Hello, Im looking for advice on studying to take the GMAT a second time. I did the full live-online course with homework from late Sept - early Nov, then studied on my own for another 6 weeks and took the test on December 22nd. Here's What i got:
Q: 37
V: 38
Total: 620
AWA: 6.0

My target score was 700 but at this point Id settle for something in the high 600s. Im going to re-take the test but I want to make sure that Im not repeating any studying mistakes the second time around. So here is what I did the first time, any input for taking it up again is much appreciated:

-Did the live-online course and caught up on the homework about a week after the class ended.
-Spent the next 5-6 weeks averaging about 15-20 hours a week doing most of the problems in the following: the OG, OG Verbal & Math Review, MGMAT SC book, and 3 Kaplan books.
-3 or 4 practice CATs, scoring an average of about what I got on the real GMAT.

My weaknesses are:
-Math, just about everything but Geometry. In class and in reviewing the written explanations I get it, in doing actual problems I get crushed in even the most basic areas.
-Verbal, I do very well on RC and CR but I usually get almost every SC question wrong. After re-reviewing your book, doing the MGMAT SC book, as well as OG SC work I saw little improvement in my SC.

How do I tackle studying for the GMAT a second time?

Hi Arleigh,

First, we'd like to say kudos on the 620 (this is over a standard deviation above average)! Too many students believe that anything under 700 is a failure when it’s not at all…and that pressure just compounds into suboptimal performances. You’re good at this test hoping to become great…that’s not a bad position to be in.

It seems like you are focusing more on what you are dong rather than what you are learning. Please don't forget, the GMAT is NOT A KNOWLEDGE-BASED TEST. Knowledge is important, but that’s not the pinnacle – the GMAT tests how you think and not just what you know. It seems like you are focusing so much on what you know that you may be missing the crucial “how you think” stuff. It’s like that John Wooden quote “never mistake activity for achievement” – students need to think about what they learn (about the test and about themselves) and not just how much they’ve done.

The following blog posts should help:

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/10 ... -thinking/

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/06 ... at-retake/

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/08 ... l-setting/

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2012/01 ... -accepted/

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/06 ... trategies/

We hope this helps.

Best of Luck!

The Veritas Prep Team

Here are a few other links that may also be helpful:

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/12 ... -the-trap/

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/10 ... t-started/

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/10 ... t-success/

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/09 ... testmaker/

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/09 ... -of-proof/

Happy studying!

Thanks for the encouragement and input on my 2nd round of GMAT studying. The blogs were helpful too.

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