Need advice for verbal improvement

[gmat_jul]

I started GMAT preparation around 3 months back. My study hours are primarily limited to weekend only.

I have completed Kaplan premier, Manhattan GMAT - SC, OG 11. In addition, I have quickly browsed (not complete study), Barron's for Quant and Cracking the GMAT (2005) for verbal

In diagnostics of GMATPrep, I scored 650 (Feb)
In last 3 weeks, I took 3 MGMAT CAT tests with following scores
MGMAT CAT 1 - 650 (47 Q, 32 V)
MGMAT CAT 2 - 700 (47 Q, 39 V)
MGMAT CAT 3 - 650 (47 Q, 32 V)

For improvement in Quant score, I intend to study MGMAT Number properties, Word Translation and Geometry guides however I am clue less about improvement in verbal. I need to take GMAT within a month to be able to meet deadline for a school. Target GMAT score is 730

Request for suggestion on improving verbal score quickly (with or without course). Thanks

[StaceyKoprince]

For the score that you want (730), if we assume that your quant score will stay around a 47, you'd need to improve your verbal score to about 45, or the 99th percentile. If your math improves a bit more, say to 49 (90th percentile), then verbal would have to be around 42-43, or 96-97th percentile.

That will obviously be extraordinarily challenging, particularly if you only have one month. Is there some special reason why you need such a high score (eg, trying to offset a very low GPA)? (730 is the 97th percentile - and no school will reject you over a GMAT score above 90, and probably even above 85. The school might reject you for other reasons - but the GMAT score won't be the reason.)

If you do need that score, you may need to push out your test date (which it sounds like you can't do) or work with a private tutor. If it's more that you want that score but don't absolutely need it, then you will have to decide whether you'd rather go for it (but be prepared to invest all of your time - only studying on weekends isn't going to cut it - and probably a lot of money, and even then there's no guarantee) or whether you can lower your sights a little bit. Let us know what you decide to do!

[gmat_jul]

Thanks Stacey for your prompt reply

My target for 730 is based on average GMAT score for current batch in B-school. Also, my GPA (2.9) is average hence I want to be ensure that other parts of the application are competitive.

Considering that deadline is not going to change, I will like to do the best (even if I can not achieve 730) I can in next 1 month or so.

[StaceyKoprince]

Okay, so you're going to go for it! First, you're going to need to study every day. If you get to the point that you feel really burned out, you can take a day off, but then you've got to get back to it the next day.

If you have done OG11 but you haven't yet gotten to the score you want, then you're not done with that book. You actually need to analyze the questions, not just do them and move on to the next one. See this conversation for some questions you should ask yourself while studying:

http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/post10460.html

My first post talks about studying in general and my second gives some additional ideas for RC.

Because you also need to do this very quickly, you may want to consider doing some private tutoring - I don't normally like to suggest this because I have an obvious conflict of interest, but this situation warrants the suggestion. Contact any companies in which you're interested and ask (firmly but nicely) very specific questions about the qualifications and experience of the potential tutor. Specifically request someone who is especially good at verbal. If you're nice but also clearly indicate what you want, chances are you'll get matched with an extra-good tutor (essentially, if you're nice to customer service people, they often go out of their way to help you out!). If you want to talk to anyone at our company, you can call 800.576.GMAT or email studentservices@manhattangmat.com.

And, of course, use the forums for additional support! Good luck - let us know how it goes!

[gmat_jul]

Thanks Stacey for your advice

[StaceyKoprince]

You're welcome - good luck!