Need serious help on verbal, want to go from low 30's to 40.

Thanks for the responses.

Rich, to answer your questions:
1) OG Books, Manhattan Prep (SC), Powerscore CR Bible (did not finish), Veritas Prep course, and some private tutoring.
2) My most recent CAT was last weekend. It was an official one by GMAT Prep, with a breakdown of Q49/V34, 690. One I did a month or so ago was nearly the same.
3) I am taking the test again in about 4 weeks.

Have you tried noting down whatever you're reading in the passage, especially in long passages?

Hi Tony,

If your last 2 CAT results are essentially identical, then I'd like to know a bit more about how you took these CATs:

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you plan to take your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?

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

Rich,

1. Everything but AWA.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. No. All timed and everything like the real day.
5. Yes. I saw maybe 2-3 questions before.

Tony

Hi Tony,

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your practice scores can become - and that's likely what has happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, seeing 'repeat' questions, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.' By extension, your practice CAT scores are likely not accurate.

For your next CAT, I highly recommend that you take a NEW CAT and take it in a realistic fashion (take the FULL CAT - with the Essay and IR sections, take it away from your home, at the same time of day as when you'll take the Official GMAT, etc.). Once you have that score, you should report back here.

1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

1. My goal is 700-720.
2. January (Round 2) deadlines.
3. Dream school is NYU. Also applying to UCLA and USC, maybe one more.

I believe I took the test almost like the real day. You can choose the order of the test now so if I did the AWA after the verbal/quant, it doesn't change the 800 score. Aside from the fact that I saw 2 problems I've done before, I'd say it's pretty accurate.

Which brings me to my original question. Do you have any tips for reading comprehension? Thanks to all those who have responded as well.

Would love some help with reading comp/CR strategies.

For RC, I have the most trouble with history/humanitarian type passages.