Second GMAT Down - 670...

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mdecarbo: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 28; Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:45 am

by mdecarbo » Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:47 am

Hi All,

I just took my second GMAT and scored a 670 (44Q, 38V). My first GMAT taken in May score was 650 (42Q/38V). Although I improved, I'm a little disappointed. My last two practice exams were:

730 (45Q/45V) - MGMAT CAT 6
730 (48Q/42V) - GMAT Prep Now Exam Pack 2

Obviously, my Verbal score is my achilles heel when taking the actual exam. I hate to have GMAT prep consume my life but I know that I can improve and get a 700+ score. Are there recommended resources to further enhance my verbal score? I do not know if or when I would take the GMAT a third time but I want to prepare for it. I just took the Manhattan GMAT class which ended the first week in November and I have used the gmatprepnow.com videos for my first exam. I have pretty much exhausted all the questions in the OG13 and the Verbal 2nd Edition, FYI...

Thanks for the advice!
Mike

Source: Beat The GMAT — GMAT Strategy | Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:47 am

David@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2193; Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:30 pmFollowed by: 512 members; Location: Vermont and Boston, MA; Thanked: 1186 times; GMAT Score:770

by David@VeritasPrep » Sun Dec 15, 2013 7:20 pm

Mike -

You need to maybe get with the style of the actual GMAT questions a little more as you prepare for a 3rd attempt. I have seen this happen where students are better at unofficial or retired questions and sometimes not as good at the actual exam questions.

You really need to be prepared for what they are throwing out at you on the actual test

I recommend that you get the GMAT PREP Pack 1 add-on. This is like the OG 13th except delivered on the computer and the questions seem to be tougher. Focus on official GMAT questions and on doing as well on those as you do on the unofficial questions.

You asked about further resources to improve your score - what weaknesses do you have on verbal?

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mdecarbo: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 28; Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:45 am

by mdecarbo » Mon Dec 16, 2013 8:35 am

Thanks David.

I have done really well on the official questions in the OG and Verbal 2nd Edition. If I missed any in practice (and all my questions are timed), they are usually considered the "Hard" questions.

In terms of weaknesses, based on my last two practice exams I did not miss any in Reading Comprehension and I missed around 10 questions each exam, basically split between CR & SC.

SC weaknesses were around modifiers / parallelism as well as some nuances like idioms. CR weaknesses were around evaluating conclusions. But again, missing 10 questions and scoring 45 & 42 respectively, I just chalked it up as I'm always going to miss some...

Obviously not able to tell where I bombed on the actual exam...

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