GMAT 560 (Q48 V19), How to improve?

Question

Hi everyone!
I Appeared for GMAT for 1st time today got a score of 560 (Q48 V19).
I am shocked with my verbal score. This exam was confidence shaking.
Have been giving 20 hours for about 8-9 weeks to preparation.

When I started prep My mock scores were:
Gmat Prep 1 : 580 (Q49, V21)
Gmat Prep 2 : 600 (Q4, V25)
up until a week ago I was 650 - 680 range. Last mocks gave me hope with scores as follows:

20 days ago Manhattanprep: 670 - Q48 V33
15 days ago GMAT Prep 3 : 640 - Q48 V28
9 days ago Manhattanprep: 660 - Q48 V32
4 days ago GMAT Prep 3 : 600 - Q48 V25

I was initially targeting for a score 700+.
With an improving score, I thought it would be possible so i scheduled the exam but my score in actual gmat is worser than 1st mock gmat

I have no clue on where to start , or what I am doing wrong.

Someone please guide me with the following:
1. Why my score plummeted? What could I be doing wrong?
2. What should I do now to improve my score?
3. how to improve from V19 to V40+ in 5-6 weeks, considering the R2 deadlines?

Can someone please help me. I am so confused right now !!!

I have no clue on where to start , or what I am doing wrong. Someone please guide me with the following: 1. Why my score plummeted? What could I be doing wrong? 2. What should I do now to improve my score? 3. how to improve from V19 to V40+ in 5-6 weeks, considering the R2 deadlines? Can someone please help me. I am so confused right now !!!

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi veejat

Did something specific occur during your GMAT that could have caused your verbal score to drop?

Also, how have you been preparing for the GMAT so far?

veejat · Answer

Thank you for your response. 
Nothing specific happened. I thought I was doing Ok if not well. I also had to skim through 4th RC at question 31 ,because of lack of time.

I have been studying using Gmatclub forum quiz and Manhattan Prep Mocks. timed practice on custom quizzes of official question (non-GmatPrep) for the part I found my lagging in the Manhattan mock. And giving another mock once I could get 70-80% right on those custom quizzes 3-4 times in a row and analyzing my mistakes as i am done, and repeating this cycle. Whenever, i come across a concept i am a bit doubtful about i end up looking for content on youtube, preferably gmatclub.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or evaluation on my study plan.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or evaluation on my study plan.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

In verbal, you can get 50 percent of the questions correct by narrowing down the choices to the last two and guessing. So, 70 to 80 percent is not a strong as it may seem, and to truly have verbal under control, you need to learn to achieve practice question accuracies along the lines of the following.

Easy - close to 100%

Medium - 90%+

Hard - 70%+

So, to master verbal, you have to have pretty complete concept knowledge and know solid strategies to get most of the way to those practice question accuracies and then, as you practice, address any issues that cause you to miss questions to get the rest of the way to those accuracies.

Also, key to mastering verbal is to practice UNTIMED until you're achieving the above accuracies and then work on speeding up to test pace.

For more on how to prepare for verbal for best results, see these posts.

How to Score High on GMAT Verbal

Three Key Practice Tips for Mastering GMAT Verbal

Also, I think you'll get some key insights from this post as well.

The Best GMAT Practice Methods

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi veejat,

After following much of the advice, Marty provided, I think that you can jump into taking more practice exams. Do you plan to take the final MBA.com practice exams?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi veejat,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. This Official Score is remarkably similar to the CAT Scores you reported back in the summer of 2018 (over 4 years ago), so it's likely that you developed some 'bad habits' during your earlier studies that are still impacting your performance now. By extension, 'rushing in' to retake the GMAT is probably not a good idea (a Score Goal of 700+ means that you have a number of different Verbal AND Quant skills that you will need to master before you will be able to consistently score at that higher level). Before we discuss any of these potential issues, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

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) Over the last 8 weeks, what was your typical study routine?
2) Other than GMATClub, did you use any additional study materials during this round of studying?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

If you took your Official GMAT at a Test Center, then you might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

veejat · Answer

Thank you so much for your guidance. 
I'll look into the things you have recommended ant try to incorporate it into my study.

veejat · Answer

I am thinking of using those 2 practice exam left only after i have worked on the suggestions as Marty provided and i am confident i have improved my score.

veejat · Answer

1) Typically study whenever can get a couple of hours a day , sometimes during day sometimes late in the evening, and gave practice tests on the same timing as i was planning to give the GMAT, with an exam setup.

2) I bought OG and Manhattan Prep Mocks. Though only completed verbal review, rest official question were already available on the forum.

3) I was initially planning to apply in R2, for this years intake, but if i cant manage the score pushing it to R3 should'nt be an issue. Is it still realistic?

The bad habit part is the most probable cause, don't know what it could be. So, would love some help analyzing the ESR. I'll pm you the ESR as soon as it's delivered. your help and guidance is greatly appreciated.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

560 (Q48 V19).

Here's an idiom list for Sentence Correction you may find helpful . Might also be worth working with a study buddy. Finding someone with strong Verbal skills who could use your help on Quant may be a good fit.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi veejat, I've sent you a PM with some notes and additional questions. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

In addition to the Idiom list link above, you may want to check out the study buddy thread on gmatclub. Have suggested Manhattan-Prep's 6th Edition for SC and CR to students, too. Also some video tips on the gmatknight blog you may find helpful.

veejat · Answer

Ok, thankyou for the help.

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GMAT 560 (Q48 V19), How to improve?

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