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25 Sep 2025, 02:41
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Hi guys, I gave my first attempt yesterday and scored a 595. This was surprising because I was consistently scoring between 625-645 in the last 4 mocks I attempted.
I plan to give the exam again within a month's time and am hoping for an expert here to suggest an alternative strategy based on the report attached.
Some points I should highlight:
1. Quant is my strongest suit, and hence the order I attempted in was V>DI>Q
2. I would usually get 3-5 questions wrong per section in my mocks but my scores were way higher. I am wondering if it is because of getting the first couple of questions incorrect in the official exam.
3. DI is definitely a section I want to focus on and improve (the official exam questions were way more difficult than the mocks- anyone else?)- DS, non math related TPA and GI TA specifically. Any suggestions for this? and time related strategy for DI?
4. I've been using e-GMAT and CrackVerbal for my prep. Evaluating TTP for DI.
I'm aiming to score at least a 675 in my next attempt.
Thanks in advance!
I plan to give the exam again within a month's time and am hoping for an expert here to suggest an alternative strategy based on the report attached.
Some points I should highlight:
1. Quant is my strongest suit, and hence the order I attempted in was V>DI>Q
2. I would usually get 3-5 questions wrong per section in my mocks but my scores were way higher. I am wondering if it is because of getting the first couple of questions incorrect in the official exam.
3. DI is definitely a section I want to focus on and improve (the official exam questions were way more difficult than the mocks- anyone else?)- DS, non math related TPA and GI TA specifically. Any suggestions for this? and time related strategy for DI?
4. I've been using e-GMAT and CrackVerbal for my prep. Evaluating TTP for DI.
I'm aiming to score at least a 675 in my next attempt.
Thanks in advance!
Attachments
Official Test Report Summary.pdf [366.34 KiB]
Downloaded 8 times
25 Sep 2025, 08:18
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Quote:
If you usually did a bit prep before you took your mocks, consider replicating that on your next attempt (i.e. not letting the first questions you see on the day be those of the test). May help, for example, if you feel it takes you a bit of time to warm up. For CR (on Verbal, 5 of the 6 incorrect were CR), consider checking out Manhattan-Prep's 6th Edition for Critical Reasoning. For DS, if you're looking for a bit of structure when tackling a question, the ADBCE method may be helpful to check out as well.
CR tips
saikrishna96
Joined: 16 Jun 2025
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26 Sep 2025, 00:06
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First off — congrats on taking your first attempt! A **595 baseline** with mocks in the **625–645** range means you’re already in striking distance of 675+, and the jump is absolutely doable in one month with a sharp, strategy-driven approach. Let’s break this down by your points and work toward a **re-attack plan**:
---
### 1. **Score Dip vs. Mocks**
* The gap between mocks and official GMAT scores is often caused by:
* **Early misses** (especially in GMAT Focus where adaptive scoring is more sensitive upfront).
* **Time management breakdown** — rushing sections to “save” time hurts accuracy in mid/late sets.
* **Different question flavor** — official questions often have subtler traps than prep ones.
👉 My read: You may have been “mock-trained” for patterns but the **official exam punished the first 2–3 misses** harder than your mocks did.
---
### 2. **Section Order (V > DI > Q)**
* Smart to put Quant last if that’s your strong suit.
* The **risk**: fatigue can creep into DI, which is already mentally taxing.
👉 If you found yourself drained during DI, test a switch: **V > Q > DI** in a couple of mocks. Sometimes doing Quant second preserves mental freshness for the heaviest “processing” section.
---
### 3. **DI Pain Points**
You’re spot on that **official DI feels way tougher** — especially DS, TPA, and GI TA.
Some strategies:
* **DS (Data Sufficiency)**:
* Always rephrase the question to what is *truly* being asked.
* Avoid “quick satisfactions” — many traps hinge on mixing up sufficiency vs. actual solution.
* Train on **OG Advanced** and GMAT Club DS 700+ tagged sets.
* **TPA (Table/Process Analysis)**:
* Spend the first 20–30 seconds just mapping what the table is telling you.
* Pre-label columns and relationships — rushing here is what leads to time drains later.
* **GI/TA (Graphs & Interpretation)**:
* Practice *estimation* and *pattern spotting*. You don’t always need full calculations.
* Practice under strict **2-min per Q discipline** — official DI is designed to punish over-investing in one question.
👉 **Time Strategy for DI:**
* 20–21 Qs → ~40 min → avg. **~2 min/Q**.
* My recommended split:
* **Quick scan (10–15 sec)** before diving.
* Bail-out threshold: If you’ve spent **>2.5 min** and haven’t framed the approach, guess smart and move.
* Protect your pacing in the **first 5 DI Qs** — adaptive algorithm is sensitive here too.
---
### 4. **Prep Resources**
* **e-GMAT & CrackVerbal** → solid for Verbal frameworks.
