How to improve Verbal from V27 to V30+

Hello Andreas,

My thoughts on this:

1) I see that you have provided a lot of data but very little analysis. What do *you* think is the problem? Where are you getting stuck? Is there a difference between the way you practice and the way you solve during the test? Which books have you studied from? Which tests have you taken? ...........the list goes on. Pick the most relevant questions from the data (the WHAT) and ask yourself WHY. Ofcourse we are here to help - if you need anyone to pick on it

2) Have you introspected on your test and seen for yourself where you are making the mistakes? Are there any specific areas within each section where you see yourself struggling? How do you manage time on the test? Do you panic when you start running out of time? You may use another way to evaluate your mistakes than depending just on accuracy such as if what type of mistakes you are making (silly mistakes? or you just don't know the concept) etc.

3) The fact that you are stuck at a 27 is because you are not able to solve questions in the 30+ level. Remember GMAT is an adaptive test so there is something you are not able to apply well once you go beyond the 30-mark. Unless your practice source (which you have not mentioned here - and I don't know about GMATPill) has quality questions in the 35+ range you will never be able to improve on it.

4) RC is may not be the only problem though usually it is a bigger culprit than SC or CR (Just because of the sheer time that it takes you to solve a RC question vis-a-vis a CR/SC question - hence potential for lot more damage ). Are you saying so because you are taking more time for RC? Or is it because your accuracy is poor? Also - reading the economist at this point may not directly help you in RC (thought it is an awesome magazine - a must read for any aspiring/current manager).

HTH,

Arun