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mick167 · 08-26-2003, 01:36 PM

First time (this year) I got 680 (Q50 V31). I've spent 3 month preparing for the test and was quite statisfied with the result (since I've started almost from the very begining in the verbal section (i took gmat in 1999 when i was just out of the university and got about 11 points in verbal section 2% percentile). It should be noted that as a student I was majoring in Mathematics and therefore quantitative section of gmat never was a problem for me (always 50 points - almost without special preparation (just minor refreshment before test day))

I took test in April. I believed that I've improved my verbal skills since then. (Took toefl with a reasonable result 263).
I've scheduled my second attempt for gmat to the end of august, allocating more than 1 month for additional preparation for gmat.
I've reviewed OG, took 4 PR tests ( never in PR I've got less then 34 in verbal (max = 41)). I've felt very confident and thought that I will reach 720-730 at least.

Horrible part

I got one more time EXACTLY the same result Q50 V31 !!!!!!
I can't understand how this could have happened! I've felt much more prepared for the test this time. Nevertheless, I might say that gmat (it seems to me) has changed a little bit. (I've got normal distibution question and many probability questions - in quantitative section - but it is not a big problem for me - I just noted that something might have changed).

About verbal: I found that verbal part has also changed. I've recieved about 2 Bold Face questions (like CR 205 in OG) 2 or 3 completion CR question (which of the following would best complete <blah-blah-blah> )
and NONE of strengthening or weakening CR questions. SC was a little bit strange (a lot of long strange convoluted sentences with vague meaning just like those in kaplan). Reading was always my bigest trouble - however this time RC passages were OK (much like those in OG).

I just want to ask advice from the respected audience. Has anybody encoutered the same problem (not raised his score despite intesive study)? Should I try my luck one more time? Or just forget about the retaking test and try to reinforce other parameters of my application package (essay, etc).
In case of retaking: When should I retake (in 3 weeks (beliving that it was just my bad luck on second attempt) or in 3 months? Does anybody have any suggestion about preparation for verbal in my case (please note that I know OG almost by heart).

I would be very grateful for any suggestions. May be somebody was in my shoes?

GOD LUCK on your test day!

zcacoli · 08-28-2003, 10:35 AM

Hi Mick,
First of all congratulations on your score! I would be well happy if I had your score

Also congratulations on your english recovery...

As to your experiences... I too had exactly the same score once again after somewhat intense study (yet I only scored 620).

And as you said, I also felt the test harder... I had about 4-5 probability questions, whereas on my previous attempt there was only one.

With regards to the verbal, I also reached the same conclusion... it was harder. For one things the length of the RC was hilarious (NOT!) namely 60, 75, and 100 words! Worse of all were the CR which came up with two arguments and it asked specifically about sentences in bold in each argument, and define if they support each other, contradict, etc...

Moreover... I too had a similar experience...

After some thinking I defined what could have been the problem as well in terms of my personal fault (i.e. not just blaming the tests that got harder):
- never studied through the OG... used Kaplan, Arco and web
- slacked on my reading beyond GMAT environment and professional work. By GMAT environment I mean that I perhaps ended up reading mostly english on the GMAT books. I think this is wrong to do, and one should really read other things as well (FT, business week, etc).
- cut corners in some specific issues (probability and combinations most of all)
- was over confident that my thorough preparation would yield a better result than last time

Ultimately my advice is for you to think thoroughly which "corners" you decided to cut in order to save time. GMAT seems to have a knack to throw at you the things you tried to avoid... and now it keeps thowing them at you several times

So it is extremely valuable to understand where you had more difficulty in the exam, and try to work on that.

That said, I reiterate that your score is great as it is and of course it is up to you whether you think you should retake it or not... but remember that the remaining parts of the application are perhaps more important now (i.e. benefit ratio of the time applied is perhaps greater in terms of essay writing, when compared to increasing your score to 700+)

Hope it helps

ahdono · 08-31-2003, 01:08 AM

Don't want to rain on your parade but I think that once you get to a certain point of preparedness, you aren't going to get any better. I took the GMAT in 1996 with zero prep and got a 730. Now 6 years later, I study for 1 1/2 months and take the test again only to get a 750. Not that I'm complaining about my score, but it certainly wasn't worth all the effort. In the two PowerPrep tests, I also scored 750 each time. Between all 4 tests (2 prep and 2 actual) my score was within 20 points of each other. The scaled score jumped around by about 3 points but when (M = 47, 49 , 48, 50 - V = 45, 42, 45, 42) ever I did better on the math, I would do worse on the verbal and vice versa.

The folks at ETS aren't dummies, they aren't going to design a test that allows for dramatic swings in the scores;otherwise, the test would be useless as a means to differentiate applicants.

The people who claim 100pts of improvement generally aren't the ones sitting at 680. Those folks are more in the 500 range where a few more right answers can change the score dramatically. At your level, you need to answer harder questions correctly.

