680 (q44 v39) and devastated

[mntrlgmat]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. And a sad one for that matter.

I took my GMAT yesterday and managed a miserable 680. I was running out of time on both sections and guessed at least 6 on the math section and 4 on the verbal. I was also sick the day before and the day of the exam. I threw up just before I walked into the test center but I don't think it was that much of a contributor to my score.

Before doing any prep at all I got a 640 on the GMAT prep with Q43 and V37.
I took an online Veritas course. I thought it was decent but clearly I didn't benefit much from it.

Needless to say I'm devastated that I only managed a one point improvement on the math and a 2 point improvement on the verbal. I've done all the questions from the OG 12th Ed.

I'm desperate and hung up on getting a 700. And I thought I would after getting a 640 with no prep at all. I think that perhaps the biggest part of my problem is timing.

I can't accept a 680.

Any suggestions for my retake?

[ss87]

just retake it..and under the conditions(since u were sick)
i would say 680 is fairly decent(not v good..but not bad considering thy circumstances)
prepare a bit more and retake it...

[mntrlgmat]

I will retake it. The only problem is I don't know what I need to do preparation wise for my 2nd and hopefully last attempt. And even though I was a little sick that day, I'm not one to make excuses. I should've crossed that 700 mark.

[Libran]

I think you're being too hard on yourself. Getting another 20 points shouldn't be a problem for you given you were not well. Practice your timing and you should be home free! Good luck!

[ss87]

hmmm 680 to 700+ is honestly not that hard..i ve seen Earthlings go from 560 to 720( in this very forum itself).. so give yourself a month or so( u will feel like destroying the gmat)...and trust me,u'll do well!

[shp003]

Hello Friend,

Can you please tell me whats the best way to start off with the GMAT. Do I need to prepare and improve my vocabulary like for the GRE ( Barrons wordlists etc). And then start doing the practice exercises?.

I purchased the OG and it will arrive anytime soon.
Thanks!

[Facit]

I did the practice test 1, and scored 680, and was so glad it wasn't low. I am sure 680 is not at all a bad score. You can feel confident with it without having to retake another test.

[mntrlgmat]

Thanks guys. I'm gonna give it another shot in hopes of a 700+. The reason I'm not happy with a 680 is because I believe that this year's application pools are getting a lot tougher with the current global economic conditions. My undergrad grades weren't all that great so I think I really need the 700 plus.

[mntrlgmat]

Shp003, I think the first step in preparation is familiarizing yourself with the exam. For instance, you should know the different question types for Verbal and Math such as Critical Reasoning or Data Sufficiency etc. To answer your question about your vocabulary, it is not an essential tool for success on the GMAT Verbal, but it definitely won't harm. Even though the GMAT does use quite a bit of technical jargon and such, it's not important to know what the words mean. Remember, the GMAT is essentially testing logic, even on the verbal section. Read the OG to familiarize yourself with the questions, and then take a crack at some of the questions in there to see where you stand. Then you can prepare accordingly.

I hope this helps