Horrible GMAT Score 410 (Q24,V23), any advice?

**t3hseen** · 01-18-2008, 01:49 PM

Hello-

I wrote the GMAT a few days (wednesday) ago and was surprised at the horrible score I received. I plan on taking it again in a month and was looking for some advice in order for me to improve the second time around.

My target score is 680-700. Is it logical to presume this can be done within a month (I am willing to go the "extra mile" to prep). Or should I give it more than one month to prep and then re-take?

Background for the first test:

PREP MATERIALS:
Official Guide 11, Kaplan GMAT 2008, Kaplan 800 (finished halfway), Princeton Review.

I spent about 1.5 months total for prep on this exam completing all questions from the Official Guide. Studying about 3-4 hours a day including weekends. My practice exams were in the 550-650 range and I wasn't nervous at all on exam day. However, my "excuse" is that it was way too early in the morning (I started the exam at 730am) and my brain didn't start working just then. My weakest areas are RC and DS.

I'm researching the forum to see how others have improved their scores. But I would appreciate any advice or suggestions for the second time around.

Thanks

**tester2** · 01-18-2008, 04:01 PM

t3hseen, read my recent post on my test-taking experience. I'm betting you had an aberrant first score like me. Just stay calm, and now that you know what the real testing environment is like, you should be much better.

Take a week break from studying the test, then go back over your materials. Get different books like if you've gone thru the Official Guide, go to a Kaplan book. I used the Kaplan 800, not because the questions were going to be harder and that would prep me (i don't think they did), but because they were different questions.

**missionpossible** · 01-18-2008, 04:05 PM

if anything, ull only improve the second time around.
but really the time in which you got to retake depends on how well prepared you were the first time. You may read my debrief as well and see if the experience helps. There is obviously a big window of potential improvement in Q and V sections.

**t3hseen** · 01-19-2008, 07:10 PM

Thanks so much for your advice. I will make sure to read your posts about how you managed to beat the GMAT. Hopefully, the next time I speak with you will be when I score a 600+. thanks again!