Is it possible to improve V16 to V30 and how?

Question

Hello everyone

Below are my official mock scores:
28-02-2021 - GMAT Prep 2 - 570 (Q48, V21)
19-03-2021 - GMAT Prep 1 - 540 (Q48, V18)
25-03-2021 - GMAT Prep 3 - 530 (Q48, V16)

I got 6 SC wrong 5 CR wrong and 11 RC wrong in the latest GMAT Prep mock from yesterday.

Starting mid February till 24-03-2021 took GMAT Linear tests from IMS and got below results. I don’t completely rely on below results because these are linear and non-adaptive tests but took them more as a reference to get used to the exam environment.
Exam 1 - 520 (Q33, V27)
Exam 2 - 580 (Q38, V31)
Exam 3 - 500 (Q28, V29)
Exam 4 - 590 (Q42, V28)
Exam 5 - 500 (Q29, V29)
Exam 6 - 670 (Q47, V33) 24-03-2021

In the official mocks, I always run out of time in verbal section and random guess last 5 questions on the other hand while trying to hurry from the beginning I end marking wrong answers. Both ways the results have been same for me.

I studied verbal from EGMAT going through all the video lectures at least thrice in the last 2 months. Made notes on SC concepts and best practices to approach CR questions. Practised questions from gmat club as well.

31st May is my deadline and a reason for my panic because I need to get a score of 600+ and submit before this date.

It looks to me that I need to get somewhere between V26 and V30 to reach my goal.

I already exhausted exam 1, 2 and 3 from my gmatprep account and need advise on how should I move forward?
Is it feasible to achieve my target score in the given timeline and what techniques should I implement/follow to not get disappointed again (GMAT Prep 3 result shattered my confidence in reading comprehension skills

Thank you.

Posted from my mobile device

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi gabbi,

You can definitely improve your Verbal score if you do your prep in the right way. It's the approach on which you have to work. GMAT verbal is more about the methodology and the logical approach. Let me help you here.

I'm not sure how you approach the questions as of now. For example, the right way to solve SC questions as of now if to approach them from meaning stand-point. SC questions test your ability to convey the right meaning without any ambiguity. You might have often come across answer choices which are both grammatically correct and convey a logical meaning but are indeed incorrect. So, you need to understand the intended meaning the original sentence is trying to convey, identify errors if any and then eliminate answer choices which are either grammatically incorrect or which do not convey the intended meaning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SGA8bwFNJM

So, as you see, based on the purpose of the questions, you have to prepare accordingly. The same goes with CR as well. Most of the CR questions are based on one of the frameworks. So, if you know the framework and learn the guidelines for each framework, you can easily pre-think the missing link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZG-oIl09Rk

All in all, follow a more structured approach and focus on the process more than practicing questions. I'm not sure how you prepared till now but to suggest you in a better way, I would need a few more details about your GMAT prep such as

your weak areas 
 your approach towards solving questions 
 were you able to score well in the practice quizzes?

Answers to these questions will help me guide you in a better way. You can write back to me or a better way would be to discuss the same over a call. I'll PM you the additional details. Meanwhile, you can get in touch with me using the below link.

Click here to schedule a call

GMATinsight · Answer

Hi gabbi

It's absolutely POSSIBLE to improve score from V-16 to V-30 and we have a good number of stories of our students who have done it under the guidance of Dr.Sushma Jha (Verbal faculty).

However, what it takes much more than just practicing the material blindly. The process of improving the score starts with a diagnosis of the problem. The first thing that you need to do is COMPLETELY STOP referring to IMS material as it will help you worsen more than improve.

Secondly, You need to stick to only the official source when it comes to practicing Verbal.

Thirdly do it in a way it needs to be done. i.e. blindly solving the question will NOT improve your score but intelligently working on each section definitely WILL.

Start with SC section first because the section is very mechanical and can be improved significantly in short duration if the rules of sentence correction are learnt well. While learning, you also need to develop the aptitude to apply them when you come across a question that requires application of the learnt concept.

Then move to CR.

While dealing with CR and SC, you must practice 3-4 RC every day and understand the mistakes you made and why you made them. It will help you improve reading speed and comprehension of language in a very disciplined manner.

For crisp and effective guidance and diagnosis of your major areas to improve, you can consider taking a free demo session with Dr.Sushma jha and for that you just need to get in touch with me.

Two MUST join YouTube channels for GMAT aspirant GMATinsight (1000+ FREE Videos) and GMATclub

For a Comprehensive Topicwise Quant Video course at an affordable price CLICK HERE

For quant may consider subscribing to our FREE youtube channel for 1000+ classy videos and OG solution. for concept understanding, you can purchase module that you need to work on. Trust me, its the best video course on Quant in world.

For a Comprehensive Topicwise Quant Video course at an affordable price CLICK HERE For quant may consider subscribing to our FREE youtube channel for 1000+ classy videos and OG solution. for concept understanding, you can purchase module that you need to work on. Trust me, its the best video course on Quant in world.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi gabbi.

As others have said in this thread, you can certainly increase your verbal score, and a couple things jump out at me from what you said.

One is that it sounds as if you have learned some things  about  GMAT verbal but have not done that much practicing. To become more skilled in GMAT verbal, you have to do a LOT of untimed practice involving careful, choice by choice analysis of questions. In other words, in going through verbal questions, you have to treat each choice as if the choice itself were a question, sticking with the choice until you fully understand why it is incorrect or correct.

Also, when you practice, you should work slowly enough to achieve a relatively high accuracy rate. If you can learn to get questions correct in 15 minutes each, you can then learn to get them correct more quickly.

The other thing that jumps out at me is that it appears that you are rushing through the verbal sections of the practice tests you are taking. I bet you'll do your best by just working at your best pace and then guessing on any questions that remain in the last few minutes allotted to the section.

For some more insights into how to increase your verbal score, you could read the following posts.

GMAT Sentence Correction: 8 Essential Tips

GMAT Critical Reasoning: 8 Essential Tips

GMAT Reading Comprehension Tips: Top 8 DOs and DON’Ts

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi gabbi,

GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +/- 30 points of actual ability. Assuming a similar 'swing' in how your CATs function - and that you took your CATs in a realistic fashion that matches-up with how you will take your Official GMAT - your 3 CAT score results show that you essentially performed the same each time (about 550 +/- a few points). You handle certain aspects of the GMAT consistently well, but you also make certain consistent mistakes. The difference between your 570 and 530 are likely based on some lucky/unlucky guesses and little mistakes (that you either made or did not make on each Exam). Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

A Score Goal of 600+ is realistic given the timeframe that you've mentioned, but 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 in total? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used over the course of ALL of your studies?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to? Is May 31st the application deadline for all of the Programs that you are interested in or are there later deadlines for certain Programs?

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

760+: What GMAT Assassins Do to Score at the Highest Levels

MohitGeat · Answer

Hi

It is certainly possibly to make great improvements in your verbal score.
However, let me be very honest. Preparing the same way as you have done earlier isn't going to help, howsoever many times you appear in the exam.

Work on the concepts and make them razor sharp for you. Know how to deal with specific type of questions and what your thought process should be when dealing with them. Also, make sure exam anxiety doesn't ruin the day for you. Then, nobody can deny you a great score.

Feel free to reach out to me for more help!

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