Did my first GMAC CAT, need help

Question

So today I just did the old CAT created by GMAC, without the IR section.

I scored 45 Quant and 32 on Verbal. As far as the Quant section is concerned, when I reviewed my errors, I have noticed I made many calculation mistakes. I am pleased with the result since I know I will be able to score higher.

Verbal however, completely killed me. To be more specific, Reading Comprehension section did. I got overall 12 questions wrong on the Verbal section 8 of which where from RC questions, 3 from SC and 1 from CR. I also kind of rushed through the test since I had around 11 minutes left before the end of the Verbal section. I have noticed most mistakes where in the middle and they go in order like this:

5,7,13,16,21,22,23,24,25,27 and 35

I wonder, because I got so many CR questions wrong, did the program gave me easier SC and CR questions as well? Or, if I improved the RC section I would be likely to score very well?

Could you please provide me with some input?

msvel2304 · Answer

You have to perform equally well in all sections. Answering a wrong RC question won't affect your CR questions i.e you won't get easy CR because you made mistakes in RC. Check out thursdays with Ron videos and his take on RCs -> https://www.manhattangmat.com/thursdays-with-ron.cfm. Watch all videos related to RC. Apart from that you can check out rhyme's strategy - how-to-destroy-reading-comprehension-passages-by-rhyme-30247.html. Both are a little bit similar. Take notes and don't rush while answering the questions. Use a timing strategy to be on track and take all practice tests with strict official conditions with AWA IR and 8 min breaks to perform well on the actual test. The test is meant to break you down and that is why it is more important to improve your stamina.

Baracuda123 · Answer

Thanks for the information as well as Thursdays with Ron link. I have heard about it before, wanted to check it but I forgot to do so. Made the bookmark now so I do not forget. I guess that I am really close, just one more section to go.

GMATPill · Answer

That's a pretty good verbal section on first try - only 1 CR wrong and 3 SC wrong. Doing poorly on RC won't affect the questions on the other sections. But certainly getting answers wrong on RC will lead to easier RC questions and getting even those wrong will lower your overall score.

You should focus on improving RC. GMATPill has some  free resources on RC  focused on how you should read the passage and think through the questions:

In a few weeks try another CAT exam and see if you do just as well on SC/CR as well.

Baracuda123 · Answer

Thanks for the info.

After reading the post and watching two Ron's videos. I tried out the technique. I do better with Main Idea questions but I still struggle with other types of questions. It is also hard for me to assess the benefit of the new approach because sometimes I had better score at passages that came later in the OG than some than some that came earlier. I guess it depends on what kind of language the passage uses determines my score which kind of worries me.

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