verbal

Hi PAXON,

You have asked a number of questions spread over 5 different posts, so if you have not seen my response to one of your other messages, I've re-posted it here. In regards to what you are asking about in this post, it's worth noting that you do not need to understand every word in each prompt to score at a high level in the Verbal section of the GMAT, there are certain subjects that you will need to understand (for example, standard English grammar/idiom rules for SC and logical structures - for RC and CR).

Many GMATers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so if you are going to limit your studies to just 2 months, then there might be a limit to how much you will be able to improve in that time.

In addition, there are a variety of different study materials that you might choose to use. Since it sounds like you're just beginning your studies, then it would be a good idea to take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can access 2 for free at www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). If you want to do a little studying first, so that you can familiarize yourself with the basic content and question types, then that's okay - but you shouldn't wait too long to take that initial CAT. That score will give us a good sense of your natural strengths and weaknesses and will help provide a basis for comparison as you continue to study. A FULL CAT takes about 3.5 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have that Score, you should report back here (or you can feel free to PM me directly) and we can come up with a study plan.

I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and goals:
1) Are you planning to take the At-home GMAT or are you planning to take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com

Regularly reading articles from places such as the Economist can be helpful. Using a dictionary to find out the meanings of words you repeatedly come across could also be a net positive. If you come across a word that you do not know the meaning of, see whether the rest of the sentence or the context of the surrounding sentences can give you some insight.

He was so [WORD]. He was always on time. ---> Here, for example, that WORD may mean something like PUNCTUAL. You may need to take such a thing with a grain of salt, however, since it is something one would be assuming.

Dear PAXON,
if you are good at self-studying then reading the Manhattan guides is preferable option. In other case, you can take the online course. There are abundance of platforms that provide quant and verbal course, and reviews most of them are presented here. I would suggest to take TTP course because its well organized study plan and unique approach already have helped me to ameliorate my Quant score. I have not consummated the Verbal module yet, but what do I say is that its curriculum not only covers all general topics but also provides step by step guide to cement the acquired knowledge.

Hi PAXON

Let me share my two cents as a non-native speaker of English. To master Verbal, the biggest hurdle non-native speakers face is following a methodical approach to solve questions. We need special emphasis on understanding the meaning of the arguments and passages. Most books won't help you learn that as they mostly focus on teaching the concepts. I would recommend that you check out online courses specially the ones that focus on teaching a methodical approach. Another benefit is that they mostly teach through videos which helps you to retain stuff better. Feel free to get in touch if you've any follow-up questions.

Meanwhile, you can check out how Hardik, a non native speaker, scored a GMAT 760 with a V44 while working full time and get some success tips from his journey: