Catastrophic GMAT score 570(Q49,V20), How RC can literally kill you.

I appeared for my GMAT today and was utterly devastated by the score that popped up on the screen. a 570(Q49,V20).

This was the first time I appeared for the GMAT and to be honest the simulation is nowhere near the real thing. I started my preparations way back in 2016, but back then it was just an hour or so every alternate day or so, feeling "satisfied" I gave a mock test, a horrendous result of 590, put my feet back on the ground and seriousness crept in, but then I had this wonderful opportunity to come to US as a requirement of my job, so again GMAT took the back seat, it was sometime in June I decided to seriously indulge in preparation for the test. I researched a lot and found Egmat verbal was the best offering for Verbal as I knew I was struggling a lot with the 700 level questions. Egmat changed my approach to SC completely, there was a lot more to consider when correcting a sentence, rather than just relying on your ear. I struggled in the beginning but then it came to me, so SC was fine, CR was not a problem from the beginning, but I really underestimated RC. My Rc approach was totally different to what I came across as to what to Gin's or the Egmat approach. I tried adapting to the new approach but never got comfortable with it. I still practiced a lot never really improving, but thought by practice I would eventually get better and I think this what led to such an abysmal score. I practiced 41 timed question of Verbal and 37 timed question of Quant for 10 days straight. In GMAT Prep#1- I got 7 Rc questions wrong(that's more than 50%), 2 SC and 0 CR and on the GMAT Prep#2- the break-up looked like this RC-6, SC-3, CR-2, worried that RC would seriously affect my score I went for the Test, what happened next was a complete shock and what can be best described as a horrendous experience. I went into the GMAT relatively confident about Q, so thought "Ok, let's get the difficult part done away with"-Mistake-1. An SC question popped up and I took what was a simple SV number agreement question. It was like I was having a stroke. My brain denied registering any details, all I wanted to do was skip the question they get to the answer choices, constantly fighting with myself to comprehend the question and then after 3 question the first domino fell, an RC passage came up on the screen, constantly fighting myself to read and comprehend, I just stared at the words, it took around 7-8 minutes to get a summary of the passage, I had no idea where in lay the details, or where were the important parts that lead to Inference, by that time I was in a panic state and all I wanted to do was somehow to get past the RC questions. Then I stumbled upon an SC question, which was extremely easy, at that point I knew I have messed (trying very hard to not use the f-word) up badly, but somehow managed to get those right as I could feel the SC & CR questions getting difficult and then came a "flaw in the reasoning" question at that point I knew I had recovered somewhat, but little did I knew what was is store next, a RC para (the lengthiest I have ever seen, 05 paragraphs) and filled with interlinking details (classic GMAT trick overburdening you with details that are different but have similar words), I panicked again, and everything came crashing down, I just did not want to read the questions somehow I managed to get past it and the following SC question was again too easy, that was it GMAT has finally done it, it managed to crush the fighting spirit because at that point of time I saw the timer and the question no. I was on 24/41 with around 12 minutes to go, with at least 2 more RC in my way. I had to guess 7-8 questions, not "read guess", but what "mouse points at guess". The screen showed "your time has expired" and I was like yeah and I am on the verge too. Determined not to let Q screw-up, I threw caution out of the window and the strategy as well, went to the washroom, freshened up, splashed water on my face, looked into the mirror mute shouted:"Come on" (there was noone there in the washroom, so it was not awkward). Came back decided to drink my energy drink(big mistake), ironically at that point of time there 2-3 test takers entering the test room, so the proctor was already inside the room, & one other person was in line to enter, I desperately looked at the watch and then at the "ID Checking" guy, he realised my desperation and had to ask the proctor 3 times to let me in first, crucial seconds lost, but thats not even the worst part, now the desperation takes over your thought process, now the brain frantically wants to register details, but could not because it just doesn't know where to start from, so spent around 5-6 minutes on first 2 questions, after realising that I got those correct i settled in, Q was relatively straightforward with some calculation intensive question, then I saw a question I had never seen even on GMATClub CATs & MGMAT CATs, there were 5 hyperbolic curves and a hyperbolic equation and the question asked which hyperbola the equation belonged to. I was stumped, but I think I got that one right. Even in the AWA GMAT decided "ok I will give you a passage that looks a CR question.

I know its a long story but that's that, my roller coaster day. I am literally shaking even now, about how badly I had performed today. I really need advice as to from where I should start my prep again, I think I need a birds eye view of my shortcomings and where I can improve, because one thing I have realised with GMAT, the amount of practice does not work, its the right approached practice, assimilative practice, I know I am going nowhere if I practice a thousand questions and still have 50-60% accuracy. It's a desperate call to all. I am in some serious need of help.