Hi All
I just finished my GMAT exam today and scored a dismal 610(V29, q44). This was my second attempt. My first was 540(Q38, V27). This is even more shattering given that my scores were pretty good in the mocks I have attempted. I took the second attempt after 3 months of prep(verbal focussed). Please see below for my scores.
Kaplan Mock 1 - V36
Kaplan Mock 2 - V37
Kaplan Mock 3 - V39
Manhattan Mock 1 - V36
Princeton Mock 1 - V41
GMAT Practise set 4 - V37
GMAT Practise set 5 - V41
I know of the deficiencies I have in quants and I am working on it. But, I am completely clueless about why am I not able to push my score in verbal. I worked very hard for the 3 months, solving a healthy amount of 600-650 and 650-700 level questions for CR, RC, and SC at a very decent accuracy (90%-95% in 600-650, 85%-90% in 650 - 700, 75% in 700-750)
For SC, I was doing pretty well in 700+ level questions. However, the exam questions felt very different and seemed to be testing stuff that I was either not aware of or not prepared for. It felt like most of the questions I saw were 700+ level. I know at V29 I wouldn't have seen harder questions, but even at my range(V29), the questions seemed way too tricky. I have been using GMATCLUB for quite some time to prepare and I haven't been so uncomfortable with SC. The exam experience was shattering.
For CR, I have 85%-95% accuracy at 600-700 level questions and around 70% accuracy at 700+ level. The questions I came across in mock tests also felt doable and I could figure out the "how" and "what" aspects. But the actual exam felt extremely challenging, I can't think of a single question out of the 11-12 that did not make me pause and think 4-5 times. Such was not the case with me during mocks. Things came naturally to me and once in a while, I would run into something extremely off-beat.
What could be a problem (my thoughts)?
1. The exam stress could be a factor but I don't want to believe that it can drag my score from "consistent higher-30s" to below 30.
2. The actual exam is way tougher. GMATCLUB'S 750+ level questions could be my way forward. Doing well at those levels could be key because that's the level of question I seem to have seen in the actual exam. (I could very well be wrong here, open to suggestions)
I have tried EGMAT, and Magoosh and I thought of TTP(couldn't because it was a little expensive for me). I seriously need help to align my strategy better with the exams. My target is 730. At this stage, it feels like I just don't have what it takes to get a 730. What's more disappointing is that I don't know what more I can do.
Looking forward to some suggestions. Please and thank you
I just finished my GMAT exam today and scored a dismal 610(V29, q44). This was my second attempt. My first was 540(Q38, V27). This is even more shattering given that my scores were pretty good in the mocks I have attempted. I took the second attempt after 3 months of prep(verbal focussed). Please see below for my scores.
Kaplan Mock 1 - V36
Kaplan Mock 2 - V37
Kaplan Mock 3 - V39
Manhattan Mock 1 - V36
Princeton Mock 1 - V41
GMAT Practise set 4 - V37
GMAT Practise set 5 - V41
I know of the deficiencies I have in quants and I am working on it. But, I am completely clueless about why am I not able to push my score in verbal. I worked very hard for the 3 months, solving a healthy amount of 600-650 and 650-700 level questions for CR, RC, and SC at a very decent accuracy (90%-95% in 600-650, 85%-90% in 650 - 700, 75% in 700-750)
For SC, I was doing pretty well in 700+ level questions. However, the exam questions felt very different and seemed to be testing stuff that I was either not aware of or not prepared for. It felt like most of the questions I saw were 700+ level. I know at V29 I wouldn't have seen harder questions, but even at my range(V29), the questions seemed way too tricky. I have been using GMATCLUB for quite some time to prepare and I haven't been so uncomfortable with SC. The exam experience was shattering.
For CR, I have 85%-95% accuracy at 600-700 level questions and around 70% accuracy at 700+ level. The questions I came across in mock tests also felt doable and I could figure out the "how" and "what" aspects. But the actual exam felt extremely challenging, I can't think of a single question out of the 11-12 that did not make me pause and think 4-5 times. Such was not the case with me during mocks. Things came naturally to me and once in a while, I would run into something extremely off-beat.
What could be a problem (my thoughts)?
1. The exam stress could be a factor but I don't want to believe that it can drag my score from "consistent higher-30s" to below 30.
2. The actual exam is way tougher. GMATCLUB'S 750+ level questions could be my way forward. Doing well at those levels could be key because that's the level of question I seem to have seen in the actual exam. (I could very well be wrong here, open to suggestions)
I have tried EGMAT, and Magoosh and I thought of TTP(couldn't because it was a little expensive for me). I seriously need help to align my strategy better with the exams. My target is 730. At this stage, it feels like I just don't have what it takes to get a 730. What's more disappointing is that I don't know what more I can do.
Looking forward to some suggestions. Please and thank you