Emabarrassed- Scored 540

Question

I am so emabarrassed and am feeling so low after scoring a terrible 540 on the GMAT.

Verbal was my misdoing. Here are my practise test scores PP I (with no prep) - 600 Kaplan - 540, 560, 580, 550 PR - 540,560, 580, 610 I covered the entire OG for Sentence correction, and finsihed 100 questions each for CR and RC. I also went through the PR Verbal book. None of it seemed to have helped my dismal 25 Scaled Verbal Score. I got a 42 Scaled on Quant. I am so depressed! Here is my experience taking GMAT- As soon as I was assigned a computer, I realized the frequency of the monitor wasn't set correctly and I could see the screen refreshing every few seconds. I talked to the proctor and had her assign me a new workstation. The first Math question was easy, but then I got a probablility question. I had thought probability and Permutation and Combination Questions are harder and come when your score is getting higher, but that was not the case for me. I got a Permutation question right after that. I was nervous but Math was not bad in the end. I took all the breaks and used them to relax and stretch myself. The Verbal section was an altogther different story. I thought I did most of the questions right, but apparenty they were not right enough. This is what I hate about verbal, there is no way to confirm if your answere is right. In Quant, atleast you know if your calculations don't conform to the list of choices you have. Not the case in verbal.... I read the entire passage when doing RC- that worked out better for me rather than skimming and taking notes and I finished both sections in time. Here's what I need help with? 1) Should I take the GMAT again? 2) Has anyone been in a position like me? 3) Has anyone risen to score well from this position? 4) What has your plan of action been in a situation like this? 5) What's the best way to deal with Verbal? Do phyisical classes help? 6) I have already run out of practise tests. Are there any other tests apart from PR, Kaplan and OG that are considered good? Thanks guys!

karun_aggarwal · Answer

hi thr
i was in the same situation last yr!!! my score was 530!!!!

i took a sixmonths break and then started with my preparation in feb 2005!!!

i again did each any every question again,,,,and test papers!!!

but what i have realized is that,, more important is understnading the concept!!!!
SC is a lot more than paprellism, and tenses!!!!! gmat club is best place to learn!!!!
RC was still my unconqureed field!!!!! 
CR can be learned from gmatclub!!!!!

i would sujjest you to retake the gmat as all schools look at yr gmat score as the frist criteria for admissions!!!!!

hope my advice helps!!!!

xxspokane · Answer

Thanks for the words of advise. I appreciate that.

What was your score in the second attempt?

MA · Answer

xxspokane,
do more practice and participate actively in GMAT Club.

karun_aggarwal · Answer

670,,,

i recently post my jounery of gmat!!!!u can read it if want!

sastal · Answer

I don't think 540 is as bad as you think, but it depends on how long you prepared and how many times you have taken the actual test. I share your views on the verbal section. However, I have found that the math can be tricky, too. Have you ever noticed how the PS problems always have a wrong answer waiting for you in case you make a minor mistake? The wrong answers are not just random numbers. I have a feeling that ETS administers its questions to students, and includes among the wrong answers those of the people who missed the question. I am with you, though --personally, the RC stinks and is the worst part of the exam. Stick around and do some problems with us.

Supercat · Answer

xxspokane, let me venture to give you some advice so basic you might not think of it. READ!!!!!!

READ READ READ READ READ, and then, READ READ READ READ.

Forgive me if this is an unwarranted conclusion, but if you're that solid in math but you're having verbal problems, I'd guess you either haven't been much of a habitual reader during your life, or else English is a second language (God knows I'd hate to have to take the GMAT in Chinese or something for crying out loud.)

But if you want a profound improvement in verbal skills it won't happen overnight. But over time the best thing to do is read. Read two novels a week; read business magazines cover to cover. Whatever you're interested in, read the hell out of it every week. Read over your breakfast cereal, read on the john, read out of one eye while you're driving to work (well maybe not), read yourself to sleep at night.

Doesn't matter what you read, as long as it's professionally written and edited English, then the good style, grammar, and proper idiomatic usage will to one degree or another sink into your brain. And, being in the habit of reading obviously will help your reading comprehension.

Start a habit of reading popular books about mathematics; then you'll kill two birds with one stone. That's done wonders for my own math skills and interest (examples: The Kingdom of Infinite Number; A Tour of the Calculus; The Mathematical Experience).

That's my advice!

Good luck -Supercat :twisted:

aroman21 · Answer

I am/was in a similar situation. I scored very low on my first exam, however I did get a 5.5 on the AWA. Regardless of that I knew what I had to do. 

My first step was figuring out what I did wrong during my initial practice. I came to the conclusion I focused too much on doing the problem and moving on to the next one and not really understanding what they were asking. That left me open to so many issues. 

My second step was to focus on what areas I am weak in. For me that was DS and SC. In order to fix both I did all the OG problems 5x each, understanding each one, BUT before that I completed the Kaplan Math review book to make sure I knew all the concepts, boy did that help me. In order to brush up on my grammer I started reading like a madman (that is if madmen read;). I ordered a bunch, correct that, ton of books from amazon and tried to finish a novel or two a week plus the economist (which is very well written). For me its important to read through the books carefully noticing every small grammer rule. 

I have not yet scheuled my next exam but right now I feel more confident (which should help) and hope I do well. 

Keep at it and I know you will be awesome.

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