GMAT will hurt your chances a lot - if by August, you score lower, I would consider applying in a later round. Not only B-schools ask for your GMAT, but most banks will ask for your score, too, and given that you went to B-school, they'll know you have one.
As for getting there: Manhattan Prep is pretty solid, and the official books are good, too. Before you go that way, analyse your current score. You say you have an analytical mind, but Quant actually test if your mind is analytical, not any math skills. What happened there? Verbal seems to be all about language, but is actually also analytical (the questions will always be similar, as will the provided answers.
@Yunona thanks for your reply. I mentioned I am an analytical personality type (I'm IT/Accounting background) and typically terrible at taking standardised tests without any solid practice.
My downfall was solving everything algebraically instead of understand things....
Based on initial impressions of the test and considering i did not study whatsoever prior to sitting it I beleieve it's possible to make improvements and hey...if i believe it i can achieve it.
Keen to hear further opinions on this!
FWIW I scored a 580ish on my first MGMAT and scored 750 on the real deal (obviously scored higher on my later tests).
Work on getting the timing down, and CAREFULLY understand why each answer is right / wrong - you'll be fine. Everyone hits diminishing marginal returns at some point, you just have to get to the point where you hit that point for yourself. Don't stress about X mark, there are lots of career paths and folks who make plenty of dollars who don't have rockstar gmat scores
ConsultingQuant How much time did you prepare between those test scores?
I've ordered Economist GMAT and intend on ordering MGAT Strategy Guides + Official GMAC 2017
I didn't take that long but I don't mind standardized tests. Maybe 8 weeks and I was working 60ish hours / week as well.
ConsultingQuant did you sacrifice much after work past time e.g. gym/sports?
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