Need [Urgent] Help in Verbal

[JLyman]

Hi,

Started preparing in late May. Progress till date:
June 28 2014 600 (M 36 / V 34 - MGMAT)
July 27 2014 630 (M 41 / V 36 - MGMAT)
August 8 2014 660 (M 47 / V 34 - GMAT Prep)
August 12 2014 680 (M 48 / V 34 - GMAT Prep)

Need urgent suggestions on how to improve verbal. Will really appreciate the help!

Issues with Verbal:
1. Sentence Correction accuracy is very bad (below 50%). Key areas of concern - Modifiers & Parallelism
2. Timing Issues often leading to mistakes in CR
3. RC is very erratic. Performance is not consistent

Will keep revising my mistakes in Math to see if I can push for 49/50. But without verbal coming up to 38-40 levels, it is going to be a challenge to meet the targeted range.

All suggestions are welcome.

[StaceyKoprince]

Just to make sure: the top end of your desired range (Q50 V40) is crazy high - like 750. Possibly you're just giving yourself a little buffer room in case one section falls short - but if your overall score goal is actually something like 750, stop driving yourself crazy - you don't need a score like that!
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... mat-score/

Next, you title your post "urgent." Is that because your planned test date is coming up? If so, you may need to consider postponing your test - you can't really cram for this stuff. The jump from V34 to V38 is 14 percentile points - it's not a small jump.

Okay, I need some more detail from you in order to advise you on verbal. First, read these two articles:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Then, use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT (this should take you a minimum of 1 hour):
http://tinyurl.com/analyzeyourcats

Figure out your strengths and weaknesses (concentrating on Bucket 2) as well as what you think you should do based on that analysis. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

You mention timing concerns. The first two articles above will begin to help you with timing and mindset (timing issues generally stem from mindset issues). Also, start doing what these two articles say:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

Have you figured out why RC is erratic? Do you struggle with a certain type of passage? (eg, some people hate the science ones; others hate the social science ones)

Are you struggling with timing there as well? Often, people will spend too much time on CR and SC, then rush on RC to "make up" the time - and that can lead to careless mistakes and erratic performance on RC.

Another culprit can be mental fatigue. Do you find, on some tests, that you get to the verbal and have to re-read because stuff just isn't sticking? Or do you find yourself "not caring" as much and just picking an answer more quickly / without really checking carefully? Those are mental fatigue symptoms.
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... you-crazy/

[JLyman]

Thanks Stacey,

Appreciate your comments. Took gmat today. Got a 710 Q 50, V 37, IR 7). Got slammed at the end in verbal due to fatigue. Otherwise went as per plan.

Not sure if I should retake given top-5 schools remain the main target.

Thanks again for all the pointers. Was very useful

[StaceyKoprince]

Congratulations! Great job. Those scores are more than good enough for any program. At a top 5 school, your GMAT score won't stand out (i.e., it won't be a big point in your favor), but they don't let you in based on GMAT score. The GMAT is more of a threshold indicator, and you've passed the threshold.

Of course, the top 5 schools are crazy competitive. Now, you need great stuff elsewhere in the application to make yours stand out. Good luck!

[JLyman]

Thanks! Appreciate your help and kind words.

Applying from the India Private Equity pool. Hoping to make it. Will post an update in Jan 2014.

[StaceyKoprince]

ah, yes, that's a tough pool. :) Let us know what happens!

[JLyman]

ah, yes, that's a tough pool. :) Let us know what happens!

Stacey,

Got in HBS. Thanks a lot for your help! Really appreciate it.

I am delighted with the outcome!

[StaceyKoprince]

Congratulations - that's fantastic! I'm really happy for you. Hope you're celebrating. :)

Good luck!