My score in RC (in CAT's) is constantly low

[dragonball]

Hi,

I have given 6 CATs (4 MGMAT and 2 GmatPrep v2005). My scores are ranging between 690 and 710 with Verbal ranging between 34-36.

Detailed breakup(only the number of wrong questions mentioned):

GmatPrep1 V38: SC-6, CR-4, RC-3
GmatPrep2 V36: SC-7, CR-3, RC-5
MGMAT1 V38: SC-4, CR-7, RC-4
MGMAT2 V34: SC-4, CR-5, RC-9
MGMAT3 V34: SC-5, CR-4, RC-9
MGMAT4 V34: SC-6, CR-3, RC-9

I always get a couple of questions wrong in SC due to silly mistakes. I am trying to improve it. However, my major hurdle is the RC section.

My RC score is consistantly "very low" and I feel that it will be the deciding point in my final GMAT score. Only if, I can push my accuracy in RC, I can expect a 700+ score.

RC experience: The passages are quite OK to comprehend. The average time taken to complete all the 4 RC's is between 30- 31 minutes. My 1st RC is generally right, and I get maximum wrong in the 2nd and 3rd RC. In MGMATs in am getting the last 3 RC's wrong. I dont get panicked seeing the length of the passage and try to give my best shot during RC. In addition, I dont feel exhausted while giving the paper too.
While reading the passage, I do take short notes. But whenever it comes to questionaire, I make blunders. I have analyzed my answers and found that my most vulnerable areas are (in order of severity): Inference questions followed by specific detail questions followed by main point questions.
The reason why i feel that i am consistantly getting so many wrong questions in RC, is because the language of the options given along each question is highly convoluted. I am often stuck between 2-3 options and I pick the wrong one. Many a times, I even pick the opposite answers OR out of scope answers (just because I am unable to understand the convoluted options properly in the limited time frame).

To improve it, I have gone through the GMAT CR bible --> inference questions and main point questions, but with not much success. I am trying very hard to practice a lot of RC's before exam, but I always end up getting questions (in inference, specific and main point) wrong.

Question: I have felt that the MGMAT RC passages are decent enough to comprehend. But the questions are highly convoluted. I tried to review RC questions and still I couldnt justify few answers to the questions. It might be possible that I am unable to think in a particular way to answer that particular question.

Is it a general opinion of many students, or am I the only one facing this issue. Whats the probability of seeing such easy passages with highly convoluted questions in the real GMAT? Are real GMAT passages comparable to MGMATs'?

Can any expert suggest few things that i SHOULD follow Or some decent approaches that will help me increase my accuracy rate. 6-7 days more to go!

[tim]

Since it's been more than 6-7 days, i am writing this mainly to help other people who come across this post and find themselves in similar situations. First, i notice NO mention of OG problems in this post. There is simply no substitute for doing all the RC problems from the OG and the verbal supplement if you are struggling with RC. Second, i didn't get a sense of much post-answer analysis going on, as that aspect of study was mentioned in only one sentence. i cannot overstate the importance in RC (and CR by the way) of reviewing all problems thoroughly after practicing with them - even the ones you got right! Make sure you understand very well what the question is testing you on and how to arrive at the correct answer. Equally important though is to make sure you understand why all the wrong answers are wrong. This is where the GMAT lays traps for you and tests your ability to discern subtleties. If you do this right, you'll probably spend at least three times as much time reviewing a question as you do working through it during timed practice..

So to summarize: work through tons of OG problems, and then review each one thoroughly. If you've done this and still have trouble, give us more specifics about your situation and we'll see about providing further suggestions..