thelastskybender
Zeejah
The word count resets to zero each time you click on save and submit. Just me or is that happening to all?
The essays remain intact when I log out and login back though.
Posted from my mobile device
Jesus Christ! How did you score V45? I am planning to retake the GMAT in March, and I would really appreciate some guidance on the verbal section.
Haha, verbal was what was protecting me from myself (read terrible quant skills unlike your impressive Q50), so it was non-negotiable that it had to be good. I did take
TTP’s course for sentence correction, which was quite nice to get a good hang of the kind of questions you could be expected to tackle. RC and SC - I did not have the time to go over much but relied on mock tests (took all 6) to get me prepared.
Also having read books with convoluted language since long helps with your comfort level with long winding sentences. It also helps you ignore big sounding words that don’t matter in the narrative and to some extent in RC, reading speed.
I do not know if this is the right way of approaching verbal, but this is what worked for me. I am happy to clarify any finer points.
RC -
1. I read the para very carefully taking my time, so I do not have to go back to it when the question needs to be answered except to double check the facts. Idea is, at the end of the reading, you should be able to get an idea of what the para is trying to say. So questions that deal with “what is the purpose of the para?” become easy to deal with. The paras are usually excerpts out of research papers/long form news articles, so the language while complex, is not exactly unfamiliar. Keeping this in mind, might make it more approachable.
2. Sticking to the universe created by the para no matter how ridiculous the right answer may sound. As long as it’s true in the universe, it’s good enough for me.
3. There is usually more than one answer that seems right. When you have then shortlisted, down to two, one of them will always be MORE right, meaning it would be a more natural and specific conclusion flowing out of the para.
4. When backed up against a wall in particularly annoying questions, I consider each option, match it against the para and see if its fitting. I try to find its closest relative in the para. The option that’s fitting best is my answer.
5. Of course, eliminating the obviously wrong answers is a given.
SC
1. I have found modifiers and tenses being tested a lot, directly or indirectly.
2. I spend good time with the question, making a mental note as I read of obvious errors
3. As a next step, I look for options that address those errors. Short list them.
4. I look at other options that do not address the error in the way I imagined or do not address it at all and see if it is still right
5. If a clear answer emerges, great
6. Usually, I get stuck between two very possible choices. I then match them word by word and see which one is likely to be more right. Here, a few rules of sentence construction that you may have read could be useful
7. In crisis, I do go for what sounds right (for me this is what I usually find in books and not spoken word)
8.It helps a lot to eliminate obviously wrong answers when picking. But, it may not always be obvious which ones those are hence the struggle.
9. A few rules must be very clear. Usage of”such as” and “like”, subject verb agreement, usage of “who” and “whom”. Sometimes, these help in very quickly eliminating wrong answers.
CR
1. Again, I read the question very carefully, so I do not have to re read it multiple times.
2. If the questions asks about assumptions, it’s easier. You simply imagine which of the options, if not true or assumed, would throw the argument. It helps to go over it one by one so you really eliminate with finality.
3. If it’s about strengthening and weakening, again, I go over the options one by one, checking if it were true, how would the conclusion change. With practice, this should be a very quick exercise, while it may sound heavy now.
4. Be very careful about letting your own biases creep in sneakily. CR does deal with everyday scenarios in some questions where we are equipped to have our own opinion (unlike scientific journal type questions). It’s best to see if your answer is being answered with the information provided ONLY. Recheck to see if you are unknowingly introducing new information in the form of a bias when picking an answer.
These helped me. Also, mock tests really help to manage your time and identify common errors you are prone to make.
Hope this helps! It’s nice you are planning to give again. Makes me wonder if I should too with a more respectable quant score.