How to improve verbal in a month?

Question

Hi everyone,

I have been preparing for the GMAT throughout this year, especially intensively these last couple of months, and managed to get a 640 score on the gmat online this week in my first attempt (Q48 v29). I pretend to take it again before christmas, but I would like to know if you could give me advise as to how to improve my verbal score during this last month.

My quant score hast consistently been at v49 in the last mocks I took and it showed out with the Q48 on the real test, eventhough I still think that it wasn't my best quant test because my pace wasn't quite as good as in my mocks. So I plan to just revise and rehearse in quant and focus hard on improving my verbal score in order to reach the 700+.

In verbal I tend to struggle with time management, and have had to rush through the last questions in order to complete the test, sometimes even guessing many questions. On the real test I had planned to get through the first have of the test under 34 minutes but by the time I finished question 18 I had roughly 25 minutes left for the second part of the test, and had to get past 2 RC passages and the rest of the questions quickly. On mock tests at the end I was getting v31-33, but couldn't manage to get a pace in which I could have enough time to complete the test, and missing to many questions at the end (many time getting a streak of 5-6 wrong answers at the end because of an RC passage and 2 other questions which I had to skim through the answers). I haven't been able to reach 35+ in verbal and my goal is to improve my time management and accuracy to the high 30s or ideally 40+.

Any suggestions will be very well received.
Thank you.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi jmelillan,

Here is some general advice you can follow to improve your verbal skills. I'll start with CR.

Your first goal is to master the individual Critical Reasoning topics: strengthen the argument, weaken the argument, resolve the paradox, etc. As you learn about each Critical Reasoning question type, do focused practice, so that you can track your skill in answering each type of question. If, for example, you incorrectly answer a weaken the argument question, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not recognize the specific Critical Reasoning question type? Were you doing too much analysis in your head? Did you skip over a keyword in an answer choice? You must thoroughly analyze your mistakes and seek to turn weaknesses into strengths by focusing on the question types you dread seeing and the questions you take a long time to answer correctly.

When practicing Reading Comprehension, you need to develop a reading strategy that is both efficient and thorough. Reading too fast and not understanding what you have read are equally as harmful as reading too slow and using up too much time. When attacking Reading Comprehension passages, you must have one clear goal in mind: to understand the context of what you are reading. However, you must do so efficiently, so you need to avoid getting bogged down in the details of each paragraph and focus on understanding the main point of each paragraph. That being said, do not fall into the trap of thinking that you can just read the intro and the conclusion and comprehend the main idea of a paragraph. As you read a paragraph, consider how the context of the paragraph relates to previous paragraphs, so you can continue developing your overall understanding of the passage. Furthermore, as you practice Reading Comprehension, focus on the exact types of Reading Comprehension questions with which you struggle: find the Main Idea, Inference, Author’s Tone, etc. As with Critical Reasoning, analyze your incorrect answers to better determine why you tend to get a particular question type wrong, and then improve upon your weaknesses.

You can perfect your reading strategy with a lot of practice. However, keep in mind that GMAT Reading Comprehension passages are not meant to be easy to read, so to better prepare yourself to tackle such passages, read magazines with similar content and style, such as the New York Times, Scientific American, and Smithsonian.

Sentence Correction, on the other hand, is a bit of a different animal compared to Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. There are three aspects to getting correct answers to GMAT Sentence Correction questions: what you know, such as grammar rules, what you see, such as violations of grammar rules and the logic of sentence structure, and what you do, such as carefully considering each answer choice in the context of the non-underlined portion of the sentence. To drive up your Sentence Correction score, you likely will have to work on all three of those aspects. Furthermore, the reason that your Sentence Correction performance has not improved is likely that you have not been working on all three of those aspects. 
 
Regarding what you know, to be successful in Sentence Correction, first and foremost, you MUST know your grammar rules. Let's be clear, though: GMAT Sentence Correction is not just a test of knowledge of grammar rules. The reason for learning grammar rules is so that you can determine what sentences convey and whether sentences are well-constructed. In fact, in many cases, incorrect answers to Sentence Correction questions are grammatically flawless. Thus, often your task is to use your knowledge of grammar rules to determine which answer choice creates the most logical sentence meaning and structure.
 