* **TTP (Target Test Prep) for DI** → yes, worth it if you’re struggling. TTP’s DI bank is more aligned to “official-style toughness” than many others.
* **Must-do**: Official Guide + Advanced OG for DI + GMAT Focus Official Practice Exams. That’s the closest to test-day feel.
---
### 5. **One-Month Re-Attempt Strategy**
**Week 1–2:**
* Diagnose weak DI subtypes (log every error by *type* not just score).
* Drill DS/TPA sets daily (10–15 Qs).
* Run sectional mocks: 30 min DI, 45 min Verbal, etc.
**Week 3:**
* Full-length mocks (2–3 official + 1 third-party).
* Experiment with section order (V>Q>DI vs. V>DI>Q).
* Focus on stamina: simulate test-day environment, exact breaks, etc.
**Week 4:**
* Sharpen timing discipline.
* Light review of Quant & Verbal traps (don’t over-invest in Q).
* At least **1 rest day before test**.
---
### 6. **Your 675 Goal**
* You’re 80 points away.
* Realistically, that’s **5–7 fewer misses overall** (especially in DI + first 5 Qs per section).
* With Quant strong, the jump will largely come from:
* Keeping DI under control.
* Avoiding careless misses in Verbal.
* Maintaining mental energy till the end.
---
### 1. **Score Dip vs. Mocks**
* The gap between mocks and official GMAT scores is often caused by:
* **Early misses** (especially in GMAT Focus where adaptive scoring is more sensitive upfront).
* **Time management breakdown** — rushing sections to “save” time hurts accuracy in mid/late sets.
* **Different question flavor** — official questions often have subtler traps than prep ones.
👉 My read: You may have been “mock-trained” for patterns but the **official exam punished the first 2–3 misses** harder than your mocks did.
---
### 2. **Section Order (V > DI > Q)**
* Smart to put Quant last if that’s your strong suit.
* The **risk**: fatigue can creep into DI, which is already mentally taxing.
👉 If you found yourself drained during DI, test a switch: **V > Q > DI** in a couple of mocks. Sometimes doing Quant second preserves mental freshness for the heaviest “processing” section.
---
### 3. **DI Pain Points**
You’re spot on that **official DI feels way tougher** — especially DS, TPA, and GI TA.
Some strategies:
* **DS (Data Sufficiency)**:
* Always rephrase the question to what is *truly* being asked.
* Avoid “quick satisfactions” — many traps hinge on mixing up sufficiency vs. actual solution.
* Train on **OG Advanced** and GMAT Club DS 700+ tagged sets.
* **TPA (Table/Process Analysis)**:
* Spend the first 20–30 seconds just mapping what the table is telling you.
* Pre-label columns and relationships — rushing here is what leads to time drains later.
* **GI/TA (Graphs & Interpretation)**:
* Practice *estimation* and *pattern spotting*. You don’t always need full calculations.
* Practice under strict **2-min per Q discipline** — official DI is designed to punish over-investing in one question.
👉 **Time Strategy for DI:**
* 20–21 Qs → ~40 min → avg. **~2 min/Q**.
* My recommended split:
* **Quick scan (10–15 sec)** before diving.
* Bail-out threshold: If you’ve spent **>2.5 min** and haven’t framed the approach, guess smart and move.
* Protect your pacing in the **first 5 DI Qs** — adaptive algorithm is sensitive here too.
---
### 4. **Prep Resources**
* **e-GMAT & CrackVerbal** → solid for Verbal frameworks.
* **TTP (Target Test Prep) for DI** → yes, worth it if you’re struggling. TTP’s DI bank is more aligned to “official-style toughness” than many others.
* **Must-do**: Official Guide + Advanced OG for DI + GMAT Focus Official Practice Exams. That’s the closest to test-day feel.
---
### 5. **One-Month Re-Attempt Strategy**
**Week 1–2:**
* Diagnose weak DI subtypes (log every error by *type* not just score).
* Drill DS/TPA sets daily (10–15 Qs).
* Run sectional mocks: 30 min DI, 45 min Verbal, etc.
**Week 3:**
* Full-length mocks (2–3 official + 1 third-party).
* Experiment with section order (V>Q>DI vs. V>DI>Q).
* Focus on stamina: simulate test-day environment, exact breaks, etc.
**Week 4:**
* Sharpen timing discipline.
* Light review of Quant & Verbal traps (don’t over-invest in Q).
* At least **1 rest day before test**.
---
### 6. **Your 675 Goal**
* You’re 80 points away.
* Realistically, that’s **5–7 fewer misses overall** (especially in DI + first 5 Qs per section).
* With Quant strong, the jump will largely come from:
* Keeping DI under control.
* Avoiding careless misses in Verbal.
* Maintaining mental energy till the end.
