Last visit was: 30 Apr 2026, 20:51 It is currently 30 Apr 2026, 20:51
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
partisan
avatar
Joined: 27 Feb 2011
Last visit: 28 Feb 2011
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Anybody start with a good verbal and a terrible math score? 27 Feb 2011, 20:10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
So with no previous preparation, I took a practice test from the Official Guide 12th edition and managed a 46 in Verbal, which I'm completely happy with as a starting point, but in Math, I literally couldn't even come up with answers for 2/3 of the Problem Solving Questions. I don't get it at all. I got a 670 on Math on the SATs and was led to believe that GMAT Math would be very similar. Maybe I'm just out of practice, but I was just flabbergasted that I couldn't even answer most of the questions.

Maybe it'll take getting some more exposure to these concepts again and practice and I'll get to a decent score, but as someone who's looking for a 700+ score, this is leaving me feeling pretty dejected at the moment.
User avatar
ibbys
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
Last visit: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
19
Status:Just trying to make mom and dad proud :)
Posts: 100
Kudos: 19
Anybody start with a good verbal and a terrible math score? 28 Feb 2011, 10:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Your verbal score is at a great starting point. You may not know this but a high verbal score can really boost your overall score. I can elaborate on this if you wish.

Since you took the test without much preparation, I am sure you were rusty on your math skills. Pick up a good set of quant stratgey books and you will build the foundation that you need.
avatar
partisan
avatar
Joined: 27 Feb 2011
Last visit: 28 Feb 2011
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Anybody start with a good verbal and a terrible math score? 28 Feb 2011, 11:22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks for the reply. Could you elaborate on a high verbal score helping more? What quant strategy books are the most effective in your opinion?
avatar
nosferatudracon
avatar
Joined: 01 May 2010
Last visit: 06 Dec 2013
Posts: 66
Own Kudos:
12
Given Kudos: 16
Status:Getting ready for the GMAT
Location: United States (NJ)
Concentration: Strategy, Operations
GPA: 3.26
WE:Supply Chain Management (Consumer Packaged Goods)
Posts: 66
Kudos: 12
Anybody start with a good verbal and a terrible math score? Updated on: 28 Feb 2011, 13:09
Originally posted by nosferatudracon on 28 Feb 2011, 11:59.
Last edited by nosferatudracon on 28 Feb 2011, 13:09, edited 1 time in total.
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
My verbal was higher than my math as well not as drastic as yours, raw score wasn't too different(Q30/V34) but percentage it was a big difference(Q29%/V69%). But it will give me room to improve my score a lot on math which I think is good cause its the area you can really learn the most on.

Most of what I've read around here is that MGMAT books are the best to use for learning the GMAT Quant stuff. I've purchased them and have just started studying and so far they're great. Haven't taken any tests yet to see the resultts but definitely at least worth looking into. There are also a few good threads on here if you look for them(slyfox is one...I forget the other I found) with people who posted up "cheat sheets" of information they found helpful to have memorized. I've also downloaded those and started making flash cards for myself.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/best-gmat-math-prep-books-reviews-recommendations-77291.html?highlight=ml307

Nos
User avatar
ibbys
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
Last visit: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
19
Status:Just trying to make mom and dad proud :)
Posts: 100
Kudos: 19
Anybody start with a good verbal and a terrible math score? 28 Feb 2011, 12:32
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I read an article written by Ron Pruewal (MGMAT) about how a high verbal score can boost the overall score. I can't seem to find the exact article but a user on here (Entwistle) quoted the text in one of his posts:

With increasing number of non-native English speakers, who are much better at quant than at verbal, taking the test, the combination of good performance in Quant and average-sub average performance in Verbal has become common.
However, the combination of a good verbal score and average-sub average quant score is not very common. Thus, GMAT rewards such a combination with a higher total percentile.


As for effective quant books, I would have to echo the post above and recommend using the MGMAT books. I have used them as the basis for my preparation and have benefited from them greatly.
avatar
partisan
avatar
Joined: 27 Feb 2011
Last visit: 28 Feb 2011
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Anybody start with a good verbal and a terrible math score? 28 Feb 2011, 13:41
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks for the input, guys. I'll definitely look into these MGMAT books. Has anyone else found the GMAT Problem Solving to be significantly harder/different from the SATs or is it just me?
User avatar
ibbys
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
Last visit: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
19
Status:Just trying to make mom and dad proud :)
Posts: 100
Kudos: 19
Anybody start with a good verbal and a terrible math score? 28 Feb 2011, 13:51
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I took the SATs four years ago so I don't remember the math section that well. From what I understand, the SAT tested a single concept in each problem. On the GMAT, especially in 700+ questions, several concepts are tried up into a single problem. This is why you need to have a really solid grasp on the fundamentals. Also, the SAT quant section didn't have Data Sufficiency. I find this problem type to be the hardest for me.
Moderator:
bb
Founder
43176 posts