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MJHSR
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how Updated on: 07 Oct 2020, 04:32
Originally posted by MJHSR on 06 Oct 2020, 09:44.
Last edited by MJHSR on 07 Oct 2020, 04:32, edited 1 time in total.
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Hello !

Firstly, thank you to all the experts and the larger community for keeping this Forum open to all and full of learning :)

I am in a predicament of sorts. I have been prepping for the GMAT since March, and last week, I took the official exam, which didn't go as planned. In terms of prep, I covered:

Verbal
- Studied the eGMAT content for SC, CR and RC. The content on SC was helpful.
- Studied the PowerScore CR to improve overall critical thinking.
- Finished the OG, verbal guide and practice questions set 1 on MBA website (official)
- Reviewed the SC and CR OG questions on GMAT Club forum

I gave myself ample time to study, given my work commitments. I got a 650 in my first mock (Q49, V30) around March 1. After 6 months of study, I undertook a couple of mocks in September in proper testing conditions, and below are the scores I got:

- Sep 06: GMAT Mock Exam 2 (670 - Q48, V34)
- Sep 21: GMAT Mock Exam 1 (Reset, 740 - Q49, V42)
- Sep 25: GMAT Mock Exam 3 (720 - Q50, V36)
- Sep 28: GMAT Mock Exam 4 (750 - Q50, V42)

After seeing the improvements in my mock scores, I decided to register for the official centre-based exam. I took the GMAT on October 4, and got a highly unexpected score of 650 (Q49, V30), a repeat of the very first mock. After analyzing the ESR, I observed my performance in SC was slightly below average but CR was a major wreck.

I saw the official exam as an aberration, and therefore, today I took the GMAT Mock Exam 5, got a score 700 (Q49, V36). I did pretty good in RC, but quite average across both SC and CR (got 3 questions wrong for each category).

At this juncture, I am keen to take another attempt soon in 2 weeks. However, I am not sure how to proceed forward with my prep. I am afraid that no matter how much more time I put in SC and CR, progress will not be much. I need some guidance on how to structure my prep. Thank you !
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how 06 Oct 2020, 10:31
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MJHSR
Hello !

Firstly, thank you to all the experts and the larger community for keeping this Forum open to all and full of learning :)

I am in a predicament of sorts. I have been prepping for the GMAT since March, and last week, I took the official exam, which didn't go as planned. In terms of prep, I covered:

Verbal
- Studied the eGMAT content for SC, CR and RC. The content on SC was helpful.
- Studied the PowerScore CR to improve overall critical thinking.
- Finished the OG, verbal guide and practice questions set 1 on MBA website (official)
- Reviewed the SC and CR OG questions on GMAT Club forum

I gave myself ample time to study, given my work commitments. I got a 650 in my first mock (Q49, V30) around March 1. After 6 months of study, I undertook a couple of mocks in September in proper testing conditions, and below are the scores I got:

- Sep 06: GMAT Mock Exam 2 (670 - Q48, V34)
- Sep 21: GMAT Mock Exam 1 (Reset, 740 - Q49, V42)
- Sep 25: GMAT Mock Exam 3 (720 - Q50, V26)
- Sep 28: GMAT Mock Exam 4 (750 - Q50, V42)

After seeing the improvements in my mock scores, I decided to register for the official centre-based exam. I took the GMAT on October 4, and got a highly unexpected score of 650 (Q49, V30), a repeat of the very first mock. After analyzing the ESR, I observed my performance in SC was slightly below average but CR was a major wreck.

I saw the official exam as an aberration, and therefore, today I took the GMAT Mock Exam 5, got a score 700 (Q49, V36). I did pretty good in RC, but quite average across both SC and CR (got 3 questions wrong for each category).

At this juncture, I am keen to take another attempt soon in 2 weeks. However, I am not sure how to proceed forward with my prep. I am afraid that no matter how much more time I put in SC and CR, progress will not be much. I need some guidance on how to structure my prep. Thank you !
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Hey Buddy,
Just check the following post. It might help you.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/months-of-pr ... l#p2568309

Please hit kudos+1 if helpful
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TheUltimateWinner
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how 06 Oct 2020, 11:10
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MJHSR

I gave myself ample time to study, given my work commitments. I got a 650 in my first mock (Q49, V30) around March 1. After 6 months of study, I undertook a couple of mocks in September in proper testing conditions, and below are the scores I got:

- Sep 06: GMAT Mock Exam 2 (670 - Q48, V34)
- Sep 21: GMAT Mock Exam 1 (Reset, 740 - Q49, V42)
- Sep 25: GMAT Mock Exam 3 (720 - Q50, V26)
- Sep 28: GMAT Mock Exam 4 (750 - Q50, V42)

After seeing the improvements in my mock scores, I decided to register for the official centre-based exam. I took the GMAT on October 4, and got a highly unexpected score of 650 (Q49, V30), a repeat of the very first mock. After analyzing the ESR, I observed my performance in SC was slightly below average but CR was a major wreck.

I saw the official exam as an aberration, and therefore, today I took the GMAT Mock Exam 5, got a score 700 (Q49, V36). I did pretty good in RC, but quite average across both SC and CR (got 3 questions wrong for each category).

