how to increase verbal score

Question

Today i registered my GMAT exam. So, i took a test. As i was always good in maths, i scored 50 in quant, but my verbal score was just 24. Anyone please suggest me how can increase my verbal score from 24 to somewhat around 40/45. I still have 110 days left for my exam and i usually study around 12 hours a day. 
Thank you

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ani2304,

Since your Quant skills are obviously strong, you probably don't need too much practice in those areas (although a bit of practice can help you to keep those skills sharp). A V40+ is the 90th percentile, which is a difficult score for most Test Takers to achieve. You've certainly given yourself enough time though. You probably will NOT need 110 days and you SHOULD NOT be studying 12 hours a day either. Now you just need the proper resources and the willingness to learn (and practice) new tactics.

Have you purchased any GMAT resources yet?
When you took this practice CAT, did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

ani2304 · Answer

Thanks a lot for replying
I gave one of the two tests of GMATPrep (i skipped the AWA). In the quant section i have completed the Manhattan Guides (number properties, fractions decimals, geometry, word problems, algebra ), The official quant review 2015, OG 12 and Kaplan 800. In the verbal section i have started Manhattan SC guide.

GMATPILLBILL · Answer

Hey ani2304 With 110 days left to study, here is a customized 2-3 month study plan that can help boost your score: https://www.gmatpill.com/gmat-practice-t ... study-plan Use this as a guideline. You don’t have to follow it exactly but the structure of the study plan should be the same structure that you take in your approach. This helps to optimize your retention and learning. As you study, we recommend that you focus on one particular subsection for multiple consecutive days before moving onto the next. You can see this in our study plan where we recommend 5 days on nothing but SC -- before moving onto CR and then RC. Here is a sample SC video to get you started on conquering the Verbal section: https://www.gmatpill.com/sentencecorrect ... ythons.mp4

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Hi ani2304,

It may be best to start with identifying whether you struggle globally with verbal or if one or two of the sections only are a weakness. Secondly, you will need to assess whether you could benefit from devoting time to improving your overall skills. For example, since you're not bound by time constraints, you could spend a while going over the core grammar for GMAT sentence corrections during a portion of your study time. For reading comprehension and critical reasoning, you could work through more targeted GMAT study materials to build reading comprehension skills and to become more familiar with the question types in these sections and how to navigate through them. If reading comprehension is particularly difficult for you, I would also suggest reading material that isn't from the GMAT in order to get used to critically reading on topics with which you aren't necessarily familiar (the Wall Street journal, for instance). So for now, you can afford to allot a bit of each day to review. As you improve you can cut back on this and increase the time you spend on practice questions. The most important thing is to identify where you struggle and work on that. That means keeping a record of your errors and regularly measuring your improvement (practice tests).

Best of luck!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ani2304,

With 3+ months of study time before Test Day, and a strong Quant skill set, you have the freedom to approach your studies in any way that you choose. In the short term, you can work through the book-materials that you have and we can track your progress. You'll want to take another FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) in 2-3 weeks, then report back here with your scores. If your Verbal scores improve, then you can stick with the approach that you're taking. If they don't improve, then we can talk through how to adjust your studies - and you'll still have plenty of time to keep working.

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

ani2304 · Answer

Hello, first of all thank you everyone for the constant support. I want to put up my update. I took a test today (GMAT Test Code 14, i found in on the internet). I scored 40 in verbal and 51 in quant. My verbal score increased from 11 to 24 to 40, though i was quite hesitant to mark verbal answers. i guess I'm still not confident enough. my total score increased from 530 to 560 to 700. so i scored a 700 this time. i still have 3 months (98 days) left for my exam. can you guys suggest me how should i touch the 750 mark. And i still want to gain confidence in verbal section. 
Thanks a lot

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ani2304,

Just to confirm - did you take a PAPER Test?

Since the Official GMAT is a Computer-Adaptive Test that is administered under very specific conditions, you really should focus your practice on training for that specific 'event.' What practice CATs do you currently have access to?

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

ani2304 · Answer

Yes, it was a paper test. Actually i don't have access to many CATs. I have the GMAT prep software which provides 2 CAT tests and one Manhattan Test. Please suggest from where i can get more Test materials (CATs).

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ani2304,

There are plenty of sources for practice CATs - beyond the 2 additional CATs that you can purchase from www.mba.com, there are 'blocks' of CATs available from Kaplan, MGMAT and Veritas.

It's worth noting that scoring a V40 on a paper test is NOT the same as scoring a V40 on a FULL-LENGTH CAT, so it's not practical to think that you're actually working at the V40 level right now. You should continue to work on your Verbal skills for the next 1-2 weeks, then take a FULL CAT (including the Essay and IR sections). That score will be far more accurate than the one you received from the paper test.

