never failed a test unless I chose to, but GMAT

[best-shot]

I'm one of those A students who has never failed a test unless I choose to, so you can imagine how tough this is. Last year, I self studied and did miserably. I started out with a marathon of 40 questions per day, but we all know that won't get you anywhere. In hindsight, it wasn't a surprise when I got a 560 (41Q, 26V). I was bummed out and decided to postpone my bschool application to this year.

So in April - June, I took a virtual MGMAT course, and learned a lot of things that I wouldn't have on my own. I wasn't doing the marathon thing any more. It showed in my practice tests.

MGMAT 1 (1st week of class): 560 - Q33/V34
MGMAT 2 (mid course): 630 - Q43/V33
MGMAT 3 (end course): 630 - Q40 /V36

GMAT Prep 1 (2 weeks b4 exam): 680 - Q45/V38
GMAT Prep 2 ( 1 week b4 exam): 600 - Q47/V26

Final Exam: 590 - Q39/B32
Prep:
------
- Attended all classes
- Did all MGMAT homework i.e. OG questions at the back of the book for each topic.
- 2-3hrs/day minimum every day.

Quant has been my strength and I knew I would get at least a 45, but my verbal has been shaky. I wasn't sure what happened to my verbal in my last prep test, as I moved from a 680 to 600. My quant seemed solid, so I knew that I needed to work some more on my verbal in the final days. I would have been happy with anything above a 660 on the final exam.

I was pretty confident when I went to the test, but deep inside, I was a little scared that I may have a repeat of the last GMAT Prep test. After spending 3 minutes on the 1st math question, I had to guess and move on because I couldn't get it right. But as I continued the test, I kept wondering why the math questions were different. I could tell that the type and difficulty level of the questions weren't what they "should" be, but I didn't know where I was going wrong. I timed out in my last question, but I didn't sweat it much.

On the Verbal, I wasn't sure how I was doing. I didn't feel great about it and I felt rushed. I was dealt a couple of scientific passages, my least favorite RC topic. I knew I was nailing the SC, because that has been my strength. CR has been my worst performer, but I felt better than I did during my last test prep.

I know I'm performing below my abilities. I'm not sure where to go from here. At this point I only want a 650 minimum and I'll be happy to send that score to a top bschool. The thing is, I could take another practice test tomorrow and I know I'll do better on it. Some people lay it off for a month or so, but I don't know if it will do me any good to start from scratch. Something went wrong, and I have no idea what. What would your next steps be?

PS: In the past two nights before the tests, I haven't had much luck sleeping. I tried to take half an anti-allergy to get me to sleep but even that didn't get me to sleep. It happened two nights in a row before the test day. Maybe I was foggy, but I felt alert on that day. My score reflects what I got in the prep test a week prior, so I doubt sleep was a factor. Thing is, I'm not a nervous test taker either. As I mentioned, I only fail tests when I choose to. I'm at a loss.

[best shot]

I'm back with an update. The one thing that puzzles me about this forum is that 80+% of the postings are written by people who have 700s. (Nothing wrong with that, I'd brag too if I got that score). But what you don't realize is that these guys are in the 90th percentile, meaning that the majority us are in the middle percentiles. This post is for those of us who don't get to talk about our miserable 500s.

As you can see from my previous posting, I was stuck in the 560 and 590 scores and was totally depressed. The worst thing about it is that I had given it my all. I followed the study regimen religiously and I didn't think there was anything I could have done to study better. After a self evaluation, I came to the conclusion that I was the problem, not the GMAT. So after my miserable 590, I talked to the good people at MGMAT, and they told me what I needed to focus on for the next attempt. It wasn't anything drastically new. In fact, I told them that I was burned out and they recommended that I study lightly but consistently.

My retake strategy - change in attitude. I had obsessed about the test, and that is the main reason I didn't do well. I took the virtual MGMAT class, and I had the content and strategies nailed. So what was wrong with me? I lost sleep over it (see my last exam experience) and I took the test to be my destiny. I decided, f* it - I'm not going to kill myself over the test. I have good work experience and other things in my background so I don't care what score I get, I'll just do my best. I gave up on my quest for a 700 and was no longer focused on a score but rather my best effort. I studied for at most 2hrs a day, and only a max of 2 sets of 5 questions each. I timed myself at all times, and just focused on understanding the content rather than doing a marathon of questions.

So you want to know what I scored - 670 (48Q, 34V). This is no 700, but I think it's a solid score worthy of consideration at a good institution. In my opinion, I don't believe that a 700 will get you into a school any more than a 670 will. The person with a 700 could have had a low quant and a very high verbal (which tends to push up the overall score than the opposite case). You don't know if schools weigh each component differently. I don't plan to retake the test. I think GMAC loves obsessive people like us who will keep retaking the test until we get that perfect 700. If anything this small gap is probably a good thing because it will force me to work my ass off on those essays rather than be over-confident.

Good luck to those type As out there. A change in attitude, though not everyone's strategy, could make the difference.

[P]

Hey, thank you for taking the time to express your thoughts. I completely agree with you.
Don't forget to post when you get accepted to your school of choice.

[GMAT Eater]

I haven't taken the GMAT yet but I am studying for it very intensively.

What I see alarming is a downward progression of your GMAT scores

GMAT Prep 1 (2 weeks b4 exam): 680 - Q45/V38
GMAT Prep 2 ( 1 week b4 exam): 600 - Q47/V26
Final Exam: 590 - Q39/B32

It is a HUGE dip from 680 to 590. Did you feel the level of diffiulty of these tests were the same?

I suspect the GMAT test has become more diffcult after the Scoretop fiasco.

I do not know how much you have bee studying, but I do not think people have studied that intensively until they put in at least 150 hours of studying.

It is not unheard of for people to put in 300 hours of studying to achieve a mid-700 score.

Unless you can do the OG problems backwards and forwards, you are probably not going to achieve a 700 score.

Good luck.

[gmatsickness]

Best shot,

After I read yr post, I found out the I am so obessed to GMAT which was no good to my scored.

I started to study GMAT in Jan and took a prep class. Then I put it off due to work.
I am back to intensive studies in mid-Aug and scheduled my real GMAT in OCT.

During these 2 months, I have no life. I studied at least 2-3 hrs a day and read lots of post about GMAT.

I scored consistently 600+ on all practice test and even got a 690 & 710 on my second attempt in GMAT Prep.

On my real test day, I've got a disappointing 570 (Q39 V29). I nvr score Q under 46 in any practice.

I was frastrated and devastated. I re-scheduled a second time in NOV.

I think I have to let it go no matter what it will be. 'coz GMAT disturbed my life, my sleep and my energy.
My family counldn't understand why I scored that low in the real thing. They saw how hard I studied and how much efforts I input. One of them even said I should learn that I am not smart enough to be in the B-school game. I knew he have good intention to suggest me to apply a no-name school. But I really feel very bad about my score.

I don't fancy a 700 but I just want a 650+ to get into a good local school. That is. I wanna Yell at this moment.