Gave the GMAT today: Score 650

[ben wade]

This is my first post on this forum. But I have been visiting this site from quite some time now.
I gave the GMAT today and got a score of 650 []. I had put in 2 months of preparation and took tests on almost every weekend since I started. My scores had improved over time. My practice test scores were as follows:
Real GMAT: 650(Q46, V33)
GMAT 800 tests :
1st: 550
2nd: 610
3rd: 550
4th: 650
5th:610(Q40,V33)

Kaplan:
1st: 550
2nd: 550
3rd: 570(Q40 (even though only 7 mistakes),V29)

PowerPrep:
1st: 690 (Q49, V35)
2nd: 750 (Q51, V39)

Retired paper test:
710, 740, 680

GMATPrep:
1st: 650 (Q49, V29 (5 mistakes in the first 10qs))
2nd: 660 (Q49, V30) (took this on saturday).

I was expecting to get to 700 on the actual GMAT. But alas, i could not reach there. This has left me wondering whether to take the GMAT again as I do not think this score is good enough to get me into good colleges. Please do advice.

[bose]

i will say take a break and then prepare and retake it

[ve_boss]

Looks like the score you get on the actual test was very close to that you get during you preparation.

1st: 650 (Q49, V29 (5 mistakes in the first 10qs))
2nd: 660 (Q49, V30) (took this on saturday).

On the test and then 650 on the actual exam.
I think you should not be disappointed by your results as they reflect your level.

Now, bose is right, and I'm sure that you can improve some parts of this exam to get a better score.

Good luck

[ben wade]

Thanks for the reply guys. But what i cant figure out is how i screwed in my Quant. I always got in the range of 49 to 50 in my prep tests. And my plan was to improve my verbal upto a level of around 35 in the exam which could have gotten me the score i wanted - 700. But that was not to be. I think i rushed through math, without taking the entire 10 minute break after AWA.

I think it would have been wiser to relax.

Also, my score of 750 on the Powerprep had got me pumped up. But i probably stresses myself too much during the last week - run up to the exam.
As i gave the paper tests - around 3 + GMATPrep - 1 and 2.

Finally ended up with a dismal score.
Anyone reading this and giving the test some time soon, i think it would be wise to not burn yourself out in the last week.

Can anyone suggest, how much time i should give myself before taking the GMAT again? Considering I am just at the 650 level right now and need to get atleast 700 in the second attempt?

[ben wade]

I have one additional question. I mostly referred to OG11 until now. Can any one recommend any other good book.
My goal is to get atleast 700 on my second attempt.

I would also like to add that, i probably ignored DS as I figured it was too easy. But when i think about it now, i might have screwed my quant score because of this. So anyone reading this post, please dont repeat these mistakes mentioned here.

[Fiver]

I appreciate your honest concern for and feedback to other aspirants!
I must say, u were almost there as thy verbal scores in the real test are more than those of both the Gprep tests. This is quite unusual as the verbal in Gprep is supposedly less pressing than the real test.

You say that u rushed through quant, however i'm sure the anxiety had not reasonably cascaded on to the verbal section!!
Okies, DS needs a lot of practise buddy. The more u practise DS, the better u'll breeze through quant.
Give thy self a nice pat on the back, and for now, i reckon initiate the apps process for atleast 2 of your resonably fav schools, and if no white flags raised, i strongly recomend a strategic comeback as also suggested by bose and ve boss.
Cheers and God bless.

[ben wade]

Thanks Fiver.

But after analyzing a little more yesterday, now i think i over worked myself in the last week. I took GMAT 800 test on previous saturday, 3 paper tests - sunday, monday and tuesday. GMAT Prep 1 on thrusday, Prep 2 - Saturday and the real GMAT on monday.

I guess all this just screwed me up and kept playing on my mind. []. One and half to 2 weeks before the test, i was gung-ho as i thought my prep was good. Started seeing improved scores on tests - thats when i scored 750 in the PowerPrep.
Then lost it doing the paper tests and other tests in the last week.

Hmm, i cant go back now.
So any suggestions on when i should be taking the test again? And what books i should refer? (I referred to OG10 and 11 for this test)

[Fiver]

Originally Posted by ben wade

So any suggestions on when i should be taking the test again?

My friend, it entirely depends on what suits u best. In the sense, some folks, after charting a roadmap on the preperation strategy and time required, book a date in advance and the time pressure extracts the best out of them, on the contrary some just start off the prep, without any roadmap in particular and spend enough time on what they feel is the most fearful section of the test (DS, PS, SC, critical reasoning or reading comprehension) spend enough time with the priority sectoins at the same time keeping in touch with the others by maybe simply browsing through the forums and once they feel they are on a high, immediately book the next available date. You must be careful when ascertaining what's best for you as most of us become vulnerable to leave such important matters to chance!!!
About what books, my honest opinion is to stick only to authentic material viz. OG10 &11, OG section books, Mahnattan guide for SC, powerscore GMAT bible for critical reasoning, sets and paper tests for paractise and not to mention try to extract the maximum from the prep tests (Gmat prep not power prep) by giving them repeatedly.
BTW when i say OG, I mean a detailled analysis on why each option is correct/incorrect. My experience suggests that upon solving 1 question atleast 2 important and never before heard of points go straight into to my relevant handbook.

HTH, incase u need any material or additional help PM me your mail-id.

Cheers,
Mel.

[crazy4gmat]

Can any of u say how relevant the Verbal section of the Paper Tests is in compared to Verbal section of the real GMAT..Do a lot of questions from OG appear in Verbal section of Paper Tests?

[ben wade]

Hi Crazy4gmat, the verbal section has questions similar to the ones in OG, but i did not find any question with same wordings. The paper tests pushes you to do more in less time. But the difficulty level is a bit low when compared to the actual test. But the less time makes up for it. The quant section in the paper tests are too easy i would say. But from my experience, solving the paper tests with time limits does not help. It requires a totally different strategy. Hence, use the questions for practice only, not as a test.