I just finished taking my first GMAT CAT after 2 months of studying. Much to my dismay I was welcomed with a 610. 44 Q 31 V. Upon further review I made about 3 "dumb mistakes" in Quant, which at best puts me at a 45 Q. I feel they have homed in on my current ability level accurately . I will work to improve DS and some minor issues and will be happy with a couple point improvement over the next month.
Verbal was tricky to me in one regard. Sentence Correction... I had not really addressed this in my studies, and it showed by my score. The 31 came with 28 of 41 correct and of the 13 missed 9 were SC. So I pose the following questions in hopes for a clear cut answer from any of the veterans on this board.
What is the best published book specific to SC strategy?
Are the wrong SC answers prohibiting me from excelling to the more difficult RC and CR questions OR is the test sub-sectioned out to where I will get progressively harder questions in 2 of the 3 components just not SC and it then builds a comp score? I do not believe the latter to be the case hence the 31. It would then be correct to presume that by excelling in 2 of 3 does not matter, as your score will be reflective of your lowest sub section (i.e SC). Which subsection effecting the score will vary with each individual's strengths and weaknesses, however; this could be a reason that V scores are collectively lower than Q scores. You are actually being scored by your weakest area of the Verbal Section. The test will continue to pull you back or prevent forward progress based off your weakest category that appears as a third of the V questions. The same may potentially hold true with Q as well, where you are only as strong as your weakest component (in my case DS). In no way am I making excuses and discounting that I have major work to do, but merely pointing out the importance of a Comprehensive Study Approach.
The areas of neglect are clear as day and I hope in the next month to improve 100 points. Is this possible? After breaking down the numbers from all the different test scores (MGMAT PR Kaplan, etc) people post, in comparison with actual, the Official GMAT is the only score I trust to be an accurate indicator and really hate the fact you only get 2 fresh versions. I am conserving the second installment until right before test time and will be crushing other version CAT's, OG ?'s in all 3 books, and flash-cards. Are there any other study must haves to get me the 700?
Is it natural to try and avoid SC and DS... because I personally can't stand those sections.
Thanks in advance for your insight,
Patrick
Verbal was tricky to me in one regard. Sentence Correction... I had not really addressed this in my studies, and it showed by my score. The 31 came with 28 of 41 correct and of the 13 missed 9 were SC. So I pose the following questions in hopes for a clear cut answer from any of the veterans on this board.
What is the best published book specific to SC strategy?
Are the wrong SC answers prohibiting me from excelling to the more difficult RC and CR questions OR is the test sub-sectioned out to where I will get progressively harder questions in 2 of the 3 components just not SC and it then builds a comp score? I do not believe the latter to be the case hence the 31. It would then be correct to presume that by excelling in 2 of 3 does not matter, as your score will be reflective of your lowest sub section (i.e SC). Which subsection effecting the score will vary with each individual's strengths and weaknesses, however; this could be a reason that V scores are collectively lower than Q scores. You are actually being scored by your weakest area of the Verbal Section. The test will continue to pull you back or prevent forward progress based off your weakest category that appears as a third of the V questions. The same may potentially hold true with Q as well, where you are only as strong as your weakest component (in my case DS). In no way am I making excuses and discounting that I have major work to do, but merely pointing out the importance of a Comprehensive Study Approach.
The areas of neglect are clear as day and I hope in the next month to improve 100 points. Is this possible? After breaking down the numbers from all the different test scores (MGMAT PR Kaplan, etc) people post, in comparison with actual, the Official GMAT is the only score I trust to be an accurate indicator and really hate the fact you only get 2 fresh versions. I am conserving the second installment until right before test time and will be crushing other version CAT's, OG ?'s in all 3 books, and flash-cards. Are there any other study must haves to get me the 700?
Is it natural to try and avoid SC and DS... because I personally can't stand those sections.
Thanks in advance for your insight,
Patrick
