Verbal advise - D-Day 10 days

Question

I just took my second GMATPrep test today and I am struggling to improve my verbal score.

I'm shooting for a +700 score, and I'm around 47/48 for Q but can't seem to get my verbal above 35/36 level.

Anyone have any advice for a crash verbal course that I can do over the next week? Or any other advise?

This site got me to 47/48 on Q, just need to polish that verbal.

Thanks,

James

AmrithS · Answer

Hi James, 
Have you zeroed in on the question format (CR, RC & SC) which is the most problematic?

havy423 · Answer

Well funny you should ask. I missed 12 questions, four of each kind.

However, after looking at my mistakes, I think I need to focus on time. I missed 6 of my last ten questions and I was rushed at the end.

Maybe that is what I should focus on.

Any suggestions for time management?

AmrithS · Answer

As far as timing is concerned, you have to formulate your own strategy man

For me... I was fast and accurate at SC... Slow but accurate at CR... normal and accurate at RC... So my strategy was to borrow time from SC and invest it into CR... It worked for me

I formulated this strategy by analyzing the Manhattan CATs I attempted during the course of my study...

BM · Answer

This is kind of a tricky question to answer. With such little time available, it will be difficult to improve one's score dramatically. Still, some increase is possible. For RC, focus on LSAT passages. For question practice in general, make sure to fully read every explanation. This will not only help you to understand the question, but it also allows you to adapt to the GMAT logic (how to think like the GMAT).

AmrithS · Answer

That is true. However, in my case, the Manhattan Prep CAT average for verbal was 35, but I scored 40 in the verbal section of the actual GMAT. I attribute this to three things:
1. Me being intensely aware of my potential pitfalls
2. Me being able to perform very very well under stress 
3. My timing strategy

spizzl · Answer

hey, i had the same problem a few days ago (i think you'll understand me when looking at my testscores) .. Recommendations RC : read some articles on https://www.nature.com (not only the fascinating but also the boring) CR : somewhere in the download-area of the gmatclub you'll find 100+x CR-questions, i downloaded them and solved them within 2 days, first time i really thought about an approach while solving CRs

SC : i read the MGMAT SC book, but if you're running out of time (you obviously do so!) you should check the forum for slingfox' condensed SC strats.. i just reviewed them (too lazy to read mgmat sc again) and they are a great refresher.. last 2 practice CATs i scored > 80-90% correct for SCs .. before i ranged at about 50% By doing the above mentioned i was able to stabilize my V score (at least according to the last CATs) Hope this helps u!

abmyers · Answer

with your short time frame, i'd say don't do anything for RC. It takes too long to develop skills in this area. Do a SMALL amount of prep for CR. Learn the basic approach, and do some practice problems to develop the basic skills. But foremost, I would just do SC. In three weeks you can get good, and fast at SC. Learn SC in and out. This will open up more time for you to spend on RC and CR problems.

havy423 · Answer

Thanks for all of these posts. From what I can tell, SC is my weakest subject. I'll keep you guys posted on how everything goes.

Also, are the GMATclub verbal tests any good? I took two of them and only missed 8 questions on one and 5 on the other. They seem much easier than anything else I have taken.

Maybe its just me.

But thanks again!

mbafall2011 · Answer

Hmm seems like you are in a similar state as i was when i did the test. i could not better 36 in the last 5 MGMAT test and my actual score on my test was also the same. In my first mgmat score i scored 40 in verbal. leads me to believe that i tend to forget verbal sooner than quant so i have devised a plan to revise all of verbal before my next real gmat.

The manhattan gmat tests are very good - especially the assessment tool. Identify your weak areas- concept wise. Also look for strategy issues- getting too many wrong in the end. too many wrong in a row etc! also- if you get a RC in the end and you are out of time- do your best to get the RC section right cos that is 3-4 questions in a row and getting those wrong can kill you. So i would say answer all RC and try to guess on the a few questions that follow

bb · Answer

I would try to find a VERY interesting book and read during downtime (before bed), on the way to work (if you are not driving), during lunch break, downtime at work, etc.... it is not a fast miracle but it does add a point here or there to the RC and SC, so you may get from 36 to 38 and that's worth it.

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