Stacey,
I just wanted to write a quick note on my 2nd GMAT taken this week. The first go around I got a 660 on the GMAT. Not to shabby. I continued practicing and on my Manhattan CATs was scoring between 700 - 730. I took the 2nd GMAT and walked out with a 520! Can you believe that. I totally do not know what happened. I'm simply devastated. I do not have the energy to tackle it again, and beside I'm to afraid to try and take the test on again. What if I was to score lower again. I'm just crushed.
GMAT Forum
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- Jimmy
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9363
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
I know you're very disappointed right now - that's to be expected. Please take some time to sit down and write (or type) whatever you remember about the experience, in as great detail as you can. I think you may eventually want to get back into this and it will help you to figure out what went wrong this time around - you need to record the detail while it's still fresh.
Some things to think about:
- how was your timing? too fast? too slow? did you have to guess on a large number of questions due to timing problems? how many? how many in a row? where on the test (beginning, middle, end)?
- did you have to guess on a large number of questions due to content or recognition issues? (that is, you didn't know what the problem was testing or how to do it)
- how was your stamina? did you take the test at a good time of day for you? did you take the breaks, eat something, walk around and stretch?
- how were your nerves? were you able to concentrate well on each problem or were you getting distracted by performance on previous questions, thoughts of how you were doing, noises in the room, whatever?
- did both math and verbal drop? or was it mostly just one?
- were there questions that "threw" you? lots of times when you thought "I've never seen anything like that before!" or "these questions are much harder than what I was doing in practice!"?
Just in general, record everything you remember. And I know you don't want to do it now, but do it now. It will be cathartic and you just might want that data later. If you want to share with us (especially if you do decide to take the test again), please do so.
Some things to think about:
- how was your timing? too fast? too slow? did you have to guess on a large number of questions due to timing problems? how many? how many in a row? where on the test (beginning, middle, end)?
- did you have to guess on a large number of questions due to content or recognition issues? (that is, you didn't know what the problem was testing or how to do it)
- how was your stamina? did you take the test at a good time of day for you? did you take the breaks, eat something, walk around and stretch?
- how were your nerves? were you able to concentrate well on each problem or were you getting distracted by performance on previous questions, thoughts of how you were doing, noises in the room, whatever?
- did both math and verbal drop? or was it mostly just one?
- were there questions that "threw" you? lots of times when you thought "I've never seen anything like that before!" or "these questions are much harder than what I was doing in practice!"?
Just in general, record everything you remember. And I know you don't want to do it now, but do it now. It will be cathartic and you just might want that data later. If you want to share with us (especially if you do decide to take the test again), please do so.
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
- Guest
Hi Stacey,
Thanks for addressing my post. You've been a great resource during this entire process. I do want to retake this test. I have come so far and cannot go out on this note.
I could tell I was slightly off that day. Since I come from the consulting industry I am a stellar writer. The AWAs should be a piece of cake for me, but while I was writing them I felt sluggish the entire time. In the back of my mind I felt just drained having to write them. I've written so many of these "useless" AWAs in my practice exam that I just chould dedicate my mind to writing another two. On the first GMAT I took I scored a 6.0, which added to my bad mindset since I already felt I have proved I can write in the first GMAT.
I took a break and shifted into the Quant section. My biggest issue on Quant during the real test is stress and nerves. I also felt the test has increased its difficulty from GMATPrep slightly (although this is probably just my imagination). My stress causes me to abandon any ManhattanGMAT test tips/strategies I've learned. I forget to look for the easy statement, get to the kernel, etc... My biggest issue is identifying the problem type. On the Manhattan CATs I found it pretty easy to bucket each question into a strategy guide topic, but on the actual GMAT I find it much more difficult. The problems tend to be written more cryptic in my opinion, making it difficult to determine the problem type. In addition, I get thrown off by some of the questions I'm seeing on the actual GMAT. In GMATPrep I have been seeing more arithmetic type problems, but I've seen more problem solving calculation (interest, percents, rate/work) when I've taken it recently. Overall, my mind is racing on the Quant making it extremely difficult to concentrate. As I said, I abandon on strategies and just start doing problems like a mad man. I finished Quant within the allotted time. I had to make some educated guesses along the way, but that is to be expected.
