# Set a target score and test date for my graduate admissions test

A target score grounded in your programs' published data, a test date that leaves room for a retake, and a weekly prep load.

- Topic: Learning & Teaching
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Advanced
- Tags: Analyze, Code, Fill-in Template, Step-by-step
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/set-a-target-score-and-test-date-for-my-graduate-admissions-test

## Prompt

```text
Help me set a target score and choose a test date for my graduate admissions test.

**Test:** [e.g. "GRE", "GMAT", "LSAT", "MCAT"]
**Programs I'm applying to:** [LIST]
**Their published score data:** [PASTE MEDIANS OR RANGES FROM EACH PROGRAM'S OFFICIAL CLASS PROFILE]
**Application deadlines:** [DATES]
**Diagnostic or past score (if any):** [SCORE AND DATE, or "none yet"]
**Hours per week I can study:** [DETAILS]
**Other parts of my application:** [e.g. "strong GPA", "limited work experience"]

Rules:
- Use only the score data I paste. Do not guess program medians or ranges. If I haven't provided them, tell me where to find them (each program's class profile or admissions page).
- Suggest aiming at or above the median of my target programs, adjusted for the strength of the rest of my application.
- Check whether any program is test-optional or accepts an alternative test, based on what I paste, and mark it [CONFIRM on the program's site].

Return:
1. A target score, plus a minimum acceptable score, with the reasoning.
2. A recommended test date that leaves time for one retake before my earliest deadline, including score reporting time [CONFIRM with the testing organization].
3. The gap between my current and target score, and a realistic weekly study load and total prep length for that gap (state the uncertainty).
4. A short list of first actions this week: take an official diagnostic, register, gather materials.

This is step 1 of the "Prepare for a graduate admissions test" pack. The target and timeline feed step 2 (diagnosing a practice test).
```

## What to fill in

- e.g. "GRE", "GMAT", "LSAT", "MCAT"
- LIST
- DATES
- SCORE AND DATE, or "none yet"
- DETAILS
- e.g. "strong GPA", "limited work experience"
- CONFIRM on the program's site
- CONFIRM with the testing organization

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.