struggling with GMAT

Question

Dear Experts,
I am struggling with GMAT very hard.
Two months back I gave my first actual GMAT test and scored 540 (Q 47, V19).
I wanted to do MBA from good college, but GMAT is giving me sleepless nights.
After two weeks break I have analysed my mistakes which I did in my actual GMAT test and started preparing again for GMAT.
One problem I used to face in verbal section was not able to complete the verbal section on time.
In order to finish my verbal section on time I have planned to guess all questions from the last passage of the verbal section. This strategy has failed miserable as it is evident from my verbal score.
I haven’t scored such low verbal score in any of my GMAT mock tests.
What I feel now is that I have marked all wrong answers in the last passage.
Yesterday I gave a new GMAT mock test to check my progress. I am still facing the same problem with time management.
I am forced to guess last passage.
Please help.
Thanks & regards,
Sunil01

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear Sunil01 , I'm happy to respond. :-)

My friend, your math is in pretty good shape, but clearly you need help with verbal. This will take some hard work. The very best thing you can do is develop a habit of reading, every single day. See this blog: How to Improve Your GMAT Verbal Score Also, here are some GMAT idiom flashcards you may find helpful, and here's a 3-month study schedule designed for someone in your position. Finally, I would say that GMAT club here offers tremendous opportunities. For each verbal question, read the entire thread and if your questions are answered there, add your own questions to the thread. You are more than welcome to solicit my input, using the "mention this user" feature. Also, it's vitally important to ask excellent questions . Does all this make sense? Mike :-)

Sunil01 · Answer

Thanks Mike for your inputs.

Sunil01 · Answer

Experts and 700 scorers please revert.
I am sure many of you where in the similar situation like me.
Your inputs will help me a lot.

egmat · Answer

Dear Sunil,
I am sorry to hear that you did not do as well on the Verbal Portion as you intended to. With appropriate planning and diligent execution, you should succeed the next time.To prepare for the verbal portion of the GMAT, you need to have a very strategic approach. You can only succeed on it when you have the right combination of knowledge of concepts and application.
A student should know how to apply the learnt concepts properly to get a good score. In the actual GMAT exam, tricks and shortcuts tend to fail and only students with a proper approach to questions succeed. This is what we do at e-GMAT. We teach our students a foolproof process to solve questions and make them follow the same. 
 Timing is not your problem:  Contrary to popular belief, GMAT is not a race against time.  GMAT is a test of methodical and logical approach. You feel hard pressed for time when you don’t follow a methodical approach.  Timing on the GMAT is a consequence of your lack of core skills. Since you cannot build core skills by mere practice, the only way to improve on timing by improving your core skills. And if you do that, you won’t repeat the same on your next GMAT. Given what you've described, I think that you would find the  Verbal Live Prep  to be quite helpful. The course helps you at every step, starting from defining your GMAT strategy (through our strategy session) to learning all the concepts (through our Verbal Online component of the course) and corresponding application (through the live sessions) and culminating at sessions that help you put your best foot forward as you take the exam (through our Verbal workshop, Scholaranium and tactical strategy sessions).

Free SC Webinar : We have a free SC webinar "Learn how focusing on Meaning and Logic can
help you easily tackle every Sentence Correction Question" this Sunday on 17th July 2016 at 7 AM PST. 
Please click  here  to register and experience the effectiveness of the session.

Hope this helps.If you have any questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly.
Regards,
Rajat Sadana

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Sunil01,

While getting all of the questions wrong in the last RC passage could certainly impact your score, it is NOT why you scored a V19. With that score, you would have lost significant points in all 3 major Verbal categories (SC, RC and CR) and you would have lost those points throughout the section. This is meant to say that you will need to make some big improvements in all 3 categories to score at a much higher level in the Verbal section (and overall).

1) How long have you studied?
2) What materials have you used?

3) What is your goal score?
4) When are you planning to retake the GMAT?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

Sunil01 · Answer

Below are my answers:
1) Since last 1 year
2) OG and Manhattan
3) 650
4) Dec, 2016
5) Arizona State University, Scheller (Georgia Tech), and UT Dallas

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Sunil01,

The problem you're describing actually happens to many Test Takers who use a "book heavy" study approach. Even the best books are limited in what they can teach you; they also can't force you to approach questions in a certain way and their explanations are often one-sided. "Your way" of approaching the Verbal section has you stuck at this current scoring level. To make a big improvement, you'll have to change your tactics. This will likely mean investing in some new Computer-based resources and learning (and practicing) new tactics. Thankfully, you have plenty of time to study and improve.

1) How many hours do you think you can study during a typical week?

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

Sunil01 · Answer

15 to 20 hrs

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Sunil01,

Given everything that you've described, 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 you shouldn't try to 'rush' through any of the material. During that time, you'll also be able to access any of the Quant resources that interest you. We have a variety of free resources on our site (www.empowergmat.com), so you can 'test out' the Course before setting up an Account.

If you have any additional questions, then you can feel free to contact me directly.

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

HanoiGMATtutor · Answer

I agree with egmat and EMPOWERgmatRichC. The problem lies in your approach to questions. You may find it helpful to invest in new materials or hire a tutor; what you've been using isn't working for you.

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