How can I improve verbal from 31 to 40? Help please!

[shadangi]

I have given 6 CATs - 1 PR, 4 MGMAT and 1 GMAT Prep - in past 2 months in 1-2 weeks period since I started my preparation. I have my GMAT in 2.5 weeks (Aug 18). My target GMAT score is 750, but I am NOT close to that yet.

My scores so-far:
630 (Q51, V26) - PR - 2 months ago
650 (Q51, V31) - MGMAT
650 (Q51, V31) - MGMAT
700 (Q50, V35) - MGMAT
690 (Q50, V31) - GMATPrep - 1 week ago
700 (Q51, V34) - MGMAT - 2 days ago

I have virtually not spent any time preparing Quant but I am confident, so I am too concerned. I should be able to get Q50 in the worst case, unless I screw up big-time.

My real trouble is verbal. I have thoroughly reviewed MGMAT SC & CR and Powerscore CR & RC books multiple times in past 2 months. Also, I have done OG12 twice, reading all the explanation closely. But I have not been able to improve my verbal score as I planned originally.

I have heard that one can get true feedback from professional instructors here and I am hoping to get some insight into my existing performance to help me push my verbal score to 40, if not more.

I am adding links to the performance analyses from my past MGMAT CATs - one from the 4 MGMAT CATs cumulative and another from the last CAT (V31) - below.

Cumulative (please see 4 sheets in the spreadsheet: Overall, SC, CR and RC separate): https://spreadsheets2.google.com/spread ... utput=html

Last test V31 (please see 4 sheets in the spreadsheet: Overall, SC, CR and RC separate): https://spreadsheets1.google.com/spread ... utput=html

Could one of the experts here please help me analyse these analyses and guide me in the right direction? What should or can I do in next 2 weeks that will further my chances of getting 750 or rather V40 at the least?

Thanks and looking forward to get some advice, esp from Stacey, soon.

[jnelson0612]

Hi shadangi,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but improving from 34 to 40 in two weeks is going to be very, very tough. You've already made a great improvement in going from 26 to 34. That's huge!

I wish I could see the actual problems you are missing so I could tell what is going on. The category that is easiest to improve quickly is usually sentence correction, so you may want to focus on that. On the ones you miss, are you narrowing the answer choices down to two answers, one that is correct and one that is not, and choosing the incorrect one? Are you using splits? Are you aggressively looking for specific errors, armed with all of the grammar rules?

Go back and look at the 500-600 and 600-700 ones you are missing, particularly in sentence correction. It would be really helpful to your score to eliminate those errors. I would review those by saying in your own words why each answer choice is wrong.

Finally, what is your timing like? Are you able to pace yourself so you have the appropriate amount of time for the later questions? Do you end strongly in your percentiles? Take a look at the percentiles as the questions proceed in your last MGMAT CAT; what did the pattern look like?

As an aside, please know that a 700 is a very elite score and I can't think of a business school that will think otherwise. Congratulations again on your excellent work to date!

[shadangi]

Hi shadangi,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but improving from 34 to 40 in two weeks is going to be very, very tough. You've already made a great improvement in going from 26 to 34. That's huge!

I wish I could see the actual problems you are missing so I could tell what is going on. The category that is easiest to improve quickly is usually sentence correction, so you may want to focus on that. On the ones you miss, are you narrowing the answer choices down to two answers, one that is correct and one that is not, and choosing the incorrect one? Are you using splits? Are you aggressively looking for specific errors, armed with all of the grammar rules?

Go back and look at the 500-600 and 600-700 ones you are missing, particularly in sentence correction. It would be really helpful to your score to eliminate those errors. I would review those by saying in your own words why each answer choice is wrong.

Finally, what is your timing like? Are you able to pace yourself so you have the appropriate amount of time for the later questions? Do you end strongly in your percentiles? Take a look at the percentiles as the questions proceed in your last MGMAT CAT; what did the pattern look like?

As an aside, please know that a 700 is a very elite score and I can't think of a business school that will think otherwise. Congratulations again on your excellent work to date!

Thanks a lot Jamie for your honest feedback and for the help. You are right, and I felt the same myself. I decided to postpone my test by 3 weeks. My new test date is Sep 12.

So I have exactly 5 weeks from now to have a final stab at improving my verbal skills. I truly from my heart and soul want to get V40-45 in my real test - it's now a matter of self-respect for me more than anything. Could you please suggest how should I plan these 5 weeks?

