Huge drop in verbal score

[NehaS508]

Hi Stacey,

I took my GMAT 2 days ago - 650, Q49, V29. It was a big disappointment because I have never scored anywhere near 29 in any practice test that I took in the recent past.

List of Practice Tests:

I took 6 MGMAT tests, 2 GMAT Prep free tests and 2 Exam pack tests.

MGMAT1 - 530/Q31V31 Test date: 07/19/15
GMAT Prep1 - 560
MGMAT2 - 630/Q45V32 Test date: 10/15/15
MGMAT3 - 680/Q47V36 Test date: 10/25/15
MGMAT4 - 630/Q45V32 Test date: 11/07/15
MGMAT5 - 670/Q46V35 Test date: 11/17/15
GMAT Prep2 - 690/Q49V34 Test date: 11/27/15
GMAT Prep3 - 740/Q50V39 Test date: 12/04/15
MGMAT6 - 660/Q35V45 Test date: 12/09/15
GMAT Prep4 - 750/Q59V41 Test date: 12/13/15

Timing during practice tests:
I always faced timing problem during practice tests. I followed the 15 minute check approach that you have suggested in a blog post. I always lagged by 2 or 3 questions by the end of the first 15 minutes, 3 to 4 by the end of next 15 minutes and so on.. As a result, I always used to hurry up through the last 30 minutes of the exam. While hurrying, I didn't use to go through all the answer choices carefully. I used stop watch while practicing sets of OG questions but it didn't help much.

Moreover, while practicing SC questions, if I take more than optimal time to solve a question, I am able to solve any question, but not within the right amount of time. This is happening even though I use the POE and split identification techniques. So, in my opinion I am sound with the concepts but failing in pacing.

Preparation:
The following is the list of the material I have used for the preparation.
- OG13, OG VR2, GMAT Prep Exam pack
- Manhattan SC guide
- Manhattan Quant guides
- Manhattan Advanced quant guide
- LSAT RC passages
- PowerScore CR Bible

Out of the 5 months I spent on preparation, almost the first 4 months of my preparation was largely inconsistent, as, very often, I used to take several days out of preparation. I started studying consistently only during the final 20 days of my preparation and spent several hours a day during the last 10 days. I even took 3 practice tests during the final 10 days.

Test day:
I always suffered from anxiety during tests and the GMAT I took day before wasn't an exception. Even though I tried and maintained my cool a dab before the examination, I became very anxious on the test day's morning.

The quant section went well only until the end of the section, when I was left with 2 questions and almost no time remaining on the clock. This led me to leave a question unmarked and I think this made me nervous.

I prepared myself not to be nervous for the verbal part and I was doing well till the first 15 minutes. My pace dropped significantly during the next 15 minutes and I was left with too little time for too many questions. This made me mark the several questions in the end without going through the options properly.

My questions:
I have planned to take the test again because I feel that the score I got was far below what I am capable of. So can you suggest me how to prepare for my next attempt. I am planning to take the test in the next 20days.



Great Thanks,
Neha

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry that you had a tough test experience.

My pace dropped significantly during the next 15 minutes and I was left with too little time for too many questions.

This is why your score dropped. (I think you might already know this - but I want to make sure.) And, of course, the nervousness didn't help either.

So can you suggest me how to prepare for my next attempt. I am planning to take the test in the next 20days.

I am concerned about this timeframe. Timing problems usually take closer to 4 to 6 weeks to resolve. Nerves / anxiety problems also take time to try to minimize.

Are you taking the test again so quickly because you are upset about your last test and want to fix it? I certainly understand that. If you don't have a specific school deadline, though, then it would be better to give yourself a more reasonable length of time.

For the nervousness, try this:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... mat-score/

You know already that what you're doing now isn't working for the timing. From things you've said, I suspect that the root cause may be this: you may still be trying to get too much right.

I am able to solve any question, but not within the right amount of time.

That's okay - just pick 5 or 6 questions throughout the test that look annoying for whatever reason and bail quickly on those. (Not 1 minute and then bail. Bail in 15 seconds.) Pick based on what annoys you. Do you hate full-underline SC? Boldface CR? Whatever - know what it is for you and bail.

Then, you will be able to spend a little extra time on the remaining questions and you'll be fine.

I'm going to guess that, on verbal, you did well during those first 15 minutes, and then you started getting some hard questions (because you earned them!)...but then you kept trying to get them right, messed up your timing, tired yourself out, and everything went downhill from there.

Read this:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -the-gmat/

What do you need to change about your mindset so that you aren't still (consciously or subconsciously) trying to get everything / almost everything right?

And I'll include this, though I think you've read it already. But good to have.
http://tinyurl.com/GMATTimeManagement