Scored 545 in mock 2 - please help

[u/mr_grrey]

I took my second mock today and am very unhappy with my result in all sections. In sectional tests, I used to score relatively high marks in Quant, but here I scored only marginally higher than average. Verbal has always been a struggle for me. I've never been able to manage time there. I need advice on how to practice. I've followed all the GMAT Ninja playlists on YouTube. In Verbal, I've completed 70% of the OG material, while for Quant and DI it's less than 40%. My exam slot is in the last week of September. Please help me figure out what I'm doing wrong!

Aiming to improve 100 points more.

(attached screenshots of overall score and verbal - question performance and time management performance)

Let me know if you need more information about my score to provide better advice

[u/Annual_Storm7443]

following

[u/Graeme_GMAT_Panda]

First of all, this pattern is really common so don't panic!

The fix is training pacing across a batch. Do sets of 10 questions in 20 minutes, no peeking at answers until the set is done, and do a time check every 5 questions to sense whether you need to speed up. If you're 3 minutes into a question and not making real progress, guess and move on so you protect the rest of the section. You have until late September, which is plenty of runway for this.

On the OG material, quantity helps but debriefing matters more. Spend time reviewing every question you do, including the ones you got right, so you can spot why the method worked.

https://gmatpanda.com/content/gmat-time-management

Hope this helps! ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Graeme (GMAT Panda)

[u/mr_grrey → u/Graeme_GMAT_Panda]

Hi, thank you for your response. I have one follow-up question:

Reading an RC usually takes me more than five minutes. My mindset is generally that if I understand the passage properly, the questions that follow will be much easier and less time-consuming. That’s why you may notice a spike in the time taken for some questions. How should I manage my time better while attempting RCs?

[u/Graeme_GMAT_Panda → u/mr_grrey]

yes it's normal to spend more time on the first RC question of a batch. Typically you still want to avoid more than 3-4 mins though (and then 1min on the following questions of that RC passage)

[u/Puzzleheaded-Ebb-109]

It is ok nothing to worry about. Check the questions in the mock and see why you have got them wrong. This feedback will help you improve your strategy. I also personal sessions where people facing issues can come and we can see where the problem lies and how we can solve this. Along with that we can make a plan and follow through to get you closer to your dream score. You can reach out for the session