Improving my overall score

[catbarf]

Situation:

When I took the gre three years ago, I did well enough to get into several MA programs. After not getting in anywhere cycle, I'm starting to realize that my gre isn't quite strong enough to make me competitive for phd apps. When I last took the test, I received a 520v, 620q and 4.5 writing. I'd like to bring my verbal up to at least the 80 percentile and my quantitative to the 70th.

Questions!

1. Is this seem like a reasonable goal?

2. What diagnostic and study resources do you recommend?

[Imago]

My first quant score was terrible, so I decided to retake the test within the next couple of months. I'm aiming for a 160 on quant (my first score was 145), so I think your goal is pretty reasonable compared to mine. 

 

As for diagnostic tests, I'd recommend Manhattan's six practice tests, which you can get access to after buying one of their strategy guides. 

[Tupamaros]

How's the study going Imago? Perhaps a thread should be started for progress updates for those of us studying over the coming period!

 

I scored a 153Q last year in the test. 2 weeks into study this time I took a practice test and scored a 149, with my original diagnostic being a 145. My goal is to score between 160-162.

 

As for prep resources catbarf, I'm using Manhatten now and it's much more thorough (but waaay longer and thus more time consuming) than PR or Barron's. I think maybe Manhatten for quant and vary it for verbal with Barron's or something. And learn a few hundred words to boost your vocab

Edited April 10, 2013 by Tupamaros

[Imago]

How's the study going Imago? Perhaps a thread should be started for progress updates for those of us studying over the coming period!

 

I scored a 153Q last year in the test. 2 weeks into study this time I took a practice test and scored a 149, with my original diagnostic being a 145. My goal is to score between 160-162.

 

As for prep resources catbarf, I'm using Manhatten now and it's much more thorough (but waaay longer and thus more time consuming) than PR or Barron's. I think maybe Manhatten for quant and vary it for verbal with Barron's or something. And learn a few hundred words to boost your vocab

I took my first practice test a couple of weeks ago (Magoosh's) and believe I have made some progress on math (151). I heard Magoosh's quant is a little harder than the GRE math, so my estimated score is around the 151-156 range. On the other hand, my verbal score was somewhat disappointing (153) compared to my first real score (160). Again, my estimated score would be around the 153-158 range, according to Magoosh. 

What about you? Have you already taken a practice test? I like the idea of a topic for tracking progress. 

Edited April 11, 2013 by Imago

[Tupamaros]

I took my first practice test a couple of weeks ago (Magoosh's) and believe I have made some progress on math (151). I heard Magoosh's quant is a little harder than the GRE math, so my estimated score is around the 151-156 range. On the other hand, my verbal score was somewhat disappointing (153) compared to my first real score (160). Again, my estimated score would be around the 153-158 range, according to Magoosh. 

What about you? Have you already taken a practice test? I like the idea of a topic for tracking progress. 

 

That's some decent progress on quant, keep it up! I don't believe your verbal has fallen that far down though, you'd need a couple more tests to get an idea of where you're really at imo.

 

Yeah I took a practice test (just math) and got a 149Q. 4 below my real score last year, but nice to know where I'm at. I did on/off study with Manhatten for about 2 weeks prior, where I just went through the books and practice Qs (went straight through two quant books). I found this approach poor to be honest, as the content was hard to retain. So now after 2 odd weeks off/away I've restarted this week with a different approach whereby I'm going to spend a bit more time on the individual books. As there are 6 Q books ahead of me it's very time consuming and it's a steep hill ahead, but I think taking your time and not rushing through the content is the best way to retain as much info as possible.