Third attempt: 590 (Q47, V25). Please help me to improve verbal score!

Question

Hello,

I took GMAT test last Wednesday, 30th Sept. It was actually my third attempt at GMAT and the result was pretty disappointing. I got 590 (Q 47, V 25, IR 7, AWA 5). As it can be seen, there is a big gap between Quant score and Verbal score. When I took mock CATs, normally I got from 30 - 35 in Verbal, so I'm very disappointed to see such a low score. I am planning to retake the test one more time. Could you please give me any advice on improving my Verbal score? I aim to score 40 next time.

My background: I graduated as a mathematics student from a UK university, so Quant is not my problem. I prepared in two months for the last test using OG 2015, OG Verbal Review 2015, GMATPrep, MGMAT books and PowerScore CR.

Thank you very much in advance.

Vanessa

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Hi Vanessa,

A score of 25 reflects a lack of understanding in the fundamentals and the concepts.

Answers to the following questions will help us assess your situation in a better way.

1. What were your scores in the GMATPrep CATs?
2. How many CATs did you take?
3. When are you planning to retake the GMAT?

rosetea · Answer

Dear  OptimusPrepJanielle

1. What were your scores in the GMATPrep CATs?

I took 2 GMATPrep CATs and the results were 650 (Q48, V30) and 660 (Q47, V34).

2. How many CATs did you take?

I took 2 GMATPrep CATs and 1 free VeritasPrep CAT.

3. When are you planning to retake the GMAT?

I am planning to retake it in early December to be on time for my BS applications.

AjiteshArun · Answer

How did you do on your other two GMAT attempts (not the GMATPreps)?

rosetea · Answer

Dear  AjiteshArun

I took the first one in Oct 2014 and got a total score of 600. I cannot recall the individual Quant and Verbal scores though because I cancelled the result at that time. I did not prepare much for this test, only skimming through the OG book.

The second one was in Mar 2015 with a result of 560 (Q43, V25, IR 3, AWA 4). For this attempt, I spent three months on reviewing and working on OG Verbal section and OG Verbal Review.

Vanessa

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi rosetea,

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.

If you can answer a few questions, then we should be able to figure this out:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

From what you've described, you've used a 'book-heavy' study approach. Many Test Takers who use that type of approach end up getting 'stuck' at a particular scoring level, and it's likely that is what's happened to you as well. To hit your score goals, you'll likely need to invest in some new non-book materials and learn/practice some new tactics.

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

AjiteshArun · Answer

There are a few things I'd like you to consider:

1. Your actual GMAT scores are very similar to each other (600, 560, 590) and your latest score is not very different from your baseline score, which you got with a minimum of study. You must ask yourself whether you are truly learning from the material that you're doing. This may mean that you need to go back to your OGs, not to solve the same questions, but to understand  how  each question is solved.

2. Once you've done that, you need to ensure that you don't slip. Some people do make do with just the OG, but as on any other standardized test, you stand a better chance of improving your score on the GMAT if you do more material (more practice generally means a higher score). The Question Pack 1 and the Exam Pack 1 could come in extremely handy, as could the other OGs. Almost every student I know tries to get through the question and exam pack even if he or she doesn't go through the other OGs.

3. If your GMATPrep scores are representative (did you use the GMATPreps while preparing earlier?), moving up from a V25 should be easy. Think through how or why you did so much better on the GMATPreps than on your latest GMAT.

4. You could target quant as well. A V40 is 91%. Q47 is 67%. Getting that 47 up to a 49 (78%) would really help. Anything more than that would be amazing. The fact that you can get a 47 indicates that your basic concepts are in place. Again, more practice would be needed to convert that familiarity with concepts into a higher score.

rosetea · Answer

Dear  EMPOWERgmatRichC

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?

No, I didn't. I skipped the Essay section.

2) Did you take them at home?

Yes.

3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT? 
Yes.

4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?

Apart from skipping the Essay section, once I paused the CAT during the Quant section for 5 mins.

5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

I never did so.

-----

Dear  AjiteshArun ,

Many thanks for your advices!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi rosetea,

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your practice CAT scores can become - and that's what happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, sometimes pausing the CAT, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.'

Thankfully, this is a relatively easy set of problems to fix. However, your 3 GMAT scores show that you're essentially 'stuck' in the high 500s - 600 range, so to score at a much higher level, you will have to make some big changes to how you handle the Test overall. With a December retest, you do have enough time to study though.

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

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Third attempt: 590 (Q47, V25). Please help me to improve verbal score!

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