consultthetape wrote:
Hi All - Thanks in advance for your help!
I'm planning on applying this cycle. I've been studying the GMAT for the past year on and off and feel defeated. I know there are definite areas I can improve in, but want to get this forum's advice on how best to do so.
I recently took the GMAT and scored a 640, my target score is a 700.
Below is my testing history
Practice Test 1 - Nov 2019: 550 (Q30, V35)
Actual Test 1 - Nov 2020: 590 (Q37, V34)
Practice Test 1 (redo) - Nov 2020: 630 (Q40, V36)
Practice Test 2 - Jan 2021: 670 (Q45, V38)
Practice Test 3 - Feb 2021: 610 (Q40, V34)
Practice Test 4 - April 2021: 680 (Q47, V37)
Actual Test 2 - May 2021: 640 (Q43, V35)
Based on my scoring habits, there are fundamental Verbal topics I need to revisit and need to tighten up my quant consistency. I have three questions:
1. What's the best way to improve verbal. I understand that
Manhattan Prep is well regarded. I've gone through the SC and RC portions but haven't done too many questions
2. Is it reasonable to improve verbal to V40-45 in a month? I want to target RD1 submission, but I want to be realistic.
3. Any other advice!
Thanks!
Hi consultthetape,
Your Verbal score seems decent but Quant score is bit of a concern. But as you are asking for an advice to improve your Verbal score, let me help you with that.
What all you need to know before you start studying?
Before you start studying the concepts of any module, it's important to understand what is being tested using the questions of that module. For example, before you learn the concepts of SC module, you need to understand that SC questions on GMAT test your ability to convey the right meaning without any ambiguity. Once you understand this, your focus while learning the concepts will be more around the meaning-based approach rather than on the grammar rules.
How do you go about it?
Looking at your Verbal score, it seems like you are struggling with two of the three modules (SC, CR and RC).
- Identify the modules in which you are struggling
- Once you identify them, analyze if it's the concepts or the application that you are struggling with.
- In your case, even though you have a fairly good conceptual knowledge, it's better to revisit the concepts so that you can nullify a few gaps which you have.
- Once you do that, learn the right approach of solving questions of that module. The best way to do this is to analyze the solutions of the questions in detail, identify the exact step at which you are making the mistake and then nullify those gaps.
Please go through recording below to understand the process in a better way.
Is practicing questions enough?
Practicing questions helps but only if you get the right learning from your mistakes. Without knowing the right methodology to solve questions, there's no point practicing questions. As you are struggling with the application of concepts, you need to understand why are you making the mistake in the first place. For example, the process of solving CR questions can include many steps such as:
- Reading the argument and identifying the individual elements such as Premise and the Conclusion
- Reading the question stem and understanding what is being asked exactly
- Pre-thinking the missing link
- Eliminating answer choices which are irrelevant, out of scope and distorted.
You could be making mistakes in any of the above steps. So, you need to identify the exact step at which you are making the mistake, introspect what made you choose the incorrect answer choice and then learn the right approach.
You can definitely improve your Verbal score if you focus on the right aspects. I can guide you in a better way if you can provide me a few more details such as:
- your current study strategy
- your weak areas
- the number of hours you can dedicate for studies
You can write back to me here or a better way is to discuss the same over a call. You can schedule a call with me using the link below.
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24 May 2021, 15:14
