Looking for help with strategy

[mukesh.mulchandani]

Hi, I am new to the forums and at this point I am looking to get pointers on how to improve my current score.

Background:
- The last standardize test I took was GRE back in 2000. Then I scored high in Quant and a tiny portion of my total score came from Verbal.
- I have thought of GMAT a few times in last 12 years but always pulled away at thought of verbal sections and essays without even looking at GMAT format or content.
- I gathered courage a few months ago and since have slowly come up to speed with concepts and strategies.
- I have been reading Stacey's blog entries and have viewed a few of Ron's recordings from Thursday sessions.
- Very recently I have managed to get hold of 'time sense' and can now finish practice tests well within time.

I have attempted 4 practice tests (MGMAT CAT) so far and scores are far from where I aspire to be (710).
- First test was a "Diagnostic Test" for me and got a lot of insight from results.
- I attempted second one almost 2-3 months later after several hours of self study on concepts using MGMAT study guides and also a vacation. I failed miserably falling short of time and simply randomly guessing on a ton of questions in Quant. That is when I decided to look at Time Management.
- Tests #3 and #4 were taken 9 days apart and my score did not change at all. 610 (Q44, V30).

Some observations I have made:
- I need to, somehow, avoid getting multiple wrongs in a row.
- I need to avoid getting wrongs, up front. From question 1-10.
- I need to learn to make educated guesses.
- I am falling short of time on reading passages often rushing through them.
- Need to read fast and analyze fast for CR. I often feel rushed through CR and RC.
- All these tests have been without Essay or IR. So probably a bit inflated as well which makes me worried even more.

My plan was to attempt official GMAT end of Dec and then I changed it to end of January 2013. I do not feel ready for January either. I have a month long vacation coming up in February and I am wondering if I should postpone taking test until early April 2013. I am am looking to apply to business schools for year 2014.

I could not find a good way to share assessment reports in this post and am willing to share those.

Thanks.

[StaceyKoprince]

If you're not applying until 2014, then there's no reason to rush the test. It's okay to have a rough test date in mind, but you don't need to pick the actual date right now. Take it when your scores show that you're ready to take it.

Tests #3 and #4 were taken 9 days apart and my score did not change at all. 610 (Q44, V30)

This should say "and, as I could have expected, my score did not change at all." :) The two tests were only 9 days apart. Don't expect major score changes in 9 days. This doesn't mean you haven't been getting better in that 9 days - it just means that not enough has happened yet for it to translate into an actual score change.

I need to avoid getting wrongs, up front. From question 1-10.

It is a myth that the early questions are worth more. If you concentrate on that, or change your behavior based on this myth, then you'll really struggle to get the score you want.

Read the "Scoring" section of our free e-book The GMAT Uncovered Guide.

Also read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/

I need to, somehow, avoid getting multiple wrongs in a row.

I agree that this is the ideal. There is absolutely nothing, however, that you can do about this during the test. :) You either know how to do the question in front of you or you don't. Spending extra time when you don't really know how to do it... that doesn't translate into a correct answer.

Don't think about this AT ALL during the test. Do what you can do on each question and move on if it's taking too long or you don't know what you're doing.

Now, if you discover that you tend to get a string wrong towards the end, then maybe your timing isn't as good as it could be. Or if you discover that you consistently have a lapse halfway through a section and get a string wrong, then maybe you've got a stamina problem. But you should expect to have little blips of 2 to 3 wrong in a row - that's normal.

You mention struggling with RC and CR. What materials have you been using to get better? (Not to practice - so not OG. What materials do you have that teach you how to do a better job with RC and CR?)

Here are some RC resources on reading the passage:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... p-passage/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... c-passage/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -passages/

And here's the standard CR process:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... g-problem/

You then need to couple that with the individual strategies for the different question types. For example:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -problems/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... n-problem/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... n-problem/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... e-Problem/

Because you've got a big break coming up, figure out how best you want to use that time. Maybe you want to take a class, or coordinate with a friend to study together regularly.

I could not find a good way to share assessment reports in this post and am willing to share those.

We wouldn't look at them. :) We won't do the analysis for you, but you can analyze them and then share with us - and we'll tell you what we think about your analysis.

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. (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!)

[mukesh.mulchandani]

Thanks for your reply Stacey and for links to posts on RC and CR. I will certainly go through them.

You mention struggling with RC and CR. What materials have you been using to get better? (Not to practice - so not OG. What materials do you have that teach you how to do a better job with RC and CR?)

I have MGMAT study guides but I did not go through them page by page. I have been going through as and when I recognize a weakness or any area with room for improvement.

Because you've got a big break coming up, figure out how best you want to use that time. Maybe you want to take a class, or coordinate with a friend to study together regularly.

During my break, I plan to spend time studying PS from 2012 OG Companion by MGMAT trying to learn how to recognize problem patterns/categories and have a plan for addressing those.

We wouldn't look at them. :) We won't do the analysis for you, but you can analyze them and then share with us - and we'll tell you what we think about your analysis.

I most certainly was not expecting you to analyze reports from my tests. I just wasn't sure if you would want to look at my reports to be able to get a clear idea of where I am at. Some time ago I briefly went through your posts on analyzing scores but will go through them in detail now.

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

Will do. Thanks again for your reply.

[StaceyKoprince]

That's fine - to go through the chapters as you need them. You don't (necessarily) need to read something cover to cover.

Are you also going to be working on verbal during that break? It's not a good idea to spend too much time concentrating on only one thing. Your brain actually works / remembers better with some variety. :) One study session can be focused on one main thing, but then the next day (or the next study session), mix things up. If you're more concerned about one area than another, then you can skew a bit - say 2 sessions on the more concerning area for every session on the less concerning area.

We'll wait to hear from you on your test analysis! :)