Test Day in 10 days - should I postpone ?

[soaringAlone]

Hi Stacey,

My test day is due in next 10 days and I am still struggling with the timing. I have taken 4 mock tests so far - 1 GMAT Prep and 3 MGMAT CAT and I was not able to finish any one of them with a second to spare. I had to rush through all of these tests for last 8-10 questions, particularly in Quant.

I would like to score anything above 700 and I feel that I am capable to do so provided I complete the test.

1) Considering above factors in mind, should I postpone my GMAT or Should I go ahead and take the test just to get an experience of what it feels like ?

2)Would I be better taking GMAT before IR pops in? I tried some sample questions in IR and I do not think that I will be any good at them and that's the reason why I booked my test date on 31st May.

3) Would taking the GMAT make any sense when I know that I am not even able to complete the tests which proves that I am not ready yet?

My Scores

gmat prep 1 - 620
mgmat cat1 - 540
mgmat cat2 - 690
mgmat cat3 - 620

[StaceyKoprince]

In general, I'm leaning towards postponing. If you need to rush through the last 8-10 questions in each section, that means your score is dropping at the end of each section (and on the GMAT, where you end is what you get). So you're knowledge level is higher - if the test weren't timed, you could perform a lot better - but your test-taking skills are pulling your score down. And it typically takes at least 4-6 weeks to fix serious timing problems.

If you just want to get in there to see what it's like, and you won't be demoralized or discouraged if you don't do well, then you can always do that. I don't generally recommend that, though, because most people will get discouraged.

You don't need to do super-well on IR. You just need to get an okay score - like the essays. Also, it's not surprising that you thought "Yuck!" on the first few IRs you tried. I thought the same thing - part of that is just because they're so unfamiliar. If you actually study for them, you'll be fine (at least to get an okay score).

Given the scores you've shown so far, I agree that you have a shot at a 700+ IF you fix the timing.

Read these two articles:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... anagement/

Then, use this to analyze your most recent MGMAT CATs:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

And this to help with studying going forward:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Next, don't take another practice test until you have made *substantial* progress on the timing. Otherwise, you'll just be wasting a practice test. Also, you can test yourself out on smaller tests first - eg, try a GMAT Focus section (www.gmatfocus.com, quant only). Note that GMAT Focus will not cut you off at the 48-minute mark. You have to track that time limit yourself. (It will tell you, afterwards, how much time you spent on each question.)

If you'd like, come back here and share your test analysis with us, tell us what your study plan is, etc. We'd be happy to tell you what we think about your plan!

[soaringAlone]

Stacey,

Thanks much for the reply.

I took MGMAT CAT4 today, scored 650. Though, I thought my score would be pathetic because I rushed through last 10 questions in Quant and last 5 in Verbal, 650 is a surprise for me.

breakup

CAT4 650 Q45, V34
CAT3 690 Q45, V38

Seeing that my scores are fluctuating, I am also leaning towards rescheduling.The only thing which is stopping me is IR and a distant feeling to experience the actual test.

Q 1) Do people generally get better when they take GMAT for the second time ? I mean would taking the test as scheduled on 31st May would be of any benefit for my second attempt ?

I think I should take your advice and reschedule it for late August.

Q 2) Do you think 2 months are enough to practice IR and improve the timing problems (target score 720). I work full time and I can only take out time for 2-3 hours of productive study daily.

Q 3) On another note, My CAT tests are expiring on June 5. Does that mean I can't reset/review them afterwards ?

Q 4) If I take a new subscriptions for Manhattan CATs would I get a new question pool or would that still be the same ?

[StaceyKoprince]

Overall, the average score change from 1st official to 2nd official is +30 points.

However, if you break that down, it turns out that there are two distinct camps. There's a large group for whom the average change is just about 0, and then there's a group for whom the average change is higher - maybe 50-60 points - and these tend to be people who had serious timing problems and experienced a large score drop towards the end of the first test.

Of the people who experience a large score drop on the 1st test, some fix their timing problems before the second test and so achieve a score increase.

The other thing to consider is the psychological impact. Some people are able to go in there the first time and view the experience simply as a "practice run." They don't become discouraged or overly anxious after that and are able to use the experience to help them the next time around.

Some people, though, become demoralized or excessively anxious, and that negatively impacts the second attempt. So if you think you might fall into that group, then you shouldn't take it until you feel more ready.

Most people need about 4-8 weeks to address timing problems (that doesn't mean that 100% of the time is spent on timing problems - you can be studying other things in that timeframe as well). And I'm guessing that most people will want a good 2 to 6 weeks to get "good enough" at IR.

So I would plan for 2-3 months (don't pick the exact timeframe right now - you'll just have to see how things go).

Contact the office re: the CAT expiration; depending on your package, you may be eligible for a free extension or you may have to pay to extend your access. Either way, the question pool is the same.

Once you've taken 6 exams, you can reset the pool to take 6 more exams. You won't lose the data from the first set of 6, but you may see questions that you saw during the first set.