630 GMAT - 3rd Attempt (44Q, 31V)

**bmcgloug** · 06-18-2005, 09:02 PM

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post after reading actively throughout the last 6 months. My first attempt was a 490 (39Q,19V) back in January. Then I retook in March and scored a 550 (43V, 23V). Then I figured I should give it one last try and got a 630 (44Q, 31V) today in June. I was awfully disappointed with my scores until now. I am finally somewhat happy and eager to apply to grad school. Hoping that a 630 will be enough to get in at University of Michigan's evening MBA program. I know that for most of the posters here, a 630 is not the best score. However, I want to give hope to those who attempt a couple of times and wonder if studying more will help them improve. I will give some insite at to how I was able to improve.

Back in December, I took a Princeton Review course and worked through all the Official Guide and the Princeton Review material. During the course I scored the following on the Princeton Review practice tests:
Test 1: 550
Test 2: 520
Test 3: 620
Test 4: 580
Test 5: 600

Then I took my first test in January and scored a 490. I was so disappointed and thought that maybe there was a mistake. So after buying a GMAT review CD online from Ebay with 10 practice tests and 5000 questions (repeated a lot of Official Guide questions), and working through an old ARCO 2000 Edition I thought I was ready to try it again. This time I scored a 550. My main goal was to get into to University of Michigan and I figured that I would give it one last try since the $250 fee was begining to add up. So I bought a Kaplan Verbal Workbook and re-did a lot of the Official Guide and Princeon Review material from the class I took focusing mainly on the verbal and got a 630 today. I would say for most part I didn't really learn anything new over the 6 months from when I got a 490 to now at a 630. I think mainly I was able to concentrate more when I was at the testing center and not think about my score or whether the questions were getting harder or easier. My main advise to anyone taking the test would be to work the problems through the Official Guide. They are best and will prepare you the most.

Goodluck,
Brian

**Stormgal** · 06-19-2005, 02:44 AM

Wow, congratulations Brian! That's exactly what I hope happens to me, as I scored very low on my first try as well!

**Obelixous** · 06-19-2005, 10:54 AM

good score. your perseverance paid off. congrats.

**Cute** · 06-19-2005, 01:36 PM

You had been consistently getting some 60-80 points more then the previous test. So from 630+70 = 700. So why dont you take another sitting and try real hard. You definetely showed improvement which means still you have not completed your peak. So just try hard and give it another sitting, you can! Anyway 3+1 = 4th sitting does not affect you much.

By the way what is the GMAT review online from EBAY. Which company does it belong to? Please give us info OR link.

Best wishes for your efforts.

**greycellz** · 06-19-2005, 05:50 PM

Great work! An excellent example for people aspiring to better their scores!

**babypurin** · 06-19-2005, 10:01 PM

Great Score! This perfectly shows that with enough hard work you can sharply improve your score.

**mahachi** · 06-19-2005, 10:10 PM

Thanks Brian for being so open with your experiences with the GMAT and CONGRATULATIONS!I also took the GMAT for the first time on Friday last week and was very disappointed when l saw my unofficial score of 430 especially since, l had to go to Amsterdam from London to take the exam but l am grateful for the experience and l am hoping that l have make at least 660 in my second attempt. I also had problems concentrating on the test and not bothering about my score or whether the questions were getting harder or easier. I intend to retake the exam in 3 weeks and will be revising with the Official Guide.

All the best and l hope you get a place on the University of Michigan's evening MBA program.

**bmcgloug** · 06-20-2005, 02:36 AM

The GMAT review CD I purchased was from a seller that charged $5.00 on ebay. Most of the questions were exactly the same as the Official Guide or some really similar versions of questions. I didn't think that it was really that good of a CD. The Kaplan Verbal Work book is pretty decent though for extra verbal practice.
Goodluck,
Brian