ben wade

hi nehz_on, i am actually applying for exactly the same 2 universities. :). I think their average GMAT score is close to 660/670. We might fall just below the average. Let me know if you have already applied to them. I just started the writing my application yesterday.

Hi Fiver, Congratulations on your score. But, yes i think you should have had a 700+. I remember, You had replied to my debrief when i had written one on Sep 22nd. After thinking about it for sometime now, i think your score is a pretty decent one. It would also greatly depends on the college you want to apply. If you have decided on the college you want to target, then it would be advisable to have a score atleast close to the average score for the college. This is for the normal applicants (Unless you have an exceptional resume and have very compelling reasons for a lower score in GMAT than the avg). You might want to take it again some time soon if you are sure you need a 700+ score. I suggest take some time off and then give it a thorough analysis again before taking a decision. Because your score is not bad at all by any means. As the cliche goes - GMAT score is not the ONLY thing. Your application essays contribute a lot to the overall evaluation of your application.

Hi Folks, Thanks for the responses. I took some time off to think about my next steps. I was also busy with some personal work which will go on till end of first week of November. So i plan to apply to a couple of colleges where the avg GMAT score is around 650. If i do not get an admit, then i plan to retake the GMAT in Dec or probably Feb next year.

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.

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)

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.

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?

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.