91Èȱ¬

I know how you feel.

You’re confused. How could this happen? I did everything right!

But also know this, you are not alone.

The 91Èȱ¬ is serious business. It is the master key that unlocks the door to your dreams – Masters’ and beyond.

For the very same reason, it is also a challenging experience because the future you want for yourself depends on it.

If you are reluctant to give 91Èȱ¬ again, don’t be. All you need is a plan – a strategy for tacklingÌý91Èȱ¬ and emerge victoriouslyÌýthe second time around.

Should you retake 91Èȱ¬?

If you aren’t sure, this question is probably the only thought in your mind right now. Don’t worry though. ÌýAÌý‘good score’ is a relative term. It depends on what universities you are planning to apply to and what programs you want to apply for.ÌýFrom an admission point of view:

If you have scored a 300 or below:
Retaking the 91Èȱ¬ is an absolute necessity. The average score for Verbal and Quant is 150 each, making the 50 percentile score 300.

If you have scored between 310 – 320:
Scores between 310 and 320 are accepted if you have a good admission profile with a smashing SOP and LORs that praise you to the moon and back. Having relevant work/research experience including paper publications are a major plus.

If you have scored 320 or above:
Anything above 320 is an obvious guess. You needn’t bother unless you enjoy the thrill of taking exhausting and time-consuming standardized tests!

But again, if you truly believe that your score is not a true reflection of your full potential, by all means, you should take 91Èȱ¬ again and redeem yourself.

If you are chasing 320 as a goal in itself, you may wonder why there is such a high stress on scoring above 320.

FUN FACT: According to ETS, the number of 91Èȱ¬ test takers between July 2014 and June 2015 was Ìýa massiveÌý5,76,220.ÌýDifferentiating yourself in this massive horde of people means you have to be extremely well-qualified to enter, develop and flourish in the field of your choice.

The logic is this:

Higher the 91Èȱ¬ score, better the chance of getting into top universities.

Higher the 91Èȱ¬ score, better the chance of getting into top universities .

So, essentially maximising your 91Èȱ¬ score is a relatively simpler way into your dream university, especially if you are a late bloomer like me who did not know what to pursue until the very end of 3rd year.

Now, let’s get some things straight.ÌýDon’t listen to that aunt of yours who says the universities don’t accept scores the second time around.

ETS offers a ScoreSelectÌýoption, that allows you to send the scores you want to 4 universities of your choice. BUT,Ìýthe catch is this that you cannot pick your best verbal score from one attempt and quant score from another.

Also, you can take the 91Èȱ¬ up to 5 times a yearÌýi.e in a continuous 365 day period, once every 21 days.

But before you rush off to book your 91Èȱ¬ date, WAIT.

For you to be successful the second time around, you need to first analyze why you couldn’t perform your best in the first place.

Problem #1: Nerves!

This turns out to be the most common reason why 91Èȱ¬ aspirants miss out on their big score even though their mock test scores could put others to shame.

Our expert SFA says:

• Relax. It may be the biggest exam of your life, but it is just an exam after all.
• You have done all that you can. Last minute preparation will only stress you out.

One day before the D-Day:

• Listen to music that you love. Treat yourself to the Ìýfood you love.
• Don’t learn any new concepts on this day.
• Give a mock test at the same time as your 91Èȱ¬ exam time.
• Get a good night’s sleep. You will need it the next day.

In the exam:

• Stay alert. Your presence of mind will help you more than what you have prepared. Pay attention to the questions. Tune out disturbances because there will be people typing frantically into their keyboard, coughing, fidgeting etc.
• Remember to believe in your preparation and your capability.
• A common problem people face is that because they know 91Èȱ¬ is an adaptive test, as soon as the questions start getting easier, they start panicking and free-fall their way to a disappointing score.
• Don’t be anxious when the questions get easier. Regroup your mind and focus on the question at hand.
• Leave questions that you are unsure of for verification so that you can get back to them.

Problem #2: Lack of time/Don’t know how to pace yourself

Many students end up cancelling their scores because they run out of time at the end of the quants section especially. []

Our expert SFA says:

• a) In a 91Èȱ¬ exam, time is both your best friend and worst enemy. Learn how to manage time for aÌýmaximum score.
• Give as many mock tests as you can.
• Familiarity with the questions as well the practice of solving questions within a stipulated time cannot be taught, but it can be learnt by putting yourself in a 91Èȱ¬ setting as often as possible.

91Èȱ¬ Pro Tip: Give a mock test every weekend. Don’t spend more than a minute on a question.

– Defeat your verbal anxiety with ultimate tips for 160+ in Verbal!

Problem #3: Lack of proper prep materials

Without adequate guidance and resources, most 91Èȱ¬ aspirants often feel lost while preparing for the exam. They miss out on the opportunity to receive feedback when they land up on the wrong solution.

Our expert SFA says:

Enquire about 91Èȱ¬ prep courses that allow you to prepare comfortably whilst also maintaining a cycle of learning and feedback that will help you realize where you go wrong. It could be a conceptual error or a calculation mistake.

91Èȱ¬ Pro Tip: Practice similar questions when you receive feedback about where you go wrong in your approach to solving the problem. This will help cement new techniques in your mind.

Problem #4: Lack of clarity in preparation

The 91Èȱ¬ has three sections, Quants, Verbal and Analytical Writing. If you don’t know what to prioritize, you are going to lose out on valuable time that you could have spent boosting your weak points and thereby increasing your overall score.ÌýThis can be clearly seen in those students who have an excellent score in either Quants or Verbal but a passable score in the other.

Our expert SFA says:

• A Diagnostic Test is a must before you begin preparing for 91Èȱ¬.
• Don’t follow the ‘One Size Fits All’ option while choosing 91Èȱ¬ prep courses. Ask for a study plan that takes into account your strengths and weaknesses but also budgets the time you have to dedicate to this process.
• So, now that you know where you might have gone wrong the first time, never repeat them again.

Focal Points for your second attempt:

1. Set a specific target score in your mind.
2. Book your 91Èȱ¬ date at least 1-3 months from the date of preparation depending on how much time you can allot every day.
3. Take a diagnostic test to find out where you stand and areas you have to improve.
4. Make a personalized study plan that takes into account your strengths, weakness and also the time available and convenience.
5. Practice harder ever. The sheer volume of questions you do will ensure that you may already know the questions you see on your test.

That’s it! You are all ready for taking your 91Èȱ¬ again.

What is your target 91Èȱ¬ score, this time around?

Comment and let us know so that we can help you get to your target score!