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I'v scored 590 without prep. Is it OK? How much study do I need to get 750?

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Chess
Joined: 25 Dec 2011
Posts: 10
I'v scored 590 without prep. Is it OK? How much study do I need to get 750?
Mon Dec 26, 2011 02:04 PM
Hi ! I am a 28/M and took an online mock-GMAT test. People tell me that this website simulates real GMAT quite closely(veritas.com). My scores are :

Total 590/800 (63rd percentile)
Quantitative 35/60 (81 percentile)
Verbal 37/60 (42nd percentile)

How is that score for a beginner?
How much time do you think I need to study to take my score around 720-730? 750?
Any suggestions to improve my verbal score?


How much time did you take to prepare yourself?
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JK Duncan

Joined: 18 Apr 2011
Posts: 3619
I'v scored 590 without prep. Is it OK? How much study do I need to get 750?
Mon Dec 26, 2011 06:42 PM
Well, what's hard here is that you really have the verbal side to improve on primarily, and that is much harder to increase than the quant side. A friend of mine advises 10 hours of self-study per GMAT point of improvement but, of course, you'll progress faster with a teacher of American English.
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Chess
Joined: 25 Dec 2011
Posts: 10
I'v scored 590 without prep. Is it OK? How much study do I need to get 750?
Mon Dec 26, 2011 06:52 PM
Well, what's hard here is that you really have the verbal side to improve on primarily, and that is much harder to increase than the quant side. A friend of mine advises 10 hours of self-study per GMAT point of improvement but, of course, you'll progress faster with a teacher of American English.


Thanks for the feedback Duncan. I hope to increase my score by a 100 points or more. I don't want it to sound like an excuse but My verbal score was bad more because I got fed up of the long questions and did the whole section in 30 minutes.

My purpose was just to see what my baseline is, so I deliberately did not exert myself at any question.

You haven't told me how 590 is without preparation? Is it OK or is it a bad score?
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JK Duncan

Joined: 18 Apr 2011
Posts: 3619
I've scored 590 without prep. Is it OK? How much study do I need to get 750?
Mon Dec 26, 2011 06:58 PM
590 is not a terrible score, but it certainly rules you out of most of the top 100 schools. I am sure you will be able to improve, but 100 points is a challenge. You sound like you understand the importance of the MBA and that you'll have the right motivation.

Assuming that you're an Indian who has not worked or studied abroad in English for a year or more, then many schools will give you some slack for that. Since your work history is interesting, you might even be a viable candidate now at a few schools with an early application:
University of Florida: Hough
Durham Business School
TiasNimbas Business School
University of Cape Town GSB
University of Strathclyde Business School
Birmingham Business School

PS Just to give you a sense of things, the average GMAT score across the FT 100 schools is 660. In the 50 most selective schools, it is 695. In the top 25 schools, it is 710.

[Edited by JK Duncan on 26 Dec 2011]
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JK Duncan

Joined: 18 Apr 2011
Posts: 3619
I've scored 590 without prep. Is it OK? How much study do I need to get 750?
Mon Dec 26, 2011 07:14 PM
By the way, I see that Florida has extended its deadline for international applications for the Option A MBA, which starts on May 7th. If you could start as early as that, then I think that is an excellent programme at an unbeatable price. I suggest you get in touch with them if it's viable, and then also keep them in mind for 2013.

PS Here's a link to the admissions page (www.floridamba.ufl.edu/admissions/dates.asp). The average GMATs at U Florida are 670 for the full time and 600 for the part-time, but if they are extending the deadline perhaps they have some flexibility.

[Edited by JK Duncan on 26 Dec 2011]
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