Hi,

This might sound like more of a panic email and less of a strategic advice request. But here it goes.

I have been studying for GMAT for a year. I know it's a long time. I planned for an exam in April 2020. Long story short, the Exam got canceled, I lost steam and finally started studying again in September, 2020.

I have used Magoosh, MGMAT books, E-GMAT, Empower GMAT, and GMAT whiz. I know this sounds like a lot and it can actually be counter-productive. But I learned something different from each course and grew in the process.

I am confident about scoring Q49-Q50 but my real issue(Hence major improvement opportunity) is verbal.

My score in the last 3 exams(All taken within last 20 days):
MGMAT: V35
Expert's Global: V37
GMAT Prep: V34

I have only 2 GMAT preps left and I have not used them till now as the set is the ONLY reliable marker for score prediction.

My Assumptions: I do not have any major conceptual gaps

Trouble during the exam: I tend to be slow at the start and I feel like I play catch up for the last 15-16 questions. If I look at my pattern of errors in verbal, one particular pattern that emerges more than the other is that in the last 6-7 questions my accuracy is just 25%. I make a string of errors mostly because of hastiness.

In total my average time is slower.

I take 1:45 seconds for some SC questions in which the average time is 1:20.
I take 2:10-2:30to solve CR questions in general.
I take 4:30 minutes to read the passage. The questions I am at par with the average time.

I do understand that the time taken for each question can vary. But when looked at macroscopically through the trends, I tend to be slower in verbal.

To tackle this, I pre-planned to leave certain tough questions.

Bolded CR and method of Argument question.
Long and lengthy inference questions.
Fully underlined SC questions with multiple modifiers.

My approach for SC:

* Look for splits.
* Read the sentence carefully.
* Eliminate as many sentences based on splits and then look for meaning.

My approach for CR:

* Write mini note on the basis of Premise ---> Conclusion. This helps me to identify assumption.
* Eliminate out of focus or easy to eliminate options. (Completely opposite, words picked up from parts of sentences but distorting the answer option.)
* Look at the 2 remaining difficult ones. Look for modifiers. Look for strong words like "All", "Will", "No" which can give away wrong asnwers.

My approach for RC:
* Read the RC to yourself as an Orator reads. (Helps in engaging.)
* Keep asking why? After each block of idea.
* 1 line note for each para. Then summary.

I do not feel my approach is wrong. The problem is the approach falls apart completely when I'm rushing against time. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

I don't ask why anymore. I keep going back and forth between 2 options and worrying that the time is running out, picking one and moving on.

The issue is keeping calm and following your method confidently yet be on time. I find this pretty hard to do.


Is there any part of the puzzle I'm missing? I want to be in control of the time when doing verbal. Being flexible yet never feeling you are over-spending or rushing.

Any advice and suggestions? I do not even know whether I can pull such a huge 5-6 point improvement in 2 weeks. Please suggest.

I'm prepared to do the hard work. Or smart work. Or anything.

Thanks,
Biswesh Anupam

Biswesh - Assuming you want to score a 760 or above on the GMAT, I can see you need to improve your verbal raw score by 5 points. A Q50 and V42 will fetch you a 760. Anyhow, I do not recommend changing any timing strategy in the last 15 days especially when you claim you have no major conceptual gaps. So, please follow the specific approach when solving each question type. However, you must make sure you perform at your optimal level on the test day.
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Hi Biswesh,

I've sent you a PM with some notes and additional questions.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Hey there!!

Please DM me, lets discuss how you could go further!

Thanks

if you want 760 then you need at least v42, that score can be achieved if you remove weakness in all 3 sections and get at least 90 percentile in one section. your score of v37 suggests you are around 70 percentile in one of the section, figure out which section is weakest and work on it. as for time management, you need to give more mocks to be comfortable with time, and please do not try anything new in real GMAT. if you want to use some new strategy first implement it in 2 or 3 mocks .. Best of luck