GMAT 500 Doldrums: Help Please

[cathaoir]

Dear GMAT Beaters,

I have been studying for the GMAT in earnest since November 2008 and have taken the test twice. Scores below

1: 410 (AWA 5.5, Q19, V27) Jan 2009
2: 520 (AWA 4.5, Q37, V24) Mar 2009

The first time I was chancing my arm and the test experience was awful, so I completely fluffed it on the day.

The second time there was an improvement in the Q. Mentally I was much more relaxed and focused in the V, so was surprised by the lower V score. I am native English speaker, which made the lower V score even more painful. Furthermore, I put a lot of study in for the test and was expecting an equal Q:V score.

I am now half way through a 40 day study period (avg 4-6 hours per day) during which I have taken the GMAT prep 3 times. I have been unable to score above 550 with typical Q35 :V34 breakdown.

I have a very strict study plan and alternate between Q and V every couple of days. I am using a range of study material and typically compile mini tests for each section i.e. PS, DS, SC, RC, CR and time them. I am performing very well in these exercises, but it doesn't seem to translate across to the Prep.

I have one last chance in 3 weeks to get 600, or I will miss my app deadline.

I need advice from someone who has had a similar experience. I have taken classes and bought all the books. I am running out of time, and need to use whats left wisely. I don't know what else to try, as good old fashioned hard work doesn't seem to help......

[fightthegmat]

hi,

i have gone thru the same phase...what should work is you need to spend one whole day on each topic.solve it and analyze it,attack the topic,talk to yourself how you solve and what does the topic ask you to do.talk to each question which you answered wrong....let me know how it works for you.

[GmatGreen]

My advice is to use the Official Guide in conjunction with GMATFix OG Companion to refine your study into more specific topics rather than just PS or DS. Basically, whereas other books teach you strategies and give you their own good examples, the OG Companion, as far as I know, is the only book that shows how these techniques can be applied on the official questions.

There is a thread with user reviews at https://www.beatthegmat.com/reviews-of-o ... 33767.html. (scroll to the middle of the page to see reviews)

[TedCornell]

Dear GMAT Beaters,

I have been studying for the GMAT in earnest since November 2008 and have taken the test twice. Scores below

1: 410 (AWA 5.5, Q19, V27) Jan 2009
2: 520 (AWA 4.5, Q37, V24) Mar 2009

I'm also a fan of GMATFix. I think though that your quant has already improved so much that maybe you will see the greatest results from focusing on verbal to get your score back to or above previous levels. Working on SC is one of the fastest ways to improve. Have a look at the interactive flash/lesson cards from GMATfix

[henryhenry]

Dear GMAT Beaters,

I have been studying for the GMAT in earnest since November 2008 and have taken the test twice. Scores below

1: 410 (AWA 5.5, Q19, V27) Jan 2009
2: 520 (AWA 4.5, Q37, V24) Mar 2009

I'm also a fan of GMATFix. I think though that your quant has already improved so much that maybe you will see the greatest results from focusing on verbal to get your score back to or above previous levels. Working on SC is one of the fastest ways to improve. Have a look at the interactive flash/lesson cards from GMATfix

Pls stop promoting your gmatfix in this forum.Folks need help to ace GMAT not through your almighty gmatfix you are implictly advertising here all the time.
Folks should beware of this guy.