Bombed the GMAT - Twice. Experts, Help?

[hsharif]

I took the GMAT a month ago after nearly 3 months of prep and scored a dismal 580 (43Q 30V). I did run out of time on both sections and assumed timing was my main issue.

After another month of prep I took the GMAT for the second time today and scored a ridiculous 590 (34Q 37V).

My materials have been exclusively: MGMAT book set, OG12th Ed (with problem tracker), and BTG/GmatClub forums.

I've taken a number of practice exams, my latest stats were...

710 GMATPrep #1 (Second go) (46Q 41V)
680 MGMAT #6
690 GMATPrep #2(Second go) (43Q 41V) (One week before actual exam)

Each time I complete an exam, I go through each problem and analyze it as well as read the forums to gain other people's approach on tackling problems.

Each time I study from the OG, I'll cover one or two topic areas max (e.g. CR and DS), and do maybe 20-30 problems, and keep track of them in my OG Problem Tracker.

I have absolutely ZERO idea why I have bombed the GMAT twice. I cannot figure what I'm doing wrong. I go into the test confident, albeit I do choke up a little when the pressure is on during the exam. I get flustered and my head gets a bit clouded - I've never been a good test taker.

Any advice is appreciated, I have no idea whether I should try again in 30 days or what my next steps should be. Anyone else have a similar situation?

[ivyctor2010]

You need to work a lot on verbal buddy

Verbal

Sentence Correction (SC)
Preparation: Manhattan® SC 2007 edition, is an amazing book, one may call it the SC Bible as it prepares you exhaustively for SC.
Practice: Go through the GMAT® Official Guide (OG-12) for SC & understand the
concepts through Answer Key. Re-do all questions, if possible. Please pay
significant attention to idioms as questions on them are tricky but relatively easy.
Modifiers also require significant attention.
Aim: Achieve accuracy greater than 85% in all practice sets.
Important Tip: Don't spend equal time on all types of SC questions. Practice all of
them initially & identify your weak areas. Focus your efforts more on these for
more robust & efficient preparation.

Reading Comprehension (RC)
Practice: Practice from all possible sources as a lot of raw practice is required to
ace RCs. Practice at least 100 RCs before you attempt a mock now.
Aim: Read easier passage in 2-3 minutes & understand the basic gist of it. If the
passage is really tough you can take up to 4 minutes. Do not rest until you achieve accuracy > 85 % in all practice sets.
Important Tip: We also advice against jumping to questions first & then looking
for answers in the paragraph. Reading essay first makes answering "main point"
& "summary of essay" questions seem like a cakewalk.

Critical Reasoning (CR)
Preparation: Critical reasoning Bible by PowerScore®, helps with all CR basics, and the CR basics are very crucial to cover before you start attempting questions.
Practice: All GMAT® Official Guide (OG-12) questions alongside reading the Bible.
Aim: Achieve accuracy greater than 85% in all practice sets.

Quant
Your score was better here but there is a good scope of improvement. You need to work a lot on basics before you again jump onto questions. Re-do all the basic revising give 2-3 hours to each sub-topic and focus more on where you do not understand a principle or a formula. There-after it is just raw practice wherein each practice session should be followed by an incisive analysis of which areas you are weak in.


Best of luck!!