This determination of whether sentences are well-constructed and logical is the second aspect of finding correct answers to Sentence Correction questions, what you see. To develop this skill, you probably have to slow way down. You won't develop this skill by spending under two minutes per question. For a while, anyway, you have to spend time with each question, maybe even ten or fifteen minutes on one question sometimes, analyzing every answer choice until you see the details that you have to see in order to choose the correct answer.
 
As you go through the answer choices, consider the meaning conveyed by each version of the sentence. Does the meaning make sense? Even if you can tell what the version is SUPPOSED to convey, does the version really convey that meaning? Is there a verb to go with the subject? Do all pronouns in the sentence clearly refer to nouns in the sentence? By slowing way down and looking for these details, you learn to see what you have to see in order to clearly understand which answer to a Sentence Correction question is correct.
 
There is only one correct answer to any Sentence Correction question, there are clear reasons why that choice is correct and the others are not, and those reasons are not that the correct version simply "sounds right." In fact, the correct version often sounds a little off at first. That correct answers may sound a little off is not surprising. If the correct answers were always the ones that sounded right, then most people most of the time would get Sentence Correction questions correct, without really knowing why the wrong answers were wrong and the correct answers were correct. So, you have to go beyond choosing what "sounds right" and learn to clearly see the logical reasons why one choice is better than all of the others.
 
As for the third aspect of getting Sentence Correction questions correct, what you do, the main thing that you have to do is be very careful. You have to make sure that you are truly considering the structures of sentences and the meanings conveyed rather than allowing yourself to be tricked into choosing trap answers that sound right but don't convey meanings that make sense. You also have to make sure that you put some real energy into finding the correct answers. Finding the correct answer to a Sentence Correction question may take bouncing from choice to choice repeatedly until you start to see the differences between the choices that make all choices wrong except for one. Often, when you first look at the choices in a Sentence Correction question, only one or two seem obviously incorrect. It may take time for you to see what you have to see. Getting the right answers takes a certain work ethic. You have to be determined to see the differences and to figure out the precise reasons that one choice is correct.
 
To improve what you do when you answer Sentence Correction questions, seek to become aware of how you are going about answering them. For instance, are you being careful and looking for logic and details, or are you quickly eliminating choices that sound a little off and then choosing the best of the rest? If you choose an incorrect answer, consider what you did that resulted in your arriving at that answer and what you could do differently in order to arrive at correct answers more consistently. Furthermore, see how many questions you can get correct in a row as you practice. If you break your streak by missing one, consider what you could have done differently that would have resulted in your extending your streak.

As with your Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension regimens, after learning a particular Sentence Correction topic,engage in focused practice with 30 questions or more that involve that topic. As your Sentence Correction skills improve, you’ll then want to practice with SC questions that test you on skills from multiple SC topics.
 
Ultimately, if you are unable to learn and practice in the manner described above, you may consider looking for additional verbal prep resources. If you are unsure of which resources to choose, check out some reviews here on GMAT Club.

Here are also a few helpful articles:

How to Score a 700+ on the GMAT — A Mini Guide for Success

GMAT Sentence Correction: 8 Essential Tips

prateekchugh · Answer

Scott I think what you have told above is perfect, If we apply these above techniques we can definitely score good in GMAT

Thank you for this advice. I will definitely apply your advice in my studies.

shameekv1989 · Answer

I will probably give my 2 cents as well as I was in the pretty similar situation. 
Focus a lot on not getting 600-700 level questions incorrect. Accuracy on sub-level and medium-level questions is absolutely necessary for you to score high on Verbal. You can probably miss 700-level question and still score high, but getting a sub-par level qs incorrect is a sin.

Additionally, you will learn more form conceptual point of view from medium level questions than you would from higher difficulty questions.