At this juncture, I am keen to take another attempt soon in 2 weeks. However, I am not sure how to proceed forward with my prep. I am afraid that no matter how much more time I put in SC and CR, progress will not be much. I need some guidance on how to structure my prep. Thank you !
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Welcome to the gmatclub.
It seems that your verbal score is continuously fluctuating. Do you think that your verbal score is a bit biased? I mean: did you get some common question when you took Mock exam 1 and 4?
For CR, you should watch few Thursdays with Ron video from youtube if you think that your concept is not perfectly clear.
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how 06 Oct 2020, 12:11
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Gmatninja's youtube videos and articles might help you. Did you go through the book "Manhattanprep verbal Companion"? It is a good one apart from Manhattanprep All verbal strategy guide.
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how 07 Oct 2020, 03:31
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"Sep 25: GMAT Mock Exam 3 (720 - Q50, V26)" I think you may have made a mistake typing this. The score break up is unlikely to get a 720.
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MJHSR
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how 07 Oct 2020, 06:25
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OnlineTutorKnight
"Sep 25: GMAT Mock Exam 3 (720 - Q50, V26)" I think you may have made a mistake typing this. The score break up is unlikely to get a 720.
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OnlineTutorKnight, thank you for highlighting the error, I have corrected it.

sjuniv32
Gmatninja's youtube videos and articles might help you. Did you go through the book "Manhattanprep verbal Companion"? It is a good one apart from Manhattanprep All verbal strategy guide.
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sjuniv32, I have watched GMATNinja's videos on YouTube, the ones of SC were quite helpful. I will check out the verbal companion. How is it different and helpful?


TheUltimateWinner, there were no repeat questions in mock 4. However, I did find the score surprising. Do you recommend that I go through all of Ron's videos on CR and SC to fine tune the concepts?
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how 07 Oct 2020, 08:31
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Manhattan prep Verbal Companion book has got four extra chapters focused on advanced strategies for SC and CR, so it must help you to add some more points in your verbal score.
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how Updated on: 09 Jun 2021, 03:04
Originally posted by TheUltimateWinner on 07 Oct 2020, 09:03.
Last edited by TheUltimateWinner on 09 Jun 2021, 03:04, edited 1 time in total.
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MJHSR


TheUltimateWinner, there were no repeat questions in mock 4. However, I did find the score surprising. Do you recommend that I go through all of Ron's videos on CR and SC to fine tune the concepts?
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no. you should not go for all the videos of 'Thursdays with Ron'. You can watch 3 videos for strengthen, 3 videos for weaken, 2 videos for 'must be true' and so on....for CR. And for SC you can watch few categorized videos.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTQlKd ... /playlists
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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how 07 Oct 2020, 21:41
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Hi MJHSR,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. Before we discuss any of those potential issues though, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) Were you studying consistently since March or did you take any 'time off' from your studies? How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) You listed just 4 CATs/mocks (all from September). Did you take any other CATs during the course of your studies? On what dates did you take EACH of those other CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
3) What is your overall goal score?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). Since you purchased the ESR, I'll be happy to analyze it for you. Before you can include attachments with your posts/PMs, you need to have at least 5 posts in the forums (right now, you have 2 posts). If you would rather not go through those extra steps at this point, then you can feel free to email me directly (at [email protected])

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Stuck in verbal, need to improve, but don't know how 08 Oct 2020, 01:03
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MJHSR
Hello !

Firstly, thank you to all the experts and the larger community for keeping this Forum open to all and full of learning :)

I am in a predicament of sorts. I have been prepping for the GMAT since March, and last week, I took the official exam, which didn't go as planned. In terms of prep, I covered:

Verbal
- Studied the eGMAT content for SC, CR and RC. The content on SC was helpful.
- Studied the PowerScore CR to improve overall critical thinking.
- Finished the OG, verbal guide and practice questions set 1 on MBA website (official)
- Reviewed the SC and CR OG questions on GMAT Club forum

I gave myself ample time to study, given my work commitments. I got a 650 in my first mock (Q49, V30) around March 1. After 6 months of study, I undertook a couple of mocks in September in proper testing conditions, and below are the scores I got:

- Sep 06: GMAT Mock Exam 2 (670 - Q48, V34)
- Sep 21: GMAT Mock Exam 1 (Reset, 740 - Q49, V42)
- Sep 25: GMAT Mock Exam 3 (720 - Q50, V36)
- Sep 28: GMAT Mock Exam 4 (750 - Q50, V42)

After seeing the improvements in my mock scores, I decided to register for the official centre-based exam. I took the GMAT on October 4, and got a highly unexpected score of 650 (Q49, V30), a repeat of the very first mock. After analyzing the ESR, I observed my performance in SC was slightly below average but CR was a major wreck.

I saw the official exam as an aberration, and therefore, today I took the GMAT Mock Exam 5, got a score 700 (Q49, V36). I did pretty good in RC, but quite average across both SC and CR (got 3 questions wrong for each category).

At this juncture, I am keen to take another attempt soon in 2 weeks. However, I am not sure how to proceed forward with my prep. I am afraid that no matter how much more time I put in SC and CR, progress will not be much. I need some guidance on how to structure my prep. Thank you !
Show more


Hi MJHSR,

Sorry to hear about how things went with your GMAT. Do not get discouraged. An improvement is always possible provided you focus on the right parameters. Having said that, do not commit yourself to giving the exam in 2 weeks. Because it is very important that you identify what's holding your score back, work on that and then take the test. There's no point in giving the test when you are not 100% confident.

Could you please send me your ESR so that I can analyze it and help you identify your weaker areas? I'll DM you my mail id to which you can send your ESR. Looking forward to helping you achieve your dream GMAT score.
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