Please suggest if i need to postpone my exam.

[swara_ms]

Hi,

I am left with 10 more days before the exam. This would be my second attempt on the GMAT.

In the first attempt i scored just 600 [Math 47, Verbal 28]. I took this attempt in Aug 2011. I realized that my mistake here was not giving any of the Mock exams to analyze my strengths and weaknesses.

Now with 10 days left, i started giving my mocks, but i ended up scoring 580 :( (Took the MGMAT CAT 1)

Right now i am a bit devastated. I have focussed more on my english during this time and am able to do CR, SC and RC with precision during my practice. But now seems when the test is timed, i am spending more time than permissible.

I am a bit worried :( please suggest me if i should go ahead with the exam or reschedule it?

Or would it be better to give the exam and then see what has to be done?

Also my query is that when can we say it is right time to start taking CAT mocks? like a month before exam etc;

Regards,
MS

[StaceyKoprince]

You don't mention what you want to score on the real test, but you say that you are devastated, so I will assume that you want to score much higher than 580 / 600. If so, you should postpone your exam. At this point, you should expect to score around 600 on the exam and, since you've already done that once, there's not much point in going and getting the same score the second time.

As you've discovered, timing is just as important as accuracy on this test. In general, people should take the first CAT before they start to study in order to determine strengths and weaknesses and starting score. As they study, they will take exams every 3 to 5 weeks to start, slowly increasing in frequency until they're taking the exams about once a week for the last couple of weeks before the real test.

Let us know what you decide. If you decide to postpone and would like to discuss a study plan, please use the below article to analyze your MGMAT CAT and then come back here to share the analysis with us:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Note that we do not want just the raw data - please share your analysis (what you think the data means). That's an important skill for you to develop.

Also, you mention timing problems. Read this article and start doing what it says:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... anagement/

[swara_ms]

Hi Stacey,

Thank you for the reply. I am aiming at 700+ score. I know i can make it but i am not sure how to go about the preparation.

I am a working professional and spend about 12 hours at work and plan my studies.

The last time i have given the GMAT i have identified that Verbal was not up to the mark.

I have given time of one month now for english and tried to improve in CR, SC and RC.

Please help me chalk up a study plan for Verbal and how to improve accuracy without losing speed. How to schedule the mock CAT exams.

Analysis of MGMAT:
Geometry (Weak Area)
Numbers (Weak Area)

CR : Assumption and Inference (Weak Area)
RC : Main point/Area (The main problem here is i am unable to comprehend the passage in one reading)
SC: I am unable to understand how to attack a question as soon as i see it. Personally i feel SC is the scoring area, since we are already equipped with the rules, we could apply them easily. Could you please suggest some way to make this section more accurate under controlled time.

Please let me know if the analysis is ok or i need to be more specific.

TIA,
MS

[StaceyKoprince]

Okay, let's start with verbal. Actually, first, let's start with timing. Have you read that article and started doing what it said? I'll assume you have. You mention wanting to improve accuracy without losing speed - remember that you're still going to get a decent number of questions wrong no matter how much you study. Just making sure you know that. Of course, we do want to learn how to get harder questions right than we can answer right now. :)

For CR general process:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/10/ ... ng-problem

CR Assumption:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -problems/

CR Draw a Concl / Infer:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/10/ ... -questions

RC how to read and find main point:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/04/ ... mp-passage
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/07/ ... rc-passage

Answering main idea Qs:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/09/ ... prehension

SC general process:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/06/ ... on-problem

You don't mention any specific content areas for SC. If you struggle with the longer underlines / more convoluted sentences, try these two articles:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/03/ ... sc-problem
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/03/ ... -problem-2

If you haven't been studying meaning much, try these:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... orrection/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... on-part-2/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... h-meaning/

For the quant side of things, do you have our books? You list Numbers (do you mean number properties?) and geometry and the best resources for comprehensive coverage of those topics are our two books on those areas. If you're struggling with individual topics within each of those broad areas, let me know, and I can look for some individual articles on those topics areas.

Also, Number Properties questions tend to be more common that Geometry, so don't worry as much about getting really good at geometry.

[swara_ms]

Hi Stacey,

Thanks a ton. I would go through each article and imbibe them in my preparation and get back to you in a weeks time :)

I would keep you posted with my progress.

Warm Regards,
MS

[StaceyKoprince]

good luck with everything!