GMAt verbal

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GMAt verbal

by shrutib » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:45 pm
Hi!!

I think I covered almost all the strategies in GMAT verbal. However, I scored poorly in real GMAT (verbal 23). My mock test verbal score ranged from 32-38. I did not feel that the questions were really unfamiliar. Where have gone so wrong? I dont know now, even if I retake,whether i can score 10-12 points higher that this?

P.S. -I am non native speaker and verbal is not my strength.

Please suggest me what should i do? Is it the time to give up?

Thank you.

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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:56 pm
It is difficult to advise someone via internet about how to improve one's performance since it is a very complex issue. Definitely it is never time to give up. There is always room for improvement.

Did you write only one simulation test? If yes, that's the first thing you should change and write as many as you can, especially in the period before the exam.
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by shrutib » Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:45 pm
Hi!!

No, i have taken multiple tests, including two power-prep exams. To keep it realistic, I did not take the power-prep tests more than twice. The striking part is that my scores were higher in the middle of my preparation than in the end. My lowest score in Verbal was 32 and highest 42( I guess some 800 score test). I will not say I had reviewed all the mock tests very carefully, but 23 is way too low. So, I am wondering whether I can do any better. I can retake within a month or a month and a half at the most because I was doing preparation for almost 3-4 months now and stretching it over a few more months will not do any good to me. (knowing my patience level). Need some practical suggestions. My target is between 38-40 i.e. close to 15 points. My Quant score is 44 and I could not even finish that section. So, I know, I can increase 2-4 points there too. overall I need something between 680-710. Is it too ambitious?

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by sam2304 » Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:33 am
Check these links.

For Quant use MGMAT strategy guides. Inequalities, Co ordinate geometry, statistics, Work rate problems and number properties - these are some of the most tested topics (https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/05/ ... it-changes), so work on them more, you can get to 48 easily. If you are making less mistakes in PS compared to DS, then you have to work on strategy rather than on content. DS questions are mostly to find a value or yes/no type. Be clear with what is being asked, if its find a value then we should get only one particular value there cannot be more than one, if its yes/no - it should be either one and not both. rephrase the questions. It is more important to know what is asked and what is needed to solve. Go through the statements one by one and try to solve. Follow the A D, B C E order. While solving problems make flash cards for shortcuts like if x^2 < x then 0 < x < 1. For percentage increase/decrease you need both the original and the increased value. Is x < y - we need to know the signs of both variables. For absolute value problems you have to split up the eqns. So the statements should have something related to this. You will learn a lot of these shortcuts when you review a lot. So try to follow the AD BCE approach and review a lot to learn more shortcuts.

For verbal check these links
https://www.beatthegmat.com/scored-440-q ... 07588.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/retaking-gma ... 09154.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/how-to-prepa ... tml#403863
https://www.beatthegmat.com/550-to-720-i ... tml#330724
https://www.beatthegmat.com/710-gmatprep ... tml#420298
https://www.beatthegmat.com/590-620-560-t109044.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/help-verbal- ... 09115.html

To hone your practice check these links
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... sts-part-1
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... sts-part-2
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/10/ ... ce-problem
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/09/ ... tice-tests
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/10/ ... art-2-of-2

Apart from these, check out Ron's videos - https://www.manhattangmat.com/thursdays-with-ron.cfm
His verbal explanations and approaches are by far the best for non native speakers.

Some more to boost your morale - there are many who have improved their verbal scores
https://www.beatthegmat.com/3-yrs-4-atte ... 72531.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/finally-i-be ... 12969.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/720-q-48-v-4 ... 02091.html

Sorry for posting so many links :) Its all about preparing the right way and you can do it quickly. So take your time to read each link patiently and understand what the verbal section is all about and also on how to prepare.
Getting defeated is just a temporary notion, giving it up is what makes it permanent.
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by shrutib » Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:26 pm
Thank you so much for being so proactive. I really appreciate it. Honestly speaking, I bought a master GMAT course few months back and upgraded it too before exam. It helped me a lot but I really cannot afford to buy another course. I am a stay at home mom and my daughter goes to a preschool. So, probably you understand my situation. Thank you so much once again.

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by arun@crackverbal » Mon Jun 04, 2012 2:35 am
Hi Shruti,

I think Sam has put a lot of awesome posts you can refer to see if it helps.

