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krutki
Joined: 02 Jun 2014
Last visit: 30 Oct 2016
Posts: 10
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Given Kudos: 2
Schools: INSEAD Jan '17 (A)
09 Jan 2015, 09:44
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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 log
Time 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
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 log
Time 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
mvictor
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Joined: 17 Jul 2014
Last visit: 14 Jul 2021
Posts: 2,118
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 236
Location: United States (IL)
Concentration: Finance, Economics
Schools: Stanford '20 (WD)
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
GPA: 3.92
WE:General Management (Transportation)
Products:
09 Jan 2015, 10:00
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I thought I am reading my story 
))
the same happened to me...
scored 560 with Q42 V26, then second time 560 Q43 V 24...I did not prepare at all for Q.
on CATS i scored min 640, max 680 with Q 47-49 & Verbal 30-37...
))the same happened to me...
scored 560 with Q42 V26, then second time 560 Q43 V 24...I did not prepare at all for Q.
on CATS i scored min 640, max 680 with Q 47-49 & Verbal 30-37...
09 Jan 2015, 14:31
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Bookmarks
Hi krutki,
From your Official GMAT Scores, you're clearly "seeing" (and responding to) this Test in the same general way. The good news about that is that you're consistent, so once we fix your problems and you learn some new tactics, you should be able to hit a new level consistently. The bad news is that we don't know how long it's going to take to get you out of your "bad habits."
What were your Scaled Scores on each of your Official GMATs?
When a Test Taker experiences the type of score drops that you're describing, the likely explanations fall into one of two categories:
1) Something you were doing during your studies was NOT realistic, so you weren't properly ready for the specifics of Test Day.
2) Something about about Test Day itself threw you "off" and affected your performance.
If you can answer a few questions, then I should be able to give you the necessary advice that you need to improve:
1) When you took your CATs, did you take the ENTIRE CAT every time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you ever take your CATs more than once?
3) What time of day did you take your CATs and what time of day were your Official GMATs?
4) Did you ever do anything during a CAT that did NOT match how the Official GMAT is administered (skipping sections, pausing the Test, listening to music, eating/drinking during the Exam, using a laptop computer instead of a desktop computer with a mouse, etc.)?
5) How many CATs did you take in the week before your Official GMAT?
6) How did you sleep the night before each of your GMATs?
7) How long is the ride to the Testing Center?
8) Did you have a pacing problem on Test Day? Did you have to rush through a bunch of questions just to finish (and if so, then approximately how many?) Did you leave ANY questions unanswered?
Thankfully, the GMAT is a standardized, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to CRUSH it. Also, since Business Schools don't care if you take the GMAT more than once, retaking the GMAT is not a problem. Your studies were "book heavy" which is likely part of your 'problem' - answering GMAT questions in a book does NOT match up with answering questions on a computer. With this next round of studies, you'll likely need to invest in some computer-based resources (more than just CATs).
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
From your Official GMAT Scores, you're clearly "seeing" (and responding to) this Test in the same general way. The good news about that is that you're consistent, so once we fix your problems and you learn some new tactics, you should be able to hit a new level consistently. The bad news is that we don't know how long it's going to take to get you out of your "bad habits."
What were your Scaled Scores on each of your Official GMATs?
When a Test Taker experiences the type of score drops that you're describing, the likely explanations fall into one of two categories:
1) Something you were doing during your studies was NOT realistic, so you weren't properly ready for the specifics of Test Day.
2) Something about about Test Day itself threw you "off" and affected your performance.
If you can answer a few questions, then I should be able to give you the necessary advice that you need to improve:
1) When you took your CATs, did you take the ENTIRE CAT every time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you ever take your CATs more than once?
3) What time of day did you take your CATs and what time of day were your Official GMATs?
4) Did you ever do anything during a CAT that did NOT match how the Official GMAT is administered (skipping sections, pausing the Test, listening to music, eating/drinking during the Exam, using a laptop computer instead of a desktop computer with a mouse, etc.)?
5) How many CATs did you take in the week before your Official GMAT?
6) How did you sleep the night before each of your GMATs?
7) How long is the ride to the Testing Center?
8) Did you have a pacing problem on Test Day? Did you have to rush through a bunch of questions just to finish (and if so, then approximately how many?) Did you leave ANY questions unanswered?
Thankfully, the GMAT is a standardized, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to CRUSH it. Also, since Business Schools don't care if you take the GMAT more than once, retaking the GMAT is not a problem. Your studies were "book heavy" which is likely part of your 'problem' - answering GMAT questions in a book does NOT match up with answering questions on a computer. With this next round of studies, you'll likely need to invest in some computer-based resources (more than just CATs).
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
