What went wrong? Please evaluate and advice - GFE 555 (Q80 V77 DI75)

Question

Hi everyone!

I started my GFE study with Magoosh but couldn't keep myself committed due to work. So, I joined Manya - The Princeton Review weekend live classes. I started off with a mock test score of 505 and scored 585 in the exit mock test. I was aware of all the concepts and didn't find a void during preparation. However, in mock tests results didn't reflect my knowledge of concepts. After I finished the Princeton Review course, I was on break for over a month due to aggravation of spinal injury. Then I started my preparation again and in the final month, I subscribed for eGMAT for improving DI and voids in other topics if any. Finally, after about 3 months of weekend classes and preparation + 2 months of self-preparation after a month of break, I gave my first attempt of GFE only to find out I couldn't do well. I knew I couldn't get all the questions right and I was not aiming for 99th percentile. So, in the test I skipped (didn't work them out) a few questions which I felt would consume a lot of time and utilized that time to answer other questions. However, at the end the score was 555:|. But during the test, I didn't feel any pressure of time or pressure of not knowing the concept! Strange!

I am now sharing my score report as attachment below to include overall score and section score details. I would be really grateful if you could provide me an insight by evaluating the scores below, and enlighten me on what went wrong, and how do I proceed for the next attempt? Also, with the existing score, what is the scope for improvement in score given that I am planning to dedicate 03 months for the preparation (alongside work commitments) to better my score. I, already, have access to Magoosh Prep, Princeton Review Books and have OG 2024-25. I, now, have purchased Manhattan All the GMAT Quant  +  DI, All the Verbal, Foundations of Math and Verbal along with starter kit, GMAT navigator and Dynamic question set builder. What should be my plan of action?

Thanks in Advance.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi ajaybhatsf,

This ESR seems to indicate that verbal may be a major weakness for you. Did you see similar scores on your (official) practice tests, or was this an outlier?

ajaybhatsf · Answer

Yes. I scored 78-79 on average in official mock tests.

yc168 · Answer

Manhattan book should be helpful for your Verbal section, which may have hampered your performance in DI.

Practice by question type for the DI section, as it's quite clear your data sufficiency and G&T need some more work.

Also review Quant by topical areas. You may still have some gaps in certain quant areas as you are getting some of the easier question wrong. Knowledge does not translate directly to your score.

Good luck.

ajaybhatsf · Answer

Thank you so much for the response. I will try this. But why do you think Manhattan Verbal would hamper DI?

yc168 · Answer

Sorry I have edited my original post, which is wrongly worded.

I meant your original weakness in Verbal may have a negative effect on your performance in DI. If you can improve your verbal, both RC and CR, through studying the Manhattan book, it should help both your Verbal and DI in the future.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

In case you haven't already, fair to say including official questions such as those from the Official-Guide 2024 would be a solid choice. Leveraging the online platform could be helpful as well (e.g. using it to create timed practice sets). Consider including/mentioning if there are certain types of questions or issues you find challenging. For CR assumption questions, for example, the negation technique could be useful to leverage.

How to score high on the GMAT. Why solving approach is important.

How to score high on the GMAT. Why solving approach is important.

ajaybhatsf · Answer

I have used OG online bank for practice before. I will focus more on it now. Thanks for the response.

NextstopISB · Answer

You need to improve your Verbal and DI scores, I see you have Manhattenprep and magoosh, concentrate on verbal and DI more

Gmat750aspirant · Answer

Your Quant is good, I see you are diversifying in many of the study materials, i recommend you to stick to one and focus on Verbal and DI

bhargavhhhhhhhh · Answer

As I can see your weak area is verbal and DI, where you can improve those areas and increase the score

ajaybhatsf · Answer

Sure, thank you. I will focus on V and DI

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi ajaybhatsf,

Based on your scores, I think you’ll need to make some significant gains across the board. One of the best ways to do that is through topical learning and practice. In other words, focus on just one quant or verbal topic at a time and practice it thoroughly until you reach mastery. Studying this way will help you build real momentum and start seeing steady improvement.

For example, let's say you are studying Number Properties. First, you'll need to learn all you can about that topic, and then practice only Number Property questions. After each problem set, thoroughly analyze your incorrect questions. For example, ask yourself why if you got a remainder question wrong. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not properly apply the remainder formula? Was there a concept you did not understand in the question?
 
By carefully analyzing your mistakes, you will be able to fix your weaknesses efficiently and, in turn, improve your GMAT quant skills. Number Properties is just one example; follow this process for all quant and verbal topics.

For some more tips on the best way to structure your studying, here is a great article:

The Best Way to Study for the GMAT

Good luck!

ajaybhatsf · Answer

Thank you so much for the response. Yes, one thing I agree is that though I understood all the topics and had all the knowledge, I didn’t feel like I had mastery over it. I will surely approach my preparation in this way.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Awesome. I'm here if you need me.

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi Ajay, since CR emerges as an area that would need major improvement, thought I would mention that our Critical Reasoning book  Critical Reasoning Nirvana  is perhaps the  only  book that offers a score improvement  guarantee .

After reading the book  twice  (yes! it's an  academic  book, and so must be read twice in all seriousness, to  reinforce  the concepts), you will start looking forward to solving CR questions!
 
If you want to  sample  a chapter before deciding to go ahead with our book, please DM me your mail-id (along with the chapter that you would like to sample) and we will be happy to send that chapter to you by mail.

p.s. The book is available on  Amazon  and  Flipkart .

yc168 · Answer

Hi ajaybhatsf,

Saw you posting a question in the chat room. IMHO, the answer is yes and no:

Yes because the Manhattan books are generally considered the gold standard in terms of GMAT Prep books. Their CR and RC books (in previous edition they are separate books) are considered one of the best, maybe together with PowerScore in CR. Their Quant & DI book also received great review:  https://gmatclub.com/forum/manhattan-gmat-all-the-quant-di-review-431935.html .

However, no books/online programs can guarantee you any score. It depends on so many factors, including your starting point, how well you learn the GMAT tricks... etc.

Having said that, I believe if you learn the strategies from Manhattan books, coupled with practicing questions from OG and GMAT Club, you should make progress in Verbal, which happens to be one of the areas you need to improve the most.

Will write a bit more about DI later.

ajaybhatsf · Answer

Thank you. I will plan accordingly and plan more focused.

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What went wrong? Please evaluate and advice - GFE 555 (Q80 V77 DI75)

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