Reflection of my Current Position and Corrective Steps Sought

Question

Hello GC Members!
I'm a 27yr. Indian, FMCG Channel Sales and Supply chain veteran with a total experience of over 6 years. Through the said tenure, I have worked for multinationals managing upto $1mn annual sales and a 3 year stint as an entrepreneur, forging and retaining new alliances from the manufacturing sector. In my quest to understand the dynamics better and catalyse the career progression, I have chosen to do a full-time MBA. I do not have preferences between the 1yr or 2 yr program, but a 1 year program from the likes of ISB are on my radar. I'm open to options in career after MBA, but I have a preference for learning the dynamics of international trade. I plan to get enrolled for the next academic session,2017-18/19. But, the profile should be augmented with a good GMAT score.
 
Lately, I have started putting effective study hours(2-3hours) and Practise Test twice a week. The efforts so far have borne fruit and I have moved almost 150 points, from 490 to 640, on the Overall score. But lately I have hit resistance at this level and not able to break into the late 680+ bracket. Below the table captures the scores attained so far.

https://goo.gl/photos/Pc98NZNrSNkFnWk1A

I have studied the Manhattan Strategy Guides and the OG. Currently I'm spending time on the practices questions on the Manhattan and Veritas question banks and the Quant and Verbal Review by GMAC.

Suggestions sought section wise

In quant section, I underperform on the DS questions. Im stumbled mostly by the absolute value and odd even question
In verbal section, accurary in RC is a main problem. On a regular day, I would not score more than 40%.

Below are the areas around which I seek your valuable inputs in improving scrore in each section.
1. How to improve RC score 
2. How to better understand the DS questions on number properties.

My target score is 720 and I plan to appear for the exam around Aug 15, 2016. 
Kindly ask if any further information is required to analyse my current position.

TIA

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

Hello Samrat, can you share with me your current strategy for reading comprehension? How are you approaching that section?

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com

samratpahwa · Answer

Hello Farrell, 
I appreciate the swift response.

My overall strategy for RC stems from the course material by Manhattan RC Strategy books.
The chronological steps I follow are:
1. Classify the passage into long or short, understand the topic, or field it describes.
2. take extensive notes of the first paragraph. Further, skim details and relate the following paragraphs to the author's main point.

It shows from my test reports that I usually falter more on the specific questions than the general questions and the EXCEPT questions.

Kindly share your inputs in improving the said situation
Thanks

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

If you're just skimming the second and third paragraph then it would make complete sense that you're not doing so hot on the specific questions.

Taking detailed notes on the first paragraph would be the reason you are doing well on the general Global questions and also the Except questions because those generally give scenarios that relate to the bigger picture.

That being said, I'm not a big fan of taking detailed notes but rather paraphrasing things in your own words, so that you are more receptive to the correct answer which is usually a paraphrased version of the relevant text

I'd like for you to just make one change, I have a whole lot of tricks up my sleeve but just do this first. Pay close attention to keywords, commas, conclusions, and contrast wherever it is in the passage.

Keywords I mean things like hence yet but since however although still, words that are signaling contrast, conclusions, evidence. These are generally accompanied by a comma but I like to include that point because a comma often sets off a major idea. It's kind of a way of saying hey look at me.

As for conclusions and contrast I would like for you to look at those things where there's a chain of reasoning that leads to a specific conclusion, and boil that down and write it out like a chemical equation.

To improve on the detail questions, become a master of understanding contrast, which is really the most important of all my points here.

The GMAT is absolutely testing your ability to notice when there is change in the passage and to understand both sides of that.

For example when you see the word later it indicates contrast because that means it wasn't that way before.

Just implement this one thing and see how it shifts.

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi samratpahwa,

Your recent CAT scores are all 'clustered' in the low-600s, which means that you're 'responding' to each CAT in the same general way. By extension, you will likely continue to score at this level unless you make some significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. Depending on how long you've been studying, you might have developed some 'bad habits' that will take some time to fix (and replace with new 'good habits'). The problems that you're having with RC and DS are based on the same general 'issues' - inconsistent note-taking and inconsistent use of Tactics. Unfortunately, you might need more time than you've allotted to get up to your goal score. Right now, you should not be taking 2 CATs per week (you should plan to take just 1 per week) - the bulk of your time needs to be spent learning/practicing new Tactics and honing your skills.

