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Hello GMAT Club members,
I recently scored a 655 (91st percentile) on the GMAT, with a Q88 that I'm particularly proud of. After two not-so-successful attempts with the GMAT classic, I finally achieved this score on my third attempt. It's been quite a journey to get here, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes that it might help others on their GMAT path.
Timeline of My GMAT Journey
First Attempt (Oct 22): Score – 590
Second Attempt (Aug 23): Score – 580
Third Attempt (Sep 24): Score - 655 (Q88)
Initial Struggles
Looking back at where I started, the transformation almost feels unreal. In my first mock test, I could only achieve a 75% hit rate. Coming from a science background, I had always felt confident about my Quant abilities, but the GMAT was a different ball game altogether.
In my first and second attempts, I tried to prepare on my own! I was trying to study whenever I could find time after work, but without any real structure or direction, I wasn't seeing the results I wanted.
But then I attended one webinar by Rajat, explaining the new focus edition which made me decide to try one more attempt. That and the fact that GMAT had done away with Sentence Correction was why I decided to take one last plunge.
What Changed
After my second attempt fell short of my target, I knew something had to change. The biggest shift came when I finally committed to a structured study plan. After the webinar on the Personalised Study Plan by Rajat, I enrolled with e-GMAT!
I took the first GFE mock and scored the same 555, which meant that I had to pull my socks up and work on improving my score!
I actually printed out my study schedule and put it on my wall - it might sound simple but seeing that plan every day made a huge difference. It wasn't just about studying anymore; it was about following a systematic approach to reach my goal.
The Quant Journey
Despite my science background, I decided to swallow my pride and start with the fundamentals. This turned out to be one of my best decisions. Instead of just solving questions, I focused on truly understanding concepts. I followed the course structure religiously - concept files, practice questions, and then cementing quizzes.
What surprised me most was how this thorough understanding affected my speed. In my final attempt, I completed most questions in under 1.5 minutes, with only one question taking more than 3 minutes. I even had 6 minutes left to review my answers - something I couldn't have imagined when I started.
What Really Worked for Me
One of the most helpful things I did was maintain an error log. I was using it to not only list the wrong answers but also to understand why I got the questions wrong. On test day, I actually reviewed this log one final time, focusing only on concepts where I had previously struggled. It gave me a confidence boost right when I needed it.
The course structure also played a huge role. Having each topic build upon the previous one helped me develop a strong foundation. I started seeing patterns in questions and could approach them more systematically.
While my verbal and DI scores do not reflect it, the preparation-time that I invested in these sections really helped me reach the score that I have in hand.
Test Day Experience
The final test day felt completely different from my previous attempts. The months of systematic practice showed - I was calm and confident. Having enough time to actually review and correct two answers in Quant was a game-changer. It's amazing how different the experience can be when you're well-prepared.
Looking Back
What I've realized through this journey is that GMAT success isn't just about the hours you put in - it's about how you use those hours. For me, the structured approach made all the difference. And while hitting those low scores initially was discouraging, each attempt taught me something valuable.
I feel quite fortunate to have achieved this score, and I'm happy to answer any specific questions about my preparation or approach. If there's one thing I'd say to fellow test-takers, it's that setbacks are part of the journey - what matters is how you learn from them.
Best of luck to everyone preparing for the GMAT!
Best regards, Abhishek
I recently scored a 655 (91st percentile) on the GMAT, with a Q88 that I'm particularly proud of. After two not-so-successful attempts with the GMAT classic, I finally achieved this score on my third attempt. It's been quite a journey to get here, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes that it might help others on their GMAT path.
Timeline of My GMAT Journey
First Attempt (Oct 22): Score – 590
Second Attempt (Aug 23): Score – 580
Third Attempt (Sep 24): Score - 655 (Q88)
Initial Struggles
Looking back at where I started, the transformation almost feels unreal. In my first mock test, I could only achieve a 75% hit rate. Coming from a science background, I had always felt confident about my Quant abilities, but the GMAT was a different ball game altogether.
In my first and second attempts, I tried to prepare on my own! I was trying to study whenever I could find time after work, but without any real structure or direction, I wasn't seeing the results I wanted.
But then I attended one webinar by Rajat, explaining the new focus edition which made me decide to try one more attempt. That and the fact that GMAT had done away with Sentence Correction was why I decided to take one last plunge.
What Changed
After my second attempt fell short of my target, I knew something had to change. The biggest shift came when I finally committed to a structured study plan. After the webinar on the Personalised Study Plan by Rajat, I enrolled with e-GMAT!
I took the first GFE mock and scored the same 555, which meant that I had to pull my socks up and work on improving my score!
I actually printed out my study schedule and put it on my wall - it might sound simple but seeing that plan every day made a huge difference. It wasn't just about studying anymore; it was about following a systematic approach to reach my goal.
The Quant Journey
Despite my science background, I decided to swallow my pride and start with the fundamentals. This turned out to be one of my best decisions. Instead of just solving questions, I focused on truly understanding concepts. I followed the course structure religiously - concept files, practice questions, and then cementing quizzes.
What surprised me most was how this thorough understanding affected my speed. In my final attempt, I completed most questions in under 1.5 minutes, with only one question taking more than 3 minutes. I even had 6 minutes left to review my answers - something I couldn't have imagined when I started.
What Really Worked for Me
One of the most helpful things I did was maintain an error log. I was using it to not only list the wrong answers but also to understand why I got the questions wrong. On test day, I actually reviewed this log one final time, focusing only on concepts where I had previously struggled. It gave me a confidence boost right when I needed it.
The course structure also played a huge role. Having each topic build upon the previous one helped me develop a strong foundation. I started seeing patterns in questions and could approach them more systematically.
While my verbal and DI scores do not reflect it, the preparation-time that I invested in these sections really helped me reach the score that I have in hand.
Test Day Experience
The final test day felt completely different from my previous attempts. The months of systematic practice showed - I was calm and confident. Having enough time to actually review and correct two answers in Quant was a game-changer. It's amazing how different the experience can be when you're well-prepared.
Looking Back
What I've realized through this journey is that GMAT success isn't just about the hours you put in - it's about how you use those hours. For me, the structured approach made all the difference. And while hitting those low scores initially was discouraging, each attempt taught me something valuable.
I feel quite fortunate to have achieved this score, and I'm happy to answer any specific questions about my preparation or approach. If there's one thing I'd say to fellow test-takers, it's that setbacks are part of the journey - what matters is how you learn from them.
Best of luck to everyone preparing for the GMAT!
Best regards, Abhishek
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