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

Question

Hi guys.

Need some serious advice on how to get my verbal from low 30's range to 38-40+.

My quant is strong as I get 47-49, but would like to focus my energy for the next 4 weeks on improving my verbal.

I mainly have room for improvement for RC and CR. For RC, I see myself missing multiple questions from a same passage. I feel like it has to do with my reading style, given time constraints, etc. perhaps the pressure gets to me and I zone out and don't fully understand what I read.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tony

GMATPill · Answer

Improving RC and CR requires a bit more than improving SC.

The key is to focus on the structure of the passage by being able to identify transition words easily and make sense of what follows without necessarily reading every single word.

See if this CR video helps:

https://www.gmatpill.com/criticalreasoni ... Estate.mp4

For RC: https://www.gmatpill.com/readingcomprehension/intro.mp4

You can learn more about GMAT Pill at https://www.gmatpill.com/testimonials

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Tony,

Back in March, you scored 540 on the Official GMAT - so the work that you've done since then has clearly helped you to improve. I'd like to know a bit more about how you've been studying during that time:

1) What study materials have you used?
2) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)?
3) When are you planning to retake the GMAT?

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

tonyjyoo · Answer

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.

AjiteshArun · Answer

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

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

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

tonyjyoo · Answer

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

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

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

tonyjyoo · Answer

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.

tonyjyoo · Answer

Would love some help with reading comp/CR strategies.

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

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

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