Back to GMAT Prep After Break | 615 Baseline, Target 700+

Question

Hi all,

I am restarting my GMAT preparation and would be grateful for any guidance on how to approach it effectively.

I have taken two official GMAT Focus attempts so far — in  May 2025 (565)  and  November 2025 (615: Q85, V80, D77) . After that, I got occupied with other exams and interviews, and I wasn’t able to stay consistent with my prep.

To understand my current level, I took a free full test from GMAT Club in February and scored  625 (Q80, V81, D81) .

I am now planning to resume my preparation seriously and aim to take the exam again in the next 2–3 months, with a target score of 700+. I am a full-time working professional, and I plan to dedicate around 2 hours on weekdays and 3 hours on weekends for my preparation. 
I currently have access to 1 month of the Target Test Prep (TTP) flexible plan through the GMAT Club Christmas competition, and I plan to start using it now. I would really appreciate any suggestions on how to make the most of this one month, given my current level.

I would also be thankful for any advice on resources I should use in the following months to continue improving.

PS: Over the past year, I have already used e-GMAT, Experts’ Global, the Official Guide (OG), and two official mocks (attempted twice).

EducationAisle · Answer

You did not provide sectional breakup of your first attempt.

However, in view of the sectional breakup of your second attempt, it looks like DI would need significant effort.

prepapr · Answer

Thanks for taking the time to read through and provide feedback. 
Adding my first attempt section wise breakup - 565 Q79 V78 D77

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi prepapr,

It's good to see that you're looking to resume prep. However, we typically don't take a nonofficial practice test to understand our current level. That's really something we should use an official practice test for. To be clear, nonofficial tests can be useful, and you should use them if you feel they're good. Official practice tests are generally better though, especially for verbal and DI.

For the next month, you should focus on building your concepts. During this time you should use a relatively small number of practice questions/tests, but make sure that you analyse every question you do. That is, learn from all the questions you attempt, not just the ones you get incorrect. After that you'll most likely want to increase the amount of practice (without sacrificing analysis) and should start taking tests regularly (like 1/week). Make sure that you start testing min 1.5-2 months before your retake.

Also, at some point in your prep (maybe after a month), try to switch to official practice questions (or reduce the proportion of nonofficial material). This will help you get a more GMAT-like experience. Do this even if you have a lot of nonofficial material remaining.

All the best.

Edskore · Answer

Something worth noting from your score breakdown: your Quant dropped from Q85 to Q80 between your two attempts while DI went up. Now your practice test shows Q80 still. The advice others have given about DI needing work is accurate for your November scores, but your bigger opportunity might actually be getting Quant back to where it was.

A 5-point quant slip usually isn't a content gap. It's either timing or a few specific concept areas where you're getting questions right by intuition but wrong when the problem is slightly harder. With TTP for one month, I'd use the first two weeks almost entirely on Quant diagnostics. Do timed mixed sets, tag every wrong answer, and look for patterns. Problem Solving on Number Properties and Inequalities are the two areas that most often cause 700+ candidates to drop points without realizing it.

For DI specifically, your Data Sufficiency will improve as your Quant fundamentals tighten. The Two-Part Analysis questions tend to be the bigger time sink. If you're losing time there, work on identifying the constraint structure first (what's fixed, what can vary) before trying to solve. That framing saves a lot of rework.

2 hours on weekdays and 3 on weekends is a solid pace. The thing I'd push back on from most advice is the idea of spreading prep evenly. With 2-3 months, pick one section to go deep on per week. Full rotation takes too long to show results and you lose track of what's moving.

You're not starting from scratch. 615 to 700 is a real jump but it's done all the time from your current baseline.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Prepapr,

Good progress from 565 to 615. That's a real jump. Let me give you a focused plan.
 
Where you stand 
To reach 700+ from a 615 score, you'll need meaningful gains in all three sections, but especially DI (77) and Verbal (80). A rough target is getting each section into the mid-to-upper 80s.
 
Your one month of TTP 
You won't complete the full course, and that's fine. The goal is maximum value from the time you have.
 
 Start with the TTP diagnostic to pinpoint your weak areas instead of guessing what they are. 
 Set the study plan to Expert+ track (for 700+ targeting). 
 Prioritize DI and Verbal chapters (your biggest score opportunities). For Quant, focus only on chapters where the diagnostic flags real weaknesses. Your Q85 suggests a solid foundation. 
 Don't rush to check boxes. One chapter done well beats three chapters skimmed. Study each lesson carefully, do the problems, review every mistake. 
 In your last week, use Custom Tests to create mixed-section practice sets under realistic conditions.  
 
After TTP expires 
You've used official mocks 1 and 2. Mocks 3 through 6 are still fresh. They're your most valuable resource. Here's how to use them:
 
 Take mock 3 about two weeks after TTP ends.  
 Between mocks, use the GMAC Official Question Bank for targeted practice, especially DI and Verbal question types. 
 Take mock 4 two weeks later. Trending toward 680+? Schedule the real exam. Still in the 640-660 range? Push the timeline rather than force it. 
 Save mocks 5 and 6 for the final two weeks before test day, under full exam conditions.

On your timeline
 Two to three months is realistic for this jump, but the students who make it study with precision, not just volume. Two focused weekday hours beat four distracted ones. And the biggest risk for a working professional isn't ability, it's inconsistency. Guard your study schedule like an important meeting. Three skipped days doesn't just cost three days, it costs the retention on everything from the week before.

You've shown you can improve your score. Now be strategic with the time you have. Good luck!

MartyMurray · Answer

You'll get your goal score this time as long as you  practice for the GMAT effectively . Effective practice is a key element of GMAT success. So, how you practice can make or break your results.

A great approach to practicing is the streaks method, discussed in detail in the following post.

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