GMATPrep Verbal - Confused with the Scores...need help!

Question

Hi gmatclub experts,

I have my GMAT scheduled on 23rd of this month and I have been focusing only on GMAT Prep Mocks for last few days. I have put a lot of efforts to improve my Verbal accuracy but I am left a bit confused with the scoring pattern in my last 4 tests.

Here are the details for all 4 of my GMATPrep Mock Test Verbal Scores:

GMATPrep1 - VA 41 -  
GMATPrep2 - VA 37 -

After these 2 mocks I retrospected and found that although my overall accuracy did improve a bit, but it fell in the first 15 questions comparatively. So I bought the Exam Pack 1 and thought I will focus more on first 15 questions. Here are the scores for next 2:

GMATPrep 3 - VA 42 -   - Poor me! I thought I did much better in this one compared to the last 2, but still ended up with almost the same score as in GMATPrep1

GMATPrep 4 - VA 38 -

I am looking to score somewhere around 42-43 in VA to achieve my target score. Can the experts please help and let me know where should I focus more. Also, I have exhausted all my GMATPrep mocks. I still want to take 2 more mock tests. Shall I reset my GMATPrep and attempt 2 mocks from that or shall I attempt some other mock?

I have just 3 days left before my GMAT so any other exam tips are most welcome.

cecilpaladin32 · Answer

Those are some pretty great verbal scores which you are already achieving (I have a similar target score but you are scoring way ahead of where I am in my preparation right now)! Although others may disagree with me, I find that Critical Reasoning/Reading Comprehension are fundamentally tests of logic and that after being exposed to enough question types, additional preparation won't really add much benefit. It's just how you react/think through the questions you're presented that will determine success/failure.

However, I find that with myself, sentence correction is where I really struggle. Yet, that is also the place I believe where studying is the most useful as the "rules" are something that can be learned and it is easy for me to recognize grammar rules that I have made a mistake on or just simply forgotten while doing revision. Although I clearly have some bias here, I believe that for most people, this is the type of questions where studying will yield the most improvement (unless, of course, someone is somehow doing very well on sentence correction and struggling in the other two areas).

Have you found a consistent "weakness" among the 3 areas where you are getting more questions wrong? I personally think that with the scores you are getting and given your time frame, it may be useful to simply review the types of mistakes you've made on reading comprehension/critical reasoning. Although it sounds cliche, I think the best thing you can do for the next few days is to minimize stress/worrying. You've already hit a 42 score, so you are clearly capable. Go in with confidence and do your best - you've got this!

NightFury15 · Answer

Thanks for your reply and some confidence boosting words. For me, RC has been the most painful area till now followed by CR. I am quite happy with the SC so far. The score in the in the SC starting from GMATPrep 1 to GMATPrep 4 has been - 13/17, 15,17, 15/17 and 15/17. The same for the RC - 8/13, 7/13, 12/13 and 9/13. And for CR - 9/11, 10/11, 7/11 and 9/11. I guess it is all about keeping my nerves now and be very calm and confident on the test day. I hope I don't mess VA as I did the last time. I will post my actual scores after my test on 12/23. I hope the force awakens at the right time and I kick some VA ass

GMATPrep Verbal - Confused with the Scores...need help!

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