Retaking GMAT in 1 month - Suggestions

[BitanR515]

Hi

I recently took the GMAT and got a poor score of 630(Q49 V27).

My performance on MGMAT CAT
Test 1 - 580
Test 2- 620
Test 3 - 620
test 4 - 670
Test 5 - 670(Q 46 V36)
Test 6 - 650(Q44 V35)

In KAPLAN CATs the scores of last 2 tests were
680 each with V 34 and V37 respectively

In GMAt Prep
Test 1 680 Q49 V-34
Test 2 650 Q49 V-30
Test 1 Retake Q50 V41 (13 Verbal Questions repeat)

I am not at all satisfied with my performance and I am determined to retake GMAT in 1 month as I believe I can score 700.

As you can see my only concern is my Verbal Score.
Also I would like to mention that on the actual day I tried one strategy which I think is the primary cause of my poor Verbal score.I devoted more time on the first 10 questions and as a result I had to almost guess the last 11.(I had 11 mins to complete the last 10 questions!).I am sure that if I hadn't done this I would have definitely scored a 680 at least.(I had tried this strategy with GMAT Prep Test 2[650 V30] and had ended up in a similar situation)

Now since I have exhausted all the 6 MGMAT CAT and the 5 KAPLAN CATs I am really clueless about how to proceed. Please help.

Thanks
Bitan

[StaceyKoprince]

Yes, you're right. The good news is that you got a 27 even with that strategy that tanked your score. So you have a very good chance to score 30+ when you take the test again. (As long as you don't try that strategy again!)

First, our CATs have a lot more questions in the database than the GMATPrep CATs, so you have less chance of seeing a question repeat. You'll need to follow a few guidelines to minimize the chance of artificially inflating your score via question repeats.

First, anytime you see a problem that you remember (and this means: I know the answer or I'm pretty sure I remember the answer, not just "hmm, this looks vaguely familiar..."), immediately look at the timer and make yourself sit there for the full length of time for that question type. This way, you don't artificially give yourself more time than you should have.

Second, think about whether you got this problem right the last time. If you did, get it right again this time. If you didn't, get it wrong again. If you *completely honestly* think that you would get it right this time around if it were a new question (even though you got it wrong last time) because you've studied that area and improved, then get it right this time.

Note that you may see a repeat but not remember it—if it came from an early test, that should* be long enough ago that you've forgotten it.

*I say should because you don't really want to take tests more frequently than about once every 2 weeks-ish. You don't get better by taking tests; you get better by using the test to determine what needs to be made better and then doing the necessary work to improve those things between tests.

If you are going to re-take in about a month, that means you need about 2 tests...maybe 3. GMATPrep also does sell 4 additional practice tests (for $40 per 2 tests). So you can try to re-do our bank or Kaplan's first. If you see more than a few repeats you recognize in each section, then go buy the new GMATPrep tests.

[ETA] Oh, and since you're planning to re-take, you may want to order the Enhanced Score Report from GMAC:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/2016/07/15/how-to-analyze-the-upgraded-gmat-enhanced-score-report/