Poor Showing - 620 (Q46, V30)

I'd be happy with a 620. I agree with everyone - RC is tough and an error log can help extremely.

I also agree that a 700 is within your reach. Check out some sample 700+ score breakdowns:

700 - Q42, V44
710 - Q47, V40
710 - Q49, V38
720 - Q48, V41
720 - Q50, V38
730 - Q48, V42
740 - Q48, V44
750 - Q49, V42

If SC is giving you a hard time, I highly recommend the Manhattan GMAT SC guide; It has become my SC bible!

https://www.manhattangmat.com/StoreItemS ... ?ItemID=18

Here's a good idiom site for work viewing - https://www.800score.com/guidec4view1g.html

For RC and CR, people recommend LSAT guides.

Don't give up hope! You are oh so close my friend...

yeah dont be dissapointed...btw how did you find the test in terms of difficutly with the GMATPREP....

what has been you biggest weakness in verbal? RC...then read my post to rahul in the verbal....telling you that tip works...

Guys,

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I believe I need to improve my SC and CR. Currently, I am using Kaplan and the OG. I think SC is my biggest weakness as I tend to rush and sometimes cancel out problems too quickly. Need to figure this one out first....

Nevertheless, I am still surprise at my score! My previous practice tests breakdown as follows:

Kaplan Diagnostic - 620
Kaplan Paper - 720
Kaplan Test 1 - 650
Kaplan Test 2 - 660

PPrep1 - 740 (but after studying the OG)
PPrep2 - 770 (but after studying the OG)

Gprep1 - 700 (which I found harder than the actual test)
Gprep2 - 750

Anyway, there is no use looking at the past. Time to move on. I need to focus on verbal and will do so by participating in the verbal forum.

fresinha12 - can you give me that link to your post? I'd like to see your strategy.

rigger - the MGMAT SC guide will help you get the basics on what is tested, etc. The verbal forum will help you refine those skills.

Best of luck to you. Keep up that positive attitude and attack the beast!

https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=21908

RC does take a lot of active reading practice.

Thanks!

ValleyBall1 - how are you using MGMAT SC guide? I mean, I bought it and I find it really useful but still can't get the focus . Do you try to memorize each single rule? I am afraid there is no other way, is there?

Good question - I pretty much read the whole thing every two days. Depending on time, I either read straight through the guide or answer all the questions (or both). In between those days, I focus on a specific chapter and its OG questions. In addition, I read one column of the idioms nightly before I go to bed and make sure I can create sentences from them. I try and create sentences that make sense to me and are on topics I enjoy; I'm hoping that will help me remember the idioms when taking the test.

If you want more practiced material, you can go to https://www.upstartraising.com I don't know how good their material is but at least you'll be able to get some more practice questions. THose are some pretty good practice scores - I wouldn't sweat this one. I'm pretty sure you'll crack 700 on the next exam. Cheers!

ValleyBall1, I think your strategy with the idioms is very good. Slowly and constantly , doesn┬┤t make sense to try to memorized everything.
On the other hand, I thing I will first go through the whole book and try to learn the concepts...when I know more than 80% of the content I will start doing the exercises.
SC is my weak area and I am sure that the way I was studying for it ( just doing the exercises ) didn┬┤t help at all.

Rigger. I see your performance on practice tests and they are very impressive. Certainly a 700+ score is within your reach now, if not, very soon. I find that mental stamina and attitude are very important. Have you considered that as your weakness? I find that a lot of people (including myself at one time) focus on improving their math/verbal skills when their really is no issue in those areas. You scored well in the quant, but dropped in the verbal. Maybe you were losing steam by the time you reached the verbal portion. Also, did you feel nervous during the test or did you have an overall negative feeling about it before and during? Did it adversely affect you when you had to guess or spend too much time on any one problem? If so, this can totally bring you down and your score with you. Do you do the AWA when you do your perform your practice test?

I only say this because I went from a 610 to a 710 in one month. See my post for details. In that month, I spent 95% of my time learning how to control those negative feelings that adversely affect your test taking abilities. I learned no new math or verbal skills (I did brush up on my perm/comb), so from my experience, increasing my mental agility and attitude went a long way. It might be the case for you. I hope this helps.

chriswil2005,

Yes, I did get hung up on several question and as a result, I had to guess on the last 5 questions in the verbal section. I don't know what the reason is... but I believe I may have screwed up on the SC. I think SC is one of those types of questions that you can easily select the wrong answer. With CR and RC, the correct answer choice is quite obvious (most of the time).

I have to admit, I was very nervous before the test and that also may have led to my downfall.

I am planning to take the exam again at the end of November. I am hoping for a higher score.

chriswil2005 , can you send me the link to your post . I am interested in knowing how you went from 610 to 710 in 1 month since I have the same target ( currently at 620 and taking the exam in 1 month ).

chriswil2005 , can you send me the link to your post . I am interested in knowing how you went from 610 to 710 in 1 month since I have the same target ( currently at 620 and taking the exam in 1 month ).

sorry guys, problems with the server

tobiastt, I tried to PM you, but wasn't working. Here is my post:

https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=22313

chriswil2005, thanks a lot for the post. It is a really inspiring story , and you should be proud that you made it! You definetively made it !

One question regarding yoga: what exactly did you do? Did you buy a book and started to do some breathing exercises?
I fully agree on the point that attitude can make the difference and I am trying to work on that now.