How many attempts did it take u to get 680+ on GMAT

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Hi all,

I'm will start revising for the GMAT tomorrow (31/08/06)and need to get 680+. My exam is in the middle of November (2.5 months away). I'm lucky that I've got 8 weeks off work prior to the exam. So I can concentrate just on revision.

I want to meet the round 2 MBA deadline in January 2006.

What is the chance of me getting the desired score on my first attempt as I haven't factored in the time required to resit the GMAT into my application schedule.

Thanks alot for your advice.
 
It's impossible to say if that's enough time. Some people study for months and get 500, others study for a weekend and get 700+. It is different than the CFA or a university exam; it doesn't just test your knowledge, it also tests your logical thinking skills, which can't be changed much in two months. Still, studying can't hurt.

In any case, I hope you get the score you are looking for.
 
Any studying past 2.5 months (unless you're on a brutal schedule) is a waste for most people anyway; you pretty much just need to get to your natural peak , which you're not going to improve by more than a certain amount. Here's what I did:

1. Go through the Kaplan GMAT book, do all the problems, then the CD, do half the full-length practice tests (they grade harder than the actual GMAT). Skip the essays because their program can't grade them.
2. Go through the Kaplan "GMAT 800" book, do all the problems.
3. Go on Froogle.com, find a cheap copy (an edition or two ago) of The Bedford Handbook so that you get your grammar down.
4. Take the last 2 practice tests from the Kaplan CD.

Fits your timeframe perfectly. You'll get better information and support on this from gmatclub.com.
 
Whoa, I just read that again. 8 weeks off work? I hope it wan't just to prepare for GMAT. I did 2 consecutive weekends of study, plus took the afternoon off before the actual test, and that was enough, IMO.
 
A lot of people will tell you that you can't study for or "learn" the GMAT, though I disagree. Some people naturally score very highly with little effort, while others have to put in the time practicing. Regardless, I think that anyone, short of a mental deficiency, can score above 700 and put themselves in the range of acceptable scores for top programs. (I'm not implying that guarantees admission.)

One of my professors in undergrad told me about how he studied for the GMAT. He was in a situation similar to yours and had an entire month off while transitioning between jobs. He decided he might as well use the time for something productive, so he began studying for the GMAT and treated it like a job--8 hours a day for about three weeks. He took the test on the fourth week. His early practice tests were in the low 600s. On test day, he scored a 760 (98th or 99th percentile, I can't remember).

If you want it bad enough, it can be done, but if you're sitting at home eating pretzels, watching the NFL network and spilling beer on yourself during your eight weeks off, it's going to be a long shot.

Also, try this: http://www.urch.com/forums/gmat/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 03:49PM by mwr.
 
Oh - amendment to my earlier post - you also have to download the practice material from gmat.com and do those tests as well. Mix them in.

I don't really disagree with mwr here, you can study for the GMAT, relearn the 9th grade math and grammar as well as you're able, but your not going to will yourself into the 99th percentile if you just aren't built to take these types of test (attribute that to anything you want). I think that a professor who starts off with a practice score in the low 600s (most practice/diagnostic tests grade tougher than the actual GMAT) would be a good candidate for a top 1% score anyway. Just don't go nuts - you peak in GMAT studying way before you peak for CFA, for example, IMO. It's real simple stuff that you just have to internalize, and perform when it matters.
 
with the manhattan gmat books (especially sentence correction and word translation) and the official guide for gmat review (most recent edition and the one before it), you should have sufficient materials to work from. i think they do a great job laying out the material, and you'll also have lots of questions to practice from (and you should definitely do the practice questions).

you don't want to spread yourself too thin or study for too long. however i think a structured, organized approach to studying + a good amount of natural intelligence could lead you to the score you're looking for.
 
Well, yeah, not everyone is cut out for 760+, though 700 is definitely doable.

"I think that a professor who starts off with a practice score in the low 600s (most practice/diagnostic tests grade tougher than the actual GMAT) would be a good candidate for a top 1% score anyway."

Based on what? Most professors know a lot about one subject (hopefully), but aren't necessarily geniuses. Also, he became a professor after acquiring his MBA and working for a while, not the other way around.
 
Right, there is alot of difference between getting in the top 1% (760) and the top 5% or so (~700).

Because before you're familiar with the format, and haven't refreshed yourself on the math and grammar, a little over 600 on most practice/diagnostic tests is good. And most people who eventually become business professors, I would hazard, are in the top 5% or so in terms of literacy and numeracy (at least the kind tested on the GMAT). And a good GMAT score doesn't make you a genius anway. I think I may have done worse than a 600 on an early, dry practice test, before getting a 750 a few months later with the program I followed above. Your professor may have taken a very businesslike approach to studying, which is the safe route, but he didn't necessarily get a higher score than he would have if he had studied, say, 4 hours a day for 3 weeks.
 
I am thinking to take the GMAt in november also. I started a month ago. I want to score over 700. English is my second language. Math is easy, i am going for 50 and i hope to make 37 or 38 in verbal. I just took the GMATPREP and i scored 580 (43 math and 26 verbal). www.gmatclub.com
www.testmagic.com

Buy the challenge from gmatclub
Buy the sets from topscore
get the 1000sc, 1000 cr, 3000 rc

One recommendation: study your strongest point first and your weakest the last.
 
It is an APTITUDE test, like the SAT or similar tests. You can't really study for these tests. The material is not much more difficult than high school level. Take some practice exams the week leading up to the test so you will be familiar with the format of the questions and you will be all set.

I went through a couple of practice exams two days before the test and that was all I did. I scored 750.
 
I believe there are people smarter than others.....I dont think everybody can socore 750 in 2 days...
i am studying for a month and i cant score over 650
The main problem is my english



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 05:30PM by pierovic18.
 
I think that this book would really help you pierovic18, from my post earlier:

"3. Go on Froogle.com, find a cheap copy (an edition or two ago) of The Bedford Handbook so that you get your grammar down. "

If you can learn the rules and apply them strictly, then you can still beat alot of native speakers. Good luck.
 
Pierovic, my response ignored an important subset of test takers who are not native English speakers. I apologize for my oversight.

Of course, those people should probably spend a significant amount of time studying English and, as pytheian suggested, the Bedford Handbook is an excellent resource.
 
Can someone refresh my memory on how long a GMAT score will be accepted as valid? I took it in June 2002 - is it a 5 year window?
 
Generally yes. Check the websites of schools that you are interested in.
 
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