In next 3 weeks I plan to allocate 50% time on SC, 25% on CR, 20-25% on RC, and rest (0-5%) in Quant. Quant will be as little as possible to keep myself awake - I will be doing the new MGMAT Quant Strategy guide, as I feel this is the only book that has questions that can give me challenges and thus keep me awake/fresh.

Now, based on this could you please help me figure out what should I do to get to the V40 league? I am doing this more for my self confidence and self respect. I was very depressed couple of days ago when I just could not do good in Verbal, and hence I decided to take couple of steps back and postpone the test by 3+ weeks.

Please please please help me :( Thanks.

[rshroff18]

Hey Shadangi,

I am facing similar problems as you..Have not been able to up my score beyond V34 in mock tests. Have you made any changes in your study methods to bring about the improvement??

I am having big problems in RC and CR.Mainly in CR..Accuracy is as low as 45%..

Rishi

[arunkchaubey]

Hi Shadangi,

I am also facing the similar type of issue in verbal. My verbal score varies from 23 - 31 in 4 MGMAT test. I am facing hard times primarily with Reading Comprehension and Sentence Correction questions. I am able to correct only 18-22 questions out of 41 in verbal.
My GMAT date is 13 September and I am not able to understand how I can make my verbal score at least in 30s. As you have faced similar issues and overcome to make it 34, any information of changing the study strategy will be very helpful.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help.
Arun S.

[gmatwork]

Hi all,

I have the same issue as shadangi. I am having severe timing issues on CR and RC section. Please suggest how to improve timing on these sections.

For RC- I have hard time getting specific detail and inference questions right.

For CR - I am down to two choices and then end up picking the wrong one.

Timing is the biggest problem on these two sections.....I am doing T-diagrams for CR and notes for RC.

One of the challenges that I am facing right now is that when I skip details and skim only for general idea and structure for the RC passage .....I get the general idea, tone, structure related questions right but I start getting almost every specific detail question wrong. On the other hand when I start reading the whole passage I get most questions correct but obviously I am way off the time.....I am running out of time in the verbal section in the practice exams.....

I really need to take more full length practice exams since I am done with all basic material but with such a bad timing on verbal I don't really feel like I am ready to do computer adaptive verbal section still. I am doing paper pencil practice sets for both verbal sections but my timing is not improving in either of the two sections.

Please guide me!

[StaceyKoprince]

Hi, all

For everyone except shadangi, if you would like personalized feedback, please start your own separate thread in the General Strategy folder. This thread is reserved for shadangi's specific situation. :) (Note: you may want to read the rest of this post, because you'll be asked to do some of the same things in your own post, such as analyzing recent tests.)

shadangi, we aren't permitted to download files (security reasons), and anyway, we want you to learn how to analyze your own test results. Use the below article to analyze your most recent test:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and post your analysis. Note: do NOT just post all of the data. You can include the data, but you also have to tell us what you think it means. After every test you take, you're going to need to do this analysis, so you need to learn how.

Also note any ways in which you deviated from official testing conditions (including skipping the essays).

From your results so far, it looks like your quant is great and your focus has been on verbal. You've shown very nice improvement so far, though I do want to ask whether you took these tests under 100% official conditions (including the essays). If you deviated from official conditions in any way, please let us know (such deviations can result in artificial score increases).

Next, is there a particular reason you're aiming for 750? There aren't any schools that require such a high score (indeed, they'd have trouble filling their classes if they required that high of a score). For even the very top schools, if you hit 700+, then they'll just say "ok, the GMAT is fine" and move on to the rest of your application in order to decide whether to admit you. They don't typically admit based on the GMAT score itself.

If you are having any timing problems at all, read this article immediately and start doing what it says:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... anagement/

[shadangi]

Hi, all

For everyone except shadangi, if you would like personalized feedback, please start your own separate thread in the General Strategy folder. This thread is reserved for shadangi's specific situation. :) (Note: you may want to read the rest of this post, because you'll be asked to do some of the same things in your own post, such as analyzing recent tests.)

shadangi, we aren't permitted to download files (security reasons), and anyway, we want you to learn how to analyze your own test results. Use the below article to analyze your most recent test:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and post your analysis. Note: do NOT just post all of the data. You can include the data, but you also have to tell us what you think it means. After every test you take, you're going to need to do this analysis, so you need to learn how.

Also note any ways in which you deviated from official testing conditions (including skipping the essays).

