retake advice

Question

I just took GMAT 
scored 700 
48 math 
37 verbal

both scores are below what I was scoring on MGMAT tests and GMAT prep tests ... although i did score 700 on my most recent MGMAT

i am v prone to careless mistakes on the math section...

On the verbal section during my GMAT-- I was STUMPED on almost every question. every SC question seemed 5x harder...and my brain was unable to apply any of the concepts i had learned and practiced in the 4 weeks before the test ... in practice i consistently scored north of 40

Please share strategies for assessing performance, weaknesses as I plan to retake.

p.s. my target score is >= 740

thanks

nonameee · Answer

You need to give us more info on your preparation, background, overall level etc.

sher676 · Answer

I basically went through the MGMAt strategy guides once...and took notes along the way. Then I completed all 3 OGs. 
Next I went through all of their 6 MGMATs once and then the GMAT prep tests couple of times each.

to fellow Gmatt-ers - those who have taken the test once

did any of you feel that the language of the Sentence Correction questions - was very heavy...basically all scientific jargon...i found it much more difficult to quickly comprehend relative to any of the other tests I completed. If so, what steps did you take to better prepare yourself? Where do I find tough SC questions?

Also, the RC passages were harder and longer than most RC passages in OGs and on GMAT Prep. Any thoughts on what's the best place to find practice on tough RC passages?

Are LSAT CR and RC questions good practice for actual exam?

What do ppl think about Jeff Sackman's book with the difficult questions for quant section? Is it helpful?

Has anyone tried the OG companion that MGMAT came out with? Good value add or no?

What do people think of GMAT Fix Drills versus Kaplan Quiz Bank?

bakfed · Answer

Hi shere676, first off, congrats on getting 700 on GMAT. I can see how you'd like to do a re-take and I believe that if you can raise your score up by at least 40 points (740 or more), you should go for it. You mentioned MGMAT's strategy guide, did you do all 8 of them? Make sure you do the MGMAT SC to help you out on the sentence correction portion as it seems to me that that section is giving you a rough time.

I, too, have found the real SC questions are a bit tough. I don't remember if it's scientific or what, but I did remember struggling with SC on the real GMAT when I can easily pick off some answers when practice. I attribute that to probably a lack of foundation and a huge boose in time pressure. No matter how you prepare, you'll never be able to imitate the same atmosphere as you'll experience in the test center...since every question in the test center counts, you will feel more pressure (human nature). However, just try to relax and make sure you follow your foundation. If you're naturally good at SC, follow your gut feeling because chances are, after practicing for so long, you probably know the right answer but are just doubting yourself. Understand that your verbal score (V37) is pretty high (I think it's 80 percentile), so it'll be even tougher at this point to try to raise that. But once you set a goal, go for it! As long as you know it's realistic, no one should stop you. Sorry, I think I've digressed from your main question,

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