Where am I missing?

Question

Folks,

I am in cross-roads of my preparation.I will greatly appreciate if you can assist me.

I have been spending 20-23hrs a week on GMAT preparation and my test scores(ETS) are still in the category of 520-550.This has been frustrating based on the time and energy that I spend on GMAT.Thus I have have embarked on "Where I am missing strategy":-)I have used the postings on GMATCLUB forum as a basis for this effort.I would greatly appreciate if you can help me to discover my areas of weakness+recommend strategies to address them.Please bear with me,this posting is a long one.

As a non-native English speaker, Verbal is my challenge.As for Quantitative I have been making many careless mistakes and do not have a through understanding of the concepts.My analysis for "What I have been doing?":
a)I have been studying for GMAT by viewing the Presentations off GMAXONLINE(https://www.gmaxonline.com) + reading Kaplan for strategies.
b)I regularly do the homework(OG problems) after viewing each presentation.My homework scores are as the following:
Quantitative:
1)Numbers:
++++++++
P.S.:26/40==> 65%
D.S.:15/19==> 76%
Average Time taken: 3 mins

2)Fractions:
+++++++++
P.S.:21/20==>70%
D.S.:7/11==>43%
Average Time taken: 3mins

3)Percents:
++++++++
P.S.:40/50==>80%
D.S.:15/19==>79%
Average Time taken: 3mins

4)Algebra:
++++++++
P.S.:16/19==>84%
D.S.9/10==>90%
Average Time taken: 2mins

5)Geometry:
++++++++
P.S.: 27/33==>82%
D.S.:13/17==>76%
Average Time taken: 3m30s

6)Averages:
+++++++++
P.S.: 11/13==>84.6%
D.S.: 4/6==>67%
Average Time taken: 1m42secs

7)Consectives:
+++++++++++
P.S.: 3/3 ==> 100%
Average Time taken: 2mins

8)Median/Mean:
++++++++++++
P.S.:6/8==>75%
D.S.:2/2==>100%
Average Time taken: 2m 30secs

9)Standard Deviation
+++++++++++++++
P.S.2/3==>67%
Average Time taken: 2mins
+++++
I have yet to drill on the following:
i)Exact areas of weakness in each of the above sections.
ii)Why I overshoot 2mins timeline for each problem 9/10times.But from what I see if I understand the concept throughly I can meet the timeline.

Based on the above scores,you can see that I am in the 79%(217/273) category grossing @ an average of 2mins 45secs.I will addressing (i) + what kind of careless mistakes I make in each section.But I do not have an idea on how to improve my time per question.Please let me know your thoughts on this.In addition please let me know other areas that I need to address too.

As for Verbal:
Sentence Construction:
+++++++++++++++++
1)Subject Verb Agreement:8/11= 73%
Average Time Taken:2min 15secs
2)Subject Verb Agreement + Pronoun: 13/22 =59%
Average Time Taken:2min 30secs
3)Parallel Contruction:31/48=62.5%
Average Time Taken:2mins 17secs
4)Problem with Modifiers:12/16=75%
Average Time Taken:2mins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Based on the above we can see:
Total Score: 66/97==>68%
Average Time Taken: 2mins 15secs.

I have yet to identify the pattern of mistakes that I make in the above section.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Critcal Reasoning
+++++++++++++
1)Finding Conclusion: 7/10 = 70%
Average Time Taken:3 minutes
2)Assumption:7/10=70%
Average Time Taken:2mins 39secs
3)Strengthening/Weakening Reason:33/48 = 74.2%
Average Time Taken: 2mins
4) Finding Inference:1/4 = 25%
Average Time Taken: 2mins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Based on the above
Average Score:48/72 = 66.67%
Average Time: 2mins 15secs