Just my two cents.

08-26-2003, 01:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
mick167 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4	680 GMAT - Second attempt - Still 680! First time (this year) I got 680 (Q50 V31). I've spent 3 month preparing for the test and was quite statisfied with the result (since I've started almost from the very begining in the verbal section (i took gmat in 1999 when i was just out of the university and got about 11 points in verbal section 2% percentile). It should be noted that as a student I was majoring in Mathematics and therefore quantitative section of gmat never was a problem for me (always 50 points - almost without special preparation (just minor refreshment before test day)) I took test in April. I believed that I've improved my verbal skills since then. (Took toefl with a reasonable result 263). I've scheduled my second attempt for gmat to the end of august, allocating more than 1 month for additional preparation for gmat. I've reviewed OG, took 4 PR tests ( never in PR I've got less then 34 in verbal (max = 41)). I've felt very confident and thought that I will reach 720-730 at least. Horrible part I got one more time EXACTLY the same result Q50 V31 !!!!!! I can't understand how this could have happened! I've felt much more prepared for the test this time. Nevertheless, I might say that gmat (it seems to me) has changed a little bit. (I've got normal distibution question and many probability questions - in quantitative section - but it is not a big problem for me - I just noted that something might have changed). About verbal: I found that verbal part has also changed. I've recieved about 2 Bold Face questions (like CR 205 in OG) 2 or 3 completion CR question (which of the following would best complete <blah-blah-blah> ) and NONE of strengthening or weakening CR questions. SC was a little bit strange (a lot of long strange convoluted sentences with vague meaning just like those in kaplan). Reading was always my bigest trouble - however this time RC passages were OK (much like those in OG). I just want to ask advice from the respected audience. Has anybody encoutered the same problem (not raised his score despite intesive study)? Should I try my luck one more time? Or just forget about the retaking test and try to reinforce other parameters of my application package (essay, etc). In case of retaking: When should I retake (in 3 weeks (beliving that it was just my bad luck on second attempt) or in 3 months? Does anybody have any suggestion about preparation for verbal in my case (please note that I know OG almost by heart). I would be very grateful for any suggestions. May be somebody was in my shoes? GOD LUCK on your test day!

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08-28-2003, 10:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
zcacoli Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 19	Hi Mick, First of all congratulations on your score! I would be well happy if I had your score Also congratulations on your english recovery... As to your experiences... I too had exactly the same score once again after somewhat intense study (yet I only scored 620). And as you said, I also felt the test harder... I had about 4-5 probability questions, whereas on my previous attempt there was only one. With regards to the verbal, I also reached the same conclusion... it was harder. For one things the length of the RC was hilarious (NOT!) namely 60, 75, and 100 words! Worse of all were the CR which came up with two arguments and it asked specifically about sentences in bold in each argument, and define if they support each other, contradict, etc... Moreover... I too had a similar experience... After some thinking I defined what could have been the problem as well in terms of my personal fault (i.e. not just blaming the tests that got harder): - never studied through the OG... used Kaplan, Arco and web - slacked on my reading beyond GMAT environment and professional work. By GMAT environment I mean that I perhaps ended up reading mostly english on the GMAT books. I think this is wrong to do, and one should really read other things as well (FT, business week, etc). - cut corners in some specific issues (probability and combinations most of all) - was over confident that my thorough preparation would yield a better result than last time Ultimately my advice is for you to think thoroughly which "corners" you decided to cut in order to save time. GMAT seems to have a knack to throw at you the things you tried to avoid... and now it keeps thowing them at you several times So it is extremely valuable to understand where you had more difficulty in the exam, and try to work on that. That said, I reiterate that your score is great as it is and of course it is up to you whether you think you should retake it or not... but remember that the remaining parts of the application are perhaps more important now (i.e. benefit ratio of the time applied is perhaps greater in terms of essay writing, when compared to increasing your score to 700+) Hope it helps

08-31-2003, 01:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
ahdono Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 7	Don't want to rain on your parade but I think that once you get to a certain point of preparedness, you aren't going to get any better. I took the GMAT in 1996 with zero prep and got a 730. Now 6 years later, I study for 1 1/2 months and take the test again only to get a 750. Not that I'm complaining about my score, but it certainly wasn't worth all the effort. In the two PowerPrep tests, I also scored 750 each time. Between all 4 tests (2 prep and 2 actual) my score was within 20 points of each other. The scaled score jumped around by about 3 points but when (M = 47, 49 , 48, 50 - V = 45, 42, 45, 42) ever I did better on the math, I would do worse on the verbal and vice versa. The folks at ETS aren't dummies, they aren't going to design a test that allows for dramatic swings in the scores;otherwise, the test would be useless as a means to differentiate applicants. The people who claim 100pts of improvement generally aren't the ones sitting at 680. Those folks are more in the 500 range where a few more right answers can change the score dramatically. At your level, you need to answer harder questions correctly. Just my two cents.

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