![\"Manhattan](\"http:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2017\/02\/3-2-17-social-1.png\")
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Did you know that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GMAT courses absolutely free? We\u2019re not kidding! <\/i><\/b>Check out our upcoming courses here<\/i><\/b><\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/i><\/b>First of all, let me state the obvious: <\/span>you aren\u2019t stupid<\/span><\/i>. If you\u2019re making plans to earn an MBA, you\u2019re already a capable, accomplished professional. Give yourself credit for that. However, you probably don\u2019t know everything about succeeding on the GMAT! If it feels like you just can\u2019t get there no matter how hard you try, here are a few things you might not have thought of.<\/span><\/p>\n Nobody needs a 760. Have you researched the typical score ranges for the programs you\u2019re applying to? Even if you have, take it a step further and <\/span>talk with an admissions consultant<\/span><\/a> about how your GMAT goal score fits into the bigger picture. There might be something you\u2019re missing. <\/span><\/p>\n You can improve your score by 50, 100, or 200 points. You can also take the GMAT two weeks from now and get it over with. Can you do both of those things at once? No. Choose one, and focus on it 100%. Either choice is fine \u2013 but there\u2019s no good way to get a huge score improvement overnight.<\/span><\/p>\n The human brain doesn\u2019t learn as well or think as clearly when it\u2019s under stress. Have you been trying to balance your GMAT studies with other stressors, like a new baby, a move, or a busy period at work? You don\u2019t need to drop everything else in your life to study for the GMAT, but if you\u2019re barely keeping your head above water, you might need to make some changes before you can break through the score plateau. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to be too passive when you study. If you do a GMAT problem, get it wrong, read the explanation, think \u2018oh, that makes sense,\u2019 and move on to the next one \u2013 this is what you\u2019re doing. We\u2019re all guilty of this from time to time, but the problem is that the real GMAT doesn\u2019t test your \u2018getting it\u2019 skills. It tests whether you can <\/span>use<\/span><\/i> your knowledge to solve problems you\u2019ve never seen before. That means you need to <\/span>create<\/span><\/i> explanations and takeaways for problems, not just <\/span>read<\/span><\/i> them. If you\u2019ve already done the Official Guide, do it again \u2013 and this time, really challenge yourself on every single problem. Can you explain this problem, start to finish, without looking at the explanation? Can you explain, in general terms, what skills you\u2019ll need to solve it? Can you explain why each and every wrong answer is there? Could you <\/span>write<\/span><\/i> a different problem that tests the same concept? How about the content in the Strategy Guides \u2013 could you summarize the most important rules for using modifiers, for instance, without checking the book? If you \u2018get\u2019 the material now, that\u2019s a good start. But in order to hit your goal score, you\u2019ll need to <\/span>master<\/span><\/i> it. <\/span><\/p>\n Without even realizing it, you may be doing things differently on test day than you have been while studying. Take <\/span>Choosing Smart Numbers<\/span><\/a>, for instance. It\u2019s a powerful, effective strategy that can be used at a wide range of score levels. If you\u2019ve been studying with Manhattan Prep, you\u2019ve definitely used it. But, did you use it on test day, or did you fall back to your old habits of using algebra? <\/span>Are you actually guessing on test day<\/span><\/a>, or are you letting anxiety take the reins and tell you to spend too much time on tough problems? In order for your studies to matter, you have to <\/span>use what you studied<\/span><\/i> on test day, instead of letting yourself fall back into bad habits.<\/span><\/p>\n This goes the other way, too. In order to succeed on test day, you should spend some time <\/span>warming up for the test<\/span><\/i>, instead of just studying content. For instance, one common reason to miss your goal score is fatigue and loss of attention, especially during the Verbal section. Have you been studying in a way that prepares you for those conditions? (<\/span>Here\u2019s one way to improve your attention span.<\/span><\/a>) When you take practice tests, are you taking them in a way that really prepares you for test day \u2013 or are you hitting the \u2018pause\u2019 button, taking overly long breaks, or eating or checking your email during the test sections? <\/span><\/p>\n If you just can\u2019t seem to hit your GMAT goal score, check out these two articles: <\/span>What the GMAT Really Tests<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>What You\u2019ll Really Learn From the GMAT<\/span><\/a>. Read them, study for a while, then read them again. Are you taking control of the test, or are you letting the test control you? You could almost certainly get a better score by making better executive decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n They say that insanity means trying the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. At the end of the day, if what you\u2019re doing just isn\u2019t working, you have to do something different. Here are some quick ideas: sign up for a <\/span>Manhattan Prep GMAT course<\/span><\/a> (or just a <\/span>free trial session<\/span><\/a>!). <\/span>Hire a great tutor<\/span><\/a>. If you\u2019ve mostly been reading books, download the <\/span>GMATPrep software<\/span><\/a> and do some timed, random problem sets to shake things up. If you\u2019ve been doing a ton of problems, check out the <\/span>GMAT Interact lessons<\/span><\/a>. If you\u2019ve been working slowly, try going fast \u2013 or if you\u2019ve been blasting through a bunch of problems, slow down. Studying mostly tough problems? <\/span>Try reviewing some easy stuff.<\/span><\/a> Focused on Quant? Work on your Verbal score instead!<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019re not the first person to struggle with the GMAT, and you won\u2019t be the last. There will be times where it seems like you just can\u2019t improve. But the human brain\u2019s ability to learn is remarkable. You can learn a new language, you can learn to play an instrument, and <\/span>you can even improve your IQ<\/span><\/a>. With time and thoughtful practice, you can learn to master the GMAT. We believe in you, and you should believe in you, too. ?<\/span><\/p>\n Want full access to Chelsey\u2019s sage GMAT wisdom? Try the first class of one of <\/i><\/b>her upcoming GMAT courses<\/i><\/b><\/a> absolutely free, no strings attached.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Chelsey Cooley<\/a> Did you know that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GMAT courses absolutely free? We\u2019re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here. First of all, let me state the obvious: you aren\u2019t stupid. If you\u2019re making plans to earn an MBA, you\u2019re already a capable, accomplished professional. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[873,929,52871,930,2,52945,9],"tags":[52991,52992],"yst_prominent_words":[53790,53779,53780,53635,53781,53775,53782,53776,53788,53777,53785,53778,53704,53787,53640,53789,53637,53786,53783,53784],"class_list":["post-13249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-for-current-studiers","category-gmat-prep","category-gmat-strategies","category-gmat-study-guide","category-how-to-study","category-products-and-services","category-taking-the-gmat","tag-gmat-goal-score","tag-how-to-reach-your-gmat-goal-score"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13249"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16770,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13249\/revisions\/16770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13249"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=13249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nDid you set the right goal?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Would you rather get the score you want, or apply right now?<\/b><\/h4>\n
How are you doing?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Are you settling for \u2018getting it\u2019?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Are you doing things differently on test day?<\/b><\/h4>\n
Are you in control?<\/b><\/h4>\n
What else can you try?<\/b><\/h4>\n
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\n![\"Chelsey](\"http:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2016\/01\/chelsey-cooley-150x150.png\" "\\"Chelsey")
<\/a> is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Seattle, Washington.<\/strong>\u00a0Chelsey always followed her heart when it came to her education. Luckily, her heart led her straight to the perfect background for GMAT and GRE teaching: she has undergraduate degrees in mathematics and history, a master\u2019s degree in linguistics, a 790 on the GMAT, and a perfect 170Q\/170V on the GRE. Check out Chelsey\u2019s upcoming GMAT\u00a0prep offerings here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"