GMAT in 10 weeks.

[samridhzutshi]

Hi Stacey!

I'll be taking the GMAT for the second time in about 10 weeks (Nov 1, to be precise). The first time I gave it last year, I bombed terribly, with a score that was sub 500. :-/
I've been preparing for the exam for a little while now, and was scheduled to take it on the 27th, but with the 2 mock exams that I gave, i had to push it back as they were just not up to the level that I require. They were as follows:

GMAT Prep 1(480: Q30, V26)
MGMAT 1(520: Q36, V25)

With these scores, I had no option but to push back the exam. I'm targeting a 700 and as you can see, I'm no where close.
I've picked up the Strategy Guides and have started work on them, trying as hard as possible to follow the instructions mentioned in them.
I've also identified my problem areas, though not on a granular scale as some of the blogs suggest. They're as follows:

- Data Sufficiency
Struggle with these big time. I'm guessing that until my concepts are not clear, this will continue to be an issue.

- Critical Reasoning
The same as above. I can't quite figure out why I get these wrong. Sometimes I do and the other times (which happens a lot more) I don't.

Math has never been a strong point. I struggled with it right through school as well as during college.Though my verbal scores don't indicate it, I'm more at ease answering Verbal questions than Math.

Would love to hear your thoughts on my current state of affairs, and what I need to do going forward over the next 10 weeks, so i can hit my target score.

Regards.

[StaceyKoprince]

I'd be happy to help! First, do you have a specific deadline that you're trying to hit? If not, don't pick a test date now - it isn't something that you can force. Just know that you have a rough time in mind (say Nov to Dec) and that you'll pick the exact date as you see when you're going close to your goal score.

Next, in order to advise you, I need some more detailed data on your strengths and weaknesses. Use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and tell us the results of your analysis and what you think you should do based on that analysis. 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!)

When you're looking at the data, I want you to watch out for something. Is your DS performance lower because you're not as good at it? Or is it lower because you're spending more time on PS and then having to go fast on DS to make up the time? If that's the case (lots of people do this), then your DS performance might be suffering because of timing issues more than anything else.

The other most common problem early on with DS is falling into traps - usually thinking that you can tell whether something is sufficient or not sufficient but you haven't adequately tested it yet. See if you can figure out whether one (or both!) of those things is happening.

You mentioned that you've started recently with the Strategy Guides, so just know that it's going to take some time to learn all of this stuff before you can start to see any significant results in your practice tests. Start with your weaker areas - eg, pick up the CR book first. (But do the test analysis first of all - that helps you set your priorities and come up with a plan!)

Also, just note that your verbal scores are a little bit higher (and more consistent) than your math scores - the scoring scales aren't the same. Look at the percentile rankings. You scored 37th to 42nd percentile on verbal and 24th to 38th on math.

[samridhzutshi]

Hi Stacey!
Thank you for getting back to me! I picked Nov. 1 as the exam date is precisely the reason you've mentioned. I have a deadline for a school that I'd like to apply to, which is the 30th of Nov, thereby giving me a month to complete the remaining formalities of my application.

Here is a breakdown of the first MGMAT as you had asked for.

1. Math
Problem Solving: Percentage Correct 59% (13/22)
Data Sufficiency: Percentage Correct 20% (3/15)

Average Time for Right Answers on Problem Solving: 1:21
Average Time for Wrong Answers on Problem Solving: 2:02

Average Time for Right Answers on Data Sufficiency: 1:26
Average Time for Right Answers on Data Sufficiency: 1:02

Worst Areas:
Geometry (33% correct), Number Properties (33% correct) & Algebra (33% correct)
Geometry had an average time of right answers at 1:11 & 1:48 for wrong answers.
Number properties had an average time of right answers at 1:33 & 0:39 for wrong answers.
Algebra had an average time of right answers at 1:11 & 1:05 for wrong answers.


Best Areas:
Word Problems (56% correct) & FDPs (57% correct)
Word Problems had an average time of right answers at 1:32 & 2:11 for wrong answers.
FDPs had an average time of right answers at 1:18 & 1:54 for wrong answers.

It's pretty evident that DS is a major worry. I don't think it is a time issue, as much as it being an issue of not being good at it & not being able to correctly identify what is being asked in the question stem. I'm just more at ease with Problem solving questions than with Data sufficiency.

2. Verbal
SC: 53% Correct (8/15)
CR: 29% Correct (4/14)
RC: 50% Correct (6/12)

Average Time for Right Answers on SC: 1:01
Average Time for Wrong Answers on SC: 0:51

Average Time for Right Answers on CR: 1:48
Average Time for Wrong Answers on SC: 1:21

Average Time for Right Answers on RC: 1:27
Average Time for Wrong Answers on RC: 1:09

Worst Areas:
All areas of CR barring Weaken the Argument. Got both the weaken questions correct.
For RC, Main Idea & Passage Structure were the worst areas.
For SC, Subject-verb agreement, Pronouns & Idioms were the worst areas.

Like I've mentioned before, I'm much more at ease with Verbal & Math. There has to be an uplift across all the 3 areas. I've noticed that I've gotten a lot of the 600-700 questions in both math and verbal incorrect, while i have a 50% accuracy on the 700-800 level questions. The same goes for the 500-600 level questions, in both Verbal & Math.

I'm not sure if this was enough for you, but do let me know if you need a more detailed breakdown of the sub topics in both the sections.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Regards.

[StaceyKoprince]

First note: next time, you don't nned to give me the % correct and avg time for each problem type, etc. Just tell me the data points that support whatever your analysis is.

Second note: your goal wasn't to provide me with a breakdown of data. Your goal was to provide me with your own in-depth analysis of that data. You did that somewhat, but you have a lot more data than you have analysis. I'll give you some insight, but mostly I'm going to ask questions - and you're going to analyze again. (You've got to learn to analyze for yourself. Unless you have a million dollars and can pay a tutor to do this for you every day. :)

How much have you studied DS as a question type - learned the strategies for that type, etc? Here's one starting point:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... questions/

If you have our books, each math book contains a "Strategies" chapter that includes DS strategies. Check them out sooner rather than later. If you have access to our labs (which go along with the classes), there are a few on DS - check those out too.

I also notice that your DS time is HALF of the expected time (for the incorrect problems). I mentioned this last time. Is that because you knew you didn't know what you were doing on all of those problems? Or is that because you rushed and overlooked things / made mistakes? You might just need to slow down. Go look at the individual questions and figure it out.

How many careless mistakes did you make throughout the quant section? How many were due to speed? (If you ever answer a quant question in less than about 1m20s and you make a careless mistake, then speed was at least part of the problem.)

What about the verbal section? How many careless mistakes? How many due to speed? All of your averages are on the fast side.

Next, use all of this analysis to set priorities for your study. Where should you start with quant? With verbal? I'll give you two basic starting points: Algebra for quant and CR for verbal. Start working through the chapters in your books. When you get sick of one topic, try another that you're better at (so flip to an SC chapter and learn some grammar). That'll help keep you motivated (because we're naturally more interested in studying our stronger topics).

Third basic starting point: timing. You are RUSHING on most questions! What are the systematic processes that you need to be using for each question type so that you make sure you aren't losing points due to speed? And what checks and balances need to be put in place so that you don't swing too far the other way (going too slowly and then running out of time)? Find that balance!