Gave my first GRE attempt and scored 325 (Q170, V155). Need advice to improve verbal to 162-165.
Just took the GRE and got a 325 (170Q, 155V) after 3 months of preparation (started with a 306 baseline score). I am honestly disappointed by the verbal score because my mocks were consistently a little higher in verbal. I am elated with the math score because I have ADHD, and I have always lost points in mock tests because I missed reading details in the question or did not answer what the question asked for. So, 170 was a surprise.
My practice test scores were (all were taken in the last two weeks before the test):
- GregMat Practice Test 1: 328 (169Q, 159V)
- ETS PP2: 325 (166Q, 159V)
- ETS PP1: 334 (168Q, 166V)
- ETS PPP3: 328 (167Q, 161V)
Official GRE: 325 (170Q, 155V)
I am planning to retake in about a month and push my verbal into the 162–165 range. I have a really bad GPA, so hoping that the GRE can help my profile a bit for MBA admission and secure a scholarship.
I have already learned 100% of the GregMat vocab mountain, so I don’t think vocabulary itself is the issue anymore. I completed the 2-month GregMat verbal plan as well. At this point, I feel like strategy might be where I am struggling rather than word knowledge.
Patterns from Error log:
- I struggle with the “math strategy” for TC/SE.
- I struggle with phrases like "all but...", "anything but.." etc
- In RC, inference questions are a major weakness for me.
- I struggle with multiple select questions in verbal
So my current plan is:
- Redo the GregMat 1-month plan quickly over the next 15 days (2 weeks). I work part-time, so I will be dedicating the other half of the day fully to GRE prep.
- For TC/SE, I will mainly focus on practising the math strategy.
- For RC, I will focus heavily on inference questions and Greg’s RC strategies.
- During the third week, I will mostly do strategy-focused practice using the Big Book and other ETS verbal material.
- In the final week, I will start taking full-length mocks again: GregMat Practice Tests 2 and 3, PPP1 and PPP2
Would appreciate any advice from people who improved verbal significantly after already having vocab knowledge but struggling more with execution/strategy on the real exam.