From your results so far, it looks like your quant is great and your focus has been on verbal. You've shown very nice improvement so far, though I do want to ask whether you took these tests under 100% official conditions (including the essays). If you deviated from official conditions in any way, please let us know (such deviations can result in artificial score increases).

Next, is there a particular reason you're aiming for 750? There aren't any schools that require such a high score (indeed, they'd have trouble filling their classes if they required that high of a score). For even the very top schools, if you hit 700+, then they'll just say "ok, the GMAT is fine" and move on to the rest of your application in order to decide whether to admit you. They don't typically admit based on the GMAT score itself.

If you are having any timing problems at all, read this article immediately and start doing what it says:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... anagement/

Hi Stacey,

Thanks for your response. Truly appreciate your time.

Answer to your question - why 750? I graduated from the TOP school (IIT Bombay) in EE with a stellar GPA (~4). But, I belong to a highly representative pool of applicants - IT :) So, I have challenged myself to conquer verbal and hopefully get an edge with 750 score. But more importantly, I am hoping for merit based scholarship - with my academic background, a good GMAT score will improve my chance on getting a scholarship "IF I GET ADMITTED." Furthermore, I am applying in only 4 of my dream schools in Round 2, so that gives me 4 months to finish my application, and I am hoping that this should be sufficient time to complete the process. Please let me know if you think otherwise - I would love to hear a critique.

Anyways, I think, I have made a significant progress in last 3 weeks, and I feel very confident. I took my 5th MGMAT test 7-8 days ago, and got 710 (q50, v36) - was a bit shaky and mentally off in quant, and very slow in verbal. In ALL the above tests, I have been very diligent in following official testing guidelines - AWA, 8 mins break, etc. In-fact around I have taken these tests around the same time as my official test (Sep 12, 8 AM) timing.

In my last test, I got ALL 12/12 700-800 level SC correct. BUT my timing was ~1.5 mins/correct SC. Also, I was at ~92%ile till question #35, BUT then I was running out of time, and I panicked and got last 7 questions incorrect (including 3 600-700 level SCs) - mostly random guessing. This lead to V36 :(

My CR and RC accuracy (CR-60%, RC-45%) were not good in the test, and I am working on them ever since. I am primarily struggling with my timing. I am a slow reader "in-general". I have been watching MANY of the RON's videos to improve my comprehension, hope I can improve in next 2 weeks to get past V40.

Furthermore, I have gone through many of your BTG posts including difference b/w 700 and 760. I am trying to follow your guidelines on analyzing my mistakes and responses to the questions more diligently than ever.

My prep timing has not been ideal for last 2-3 months, since I started preparing. I have taken off from work for last 2 weeks - i.e., i am on vacation currently till my GMAT - so I have a LOT of time in my hands till my GMAT date. I am planning to work EXTREMELY hard in this time to target my weaknesses (RC, CR and timing in all verbal types). Also finally I am allocating sometime to quant diligently - 1 hr everyday till the test day just to keep up will the basics. I plan to take my GMATPrep-2 coming Saturday and the last MGMAT test 2-3 days before the test - that's it.

Knowing that I have full next 12-13 days in my hands (till my GMAT), could you please advice me on what can I do in this time to maximize my chances of getting a 750? I feel like I can do it, but at the same time I am also NOT confident enough as I feel like I have not yet mastered all the pieces on verbal.

Thanks.

[StaceyKoprince]

Re: the admissions stuff, I would talk to an admissions consultant to make sure that the GMAT score can help with those things. I know there are some scholarships that do take GMAT scores into account - so if you are applying for those, that's definitely a consideration.

Also, I was at ~92%ile till question #35, BUT then I was running out of time, and I panicked and got last 7 questions incorrect (including 3 600-700 level SCs) - mostly random guessing. This lead to V36 :(

Yes, so this indicates a timing problem, and it's really important to try to fix this before the real thing. If you have big timing problems, then you can't be sure you'll be able to hit your target score - if your time gets out of hand enough... there goes your score. And that's especially true because you're going for a 750 - you can't mess up timing and still get that kind of score.

I plan to take my GMATPrep-2 coming Saturday and the last MGMAT test 2-3 days before the test

No! Last practice test a MINIMUM of 5 days before the real test. Don't take a practice test within 5 days of the real thing! You'll just tire yorself out. Read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... you-crazy/

Also, these articles address what to do for the final 2 weeks:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... game-plan/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-review/

The general theme for the last 10 days or so is: your focus shifts from trying to improve your score to trying to solidify your (current) score - you're just reviewing everything in preparation for test day. You mention that your most recent score is 710 and you want 750... so you still need to improve, which means you may not be ready to take the test in less than 2 weeks.

