How to Start Anew After a Disappointing GMAT Attempt

How to Start Anew After a Disappointing GMAT Attempt

It’s understandable to feel disappointed after a GMAT attempt doesn’t go as planned. The GMAT is a crucial factor in MBA admissions, and improving your score can significantly enhance your chances of getting into top business schools.

Starting anew is a common step, and strategically approaching your preparation after a disappointing score is key.

1. Assess Your Starting Point with a Diagnostic Test

• Begin your preparation by taking a diagnostic practice test. This first test will give you a baseline score and help you pinpoint your current strengths and weaknesses. This is important because your score is a combination of your performance across all three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights.
• As you are already familiar with the format of the exam this test works differently for you. Unlike the first time test taker who is trying to manage the time constraints, you can now focus on the specific weakness which hurt your score last time.

2. Identify and Analyze Your Weaknesses

• After taking a diagnostic or practice test, meticulously review the questions you missed. It’s also suggested to review questions you got right to understand why you chose the correct answer.
• Use an Error Log to track your performance on every question you attempt. This can be an Excel sheet. For each question, note if it was correct or incorrect, if correct whether you solved or guessed, if wrong whether it was a careless or conceptual mistake, the question type, main topic, secondary topic, and source.
• The Error Log helps you diagnose your weaknesses precisely, whether they are careless errors or conceptual gaps. Understanding the reasons behind your mistakes is where genuine learning and strategy refinement occur.
• Focus on strengthening your weaknesses. Data reports from practice tests can show trends like struggling consistently with certain question types.

3. Develop a Targeted Study Plan

• Use the insights from your diagnostic test and Error Log to create a study plan that focuses on improving your weaker areas while maintaining strengths.
• The GMAT requires flexible, logical thinking and a disciplined, precise approach. It tests critical thinking and problem-solving, as well as data analysis skills.
• Focus on building a strong foundation in Verbal and Quantitative reasoning, while also dedicating time to Data Insights. Data Insights is a critical section in the GMAT Focus Edition.
• Dedicate ample time to mastering Data Insights, practicing with real-world data scenarios. For Quantitative Reasoning, work on basic arithmetic, algebra, and word problems. For Verbal, concepts like critically reading passages and making inferences are important. Learning strategies for Verbal can also be helpful.

Remember that the GMAT is computer-adaptive, meaning question difficulty changes based on your performance. Practicing with questions of varying difficulty is important.

4. Practice Strategically Using Relevant Materials

• Practice questions, and more practice questions, are essential. Repetition is key. Use a mix of official and third-party materials.
• Official resources provided by GMAC (mba.com) are the most accurate representation of the actual exam. This includes the GMAT Official Guide (OG) and official practice exams. 
• Reputable third-party providers like Magoosh, Manhattan Prep, Target Test Prep, and others offer practice questions and tests. These can provide supplementary practice and exposure to different question styles.
• Be aware that the scoring algorithms of third-party tests may not perfectly replicate the official ones. One user reported a significant score difference between a GMAT Club mock and a Magoosh mock, and was advised to take an official test for a clearer picture.
• If you have exhausted official practice questions (like in the OG), you could consider redoing them or purchasing more official practice questions.

5. Master Time Management

• Time management is a vital skill on the GMAT. The test is designed to tempt you into messing up your timing, which can lower your score.
• Spending too much time on difficult questions can lead to rushing and making careless mistakes on easier ones, which is more costly to your score.
• Practice managing your time both globally across sections and per-problem. Analyzing your timing after practice tests helps retrain your brain for effective decision-making.
• On practice tests, struggling consistently with timing may indicate a need for more concept mastery and skill development before focusing heavily on tests.
  On test day, avoid panicking if time is short; make educated guesses and try to answer every question to avoid penalties for unanswered questions.

6. Simulate Test Conditions and Review Thoroughly

• Whenever taking a full-length practice test, simulate actual test-day conditions as closely as possible. Take the test in a quiet environment without interruptions, adhere strictly to official timing and breaks, and use physical scratch paper. The realism of the conditions impacts the meaningfulness of the result.
• Do not just take practice tests repeatedly without review; this can lead to burnout and diminishing returns. The value comes from the quality and depth of your post-test review, understanding why you made mistakes.

7. Consider Seeking Expert Guidance

• If you are struggling to diagnose your weaknesses or create an efficient study plan, or if you have specific issues like test anxiety, consider seeking help from a tutor or prep course.
• Expert guidance can help identify subtle problems that hold you back, which might not be simple knowledge gaps. They can provide structure, expert feedback, and help create a personalized plan.

Remember:
A disappointing score is a setback, but it’s also an opportunity to learn and refine your approach for a better outcome.

Many students need significant time to study effectively. Consistency and disciplined practice, especially using an error log and analyzing your performance, are key to improvement.