I took another 10 min break. Hit the restrooms, had a drink of orange juice, and a cliff bar.
I jumped back into Verbal. Initially I thought I was doing great in verbal. At one point I was 9 mins behind, but I was not terribly worried because I know I usually pick that time back up on CR and SC questions....although I do believe I picked up the speed at this point. It was probably my downfall. When I speed up I lose concentration/focus, and also fall back on my bad habits. When I increased speed half-way through verbal I start "skimming" CR and SC instead of truely focusing on them. In my mind I figure I'm a native english speaker should I should be able to skim. Now I know from studying GMAT for a year, that is a ridiculous comment. Concentration is incredibly important in verbal. I attack CR and instead of carefully using POE, I basically switch into a mode that basically eliminates CR choices (on a feeling) and takes down SC choices using my ear (kiss of death for SC questions!).
Overall, I see the issues that resulted in my score. My stress and nerves during the actual test caused me to abandon all my training. This is the 2nd time I've taken this test and I felt a similar issue during GMAT #1. I've been studying for the test over a year. Every weekend for the last year has been taken up doing GMATPreps and CATs. I don't know what else to do. I've studied so much that I cannot see how studying more will help. I believe my biggest issues lie in stress management and problem identification. Any help you can provide would be useful. If it helps, I'm also a former Manhattan GMAT student and even did a 2 hr tutoring sessions once (but did not find it much help). Thanks.
Thanks for addressing my post. You've been a great resource during this entire process. I do want to retake this test. I have come so far and cannot go out on this note.
I could tell I was slightly off that day. Since I come from the consulting industry I am a stellar writer. The AWAs should be a piece of cake for me, but while I was writing them I felt sluggish the entire time. In the back of my mind I felt just drained having to write them. I've written so many of these "useless" AWAs in my practice exam that I just chould dedicate my mind to writing another two. On the first GMAT I took I scored a 6.0, which added to my bad mindset since I already felt I have proved I can write in the first GMAT.
I took a break and shifted into the Quant section. My biggest issue on Quant during the real test is stress and nerves. I also felt the test has increased its difficulty from GMATPrep slightly (although this is probably just my imagination). My stress causes me to abandon any ManhattanGMAT test tips/strategies I've learned. I forget to look for the easy statement, get to the kernel, etc... My biggest issue is identifying the problem type. On the Manhattan CATs I found it pretty easy to bucket each question into a strategy guide topic, but on the actual GMAT I find it much more difficult. The problems tend to be written more cryptic in my opinion, making it difficult to determine the problem type. In addition, I get thrown off by some of the questions I'm seeing on the actual GMAT. In GMATPrep I have been seeing more arithmetic type problems, but I've seen more problem solving calculation (interest, percents, rate/work) when I've taken it recently. Overall, my mind is racing on the Quant making it extremely difficult to concentrate. As I said, I abandon on strategies and just start doing problems like a mad man. I finished Quant within the allotted time. I had to make some educated guesses along the way, but that is to be expected.
I took another 10 min break. Hit the restrooms, had a drink of orange juice, and a cliff bar.
I jumped back into Verbal. Initially I thought I was doing great in verbal. At one point I was 9 mins behind, but I was not terribly worried because I know I usually pick that time back up on CR and SC questions....although I do believe I picked up the speed at this point. It was probably my downfall. When I speed up I lose concentration/focus, and also fall back on my bad habits. When I increased speed half-way through verbal I start "skimming" CR and SC instead of truely focusing on them. In my mind I figure I'm a native english speaker should I should be able to skim. Now I know from studying GMAT for a year, that is a ridiculous comment. Concentration is incredibly important in verbal. I attack CR and instead of carefully using POE, I basically switch into a mode that basically eliminates CR choices (on a feeling) and takes down SC choices using my ear (kiss of death for SC questions!).