Like Sentence Construction,I will be identifying the pattern of mistakes that I make in the above section too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reading Comprehension:
1st Passage(Q1-6):Scientific: 2/6
2nd Passage(Q7-12):Archaelogy: 3/6
3rd Passage(Q13-18): Business: 4/6
4th Passage(Q19-24): Management: 3/6 [Attempted:4,Mistake:1 and Did not attempt:2]
5th Passage(Q25-30):Science:0/6
6th Passage(Q31-36):African American <and> Migration: 5/6
7th Passage(Q37-43): Economy <and> Children:3/6[Did not attempt:1]
+++++
Based on the above:
Average Score:20/42 ==> 45%
Average Time per passage:15mins <Not accurate>

I have discovered that I get lost in 2 kinds of passages:
Scientific and Political.
Thus I have started reading Scientific American and Editorial of NYtimes on a daily basis.
I usually select a passage with 55 lines and time myself on how long I spend on reading the passages.Inadverdently,I spend about 3mins 20secs on an average.This is inclusive of the time that I take to write a line about each paragraph of the passage.

I have been doing this for the last week and I need to start attempting Reading Comprehension Passages in OG.
~~~~~~~~~~

A commonality b/w Verbal and Quantititative is the amount of time that I spend on the questions.This is usually more than the allocated amount.I am really not sure on how to address this piece.Please let me know your thoughts.Tx.

Anna

Hjort · Answer

Hi,

How are you in verbal comprehension in your native language?

Hjort

Anna Rama · Answer

Hjort,

Thank you for your reply.In my native language,Tamil my score is in the range of 85-90%.Any reason for asking this question?Rgds,

Anna

EddieCruiser · Answer

Wow, that's quite a post!

Honestly I think your best bet would be to take a course like Princeton Review. It would help you across the board and better guide your prep. I find PR to be the best for verbal prep and for overall test-taking skills, so I would go with them. If you can't do a course, then get their books but I do think a course will best help you at this point.

Hjort · Answer

Hi,

I like to ask how students they perform in their native or other strong language because it is important to stress how much of the verbal test is not a test of English per se but a test of reading and reasoning. Assuming one is sufficiently strong in English, the main contructs tapped are indeed reading and reasoning. If you are strong in these skills in another language, this skills can generally "translate" to the GMAT. Alternatively, one could argue that these skills are independent of the language of expression past a certain threshold of achievement in each language.

Accordingly, I found it interesting that the test of grammar was your strongest section while the reading section was your weakest section. 

Hjort

Anna Rama · Answer

Hjort,

At this stage what will your recommendations be to improve my Verbal?I would appreciate if you can give tips for all components(SC,RC,CR) of the Verbal.Thank you.Rgds,

Anna

leanna · Answer

Hi Anna,
When you took the first GMAX Online verbal lesson, about Reading Skills, and you learned how to do the overview, did you take it seriously and try the method until you felt comfortable with it? The GMAX Overview Method is very powerful, and will get most students at least a 75% score in the reading, within the time allotted for the passage. If the Overview system proves to be too hard for you to get used to, email me directly, and I will give you an alternative method that works very well for many students.

If you need more reading or sentence correction practice, email me and I will send you a great many questions. As you know, we help students understand the questions, the answers, and the methods of solving them either by web-conferencing or by telephone for only a slight fee.

I see that you have taken the time to analyze your scores on each type of question. Why don't you send us a typical question of each type you consistently get wrong, and let our tutors help you find your main mistakes. Sometimes there is one idea that has not been learned that makes all the difference. How many times have you taken the GMAX Online lessons in your weak sections? Don't forget that you can take each lesson repeatedly, and with no time limit. Use that privilege to review and review again.

However, don't forget that the percentage you get right on any section does not necessarily translate into the percentile of test-takers you will be in when you take the test. It is possible to get 75% right and get a very high score on the verbal section, although not on the math section. It is just a question of how well the others did and your relative position.

Also, look at the lessons page again. We have added three free GMAT CAT tests from Upstart Raising that will predict your score. So far the Upstart Raising scores are somewhat lower than the real scores, which is good. We are still taking the results from students to see if this relationship is constant. When you are done with the first test, send me your score. If you need help with any problem, the questions are visable to both you and a tutor at the same time, over the internet. Email me for your code and contact GMAX whenever you like.
GOOD LUCK!

Regards,
Leanna
Director, https://www.gmaxonline.com

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