600, 640 and need help going again...

Question

Hi Guys,

It has been a long painful journey for me so far. I just got back from my second attempt and scored a disappointing 640 (80%)(Q:47 V:31). In my previous attempt in Feb 2006 I got 600 (70%)(Q:44, V:29). The goal is number 7!

It has been hard and after todays exam I felt like crap. Did not know how, what and why! I was very low on morale as I walked out and have since been going crazy evaluating my approach. I think I can do much better and I feel very strongly about it. I do not want to give up and yet I feel absolutely drained! 

This forum is full of wonderful advices and experiences. Do not know how this journey will end, but felt like I owe a big one to this forum. So to kick-off my hopefully final attempt I thought I write my thoughts out. 

Clearly I need to work harder on my verbal. Here is what I feel about each of the verbal sections. Please advice on how should I got about improving.
SC:
As compared to my first attempt, I feel that I am getting a little better at SCs. For moderate to difficult level SCs questions, I can confidently narrow it down to 2 or 3 choices. But then after that I mess up. Usual hit ratio of about 80-85%. 
CR:
Cannot seem to find a consistent strategy to crack these. I get a 60-70% hit ratio.
RC:
This is by far the worst! For the medium to hard choices my guess work is more accurate than my attempts to reason! Hit ratio 50%.

As far as the material is concerned I have used up the OG and Kaplan Book and CD. I have heard a lot about Manhattan SCs. Should I get that? 

Any suggestions/help/advice?

salama · Answer

cheer up it is still a decent score. How were you doing on the GMATPrep exams and did you feel the difficult level abt the same?

geemaat · Answer

Trying to keep up. 
I did the 2 Prep exams (scored 690 and 700). Compared to those exams I felt that the real exam specially the verbal was more difficult.

u2lover · Answer

hey geemaat,

don't feel bad... just turn around and push harder those verbal buttons... I am in no position to give an advice on verbal, as my score was even lower than yours on 1st attempt, but one thing I learned is that practice and studying (and REMEMBERING) the concepts is the key. For instance, you should definitely get MGMAT SC book and nail down all the rules from it... their RC and CR book isn't so helpful, but those, I feel, come with practice...

For RC, read and try rhyme's strategy... it may work for you.... My RC is also 60% and surely depends on the topic... sometimes I get all the ?s correct, and other times zero (for some overly boring science topic)...
https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=30247

However, for CR, which was my weakest link in verbal, I see improvement in understanding logic... I started with about 30% hit rate before any studying, but after doing those and going over every answer (correct or not), I kind of got an idea what they are looking for. So I think practice is the key here! my hit rate now is about 85-90%

So don't get discouraged and do get SC from MGMAT! it is worth every penny!

take a break and swing back at the monster :twisted:

axl_oz · Answer

Depends on where and for which program are you planning to apply. Part time or full time. Depending on that your score of 640 would probably hold you in good stead. I think your score is just one indicator of your application packet. I am sure you will improve your score another 40 to 50 points in your next attempt,even more in fact. Good Luck

U2lover: i read your views on verbal.... Wanted to find out how you improved your success rates. Please let me know.... Good luck to both of you.

u2lover · Answer

views on verbal? you mean my explanations on verbal? or my thoughts about improvement? like I said... I see dramatic improvement in CR, but only because I have been paying close attention to each answer choice... and practicing those diligently... They used to be my biggest fear and now I kind of like to tear them apart!!!

When I do these types of questions I try to explain EVERY answer (why correct is correct and others wrong)... it used to take A LOT of time, but now I am either able to narrow down to 2 possible contenders or the answer just jumps at me... For SC... is a whole another story... the trouble seems to be understanding the meaning rather than grammar... I feel I know the grammar, but when it is combined with some convoluted twists in meaning I get lost... modifiers give me HUGE troubles... SC is work in progress... btw, I contribute my success to GMAX Verbal part... they are explaining it pretty good, except sometimes I feel that there is way too much info, but it is better to know more than less :wink:

as long as you don't get lost...

axl_oz · Answer

GMAX Verbal - Where is this available? I want to improve dramatically on my CR section. Please let me know.

u2lover · Answer

before you get all excited... just a warning... the lessons just give you basics, but it is up to you to elevate with those... you have to practice A LOT of questions before you finally see some improvement and go over EVERY answer choice. this site supports this course... but I am not associated with either organization, except being a student :wink:

https://www.gmaxonline.com

geemaat · Answer

For CR I agree with u2lover. Reasoning with the ones you get wrong is the best way to start thinking the CR way. I see that the bold faces questions in CR are becoming more common. For me those take a lot of time. 

Thanks u2lover and others for the words of encouragement. My MGMAT SC is on its way and I am all set to start again. So will see you all around...

u2lover · Answer

ok... to clarify the red part... that isn't exactly what I had in mind... because you can't reason the ones you got wrong (that's why you got those wrong to begin with, meaning your reasoning isn't correct) what I am saying is you eliminate those choices that you KNOW are wrong (you have a reason to know those are wrong) and then you can try to reason the correct choice... does it make sense? so if you eliminate 3 and left with 2 possible choices b/w which you can't decide, THEN try to reason the correct choice and see which one is closer to the argument... when doing this, you can easily eliminate Out of Scope questions, which usually represent 2-3 answers and then use your logic of which statement is closer to the argument.... in addition, it has been said many times that the most obvious out of 2 choices is usually the correct one... don't infer or assume anything and keep your present knowledge to yourself (leave it in the locker :wink:

) This strategy is based on the fact, of course, that you know how to separate conclusion from the premises, otherwise you will get lost!!! So if you are a complete beginner, like I once was, you HAVE TO learn this basic rule and just work with the argument itself first, before you even look at the choices!!! and once again... go through all the choices and make sure you are able to reason EACH one of them hope this helps someone! PS: from OG it was hard to practice with the same questions again, since most of the time you remember the answers, so when I review my mistakes (I already know the answer) I practically go over every answer and explain to myself why it is correct/wrong... if I can reason it well enough, then I learned something... very effective method when you know the answers!!! So don't think that if you went through all the CRs you can't use them again

axl_oz · Answer

I gave my GMAT on 3rd of June, scored 500!!!. I have given it twice already.... I would like to give it again to see if I can it above 650 or not. Herculean task?? Maybe... But now I am at a point where I am not sure if I need to sit and study the basics over and over again but instead work on quizzes, practice questions, see which ones I am getting wrong and why and then go back to study the basics....

Is this strategy going to prove futile or useful? Need your frank opinion on this. I am using the error log for the first time as well. I do not want to spend another 3 months but would like to spend 1.5 to 2 months but work on a smart strategy that will get me there!! Have not given up!! So any input from your side is highly appreciated.

Have all sorts of books with me.... Kaplan 800, got the kaplan classroom coursebook from someone, princeton review, OG 9th edition (old one), verbal workout from princeton review and the PP tests, PR tests, Kaplan tests and GMATPREP tests!! Plenty of material eh?? Please let me know.

Thanks

geemaat · Answer

Not that my advice really holds any water... But I did see an improvement in my second attempt. I had an error log. I used to go back to after every 3-4 days. That helped me avoid making same mistakes again. This definitely helped with my SC. 
I think you should prepare again. I did read some of the basics again, specially SC. And then take the practice tests. That should tell you a little more about your progress. Anyways, I am doing the same. I ordered the Manhattan SC book. So far it is very promising. 

Good luck!

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