Overall, I see the issues that resulted in my score. My stress and nerves during the actual test caused me to abandon all my training. This is the 2nd time I've taken this test and I felt a similar issue during GMAT #1. I've been studying for the test over a year. Every weekend for the last year has been taken up doing GMATPreps and CATs. I don't know what else to do. I've studied so much that I cannot see how studying more will help. I believe my biggest issues lie in stress management and problem identification. Any help you can provide would be useful. If it helps, I'm also a former Manhattan GMAT student and even did a 2 hr tutoring sessions once (but did not find it much help). Thanks.
- Jimmy
Stacey,
Also....can you please recommend if you think I should keep studying? My initial thoughts are I should probably take a short-term break, at least for a few days. I'm in need of a good strategy to move forward. I've already used my post-gmat examination on GMAT #1 so I do not know where else to turn.
Thanks,
Jimmy
Also....can you please recommend if you think I should keep studying? My initial thoughts are I should probably take a short-term break, at least for a few days. I'm in need of a good strategy to move forward. I've already used my post-gmat examination on GMAT #1 so I do not know where else to turn.
Thanks,
Jimmy
- Jimmy
Stacey,
Sorry for the multiple posts. Please see the above two posts for the beginning of my response. I also wanted to include that after the first GMAT when I scored a 660, I went back to studying my errors. On my Manhattan exams I was scoring between 700 - 730. I scored a 45V on every Manhattan CAT. On GMAT #2 my breakout was 520 ( 36Q, 25V). Making this even more devastating.
Sorry for the multiple posts. Please see the above two posts for the beginning of my response. I also wanted to include that after the first GMAT when I scored a 660, I went back to studying my errors. On my Manhattan exams I was scoring between 700 - 730. I scored a 45V on every Manhattan CAT. On GMAT #2 my breakout was 520 ( 36Q, 25V). Making this even more devastating.
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9363
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
It does sound like stress is causing you major problems right now. The single biggest problem (as you've discovered) is that, when you're very stressed, things that aren't ingrained in your brain already just go away - you forget them, you can't use them, etc.
It sounds like you are a bit burned out right now, so I would take a bit of a break. That might be a week or a few weeks - it just depends on your general schedule, when you plan to apply, etc. But I do want you to work on some stress management during that break.
Go to this web page: http://www.manhattangmat.com/gmat-prep- ... -annex.cfm
Scroll down towards the bottom and look for the article entitled "Stress Management on the GMAT." Read through that and see what you think might work for you. Then start practicing those techniques to see whether they actually do work for you. If you have other stresses in your life, you can also try these techniques for those other things and just see whether you're better able to manage your nerves and perform even while under stress.
I have worked with some students in the past who had extreme anxiety issues and some of them tried things like prescription medication, acupuncture, even hypnotherapy. I'm not suggesting you actually need to try any of those approaches; I just mention in case you feel you fall into the category. (Most of these people didn't have anxiety issues just with the GMAT - the problem was generally pervasive in any high-stress situation.)
So go take a break and try this stress management stuff. When you're ready to get back to it, we'll talk more then about what to do.
It sounds like you are a bit burned out right now, so I would take a bit of a break. That might be a week or a few weeks - it just depends on your general schedule, when you plan to apply, etc. But I do want you to work on some stress management during that break.
Go to this web page: http://www.manhattangmat.com/gmat-prep- ... -annex.cfm
Scroll down towards the bottom and look for the article entitled "Stress Management on the GMAT." Read through that and see what you think might work for you. Then start practicing those techniques to see whether they actually do work for you. If you have other stresses in your life, you can also try these techniques for those other things and just see whether you're better able to manage your nerves and perform even while under stress.
I have worked with some students in the past who had extreme anxiety issues and some of them tried things like prescription medication, acupuncture, even hypnotherapy. I'm not suggesting you actually need to try any of those approaches; I just mention in case you feel you fall into the category. (Most of these people didn't have anxiety issues just with the GMAT - the problem was generally pervasive in any high-stress situation.)
So go take a break and try this stress management stuff. When you're ready to get back to it, we'll talk more then about what to do.
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
6 posts Page 1 of 1