How to keep knowledge during study gap

Question

Hi guys,

1) I sadly didnt manage to achieve my goal score, so i'll have to redo the test in 5-6 months. During this period, i can only study for the last 2-3 months, so i am wondering if theres any advice to maintain the skills i've learned. Then i wouldnt have to start at 0, and could aim for a hopefully higher score.

2) I got a very bad verbal score (28, official tests put me at around 32), probably mostly due to RC and CR. I am wondering if you by accident have any advice for working on those skills over this extended period of time, without fully focusing on it (talking half a hour a day, rather only every other day).

Thank you so much for your advice!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi StressTest,

I’m sorry to hear how things went with your GMAT. I’m happy to provide some further advice but would first like to learn more about your situation with the GMAT. I have some questions.

1) How many times have you taken the actual GMAT? Please list the dates on which you’ve taken the GMAT, the total scores, and the quant, verbal, and IR scores, as well as how you were feeling while taking the tests. 
 
2) How many practice GMAT tests did you take? Please list the dates on which you’ve taken any practice GMATs, the total scores, and the quant, verbal, and IR scores, as well as how you were feeling while taking the tests. Also, please tell me where these tests came from (ex: mba.com).
 
3) Please describe how you studied. For how many hours a day did you study and for how many months?
 
4) To what programs will you be applying? What are the deadlines for these programs?
 
5) By when would you LIKE to take the GMAT? By when MUST you take the GMAT?
 
6) For how many hours a day, on average, can you study between now and your next GMAT?
 
7) In your opinion, how prepared were you for the GMAT? It's important that you answer this question as objectively as possible.
 
Once I learn a bit more about you, I can provide some detailed advice.

Thanks!

StressTest · Answer

Thank you for your reply. I'll happily answer your questions, but i feel they are missing the point. Im asking for advice about the following:
1) how to improve Verbal with a steady but low-time frame over a extended period of time
2) how to maintain main learned skills over a period of 3 months, where i have very little free time to spend for the gmat

Here are the answers to your questions:
1) only the 24.10, with 570(Q40,V28). I knew that i **** up math badly, i was too nervous. Verbal on the other hand felt rather good, or at least on par with my ~32 Diagnostic score of my two official tests
2) 2times mathrevolution, manhattan test (560), and 2 official tests with 650 (Q48, V31) 10 days before and a 640 (Q45, V34) 3 Days before the test
3) 5 weeks intensive study, around 6-8 hours a day, focussed mainly on quant
4) MiM, Deadline is 31th May, but i need to write my Bachelors until mid February 
5) I'd like to take it in the beginning of may
6) Are these questions from a pattern? This doesnt make sense if my point of the questions was clear. I'll be able to focus full time after my bachelors tho.
7) I knew that my verbal wasnt perfect, but i got the 650 scores while still doing some mistakes i could easily spot in my reviews. So i thought it would be easy to get my 600+ score. I dont necessarily need anything above 630 due to good GPA and honors etc.

Kind regards

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi StressTest.

To "maintain" what you have done so far, and make some progress in GMAT verbal, you could do things that will stick even though you aren't going full force on GMAT preparation.

So, you could:

-Study sentence correction concepts, such as modifier use and placement, parallel structure, and logic of comparisons. Once you get concepts like those down, you can apply them in your writing and speaking, and you will basically understand them from then on.

-Learn the various types of Critical Reasoning questions and how to go about answering questions of each type. Once you really get these concepts down, you should retain them pretty well.

-Work on Reading Comprehension by carefully going through one or two passages for your half hour or whatever time you would put in.

-For quant, you could work on one area of quant, such as an area that you are weak in, at a time, as you have time. Once again, if you really deep dive into a topic and totally get it, you should retain what you learn.

Meanwhile, much of what scoring high in verbal takes is seeing what there is to see in the questions and answer choices. You can always develop this skill by doing a few practice questions very slowly and carefully, analyzing each choice and articulating why each choice is correct or incorrect. So, working carefully on some practice questions as you have time over the next few months could be very productive.

Then, once you have time to work on GMAT prep more, you will be familiar with the type of thinking necessary for arriving at correct answers and primed to make good progress.

You don't necessarily have to work on the GMAT every day. You might be better off spending a solid hour or two on it whenever you have time, maybe one or two days a week or on one day on the weekend. The great thing about working in this way is that, over the next couple months, you could become more familiar with and comfortable with how to answer quant and verbal questions in a low stress way, as if prepping were a hobby. Then, once you do go all out, the GMAT will be your familiar game, and your full time prep should be super productive.

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