600 , Q 47 , V 27 ,,, Please ADVISE ME!!

[Tam]

Hi Folks,

I wrote my GMAT test on 2 days ago. and I scored a 600 (70 percentile)
" My first attempt.", I admit that I was shocked with the low verbal score. If it were somewhat higher, I could be able to reach a
90 percentile total score.

I did the 1st PP test before the Official Guide and scored a 510, then I bought the Official Guide and read all of it, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to re read it becaused I scheduled my test early in order not to miss the deadlines of the applications.

Apparently, there is a huge difference between the verbal score and the maths score. The verbal bruised my total score big time! [B)]

The AWA's were the usual stuff.
The math section was approx. 10% harder than the Official Guide. [ I know, it is wrong to compare the the math section with the Official Guide ]
Some questions were very tricky, I wonder how many hours does it take an ETS testwriter to write a single questions. That's the reason why The Official Guide is the best book available " it contains only real questions."

Don't over prepare for the Probabilities/ Permutations / Combinations
the material tested is very basic. I read some really, REALLY hard questions in the math forum. No need to overcomplicate the matter.

I am not a native speaker of English, probably I had a bad day because I got an exteremely tough 120 lines reading comprehension passage which ate my time it was about fiminism. When I finished this reading comprehension passage, another one popped up immediately after it [75 lines]. The impact of these 2 reading comprehension(s) caused me to lose track of time so I had to guess on several question...In other words, I Panicked and rushed the test...!
Perhaps it was my bad luck,[B)]

I have identified my primary problem : I read too slowly, this is due to the fact that English is not my native language and the undergraduate degree which I earned " BA Economics" taught very simple English Language books.

I got a sufficient score for the "MSc in finance" program which I applied for in the UK, but surely, I need a +700 score to get an admission to an excellent PhD programme after the MSc degree.

I am sure that the period which I will spend in the UK will greatly enhance my English proficiency level.(If I get an admission hopefully)

In the mean time, I am taking a short vacation:drunk:!! it's been 2 months of hard work..

Thank you Erin for running such a wonderful and productive forum., maybe in the near future I will be able to post another topic but with a
+700 score hopefully...
Also, thank you Ursula.... you're a math genius, you should be proud of yourself[^]...

Please, feel free to advise me, especially those people who got a +700 score.

Have a nice day and good luck to you all...

TAM

[ursula]

Hi Tam,
From a baseline PowerPrep of 510 to an exam score of 600 is a very nice improvement - congratulations!

It sounds like you've met the target score for your short term goal - and I would think that for the MSc in Finance program, they would be more concerned with your quant score than your verbal anyway.

Further down the road, you may want to write the GMAT again if you find it's necessary. I don't think that a 700+ score is actually a requirement for any program - obviously it's a nice differentiator, but even at the top MBA programs in the US, not every student has a 700+ GMAT score.

I agree with you that for a non-native speaker, a year in an English environment should have an important impact on your verbal score. And any improvements in your verbal score can bring up your overall score much more significantly than an extra point or two in quant. Also, if you write the GMAT a second time, you should be a bit less nervous, and less likely to panic when you hit heavy reading comprehension passages.

So for now, enjoy your well-earned vacation, and best of luck with your applications!

[Tam]

Thank you Ursula for your most encouraging words. I am pretty happy that you agreed with me that spending a year in the UK will improve my language skills. I wish you the best of luck on your application.

I actually met the GMAT score requirement for the MSc program, but definitely I need a higher score in the future.

Where are the other guys!!, I need more advice/opinions/comments !!

TAM

[bhatt]

I haven't taken GMAT yet but I have similar problem with reading comprehension. I am very slow in reading and once I dont understand I have to rearead a sentence that consumes time.
The only way to improve english is start slowly and try to understand things first. as You read more and more you try to understand it faster. That is the only way.
Other thing is
1) Improve vocabulary( if somebody tells me vocab is only for GRE I wil turn a deaf ear)
2) Read on computer( makes a difference vs reading a book
3) read variety of topics
Some online News papers. nation.com aldaily.com nytimes.com economist.com
Read for long time . Once u read Read for 1 hour start with less and exercise your reading muscle it will help improve your concentration
Thanks

[Tam]

Thank you Bhatt, These were good ways to improve the reading speed.

I recommend that you read from encyclopedia programs, such as Encarta and Britannica. These contain excellent articles and much scientific stuff. Also, you'll read articles on the monitor.

Good luck on your GMAT

TAM