390 (Q 7, V 33)- you can see where I'm lacking!

[Michelle81]

I've taken the GMAT 2x in the last 6 months, and preparing with OG, Cracking the GMAT, and Kaplan books. All I've been depressed about is my overall score, 390. But looking at other people's scores it seems that I actually did okay in Verbal- is that true? I'm shooting for a 550-600, and it seems if only my Quant was okay as well I would have had a good score. Am I understanding that correctly? 33 in V isn't that bad? Or is it?

Anyway, I was just about to drop $1200 on a course, but now I'm wondering if I really only need to get help with math. I am in publishing so my English is well above normal.

Thanks for the advice!

PS- The first time I took the GMAT I got Q 6, V 38. Then I followed the advice in Cracking the GMAT and it royally messed up my V. All of the shortcuts it taught me were garbage, and it lowered my score!

[jiujitsubri]

Looks like you are lacking in your quant. Get a basic math review workbook and start learning the basics. You need to really put a lot of time into improving your math skills.

[Michelle81]

Thanks, I know that my math is lacking. But what I'm starting to realize is that perhaps I should only spend my $$ on Math help, and not an overall course, since I score 33-38 on verbal WITHOUT studying for it AT ALL. I think I've spent about 2 hours total, ever, reviewing verbal. I focused all on math since I know it killed me. I got A's in math in school, and I know the basic concepts to a 'T', but when it comes to GMAT math, I stumple miserably. I think it's the way it's presented.

[newera]

i think you should purchase all of the Manhattan GMAT Math books. They will teach you everything in a nice, simplistist manner.

if they require a certain foundational level of knowledge, i think buying a math fundamentals book or hiring a tutor would help immensely.

i haven't taken a GMAT course, let alone one that focuses on math, but i imagine those courses assume you have basic math skills and take off from there. i could be wrong though.

good luck

[Michelle81]

The thing is that I have strong basic math skills and reviewed all the basics, even obtained a college Algebra and Geometry book and did all those exercises, checked my answers, and answered 90% of them correct. It's GMAT math specifically that messes me up.

Well I'm going to sign up for a Manhattan classroom course that covers everything, since it's 7 weeks long and the longer I'm in the classroom, the better. It's so frustrating. I can do numbers in my head instantly, but GMAT math gets me. I think what happens is I know how to solve the basic problem but I fall for their traps.