Done with the GMAT - 730 (Q47, V42) - Re-take advice

[tim.bechtold1]

Just wanted to share my GMAT re-take success story.

I completed the Manhattan GMAT online course from January to March. I stuck to the syllabus religiously, took 4 MGMAT CATs, and then took both GMAT Prep Practice Tests. I was in the 670-680 range on the MGMAT CATs and on the GMAT Prep Tests I scored a 720 (Q47, V42) and a 740 (Q49, V42). I scored the 740 a week before the real test and felt confident going into the real thing.

I took the GMAT for the first time on May 10th and scored a 680 (Q47, V36). Having had a goal of 700+, I was crushed. I felt good on quant but just felt the verbal section was more difficult than I expected (tough RC passages and several tough CR questions).

My advice to those re-taking the test, would be as follows:

1) First and foremost, take a couple of hours to be disappointed, but quickly accept that your new reality is not celebrating, it's re-focusing and studying for another month. Trust me, once you are closer to your next test than you are from your first attempt, you will only be focused on making it happen the second time (disappointment will be firmly in the rear view mirror).
2) I rescheduled the test immediately when I got home on May 10th. I scheduled it for as soon as possible at the same test center (June 15th). Re-take it at the same test center as this will alleviate any stress associated with unfamiliarity with the location, procedures, and environment of the test center.
3) Structure a Study Gameplan - I emailed my instructors (Joe Lucero and Liz Moliski) to give them the recap and get advice on putting together a study plan. They told me to schedule a Post-Exam Assessment and gave me their thoughts on a 5-week study plan that I had created and sent to them. Their thoughts and advice were crucial and they were so helpful anytime I e-mailed them. In my situation it was a diet of quality over quantity for 5 weeks. I did 10 hard quant problems and 10 hard verbal problems every day, all timed. 20 minutes of solving and 40 minutes of reviewing each day on each section (2 hours a day). The Verbal reviewing consisted of doing Wrong Answer analysis on all problems (whether I got them right or wrong). Being able to dissect why every answer if right or wrong is a critical skill.
4) Do the Post-Exam Assessment - very helpful in diagnosing weaknesses and creating a study plan. These people do this all day every day and have seen every issue in the book. Take their advice.
5) Stick to your study plan and relax going into the test. Going through the disappointment of not reaching your goal and having to study again shows you that it isn't the end of the world and that it can been done again if necessary. On test day, go in confident, relaxed, and don't focus on anything except the problem in front of you.

Trust me, given the time and energy it took for me to achieve a 700+ score, seeing this hard work pay off was one of the best feelings ever. And having felt the disappointment made it even better when I got the 730.

Feel free to contact me with questions or thoughts, happy to help in any way I can.

Best,
Tim

Joe and Liz - thanks for everything.