See this:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/09/ ... e-mistakes

Let me know what your current status is!

[shadangi]

Thanks Stacey for the response.

I gave my 2nd GMATPrep test and got 730 (q50, v38). I again RAN out of time - I guessed on last RC (got all incorrect :( ) BUT this time I saved 3-4 mins for last 3-4 questions, which are generally SC or CR and I normally cruise through those.

RC is my nemesis, I know, and there is nothing much I can do at this point. I have my test next Monday. I plan to take my last MGMAT tomorrow or day-after (still deciding), and then have a go at the final.

I know RC will kill me in the final, but I also know that I am pretty strong at SC and CR, so I have to have trust in myself. So this is my plan:
1. Spend normal time on ALL the CR and SC as I have been doing.
2. 1st and 2nd RC - try to get 100% correct. Normally I will get 2 RC in 1st 30 mins.
3. Then speed up in 3rd RC - whatever it takes, I will NOT spend more than 4 mins reading the passage and answering 1st question.
4. Last RC - Read topic sentences. If there is a purpose/main idea question, I should be able to knock that off quickly - I almost have 100% strike rate with purpose types questions. For rest quickly make educated guess in < 30 secs each. So Last RC (4 question) < 3 mins.
5. I will make sure I have 5-6 mins to attack questions after the last RC.

Does that sound reasonable? Do you think I should switch the order of plan to attack #3 and #4 RC? I have no other alternative but to have a go at GMAT first and final time coming Monday.

Thanks and appreciate your time and patience.

[StaceyKoprince]

mostly sounds good, BUT:

1st and 2nd RC - try to get 100% correct. Normally I will get 2 RC in 1st 30 mins.

No. Never go into anything on this test trying to get 100% correct. That's a recipe for spending too much time and messing yourself up later in the section. Do what you can in a reasonable amount of time and move on.

That should save you enough time on the first 2 that you can use the same strategy on the last 2. If you do find yourself too behind on time, then yes, go ahead and guess quickly on a question or two in order to catch back up. Do choose your weakest areas for those guesses, of course.

Good luck!!

[shadangi]

mostly sounds good, BUT:

1st and 2nd RC - try to get 100% correct. Normally I will get 2 RC in 1st 30 mins.

No. Never go into anything on this test trying to get 100% correct. That's a recipe for spending too much time and messing yourself up later in the section. Do what you can in a reasonable amount of time and move on.

That should save you enough time on the first 2 that you can use the same strategy on the last 2. If you do find yourself too behind on time, then yes, go ahead and guess quickly on a question or two in order to catch back up. Do choose your weakest areas for those guesses, of course.

Good luck!!

Thanks Stacey for your patience and honest response. Truly appreciate your willingness to help.

These are great advice. Actually, I did a good set of RCs this week, including GMATPrep ones and MGMAT Q-bank, and I think I am very comfortable now - sorta finalized a strategy that suites me. As you suggested I will try my best in reasonable time to knock off the 1st and 2nd RC, and then I will try to knock off last 2 relatively quickly - worst comes to worse, I will read just topic sentences in the last one. As you suggested, I will also make sure I don't guess on ANY SC or CR, unless I really screwed up my timing badly - fingers crossed :). Thanks again for the advice.

[abhitechie]

Few things would like to add - Top 10 Schools don't give scholarship (unless you are a famous social activist), getting in itself is a privileage and expecting scholarships is a bit over the top.

With a 4.0 GPA from IIT B, you are not that much over representated (you don't belong to IIM category you belong to IIF).
A 720-730 would do it for you. Someone with a 3.0 GPA would need a 750+ to make up for it.

[StaceyKoprince]

As you suggested, I will also make sure I don't guess on ANY SC or CR, unless I really screwed up my timing badly - fingers crossed :).

Er, wait! I'm not saying that you should never guess on those. In fact, I AM saying never to go into a test telling yourself that you will NOT guess on XYZ. Be prepared to guess on anything, if you have to. Be prepared to let anything go if you hit something really hard or are behind on time or whatever. Be prepared to be flexible, basically.

I can't comment on abhitechie's admissions stuff - I don't know that much about admissions!