Dear All,

I hope anyone can help put me in the right direction. I aim to apply to one of the top 5 schools, however, I have just scored the lowest GMAT score in history.

I studied with Kaplan and scored 270. Athough, I have a strong GPA, recommendation letter, achievements (both professional and personal) and an outstanding essay, I AM NOT sure whether to still press the submit button of just cancel the applications.

Please I need help, I am really frustrated!

Specifically, I need to know how to improve my GMAT - I think the Kaplan strtegy is not working for me. Also, should I submit the application or cancel it?

Are you applying for this year or next year? If next year, I'd take the GMAT again before submitting applications to any universities.

If this year, I'd apply now as it's pretty late, but put a note on your application that explains you plan to retake the GMAT shortly. (There is usually a field that allows you to explain special circumstances).

I can't give you good advice about what might help you with the test based on the info you provided. What, specifically, did you have a problem with? Did you run out of time too early? Did you have problems with the question types? I mean, surely there is some reason you tripped up. But only once you identify what the problem is might you fix it!

Generally, I think the most effective preparation is practice, practice, practice. Set aside four hours of your time on a couple of weekends and take practice tests on a computer. That will help you feel more comfortable with the format, and get used to managing your time to answer all the questions, giving each the right amount of thought.

GMAT being expensive most students come to Prometric the armed to the teeth with mugged up high frequency word lists and the maths formula! But quite a few number of plebeians like you and me might be forced to take the second attempt to get a better score...and there is nothing wrong in it! The ultimate aim is to gain admission in a good B School...let the iteration count rest in peace!

Take a break! Go back to your book(s)..retake the exam after 3 months...This time dont stress yourself...you will get a good score...

If Kaplan is not working for you buy a different book...Kaplan is not God...its just the most popular...for me also Kaplan didnt work...

Do not submit your current score...retake the exam...

All the best.

--Nes

Dear All,

I hope anyone can help put me in the right direction. I aim to apply to one of the top 5 schools, however, I have just scored the lowest GMAT score in history.

I studied with Kaplan and scored 270. Athough, I have a strong GPA, recommendation letter, achievements (both professional and personal) and an outstanding essay, I AM NOT sure whether to still press the submit button of just cancel the applications.

Please I need help, I am really frustrated!

Specifically, I need to know how to improve my GMAT - I think the Kaplan strtegy is not working for me. Also, should I submit the application or cancel it?

All,

Thanks a lot for all responses.

I plan to apply this year to LBS but,I think I will just pack it next year.

In the meantime, I still think their is problem with my study strategy. My timing is still not very good and the Kaplan is not for either.

Please can anyone recommend a better srategy and also a good study resources.

Thanks once more for your response and I look forward to your Invaluable advice.

Don't give up, because there will probably be times during the MBA where you'll fall behind, too. It's all about plowing through!! Just collect yourself, practice, retake it, and kick its butt.

No shame in retaking it. I know a guy that retook after scoring around 670.

@Evans27,

Thanks a lot - that's quite motivating.

All,

Thanks a lot for all responses.

I plan to apply this year to LBS but,I think I will just pack it next year.

In the meantime, I still think their is problem with my study strategy. My timing is still not very good and the Kaplan is not for either.

Please can anyone recommend a better srategy and also a good study resources.

Thanks once more for your response and I look forward to your Invaluable advice.

Gmat frustration,

I think it is crucial for you to :

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF- you have probably heard about many people who scored well and said ''what??? him?,i am way better!!!'' . Well, you are. (i hope u get my point)

RELAX- after all the basis of gmat math is high school level,just try to find cds with tests (for me books were of no help) that explain the method,way of thinking.I think its really important to understand how the tests works and what it really asks from you. i believe that if you retook the test untimed you would find most of the answers.

FIND YOUR WEAKNESSES-for example,i knew i was weak at combinatorics, i tried to solve as many as i could.

PRACTICE-as much as you can. I did in total 13 tests(NOT in books).I scored in a range of 490-640 at home,without writing essays.In fact i had never written one,the only one i wrote was during the test.

-----

i dont know if your native language is english...mine is not, so knowing that i wont improve my english level for the test i just tried to find some tricks that might help me in some cases(for ex. ''we don't like -ing so much in gmat'',im sure you have read things like that).....well,many would argue that in the end its all about how apt you are in English...

BUT what helped me most was manhattangmat.I purchased the online tests. They were much more difficult than the real exam.i didnt get good scores on it,but just because its level was much more difficult than anything i had ever tried before,it felt that it just elevated my level....it costs 40 dollars i think.it really gave me an advantage.I also solved the tests of Mcgraw hill but that were not that good.If you are not sure if you dont want to spent 40 dollars i think there is a free online test first.try it.

