Second unsucessful attempt 640(Q47, V32)

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Second unsucessful attempt 640(Q47, V32)

by c23678 » Sat May 04, 2013 6:40 pm
Today I took GMAT(2nd attempt) and scored 640 (Q47/V32). I am very disappointed with my verbal score.

Quans was going good until I got stuck on couple of questions around 25th question. They were easy questions so I just couldn't leave them guessing. Big mistake. Lost lot of time until I realized I had 10 questions to answer and 13 mins left. So I had to guess few to make sure I dont leave any unanswered. By the way, I did not see any probability question. Is that a bad sign?

Verbal started well. 4th question was RC (Thought its a good sign). But did not see bold CR question until around 30's. For some reason I lost my focus in verbal. I had to read lot of questions twice to understand them, especially CR questions. That took lot of time. At the end I had 10 questions with 13 mins left. Had to guess few questions to save time. Received a bold CR question around 35, but again had to guess due to lack of time. My whole problem with verbal is that I am unable to focus during the exam. I am not sure how I can improve that part of the exam. I dont see this problem during the practice tests. My practice test verbal scores were all between 37-41. I expected the same today, but did not happen.

I am ready to give one more try but not sure where to start. Obviously I have to improve my verbal score to cross 700 mark, but not sure how I can be confident that this time I will be able to focus properly. Can someone suggest me a strategy to help me cross the 700 mark?

Also I exhausted all GMATPrep and MGMAT practice tests. Are there any other similar practice tests that I can use?

Thanks
C23678
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by digvijayk » Tue May 07, 2013 9:12 am
I've been there. Hope my learnings help you. Here are the answers and tips you really need:

1. Work on your quitting and timing. I mean this forum is full of techniques, pick one!

2. "Did not see bold CR" "probability questions"- these things do not matter! Do not analyze your test while you are taking the test! Big mistake. Who cares if you get a bold as 30th or RC question as 4th. If you want to score higher, forget about these things. Really, no two questions are ever worth more. In fact, statistically, if you get a 500 level question wrong, you suffer more! But, you can't really judge which is tougher or easier, so don't focus on that. Just know that if you get max questions right, you score big! So do not worry about whether you should get a bold faced or not. People here have scored 780s and 790s without seeing any BFs or probability. Search for their posts!

3. Lastly, you need to go back to your mgmat tests and analyze them. Its pretty easy with those, you can just generate a report, which will show you where you are weak (time wise or concept wise). Improve in both and retake. Believe me, you have not exhausted anything yet. In fact the GMATPrep tests as well as MGMAT tests are worth taking thrice if you are just after the questions. But really, the advice here would be to just analyze more and solve less!

It means that you need to practice just 15 verbal questions at a time, under timed conditions and then analyze them till you find something new in each question. Go slow on analysis part and you will cross 700 with your eyes closed!

Do read some of my posts from last year, when I devised a crazy strategy to improve and then how an expert here actually gave a much better strategy that just was easy to implement. ->that's god's hint to tell you, your time has come ;)

Hope this helps.
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