Hi Experts,
I have taken my GMAT 3 times and here are the scores
GMAT 1: Dec 31, 2007 570 (Q44, V 25)
GMAT 2: Dec 21, 2009 590 (Q48, V 23)
GMAT 3: Feb 09, 2012 600 (Q48, V 25)
Honestly speaking I donot know what happened in the first two tests. I know that I would have to justify for the time gaps between the tests and it will have a negative impact on my application but there were some things that i could not avoid at that point of time, and GMAT took a back-seat.
Anyways I will talk about my latest test preparation and I would be honest with myself and would like to have your expert opinions, and also I would talk only about verbal, as this is the section that is pulling me down. I started my prepration in Sep 2011, and took my Exam on Feb9 2012, i.e. around 4+ months , Initially I was preparing on and off prepration and from Dec onwards my prep became more focussed and intense. GMAT experts, please do not tell me to give me a second thought before I attempt for the 4th time, because I believe I can make it and as my Mocks will also tell the same thing. and I am determined to reach there.
Books Used:: Manhattan SC,
Power Score CR Bible,
OG 12 and
OG review (Although I have all
OG 10, 11, 12, I mainly used
OG 12)
For RC: Read some theory from internet and tried to apply them. RC99 - did 20 passages.
Maths: Again no specific Books, mainly from internet, and I had some old notes. GMATClub test to some extent.
Other Materials: GMATPREP SC, GMATPREP CR, Manhattan Tests, GMATPREP Tests
SC Preparation :: After taking
e-Gmat, course I was more confident. However, the percentage vary when I practice SC alone (timed say 10-15 qns )from
OG and in the simulated exam. My accuracy rate was 90-95% but it dropped down to 60-65 % in the mocks. One reason could be I was familiar with the sentences in the
OG and GMATPREP SC and hence a higher accuracy, and another reason could be that I am not able to handle the Cr ans RC pressure in the mocks and my accuracy drops. Although I tend to complete the SC within 1 -1.5 minutes, but in practice I timed myself for 2 minutes and this could be another reason that I do miserable in verbal, as I am not able to steal time for qnsin other section. One important thing to answer is that
Do I had a strategy to attend the Sc qns ? the answer is partially yes. In the mocks I tried to follow the strategy (undrstand the meaning, break into clause etc.) but that it was not very consistent.What Do I intend to Do This time:: I have a belief that SC wont be a trouble for me in the exam, specially after the
e-GMAT course (I am more confident now), I have to work on some little-nitigrities such as, complete within 1- 1.5 minutes.
My next steps:
1. Go throughly once again the Manhattan SC guide, and e-Gmat course. Do the OG qns after completing specific topics.
2. Practice using GMATPREP SC qns: Main focus is to complete it within 1-1.5 minutes. CR Preparation :: Started with Power Score Bible, and left it in between after reading the Premise/conclusion, Inference, strengther, Weaken chapters. I shifted to
e-Gmat CR course, there also I didnot complete it, Did the Stregnther/Weaken/Inference sections mainly. Than started to practice CR. I tried to do the LSAT CRs , but later shifted to GMATPREP CR. Some important qns to answer
Do I know the CR concepts clearly and comfortably: Not Completely. (I understood the concept for strengthen/assumption/weaken.)
Am I able to apply the concepts : Partially yes.
Did I have a strategy for each type of qns: No.What do I intend to do this time:
1. Go through the CR bible and e-gmat course, and solve OG qns after completing a certain topic (without the timer) with a strategy for each qns.
2. Approach with a strategy: a) Read the qns first.
b) write down the conclusion/premise
c) paraphrase the Stimulus.
d) pre-thinking
d) paraphrase the answer 3. start practicing with timed conditioned. and complete within 2 mnts.
4. Practice question from Grockit and gmatclub.
RC Preparation:: I didnot study any concret theory for this. Practiced 20 passages from the RC 99 and somehow my accuracy dropped and as this was just before the exam,( say within a week). I stopped practiing from the RC 99. Though I had a strategy to tackle RC passages,(I used to read the passage and take notes). However, I was not able to cmplete within 8-9 minutes . I would complete a passage on an average 11-12 minutes.
I am not sure how to improve on this section. I am planning to buy the Veritas RC book.
What I intend to do is practice a lot and and to complete the passage in not more than 8-9 minutes. Ok, so this is what I intend to do , before my next GMAT.
I am not very sure if I would be able to reach my goal of 700 + with the approach mentioned above. I am in need of serious help and directions. Also I am in a dilemma that shall I look out for a tutor, but not very sure whether I will be able to find one (a good one who can , give me directions, and point my weak areas, and work with me to find a strategy that works for me) here in Bangalore, India. Any info will be of great help
Another thing is that I not so good at evaluating myself, as to which area I am good at and which area I need improvement. I am attaching my mock test results , please guide me. I am committed to reach to my goal, and planning to study for another 1.5 months, or 2 months at the max, before I appear for the tests.
Will this time period of 1.5 -2 months suffice for me to raise my score by 100 points. ? I am hereby attaching a XL where I have put my Mocks test (all are with AWA, except the first 2 -3 , not so sure), and it also contains my verbal report from manhattangmat, for the latest 3 test from manhattan, both by topic and difficulty level.
Please guide me, waiting for your valuable inputs.
Attachments
File comment: GmatMocks and Verbal report from 3 latest Manhattan test.
Mocks_VerbalReport.xls [45.5 KiB]
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