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:

1) How long have you studied?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

samratpahwa · Answer

Hey Farrell,
Thanks for your insight!
After writing to you I have turned a little more observant and critical of my ways of approaching any passage.

Since inception, timing has been a problem on the Verbal section and to make up on that front, I had started skimming after first paragraph. Though this strategy helped me manage time better, but my accuracy w.r.t. RC froze at low levels, and even plummeted in some cases. Now, I'm using the practice questions from the Veritas Question Banks.

I know there is more than one problem in my strategy, but need to take one step at time and gradually improve on my accuracy. I will take another MGMAT CAT in less than 24 hours. I will get back to you with the reports.

Thank you again for taking out time for reviewing the post!
Regards.

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

@samrat, thank you for taking the time to write back. I do hope that you implement the strategy that I mentioned.

Like I tell my students, the objective is *not* to get wrong answers quickly. If your strategies are sound then you will be able to replicate them with confidence and that will organically reduce your time. I really don't believe in trying to focus on timing directly, that is the natural consequence of having solid strategies that work, and you can apply quickly.

Don't disregard any part of the passage but use the keywords conclusions commas and contrast to guide you on focusing on what is most important.

The concept in consulting is called helicoptering. Sometimes you hover over and sometimes you go down and look closely. That's partly what they're testing here. When faced with overwhelming information can you sort through it and prioritize to get what you need out of it? Just treat it like a game and that will help a lot.

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com

TrevorKleeTutor · Answer

Hi Samrat,

Generally speaking, stay away from non-GMAC CATs. I know that's a controversial thing to say around here, but Veritas and Kaplan are just trying to imitate the GMAT.

Also, you've taken way too many Practice Tests. Chill on those for a bit, and make an effort to really learn the problems in the book and from the GMAC practice tests.

Best,
Trevor

HiLine · Answer

So once you identify the words that signal contrast, conclusions, and evidence, what do you do?

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

Paraphrase that part in simple terms, and jot it down.

You can skim the rest but stop and attend to what is being said around keywords, contrast conclusions & commas.

Btw - for those of you who don't feel you have time to jot it down - we OVERestimate the time spent writing and UNDERestimate the time spinning our wheels stuck in our head. I think I'm going to tweet that.

However do NOT copy the words - that is wasting time. Stop a second to THINK. Paraphrase it - just like the GMAC paraphrases the answer choices.

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

HiLine  are you shooting for a score higher than 770? I hope not. That is masochism.

HiLine · Answer

I see. Would you mind giving an example of how to paraphrase in a short amount of time? I would think writing down the main words may help you draw a semi-mental picture of how the ideas are connected, but perhaps you have a different view on this.

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

So once you identify the words that signal contrast, conclusions, and evidence, what do you do? Paraphrase that part in simple terms, and jot it down. You can skim the rest but stop and attend to what is being said around keywords, contrast conclusions & commas. Btw - for those of you who don't feel you have time to jot it down - we OVERestimate the time spent writing and UNDERestimate the time spinning our wheels stuck in our head. I think I'm going to tweet that. However do NOT copy the words - that is wasting time. Stop a second to THINK. Paraphrase it - just like the GMAC paraphrases the answer choices. I see. Would you mind giving an example of how to paraphrase in a short amount of time? I would think writing down the main words may help you draw a semi-mental picture of how the ideas are connected, but perhaps you have a different view on this.

Yes, you do write down the main words BUT paraphrase them, boil them down to baby language. Find a synonym. The thinking process finding a synonym is GOLD, then you own the material rather than monkey see monkey do, jotting down jibberish, which is wasted time and a postponement of the thinking process. I write things out like chemical equations :arrow:

up arrows, down arrows in cause and effect order. If it's a science passage, I draw pictures because it is quicker to draw pictures than translate the mental picture into words. Still cannot believe you are striving for a score higher than 770. You won, you got them all.

HiLine · Answer

I like your system of symbols! I can see how being able to paraphrase would help the test taker understand the key parts of the passage, but you'd have to be really good with words and really fast with paraphrasing. But then again, you did imply that people tend to overestimate how long it takes to do this, so... :wink:

I ask these clarifying questions so that everyone understands and appreciates your advice more. If I didn't, I'm sure somebody else would. Thank you for your helpful responses!

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