One week left for GMAT - advice needed to go from 690 to 720

[v25]

Hi,

I did the MGMAT online course a while ago but am just getting around to doing my GMAT, which is a week away! I could really use some help with how to best use my time in the next week (I am taking off from work to focus on the GMAT).

Here is a summary of my test scores:
These are the tests I've taken:
- MGMAT CAT 1 - 640 (42Q, 36V) (first test, ages ago)
- GMAT Prep 1 - 710 (46Q, 41V)
- Kaplan Test 2 - 640
- MGMAT CAT 2 - 690 (44Q 39V)
- MGMAT CAT 3 - 660 (45Q, 35V)
- MGMAT CAT 4 - 630 (41Q, 35V)
- MGMAT CAT 5 - 690 (46Q, 38V)

The MGMAT CAT 4 and 3 were taken within 3 days of each other and I feel I was too tensed and rather discouraged before taking them - I don't think they reflect my actual ability.

I was having severe timing issues initially, spending too much time on hard problems without getting them right. Since then I have improved on my timing and did not feel rushed on my last CAT.

On MGMAT CAT 5 - This time, I was a little scattered on the first 2 problems before I got into the swing of things. I was ahead of time as per my timing benchmarks. I did spend ~4 min on a few problems but only when I knew I was way ahead of the clock. Not that it helped me get them right or anything - but I had extra time so figured I would use it. Still finished 3 min ahead. What do you suggest in these situations?

On the plus side, I have improved on my DS and CR which were pretty weak before! On the minus - my SC & PS fell :(

I really want to push +30 and with 1 week left, am not sure where to focus my energy. I thought I would just continue practicing, do GMAT Write, do 3 more tests (1 MGMAT, 1 GMATPrep, 1 Kaplan) and redo GMAT Prep Test 1. Do you think this will be enough?

[v25]

Hi!

Would really appreciate your advice, as my test is right around the corner.

Thanks :)

[StaceyKoprince]

Please remember to read the forum guidelines before posting. Please don't "bump" your own post. We respond to all posts in order, oldest first, and the date of your post is based on the date of the last post in the thread, not the first. If you bump your own post, you will just wait longer for a response.

Unfortunately, there's nothing I can tell you that will bump your score 30 points in a week. Whatever you're scoring about 1 week out is roughly what you can expect to score on the real test. (This assumes you've taken the practice CATs under 100% official conditions, including essay, IR, length of breaks, etc. If you gave yourself any mental stamina advantages - skipping sections, taking longer breaks - then there's a good chance your Q and V practice scores are artificially inflated...)

Is it more important to you to get the test over with or to go for the 720? If the latter, then you should postpone.

I'm also concerned about your score drop on CATs 3 and 4. You mention feeling stressed - but you're going to feel stressed on the real test too. It's important to figure out why your score dropped in practice so that you can try to minimize the chances of that happening on the real test.

So, in a nutshell: if you took these tests under 100% official conditions (including essay and IR), then you're in range to score in the high 600s. You might actually break 700, but you might also drop a bit - all of these kinds of tests have standard deviations.

If you skipped essay and IR, then there's a chance your true scoring level is lower than 690.

It's unlikely, but not impossible, that your score will go up to 720 (and, again, there's nothing I can advise to make that happen in a week).

So that's the data with which you can decide whether you want to take the test or whether you want to postpone. If you are within 7 days of the test, you would have to cancel (and lose the entire $250). If you are still >7 days out, then you only have to pay a rescheduling fee of $50.

(Note: I'm not suggesting that you have to cancel / reschedule. I am suggesting, though, that you have to decide between taking the test in a few days, but more likely scoring 6-something, or postponing the test to try to go for 720.)

Finally, whenever you do take the real test, do NOT take multiple practice tests in the week before. The last practice test should be 5 to 7 days before. The closer you get to the real test, the less you do, and what you do is just review.

See here:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... an-part-1/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ew-part-2/

Let me know what you decide and we'll go from there.