Need help to improve my bad score!

Question

Hello Friends,
I need help. I have given GMAT twice.

1st time: 420(33q,17 v)

After this I prepared a lot. Took Veritas classes, completed all 14 books, and Manhattan books. I got following scores in tests:
Veritas 10 tests: 600 Avg
800score 4 tests: 680 Avg
Manhattan tests 6 tests: 590 Avg
Two GMAT prep: 580 and 590.

I just gave GMAT again and got 440 (32q, 19 v)

I cant figure out how this happened. With Maths I have some idea, as I know I made mistakes in early problems and rushed in last 5 questions. But with Verbal, I was not expecting this.I was confident throughout my test, and finished on time. I could see clearly the correct answers on my passages and CR.
After all these efforts I scored so bad. I am feeling bad and demotivated. But I cant give up on my dream.I have decided to take test again in 1 month.( I am not working as of now, so can spend 8 hrs per day). Can anyone please guide me and help to take a better approach.

Looking forward for your kind help.
Thanks

Anonym · Answer

I guess that you need to build up your foundations better, I would say stop taking practice tests and go through some textbooks and question banks under timed condition, read and understand the solutions. The key is understanding what you're learning. Remember to use the error log.

Try a fair amount of new questions, take note on the errors and where you struggled, and do review. Doing 1000's of tests won't help much if your not learning where you've gone astray. You'll always get unfamiliar questions on the GMAT so a solid foundation is the best insurance against that.

Good luck!

rdave · Answer

Hi I agree that taking more tests cannot help. But what I am wondering is that how come the actual exam could be so off from rest of the tests. I had a 3 months gap between the first and second test and I really went to a completely different level in terms of both quant and verbal. Am really surprised how much the improvement is so low.

BM · Answer

I'm not sure how long you studied for the first attempt, but at this point GMAT fatigue will probably set in. If anything, you probably need a break. I realize the difficulty of "letting go" - even if only temporarily - but sometimes we need to take one step back in order to take two steps forward.

As Anonym pointed out, your scores suggest an overall struggle with fundamentals. So for verbal, you're really going to have to start with the basics. And that means lots of GMAT Fiction and Max Morenberg's  Doing Grammar . Before returning to the GMAT-specific guidebooks, start with those two resources.

There are also some fundamental deficiencies in math, but not as much as verbal. Rereading either the Veritas or Manhattan math series would probably improve your performance.

Did you use the OG material in your prep? Can you elaborate on your practice test sessions? Were there repeated attempts for the same test? did you take the tests under timed conditions (including breaks) and take the AWA?

rdave · Answer

Thank you all for your suggestions and kind guidance.. I will definitely use the books suggested by you all.I studied for around 2.5 months for my first test. I took a break for around 2 months due to some personal work before starting again.Then I started with Veritas classes and I took all fresh tests and mostly all under time conditions with the AWA. 
I have taken one week's break now and want to start over again.I have taken next test date in a month.As the dates to apply in colleges in coming close.I hope I do well this time.
Thanks again.

rick1986 · Answer

Don't exhaust all your GMAT prep tests if you have lots of studying left..

jyaky123 · Answer

Well, done the second GMAT Prep. and received a lower score than the first time (710 vs. 680). Got Q42 with an all time high of 16 mistakes and a V41 with 6 mistakes.

I did it after lunch and after all morning study so I hope the score is a result of lack of attention capacity and the burn out of the last couple of days where I studied an average of 10 hours per day and did 3 CATS in 3 consecutive days.

Since now is kind of late in Argentina I will review the mistakes tomorrow morning and after doing a quick review of my notes I'm going to take midday and all afternoon off to see if the declining performance is after all burn out.

Despite the result on monday I'm definitely taking the exam again as I feel I can do much better than this and I will definitely lern from this first phase of preparation

Has some one experienced the same? How did you deal with it? What are you recommendation for the future?

Thanks for the help

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