HI, im taking the GMAT this weekend. I have been scoring in the high 500's on practice tests. I am really hoping for something between 630-670. Is this even realistic based on my practice tests? Is the best decision to cancel and reschedule for a later date? I am not worried about losing the 250 bucks, but am more concered with not doing well and then having to take it again. I have heard that schools look down on taking the test more than 2 times. If i have a bad score this weekend it will put a lot of pressure on my 2nd test. Any help would be great,,,,If i cancel does it show up to schools I canceled 2 days before the test? will that look bad?

Hi Mike E,

Although all of the practice tests will mimic what you can expect to see on test day, since the scoring algorithm of the actual GMAT is a secret, there will be scoring differences which means it is difficult to compare the official GMAT to the practice tests. Also, admissions officers only look at your top score, so don’t worry, schools will not look down on you if you take the test more than two times. With that being said, maybe you should use this first test as a practice test so you can experience what the official GMAT test (here’s the direct link to “What to Expect on Test Day” http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/test-day.aspx). It sounds like you have a little test anxiety…before the test please don’t psych yourself out , you can do this! Remember the GMAT doesn’t test on “what you know” but “how you think."

Check out this blog post when you get a moment, it may also help:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/04/ ... ay-anxiety

If you decide to hold off taking the test, here are a few tips while taking the practice tests:

1) How was your pacing on the practice test? Did you leave many questions unanswered? There's a huge penalty for unanswered questions so that could be a pretty significant reason, and people also tend to make quite a few mistakes when they need to rush to get back on track with timing.

2) To that point, what mistakes did you make? For the questions you got wrong, did you miss them because:

-You didn't know how to do them
-You made a common mistake
-You had to guess because you were short on time

And for those that you missed due to mistakes or lack of knowledge, what categories did they fall into? Did you tend to miss algebra questions more than any other? Or sentence correction more than other verbal types?
Categorizing and explaining your mistakes helps you to better focus your study.

3) What else can you learn from the test?

-Did you struggle toward the end of sections because you were mentally tired or your head was just spinning?
-Did you rush through parts of the test that, now that you look at it, would have been manageable had you allowed yourself to relax?
-Did you employ strategies throughout, or were there sections through which you realize now you were just going on instinct?
-Was it simply different doing questions on a computer screen and not in the book?

That experience with the test is a good one - now you have a blueprint for how you perform under those conditions and you can start to work on that.
The more specific and targeted you can be in your study, the more progress you'll make and the more confident you'll be that you've conquered some key areas for yourself. Ultimately, the score on the test isn't nearly as important as what you learn from it, so we urge you to run through that test while it's still fresh so that you can start game planning your next few study sessions.

Just a reminder, we can reset your diagnostic quizzes, GMAT Simulator and GMAT Life practice tests, just contact us here at headquarters ( phone: 800.925.7737 or email: customersupport@veritasprep.com).

Good luck!

Jenny & The Veritas Prep Team