Here is some food for thought: If you keep doing what you are doing, you will get what you are getting. :)

My recommendation is to look at it a bit differently this time around. There is something that obviously went wrong for you to dip from a 32 to a 22 on the test. Some generic questions:

1) You mentioned powerprep. Did you mean the GMAtprep?

2) Did you take the tests with the AWA section?

3) Did you take the tests in the same simulated environment?

4) Did you experience anything different on the test day?

One remark caught my attention - that you did not analyze your tests well. I strongly recommend that you go back to the questions and pick each topic (SC/CR/RC) and ask yourself what you think went wrong/right.

There are typically a few reasons why you would have committed the mistake:

1) You ran out of time. Did you see this on the test? Did you find it difficult to solve questions in less than 2 minutes? If so then perhaps it is not so much about your concepts but about your approach.

2) You tend to guess without giving a good reason to eliminate. I have seen in a lot of students they put in effort to read and understand the question, AND eliminate 3/5 options. However when left with the last 2 they somehow get frustrated and mark one blindly. Remember that GMAT is not going to give you any points for the "next best answer choice".

3) You make way too many silly mistakes. This is a category that can be easily improved if you are able to focus on where you are making the mistake. Just take your scratch work after the test and try to see what was going insider your head while you were taking the test. Sometimes even a small shift can yield a decent improvement.

4) You always get a particular concept wrong. Students tend to have a self-fulfilling prophecy when it comes to a topic they dislike. So instead of working harder on (say) data sufficiency questions testing inequalities, they just "give up". The reason is "I am not going to get it right". It is not your areas of strengths but areas of weakness which will help you improve.

I suggest you analyze the questions you have previously practiced from before taking another attempt this time. You have already 3-4 months so take a few weeks break before you restart. It will help bring some clarity and perspective into your preparation.

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by shrutib » Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:11 am
Yes, may be there are more than one reasons contributing to the low score.

One area you pointed out right. In SC section, sometimes after eliminating, three answer choices, I have a hard time deciding between the 2. So, I just go ahead and click one of them. Concentration may be another area too, where I need to improve. And yes, when i said powerprep, I meant the prep material from MBA.com.

But regardless, I know now, I dont know enough how to approach this section. From where should I start.

I have the following books with me.

1. Crack the GMAT-Princeton review-2013
2. GMAT Manual Princeton review-2010
3. Kaplan 800 -2008 edition
4. Kaplan premier-2008 edition.
5. Kaplan Math and verbal workbook
6. IMS GMAT material
7. OG 11th and 13th edition.

So, how should I start my preparation? I can go and grab Manhattan GMAT SC correction book, if that is required.
My local Barnes and Noble hasn't got Power score CR.

I guess, if i know all the concepts , I probably do not need thousands of practice material.

Is the 1000 series important?

Thank you once again for being so helpful.

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by arun@crackverbal » Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:07 am
shrutib wrote: I have the following books with me.

1. Crack the GMAT-Princeton review-2013
2. GMAT Manual Princeton review-2010
3. Kaplan 800 -2008 edition
4. Kaplan premier-2008 edition.
5. Kaplan Math and verbal workbook
6. IMS GMAT material
7. OG 11th and 13th edition.

So, how should I start my preparation? I can go and grab Manhattan GMAT SC correction book, if that is required.
My local Barnes and Noble hasn't got Power score CR.
Waaaay too many books. This also indicates that you look at the GMAT as a test of something you can pick up from a book. It is not. It tests on how well you can apply that knowledge in a test environment.

My take is to pick any material for SC, CR, and RC. All test prep companies cover the same stuff - it is more about how you are able to understand and apply the stuff.

However for the questions - do not stray too far away from the official questions. There is a reason for that: https://www.crackverbal.com/gmat-questions/
shrutib wrote: I guess, if i know all the concepts , I probably do not need thousands of practice material.
On the contrary knowing concepts is only a small part of the equation. As I mentioned earlier it is how you are able to apply it. Some require only 100 questions to master it. Others may require 500. However practice is the key.
shrutib wrote: Is the 1000 series important?
Not worth it now as there are ample genuine GMAT questions available. Including GMATPrep questions discussed on forums such as these.

Arun
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