mads wrote:
Congratulations... That is an excellant score. What is your verbal strategy?
Thank you very much for the kind words.
For verbal, I tried to absorb as much data as I could using any means necessary.
For example, I have a Droid 2, so I downloaded GMAT Vocabulary flash cards and ran through those as much as possible. I don't necessarily think this taught me new words, per sé, but it kept my mind thinking in the verbal realm.
I also downloaded the demo versions of three idiom apps for my phone. I probably used these apps ~8 hours in the past two weeks, any time I had 30 seconds (waiting for an elevator, waiting in an elevator, bio break, when I felt like sitting on the couch for a minute, etc.). This kept my mind constantly thinking about idioms and vocabulary.
Also, in every practice test I did, if I missed a question, I thoroughly reviewed the answer, and then went and meticulously read whatever the instruction material on that aspect of the GMAT the course I bought (800Score online, idk if they do in person). I did this for each problem I did wrong. If I missed two questions with the same root, I read that section twice. This happened twice during a single practice test, so I wasn't double reading everything every test I took, but every once in a while. Basically self flagellation, in reading form!
I wish I had found GMAT Club sooner than I did, especially for the Verbal, but it is what it is, and I'm definitely not disappointed.
Mostly, and this is what I most credit my gain with is just practicing the tests and getting ready to perform on the day of the test. If I had studied for 3 months at the same saturation level, I would've been burnt out on test day, for sure. This is the method that works best for me, but I think there are a couple of pieces of prep work in here that would help a lot people!
Also, don't waste the first GMATPrep test like I did! Also, I worry about accuracy or false sense of accomplishment for repeating GMATPrep tests. Yes, it's true that people rarely see repeat questions, but there is still the sense that they have done this before, and if a repeat question comes up, that accuracy is totally shot. You need to simulate test conditions as much as possible, including being as nervous as possible that the next question will be different from anything you have ever encountered.
Good luck!