Not able to improve my score.3 weeks left

Question

Hi ,

I am posting this because i could not find anyone more related to my problem.
Actually , i have my GMAT in 3 weeks. I have all of my concepts brushed up. Left with practice only.This is the time when i am giving as much mock tests as i can.
And i started my journey for GMAT when i was so fed up with my CAT scores or any other MBA exams i tried for.It became a do or die situation for me. 
Either i could leave my MBA dream or i could give all of my efforts to GMAT. So i tried , and actually gave my two months to this exam preparation.

And here i am , again not able to get the results i was expecting for.

Given:
GMAT PREP 1 -590 ,Q44,V20s(sorry i dont remember)
GMAT PREP 2 - 690 Q50,V33 (HAD 7 COMMON QUESTIONS FROM GMAT PREP 1)

MGMT CAT 1- 690 , V44,V38 (COMMON QUES FROM 700RC,700SC,700CR
MGMT CAT 2- 610,Q46,V31

I have tried so many strategies for RC,SC,CR that i am actually done with any new ones.

And done with analyzing my weaknesses as in some exams i get RC wrong, and in some CR/SC.

I need your help in telling me what should be my approach now?I would really like someone to suggest me what a person do in this situation.Read somewhere that only the person who has been through ,what you are dealing with ,can give the best advice possible.

One of the option: Should i postpone my exam? (2nd sept 2015)

Reply ASAP.

Thank you!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi AnkitaAnkita,

From what you describe, there are likely some serious inconsistencies in how you've been studying. As such, I'd like to know a bit more about your studies so far:

1) How long have you been studying for the GMAT?
2) What materials have you been using?
3) When was the last time that you took a CAT in which you did NOT see any 'repeat' questions and what was the score on THAT CAT?

4) What is your goal score?

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

AnkitaAnkita · Answer

First of all , thank you so much for the reply.

Coming to your questions:

1.I am studying for the last two months.In the first month , i just studied the concepts. Now i am doing tests.

2) What materials have you been using?

- Done OG15 for both quant and verbal.
OG16-quant.

Read SC BIBLE, CR BIBLE (MGMT Material) , Pill review SC questions .Done a lot of questions from jamboree material (its more like a mix of all 600-700 level questions ).
Number of questions - CR 300 ques, SC-500-700 questions, RC 100 passages.

What i am doing now :

SC- SC700, Manhattan sc guide has 200 questions. SC1000
RC-RC700 , Aristotle RC99.LSAT Passages
CR- CR700 ,CR carcass ,CR club questions.

3. I have given only 2 CATS for now , and had some common ques. Could not judge from them. What do you suggest ? I think i will get some common ques in the other 4 CATS too. I have given other tests , getting V31-V33 .And chances are that it will go down. Because i am losing my confidence in this also.

4. Target is 700+. I am getting a consistent Q49/48 in most of my tests. I need a strategy for Verbal.

And tried a new strategy today by putting more effort on the first 20 ques. Scored really bad.

I know my weaknesses and i need to know how i improve on them. I have studied and tried attempting after getting a clear approach (say in RC). Still not able to see improvement. I think i am lacking behind something or i am not able to focus on a particular thing or m i missing something here.
My weakness areas are pretty random. Not any specific problem on which i could work on.

Ankita

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

HI AnkitaAnkita,

In your original post, you stated that you had taken 4 CATs, now you've stated that you've taken just 2 CATs. Which one is it? And why do you think that you're going to see repeat questions on your next 4 CATs?

From what you describe about your studies, it looks like you've worked your way through hundreds (if not thousands) of practice questions without focusing on practicing consistent tactics. At this point, doing lots of additional practice problems will NOT be helpful - you'll just keep doing them in the same inconsistent ways. In that same way, taking lots of practice CATs and hoping that your scores will just naturally increase is also NOT a good idea.

To raise your Verbal scores to a much higher level, you need to practice and master the proper Verbal tactics.

When are you planning to take the GMAT?
When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

AnkitaAnkita · Answer

Hi ,

I completely agree with you that i don't think doing more questions in the same way will help. Could you be more specific ,i mean what should i proceed with now? 
I have given 2 CATS till now. And i assuming that they will have common questions. 4 are left.

I have my test on 2nd Sept 2015. 
I am planning to apply this fall only. I am hoping to apply in October deadlines(Round II for most of the US b-schools)

Thanks

AnkitaAnkita · Answer

I want to add one more thing. 
Maybe a pattern you have seen.

If i do questions in a chunk of 25 .
Say 25 SC,25 RC, 25 CR. I get a better accuracy at those than at any of other verbal tests.

Practice questions: 
Currently , my accuracy is:
SC-90% CR-80% RC-60-70%.

Verbals Test :
Currently , my accuracy is:
SC-60-70% CR-70% RC-60%

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi AnkitaAnkita,

I'm going to focus on the CATs in which you did NOT see any repeat questions - using those as a 'gauge', your goal would require you to improve your score about 100+ points in about 3 weeks. That is a difficult task to accomplish (not impossible, just really tough), so you might want to consider pushing back your Test Date (even if it's just for a few weeks or a month) - that extra study time would be quite helpful.

As an aside, the Round 2 deadlines for most US Schools is in December/January (not September/October - that's Round 1).

Based on your inconsistencies in the Verbal section, I think that you would find the EMPOWERgmat Verbal Score Booster to be quite helpful. Most of our clients finish that Study Plan in under a month, but I would NOT suggest that you 'rush' through it just to get it done before September 2nd. You need to make significant changes to how you face the entire Verbal section and that will likely take time.

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

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Not able to improve my score.3 weeks left

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