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

ani2304 · Answer

OptimusPrepJanielle   EMPOWERgmatRichC   GMATPILLBILL   VeritasPrepKarishma   RichEconomistGMAT  Today i took a CAT provided by Manhattan. I scored 620 (V27 Q48). I am quite disappointed. I dedicated one entire week on SC. I solved the Manhattan SC Guide (5th edition) and the Official GMAT Verbal review 2015. Although i had found Official GMAT Verbal review questions quite easy, i faced a lot of problems in the Manhattan's CAT. I have exactly 3 months left for my exam, so can you expert please suggest me how should i prepare in a better way. I have the following study materials : Cracking the New GMAT, 2013 Ed - Princeton Review, McGraw Hill's GMAT, The Official Guide For GMAT Review 12th Edition, The Official Guide For GMAT Review 13th Edition, MG Prep Manhattan GMAT Set of 10 Strategy Guides, 5th Edition, MG Prep Manhattan GMAT Set of 8 Strategy Guides, 4th Edition, NOVA -GMAT Data Sufficiency Prep Course, Manhattan Advanced GMAT Quant, GMAT Math Bible - Nova, Princeton_Verbal_Workout, The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible, Kaplan GMAT 800. Veritas Prep Complete GMAT Course Set - 12 Books. 
I have thought of two study plans:
1. First month : complete verbal section, Second month: complete quant section, Third month: Revision. 
2. First and Second month : Verbal and Quant (alternatively), Third month: Revision.
Which one should i choose, or should i follow any different plan. I will join the Veritas test series and MGMAT CAT series . I have the Kaplan Disc which also provides CATs.
I plan to give a CAT once in every two weeks. 
Thank you

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ani2304,

This 620 score is more 'in line' with your prior studies and score progression. The paper Test just simply wasn't accurate (which is one of the reasons why you cannot rely on paper Tests as an indicator of your score potential). Thus, your true score progression is 530-560-620. This is a solid improvement AND you still have plenty of time to continue studying.

It looks like you're taking a 'book heavy' study approach, which might be a problem. Many Test Takers who study in that way tend to get 'stuck' at a particular scoring level. Thankfully, you have so much time before your Official GMAT that you can study as you see fit for the next few weeks and we can see how you progress. If your scores continue to improve, then you can stick to how you're studying. If you get stuck, then we'll know and talk through how you can adjust your plans.

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

ani2304 · Answer

Today i took a full length CAT. I scored 660 (Q 49 V 31 IR 8). This time i took a good 8 hours sleep before the day of the exam. Avoided studying for more than a hour. But when i was reviewing the questions i was able to solve nearly all the questions that i had marked wrong. Some were silly mistakes. So everyday i solve only questions from each topic (SC CR RC PS DS). And if i encounter any theoretical problems i refer only one specific book. With 79 days left I'm planning to solve 30 questions from each topic everyday.
Can you experts suggest any better way of preparation.
Thank you

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ani2304,

You're making steady improvements with your CATs, which is good. Considering how much time you still have before your Official GMAT, you can continue to study as you have been. If you end up getting 'stuck' at a particular score level, then we can talk about how to adjust your study plan. As it is, your scores continue to improve, so it would make sense for you to continue doing what you're doing.

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

ani2304 · Answer

VeritasPrepKarishma   RichEconomistGMAT   EMPOWERgmatRichC  
Hey guys, i need some help. I have been solving OG 12th Ed for the last 6 days. I completed the Quant section but some RC questions are still left. Actually my accuracy in quant was around 98% ( out of 230 PS, 4 were wrong and out of 174 DS, 5 were wrong), but my accuracy in verbal keeps on varying (from 65% to 85%, though sometimes it's around 90%, but mostly it is in the mid 70%). in the first 2 days I had struggled with RC (accuracy of 50%) , but then it improved (accuracy around 70%). I am very confused regarding CR questions, sometimes my accuracy is around 68% but at times it is around 90%. Should i refer the Powerscope CR Bible ? and coming to SC my accuracy is always around 70%-73%. What should i do ? everyday i solve 30 questions from each section ( PS DS CR RC SC). I have noticed one thing that when i review my wrong answers there's a 90% chance i get the correct answer in the 2nd try (actually for most of the verbal questions i get confused between 2 choices). 
So should i refer the Powerscope for CR ? And because i am a non native english speaker i find grammar a bit confusing, so i downloaded the GMAT Club Grammar book. 
Thank you

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ani2304,

There are several 'problems' with how you're presenting your 'data', so we need to clarify some points before we proceed:

1) You list your OVERALL 'percent correct' for the PS and DS sections, but it looks like you're breaking your SC, RC and CR data down into 'chunks' of questions and offering the 'percent correct' for individual chunks, so it's not clear how you've scored on the FULL set of questions. How have you performed OVERALL in SC, RC and CR?

2) Since this data is about OG questions, I'd like to know more about how you performed on your last CAT. How did you handle the SC, RC and CR on THAT CAT (what fraction of each did you get correct? How many times did you get a question correct on the second attempt, etc.?)?

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

ani2304 · Answer

Hey Rich, 
Thanks for the reply. well coming to verbal section, i solve 30 questions of each topic. so usually i score around 21/22 in SC, 22 in CR, and around 23 in RC. 
My performance in the last CAT: Q49 V31. In the quant section, 29 questions were correct (8 wrong), and in the verbal section 25 were correct (16 wrong answers). But when i was reviewing the questions, of the 8 quant questions, i solved 7 questions in the 2nd try (there were a lot of silly mistakes) and of the 16 verbal questions i solved 9 in the 2nd try.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ani2304,

From your prior post, it sounded like you had completed all (or almost all) of the questions in the OG12. Is that the case? If you have completed all of those questions, then how did you perform on the ENTIRE set of SC, RC and CR prompts (for example, you stated that you correctly answered 226/230 PS questions - what were your overall numbers for SC, RC and CR in the Verbal sections of this book?)?

It's worth noting that doing a random selection of questions from a book does NOT 'match up' with what you will face on the Official GMAT. You mentioned getting 16 Verbal questions wrong on your last CAT, but what types of questions were they? SC, RC or CR (and what sub-categories were they: what type of CR? what type of grammar rules did you not know? etc.)?

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

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