Difficulties in Verbal section specifically in Critical Reasoning

Question

Hello!

Well, I am preparing for the GMAT Test and I have a couple of questions regarding the preparations for it.

1- I am having mostly difficulties in the verbal section specifically in the critical reasoning part (I have studied in Kaplan/Princeston/GMAT books and did the exercices) however it seems that I am not getting the pattern and right method to do it. I really need tips for the critical reasoning section.Would you please advise?

2- I am doing several exercises at home (Sentence Correction, Data Sufficiency) and I am doing OK. Now when I time myself I don't do as well.
Should I time from the beginning or wait till I understand first?

3- My test is in the next 3 weeks, how often do you propose I should practice an entire GMAT test? How many tests and how frequent? Say 1 per day?

4- For test day, should I study for the IR and AWA and practice some exercises?Since they are not taken into account I am skipping them in my studies.

5- is there like guidelines or tips on what do to for the previod just before test day? I mean the day before how to be mentally and physically prepared?

Thank you!

AjiteshArun · Answer

Ensure that you understand the argument (most questions will present you with an argument) and the logic behind that argument before you try solving the question. Familiarize yourself with the common patterns seen in GMAT CR. Don't try to solve questions using "shortcuts" (rely on logic).

If your test is in the next 3 weeks, it makes sense to do more timed practice than untimed.

One test every day is probably unrealistic. Take a call, but 3-5 is a more reasonable target.

This depends on what how your target schools view those sections. You should, however, include them in your practice tests so that you can simulate exam day conditions more accurately.

Most test takers solve only a few questions, and focus on relaxing and sleeping well. Make sure that the small details like ID, center location, and food have already been taken care of.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi JoelleAS,

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What materials have you used?
3) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
5) What is your exact Test Date for the GMAT?
6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

JoelleAS · Answer

Thank you Ajitesh Arun!

For the CR questions, when we say understand the argument it means the paragraph (premises/conclusion/assumption)? I sometimes don't find easily the logic/patter of the GMAT CR.
When we say pattern, we meant the question types? should I write like notes or there is no need?

I have another question for the RC, are there any tips on reading the text quickly (besides checking the connectors)? I am writing summarized notes however I think its wasting my time. Do you think I still should do that?

For both CR/RC, I find the answer choices super close and can get easily lost when choosing the right answer.

As for the preps for test day, i might be asking silly questions but what should I eat/take food with me? My test is at 10 AM. How many hours is recommended to sleep before? we better be 30 mins prior to the test at the center?

AjiteshArun · Answer

Yes, most questions present you with an argument, and that argument is in the paragraph before the question stem. Try to practice understanding the logic. Use short notes if necessary. "Patterns" are the common ways the GMAT structures the argument and the common ways the options are structured. Look for the broad ones, as there is no way to develop a step-by-step approach to solving CR.

Do  not  focus on reading an RC passage too quickly. Rushing through a passage won't really help, and you won't understand the passage that way. Notes can help a lot with RC (one opinion on notes  here ).

Make sure that you understand why options are eliminated (or chosen). Over time, you'll become better at differentiating between options that appear to be close. Keep in mind that on most GMAT questions, the options are  not  as close as we might think.

I always recommend chocolate. Take anything you want, as long as it's not too heavy (you can read some opinions  here ). Take a couple of practice tests with whatever you choose so that exam day is not the first time you're having that combination. Get a good night's rest (depends on you, but 7-8 hours would be great). And yes, try to reach the center 30 minutes before your test.

JoelleAS · Answer

I am practicing the CR questions by types and I think for the conclusion type (the one I started with) I am getting better.
Assumption and weaken questions are not my strong point. I am working as you recommended and I will come back to you if I still have any questions for CR and RC.
(However I still have problems in the RC parts and I tend to lose focus and re-read the text several times, buttt I am working on it)

I am taking 2 weeks off from work to study and I did put a strategy to tackle the preparations
however I have quick questions:
1- I will do full length practice test once every 2 days this means at the end I would have done 8 tests. Do you think its too much?
2- I am taking the day before the exam as free and will not count it or else I will panic. What do you recommend I should do Day-1? Should I do a practice test or I keep it Day-2?
3- When and how often should I practice the IR knowing that the school I am applying to don't take them into account?
4- Since I am weaker in V than in Q, I am planning to work more on verbal section and then around 7 days for V and 6 for Q. However do you think I should do like a full day of Verbal and another day for Q or I mix V and Q in my routine study day?
5- Whenever I am working on exercises for CR and RC in order to get the pattern/strategy I am not timing so I get them right. do you think even when exercising I should time myself? knowing that I will do several full-time tests?
6- I found on the GMAC club several question banks for the CR. Are they official ones? I am afraid that I am wasting my time whereas I can work on the ones for the OF extra booklet i have.
7- In my normal day, I do exercises of CR then RC then SC. Do you think I should do a mixed set instead of working by sections.

Super thanks for all your recommendations.Very helpful indeed!

AjiteshArun · Answer

1. Most test takers would not be comfortable testing every other day. This doesn't mean that it can't be done, though. Just keep a very close watch on your energy levels (you want to be at, or close to, your "peak" when you take the actual exam).

2. I completely agree that the last few days before your GMAT should be as light as possible. Again, be careful about scheduling your last practice test so close to your exam (maybe try to avoid intensive testing in the last 2-3 days).

3. I recommend at least 4 full length tests with AWA and IR. Skipping these sections could inflate your score (it's easier to concentrate if you don't have to do AWA and IR). You don't have to put a lot of effort into doing well on IR if you're sure that your school(s) won't look at your IR score.

4. I'd prefer to practice a bit of both in the last two weeks.

5. Yes, you should time yourself. Maybe that will take some of the pressure to take so many tests off you.

6. GMAT Club will have both official and non-official questions. You can prioritize the OG material you have, and work through more questions here if you have the time to do so.

7. Mixed sets will more closely approximate what the GMAT will present you with. Do them if you can, but if it takes too much time to create such sets, just go with sections.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi JoelleAS,

To start, taking CATs every 2 days is NOT a good idea. A CAT is really a 'measuring device' - when used correctly, it will give you a realistic score and help define your strengths and weaknesses, but it will NOT help you to fix any of those weaknesses. To raise your scores, you have to put in the necessary practice and repetitions. The CAT will show you whether your studies are helping you to improve or not. As such, you really shouldn't take more than 1 FULL CAT per week.

Beyond that point, to properly plan for these last few weeks of study, you really need to provide more information about your studies so far and your goals:

1) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) What is your goal score?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
4) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

JoelleAS · Answer

Many thanks for all your answers Ajitesh Arun!

I will plan the last CAT test on Thursday knowing that my test is on Saturday. I will keep it light practices on Friday.
By the way, in the offical CAT, we cant go back in the answers. Correct?
Another question, I dont get how the scores of the GMAT works. I mean what does Q:37 means? I know the total is on 51 but I mean Q:37 means how many wrong answers?

AjiteshArun · Answer

That's right, you can't go back and change answers.

The GMAT gives you 37 questions for a total (maximum possible score) of 51. Because the GMAT is an adaptive test, it's not really "correct" to say how many incorrect answers will lead to a Q37 (two test takers could get completely different scores with the same number of "incorrects"). But  here  is another way to interpret a Q37. The table on that page has the updated percentiles.

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Difficulties in Verbal section specifically in Critical Reasoning

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