All the best!!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jmelillan,

First off, a 640/Q48 is a solid Score, so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

You do have a great opportunity to pick up points in the Verbal section, so continuing to study makes a certain amount of sense. Many Test Takers face pacing issues in the Quant section, the Verbal section or both – so you are not alone. However, it's important to remember that pacing problems do NOT exist on their own - they're the results of OTHER problems. 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? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far? What 'brands' of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi jmelillan,

Sorry to hear that you couldn't score well on Verbal. I understand that you have put in a lot of effort but the thing is did you put it in the right direction. As GMAT tests your application skills, it's the methodology on which you have to focus. Having said that, struggling with time is just a symptom not the actual problem.  The problem is you not using the best strategy to solve questions . There are 'n' number of ways of solving a particular question but as GMAT is a time based test, you have to make sure to use the best method that helps you solve the question under optimum time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaML_8kG7sc

There is a certain strategy for each module in Verbal. And each strategy has a certain steps to follow. So, if you lean those methods and apply them to practice questions, then you should be able to solve Verbal questions with ease. In fact, we are going to start a   Verbal crash course   on 21st of November for those who are struggling with Verbal that is for those whose Verbal scores are between high 20's and mid 30's. So, I think it's the ideal way for you to improve your verbal score.

To give you a gist about the course, you will be provided access to an online course using which you will be learning the concepts and basic application skills. And every week, there will be 3 live webinar sessions with the Verbal expert in which you will learn the advanced application of concepts. And you are required to complete certain pre-requisites before every webinar. This will help you to stay motivated right till the end.

So, if you wish to know more about the crash course or wish to know more about the study strategy, you can get in touch with me over a call using the below link.

Click here to schedule a call

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

640 is not a bad start and Q48 is also good. I can understand you are targetting Q49+. Improving on the verbal section does take time. Firstly, Since you have one more month to go you can punt questions evenly throughout the test rather than rushing on most of the questions in the end. In short work on pacing your test knowing your limitations and skill level. Secondly, try to develop approaches for dealing with various types of questions and solve these questions in timed conditions. With more structured practice you will improve on your timing as well.

All the best!

jmelillan · Answer

Thank you all.

EMPOWERgmatRichC:
1) I started studying at the beginning of the year, but done so intensively the last 3 months, 1-2 hours after work and 3-4 hrs on the weekends. Took a week off work to study and prepare for the GMAT before I took the real test, in this week I achieved a stable high score and pacing in quant, but couldn't feel comfortable finishing the verbal test.
2) At first I used the MGMAT online course and books, but I didn't advance much because I felt that it didn't focus hard on the basics and it was more for a native speaker. Then I tried the e-gmat course and started to understand better the fundamentals in SC, feeling more comfortable when analyzing a problem. In the last months I completed the Official Guide and verbal (SC and CR mostly, RC I didn't prepare as much since I thought I was weaker on the other types, though I think I will practice my speed in RC passages now) and quant review questions. This time I plan to redo the OG Verbal but in sets by question type (one day only SC, one day only CR, one day only RC), instead of randomly answering questions.
3) At first I did the MGMAT mocks while completing the course (scored from 560-620, realized that I lacked concepts in verbal and found quant tests a hard compared to OG). Took veritasprep free CAT - 620 (Q45 v31) with low accuracy on SC and CR before the e-gmat course (from then on a left RC a little aside, just practiced on mocks and some OG passages). The last month I took the GMATPrep Tests everyweekend and 4 on the week before (reviewing incorrect answers):
GMATPrep 1: 590 Q40 v30
GMATPrep 2: 580 Q47 v24
GMATPrep 3: 660 Q49 v31
GMATPrep 4: 650 Q49 v29
GMATPrep 5: 640 Q47 v31
GMATPrep 6: 640 Q50 v25
Retake 2: 670 Q49 v33
4) Want to aim for a top 20 US business school now in round 2.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jmelillan,

I've sent you a PM with some additional notes and questions.

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

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Glad I could help!

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