I was really unhappy about my preparation,one month,after work and after spanish classes.I just said,''well i'll retake it if i dont score that well''.Finally i scored 700.confidence and hard tests that smulate the real test are what is needed i think.

Good luck!!!!(i also wanted to apply for LBS but had no time to write the essays!!....well,what can u do???)


I'm sure you will do just fine.

Guys you rock!,

Thanks for all your priceless advices.I realy appreciate them.


Mimis, I am not an english native speaking. I was originally from Africa.

I am going through a total change in study strategy right now.

I think I have one question; does anyone know if their is any correlation between the verbal session and the AWA as I seem to get 5 in AWA even though I failed the verbal session proper.

My biggest problem is timing and the Reading comprehension. How can I improve my reading and understanding rate?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Guys you rock!,

Thanks for all your priceless advices.I realy appreciate them.


Mimis, I am not an english native speaking. I was originally from Africa.

I am going through a total change in study strategy right now.

I think I have one question; does anyone know if their is any correlation between the verbal session and the AWA as I seem to get 5 in AWA even though I failed the verbal session proper.

My biggest problem is timing and the Reading comprehension. How can I improve my reading and understanding rate?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Another possible solution - if you print the ranking you used to choose those very top-5 schools and turn pages upside down, you can easily apply to top-5 with your current score.
And a small hint: try to get 50% more time from Prometric. It's not very difficilt, depends on your connections in the medical world.

J.pardoubek,

I don't who you are and for all I care i DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE. And by the way, I was not soliciting advice from an arrogant person like you. Please keep your suggestions to yourself and good luck with your inhumane posts. Remember, no man is an island of knowledge and watch this space I will come back I tell when I have scored my 700+.

that attitude is better towards the test i think,u r on the right track!!

and remember it is far more interesting when u have people mocking u and dont believe in u.Your feeling of success will be greater!

that attitude is better towards the test i think,u r on the right track!!

and remember it is far more interesting when u have people mocking u and dont believe in u.Your feeling of success will be greater!

Good attitude bro...keep the fire burning...gmat is difficult but not impossible...all the best!

If you r having probs with the verbal sec of Gmat...I advice..take Toefl/Ielts first...they being easier but totally english test will give you enough reasons to shake out the fear inside u...atleast it worked for me.. i referred to the toefl book by orient longman..its far better than kaplan.

_nes

What's very important(don't laugh) is knowing yourself - you have already studied in the past, and got some good results, so you can definitely learn - the question is how?

this is a strategic matter, and is individual - every one has their own way to understand things and to learn. first you have to try and locate the problem - is it the class room? is it the stress? are you understanding everything, but you take too much time to read/write?

after you locate your weakness, start to develop a personal strategies in order to overcome the problem. if you are taking too much time to read, there are lots of ways to make the reading process easier and faster - there are many books on this subject, and many ways to do it - you have to find the right one for you!

i will give you a personal example - i have a big miscalculation problem - i can't seem to get the basic numbers right(7+4 can sometimes add up to 13 in my calculations). i am how ever, very good with complex equations. After finding this out in high school, i had to find a way to calculate fast without using the traditional system, which doesn't work for me. and i found it! it is a bit upside down, but it works for me.

what i am saying is: GMAT classes and the GMAT itself are standardized things, and they can't take individual problems into account - it is your job to understand your strength and weakness and to work with them.

i hope this somehow makes sense to you....

I'm in this same boat. I just read all your responses. What motivation!! I hear that most accrediated schools require at least a 600+ on the GMAT. I was no where near that! Reading your post really made me fell better. Off to study, again!

I'm in this same boat. I just read all your responses. What motivation!! I hear that most accrediated schools require at least a 600+ on the GMAT. I was no where near that! Reading your post really made me fell better. Off to study, again!

About what sort of score to shoot for... someone said you need at least a 700, and that is not true at all.

A 600 could get you into a highly ranked school if the rest of your application is above average.

A 550 could get you into a highly ranked school if the rest of your application is really exceptional. And if you really have amazing accomplishments (like you are a 23 year old ceo or something) I would think your score could even be lower than that...

I have a 610 and have had success with the places I applied. I think its because my professional background is atypical, my undergrad GPA is good, and my essays were well written and interesting.. it's not ALL about about your GMAT. If you can get it up over the 500 threshold you should be OK!

Just keep taking practice tests and you'll start improving your score! Try the official tests available at MBA.com, they're supposed to be the closest to the real thing. Your score on those tests can give you an idea of what you'll get without spending as much money..