Hi guys,
I would like to hear thoughts from experienced retakers who struggled with verbal and also from experts on the topic who can provide valuable feedback to this thread. MY goal is to reach 700+.
MY SITUATION:1st GMAT attempt: 560
Materials used for learning: 8
MGMAT Guides + OG12
Time invested for preparation: 7 months
Although I scored as high as 680 in CATs provided by the GMATPrep software, I was not able to get this score on the real test. I know that verbal was my weakness and that it was the source of my score fluctuation in the cats (Range from 500 in first diagnostic attempt to 640-680).
2nd GMAT attempt: 560 (Q was higher than last time, V was lower)
Materials used for learning:
e-GMAT course + OG12 + Verbal Review book (the same series as OG12) +
error logTime invested for preparation: 2,5 months -> I focused solely on verbal.
Again, one day before the exam I scored 680 in additional CATs that I bought from GMATPrep and on the day of the exam I have a score that is far away from what I know I can achieve. I also need to mention that I did not feel stressed at all during the exam.
MY STRUGGLE:When I do the exercises (from official sources) under timed conditions, I have a rate of 85% correct answers in RC, SC and CR, but when I sit a CAT, I cannot go over V30. The paradox is that I score even less (regularly) on the verbal part of the CATs than I used to before my verbal preparation (How ?!). I don't understand what is happening. Why can't I transfer the success rate of 85% on to the exam?
MY PLAN:I want to go through the Manhattan guides again for SC and CR. I will also check
e-GMAT CR section again. For RC I will read 3-4 books from the "
GMAT Fiction" selection recommended by bb.
As I have an office job, I can study in the evenings for 2-3h and 5-6h on the weekends. I plan to study no more than 3-4 months for the 3rd attempt.
1. Read and study thoroughly the Manhattan SC book. (1-1,5 months)
2. Read Manhattan CR book and rewatch all
e-GMAT lessons on CR (1 -1,5 months)
3. Read the fiction books whenever I can, but at least several pages a day (i.e. before sleep)
4. CATs: This is where it gets tricky. I used to do 5-6 CATs before the two attempts and also shortly before the exams. I read a lot on this forum and it seems to me that there is no clear recommendation on how many CATs one should really take. I saw both recommendations: a) take only a few, and take no CATs a couple of days before the exam; b) take as many CATs as possible! (but what's the use if you still don't manage to increase your score? - You need to work on your knowledge of the topics themselves.)
Additional fact regarding my language skills: Just 5 days after my 2nd GMAT attempt I went heavily demotivated into a TOEFL test centre. I did not prepare for the TOEFL and I did not care about the exam at all. I had no information on how the test is structured and the only thing I knew was that there will be 4 parts: reading, listening, speaking and writing. I received my scores couple of days ago: R: 26, L: 27, S: 23 (I nuked the first two questions) W:28. Overall score: 104/120. I know that the level of TOEFL is different than that of the GMAT but it just proves my right that there is some methodical error in my CAT attempts and that I do not fail solely because i have issues with comprehending the English language. However, I am open to criticism on that point, so please feel free to tell my your opinion.
Quant: I score regularly 44-48 on CATs.
Please let mew know if you have any ideas where that score difference in verbal may come from and how to eliminate this. Furthermore, I will be very thankful for any tips on the study plan!
Thanks and all the best!
krutki