I feel disappointed with the score. I never had such a low score on verbal. I think the reasons for most part are that nerves got better of me during the verbal section. I could not sleep well the night before despite taking a sleep pill. I managed to get only a 3 hour sleep from 10.30 to 6.00 and my appointment was at 8.00. I’m not used to such an early timing, but, couldn’t help at the same time because I could not get a different time appointment at this Roseville, CA test center. Others test centers were around 2.5 hour drives from here in bay area. Here is how the exam went,
First started with analysis of the argument, thought that it went ok and the analysis of the issue was a dry topic. I managed to put some 4 paragraphs and had a quick review just before the time expired. Took the 10min break and gulped the energy drink loaded with caffeine to compensate for not having enough sleep. Quant started, 2-3 questions in first 10 appeared to be difficult, I eliminated answer choices for those questions and moved on. I started to get tough ones when I was around 20th question and I was lagging by around 5 minutes. I guessed 2-3 questions in the latter part to help me get back on time. Overall, I anticipated that I should be scoring around 48 on quant.
Next, gulped one more energy drink and ate 2 breakfast bars during 10 minute break and started the verbal section. First 6 questions were a mixture of SC’s and CR’s and I had a 2 paragraph RC. Around 20th question I was not able to readily eliminate wrong answer choices on SC’s and got the feeling that my nerves and lack of sleep began to take their toll me. Nevertheless, tried to recoup by recollecting that I had a similar feeling during the first GmatPrep and managed to score a 34 verbal then. In the last 10, I had a longer RC passage, that kind with 4-5 paragraphs. I answered 2 of its questions in haste to get back on time and just managed to finish on time by guessing last question. I anticipated that I should be scoring around 30 on verbal.
Next, clicked on report scores and saw the 600. I walked out the room with a dazed look on my face.
I had studied for GMAT for more than 6 months and here is how I scored on the practice tests.
Manhattan gmat-1 560 (M-40, V-28).
Manhattan gmat-2 630 (M-47, V-30).
Princeton – 650 (M-50, V-30).
Manhattan gmat-3 620 (M-45, V-31).
Gmat Prep1–680 (M-48, V-34)
Manhattan Gmat-4 630 (Q-42, V-34)
Manhattan Gmat-5 670 (Q-47, V-34)
Gmat Prep2 – 660 (M-49, V-31)
Manhattan gmat-6 710 (Q-48, V-39).
PowerPrep – 730 (Q-47, V-44)
Actual GMAT - 600 (Q-47, V-25)
The fact that I studied for such a long time makes me feel even more disappointed. As did many others I targeted scoring 700 in the real deal. Surely, I need to retake but feeling too burned out to start studying again. I’m planning to take a break for few weeks before starting again. Need to figure out a proper strategy to tackle verbal. Despite, practicing tons of SC questions and regularly referring the manhattan SC guide, I think I was killed by SC. Any help would be appreciated in this regard. I also would try to solve hard questions in math in an effort to push my quant score by few more points.
Some do or don'ts.
1.Don’t study too long for this exam, a proper planned and a diligent effort in 3-4 months should be sufficient for most people.
2.OG11 and quant review do not have too many 700-800 difficulty level questions. You need to find other material to help you with quant practice if you are looking to target 49+. People who excelled at quant (scored 50 or 51) seemed to have good math/engineering backgrounds.
3.You should step into the exam center oozing with confidence, shaky confidence doesn’t do any good.
4.Practice your timed tests by even taking the AWA sections to get used to the keeping of your focus for longer periods.
Good luck to all, thanks for the all the helpful posts.