Help/Guidance with my Verbal Score

Question

Hi All

I have been preparing for GMAT for 4 months.
And I did my first try last saturday, Gmat Online and did very bad, 530 Q42 V21.

Kaplan mock (1 Aug 2020) : 280 (Q22,V5) (I know, this score is embarasing!)
Kaplan mock (16 Aug 2020) : 580 (Q45,V25)
Kaplan mock (23 Aug 2020) : 530 (Q40,V23)
Kaplan mock (17 sept 2020) : 560 (Q40,V27)
Kaplan mock (30 sept 2020) : 570 (Q45,V23)
Kaplan mock (10 oct 2020) : 570 (Q45,V23)
Kaplan mock (17 oct 2020) : 560 (Q42,V23)
GMAT Official Prep 1(31 oct 2020) : 540 (Q45,V20) 
GMAT Official Prep 2(2 nov 2020) : 610 (Q47,V27)
GMAT Official Prep 3(3 nov 2020) : 640 (Q48,V30)
GMAT Official Prep 4(4 nov 2020) : 540 (Q36,V27)

I'm using Kaplan and official GMAT material.
When I give any mock exam, I am unable to manage time properlly.

I take longer on CR questions and still solve them incorrectly, and i'm really bad at it, same with SC wich is generally my weakest part.
I'm good with RC.

Quant it is not a problem, and I think that I can manage to score 45 with no problem.

Any advice on how to improve the timing and avoiding blackout on questions I could have solved easily. What different should I do to improve my verbal score ?

I am worried because I am putting my time and a lot of effort in practicing problems and still not seeing any improvements.

I think I'll take another Online Gmat on 25 days more. 
Open to buy new material, classes, etc.
I want to score 650-670 overall, so i guess that i need V mínimum of 35.

Thanks in advance !

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Martinleon,

To start, raising a 280 to a 530 is a fantastic achievement. To pick up the next 120+ points that you are after, you will have to approach this next phase of your studies in a different way though. Since Test Day did not go as well as planned, we'll have to go into your prior studies in a bit more detail. When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. Before we discuss any of those potential issues though, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

1) How long have you studied in total? Over the last 3 months, how many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Martinleon · Answer

Hi Rich, thanks for your answer!

First of all, it was a really bad experience with the online version, I hope the new test take goes a lot better. (I had big problems loggin in to the exam even though I was like 25 min earlier, I could not start my exam until like 15 min latter than the original time, not nowing actually if I was going to be able to take the exam). Also during study I probably did not recreat the gmat in a realistic way (pause or stand up).

In respect to your question:

1) I have studied around 200 hrs or so, so it's like 15-20 hours weekly (mainly on the weekeds).
2) Kaplan Prep. (I also have access to the Gmat Oficial).
3) At the end of this year, and pretty much all of the top 6-7 Business School in Canada.

Best,

sudeshpatodiya · Answer

Since you have already studied a lot and still not improving, I guess it has got more to do with the concepts involved and the method to solve particular questions.

I suggest you build concepts clarity for different elements from different books best for that subject.

Verbal:
- Manhattan SC & RC
- PowerScore CR Bible
- GMAT Club Grammar Book: https://gmatclub.com/forum/ultimate-gma ... 33952.html
- GMATNinja video Series for SC, RC and CR. This is the link for RC : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXWVCiy1WU0

Once concepts are clear and a clear approach is built, stick to that and Use official guide and verbal review for practice.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

This may be a case where quality over quantity may be good in terms of study. I daresay you would gain more bang for your (score) buck by improving your Verbal.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Martinleon,

For your next attempt, are you planning to take the At-home GMAT again or are you planning to take your GMAT at a Test Facility? I ask because currently GMAC allows only 2 attempts at the At-home GMAT per person - and you do not want to 'rush in' for that 2nd attempt if you do not have a reasonable chance at hitting your Score Goal (or close to it).

Statistically-speaking, raising a 530 to the point that you can consistently score 650+ will likely require that you commit to at least another 2-3 months of consistent, guided study - and you will have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. However, if you retest in just 3-4 weeks, then there will likely be a limit to how much you can improve in that time.

1) When you say that you used Kaplan, were you using books or a course?
2) What are the exact application deadlines that you are facing? If the deadlines for the next Round are in December/January, when is the next application Round after that for each of the Schools that you are interested in?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Martinleon,

The good news is that improving from 280 to 530 is quite impressive! Regarding your questions, I have a few articles that are perfect for you:

How to Eliminate GMAT Test-Day Anxiety

How to Get Faster at Solving GMAT Questions

Martinleon · Answer

Hey Rich,

Thanks again.
Yes, i'm planing to take gmat at home again, I haven't studied AWA.
I did the Kaplan course and also have the books + Qbank.
The deadline i'm thinking is Jan 5th, the next deadline is in March, but since i'm not canadian I need to apply as soon as possible.

Best,

Martinleon · Answer

Thanks for your advice!

Martinleon · Answer

Thanks for your answer, I think I'll go with Manhattan.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Martinleon,

While I understand why you want to apply as soon as possible, it sounds as though you are making your decisions based on just that one issue.

1) Have you done any research into the Schools that you're planning to apply do or connected with any representatives from those Schools? If you have, then what type of GMAT Score do you think you "need" to comfortably apply to those Schools?
2) What is the minimum GMAT Score that you would apply with?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Help/Guidance with my Verbal Score

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