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Question

Dear Gmat Expert,

Please help me..My situation is as follows,

I took gmat for the first time on 16th april 2013 with minimal preparation and scored 440 (q44, v11, AWA 3.5, IR 4) as i am a non native english speaker, so i found a lot of difficulty in verbal section. Than i started studying an took several mock tests(Kaplan, manhattan) and was scoring between 620- 660 where verbal's score was fluctuating too much . Than i took gmat again in October 2013 and scored 530 (q 44, v 20, AWA 4, IR 4), i thought something went wrong when i have started verbal. After one month preparation i retook it and scored 560 ( q 47, v21, AWA 4.5, IR 5). Everytime when i started verbal section i was getting little bit nervous i don't know why and it affected my score. I joined kaplan but it was not that much helpful.

I am planning to take gmat for the last time as i gave up my job for this and i can't leave it at this stage. my question:-

1)If i will take gmat for the 4th time, score somewhere around 700, and apply to top bschools than 4 attempts will create problem in getting an admission?

Please suggest me a good study plan in which i can improve my verbal (Starting from basics) and score somewhere around 700's.

Thanks & Regards,

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hi

For getting into any top B school, a good GMAT score is necessary. I guess the teaching methodology was not right. With a little more effort and detailed help from a good GMAT instructor will help you get a score of 700+. But you have to work hard for the same too.

All the best!!

Neha
 https://goo.gl/LT72yk

KyleWiddison · Answer

Four takes at the GMAT generally isn't an issue, but once you get to 5+ some schools may start to view that as a negative. So, make sure that you have a very good chance at hitting your goal score before taking the test again. I usually tell people to wait until they are scoring at least 20 points higher than target in their practice exams before taking the real thing.

What have you done for Verbal prep to date? As a non-native speaker, you do need an approach that starts from the Foundations of Verbal principles.

You may need to also improve your quant score to get into the 700s. Here is a post with several references to score tables to give you a sense of the improvement you need to hit your target: gmat-score-translation-table-121864.html

KW

kinjiGC · Answer

Few pointers: 1) Quitting your job -> Big risk -> That will make you more nervous while taking the test. It is just more pressure. Do think about it. Personal Exp - Left job and took CAT and screwed. 2) I think you should definitely analyze the Mocks better. There might be timing issue. You might be taking more time than advised. Understand and mistakes and practice to get comfortable. Learning is not sufficient, try to apply. 3) Definitely take one of the GMAT prep mocks to monitor. It is closest to the GMAT actual exam. (personal opinion). And above all. Believe in your self. You will do well. :-D

clearmountain · Answer

Hi Arp3IT,

I understand where you are coming from as I have tutored a number of non-native english speakers. It isn't that their internal logic is faulty but the difficulty in quickly and precisely translating ideas in English. Most of the Verbal GMAT books out there do give a comprehensive list of rules to work by but are lacking in the grammatical overview of the language. Even american students' will come across exceptions to their common understanding but since they have a better intuitive grasp of the possibilities they can more easily incorporate it into their overall view. Of course non-native students do not have such an advantage and take each new rule as totally upending their previous conceptions.

My best advice for English fundamentals is to first purchase a grammar book geared towards native junior high school students. Also the Handbook of English Grammar and Usage by Mcgraw Hill.

as for RC and CR, where logical dynamic is really the most important aspect, practice rewriting the passages using your own words. Try to use 1/3 of the words that are in the actual passage. The goal is to summarize and synthesize.

thanks,

Clearmountain

www.clearmountainprep.com

arp3it · Answer

Thank you all for your advices. 
I really appreciate each one of you for your valuable advice. I have started following them and day by day i am seeing myself improving on verbal and on quant.

Thank You again..

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