Hi
Just a little background as I'm a bit in awe. This was my 2nd time taking the GMAT. The first time I took it in May 2013 after taking the Veritas Prep course and doing self study with OG13, MGMAT + other prep. (4 month of study time). Scored 570
After I took that, I took a 1 week break and began to study again. I watched all the MGMAT Thursday with Ron videos as well as reviewed all the material and did all the OG13 problems once again. I studied for about 4 months again, Jun - Nov and I just scored exactly the same thing on Nov 9th (570)
I'm wondering what I am doing wrong. The first time I took the exam, I ran out of time in both sections (guessed on the last 10 or so problems)
The most recent time, I had extra time left over (4 minutes left while I was on the last problem). I might be fundamentally missing something. My Q/V score was also very similar
1st time Q39/V28
2nd time Q40/V27
Study material used
OG12/OG13
Veritas Prep
MGMAT Guides 4th Edition
Aristotle SC Prep
MGMAT Thurs with Ron videos
I'm not sure what exactly is wrong, opinions appreciated.
GMAT Forum
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- honghong322
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- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
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- Location: Montreal
Re: Same score 2nd time around, advice for the third retake?
I'm sorry you're struggling so much with the test.
It sounds like you learned how not to run out of time, but I do wonder whether you're making those decisions in the best possible way. I see a certain pattern a lot, so I'm going to describe it here and you can tell me whether it might fit you.
People who find themselves running out of time at first will still often spend extra time on things that are too hard. They'll learn to "catch up" by going faster on the things that they know how to do.
The problem here is that the extra time spent on "too hard" things doesn't help your score, while speding up on things you do know how to do results in careless mistakes, pulling your score down.
Could that be going on with you? The above is the single most common way that people try to fix "too slow" timing problems - and it results in a stagnant score.
Here's what actually needs to happen: You need to cut yourself off faster on the ones that are too hard - actually learn to let them go. You then spend "normal" time on the ones you do know how to do. You don't cut corners, you write down your work, and you learn how to minimize careless mistakes.
Why is this the fix? First, read this (right now):
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/
Is that how you've been making your decisions about where to spend your time (and mental energy!)? Or have you still been prioritizing trying to answer things correctly (and wanting to answer harder questions correctly, in particular)?
What about this (again, read right now):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/
How do you react when you get the "but I studied this" feeling? Do you actually cut yourself off right then? Or do you sometimes (or often) keep going?
I suspect - and you tell me whether I'm right - that you might not have made the mindset switch discussed in the above articles. If so, then your score would be likely to stay right where it is even as you're learning how to do more.
Do you think this might be part of what's happening?
If so, first remember the material in the first two articles I posted above.
Then, read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/
That article talks more about how to study content, in case that's part of what you're facing. Are you studying / trying to learn the material in the way described there?
And are you actively working to minimize careless errors? Here's how:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/
If you'd like specific advice on the content areas or question types, you can use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/
Figure out what you think you need to do based on the above articles and on your test analysis. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further.
(Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)
It sounds like you learned how not to run out of time, but I do wonder whether you're making those decisions in the best possible way. I see a certain pattern a lot, so I'm going to describe it here and you can tell me whether it might fit you.
People who find themselves running out of time at first will still often spend extra time on things that are too hard. They'll learn to "catch up" by going faster on the things that they know how to do.
The problem here is that the extra time spent on "too hard" things doesn't help your score, while speding up on things you do know how to do results in careless mistakes, pulling your score down.
Could that be going on with you? The above is the single most common way that people try to fix "too slow" timing problems - and it results in a stagnant score.
Here's what actually needs to happen: You need to cut yourself off faster on the ones that are too hard - actually learn to let them go. You then spend "normal" time on the ones you do know how to do. You don't cut corners, you write down your work, and you learn how to minimize careless mistakes.
Why is this the fix? First, read this (right now):
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/
Is that how you've been making your decisions about where to spend your time (and mental energy!)? Or have you still been prioritizing trying to answer things correctly (and wanting to answer harder questions correctly, in particular)?
What about this (again, read right now):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/
How do you react when you get the "but I studied this" feeling? Do you actually cut yourself off right then? Or do you sometimes (or often) keep going?
I suspect - and you tell me whether I'm right - that you might not have made the mindset switch discussed in the above articles. If so, then your score would be likely to stay right where it is even as you're learning how to do more.
Do you think this might be part of what's happening?
If so, first remember the material in the first two articles I posted above.
Then, read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/
That article talks more about how to study content, in case that's part of what you're facing. Are you studying / trying to learn the material in the way described there?
And are you actively working to minimize careless errors? Here's how:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/
If you'd like specific advice on the content areas or question types, you can use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/
Figure out what you think you need to do based on the above articles and on your test analysis. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further.
(Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
2 posts Page 1 of 1