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Updated on: 04 Aug 2025, 21:58
Originally posted by Ayadnopavit on 04 Aug 2025, 10:16.
Last edited by Ayadnopavit on 04 Aug 2025, 21:58, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by Ayadnopavit on 04 Aug 2025, 21:58, edited 1 time in total.
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It was June 28, 2025, when I decided to resume my GMAT preparation after a long gap, by re-attempting one of the GMAT Official free practice tests. I attempted the test rather cautiously, hoping that I might improve in my first attempt (sounds crazy - even after such a long gap, but I'm a crazy person, after all!), and alas - a 625! Had I just performed way worse than I had on my previous GMAT attempt? - and what's worse, it was a re-attempt - I had solved these questions before, with a better score, a 645, just a week before my first attempt. How would I pull off my GMAT preparation and significantly improve from my previous attempt? I had already booked a test appointment on July 30, 2025. Rescheduling was not an option - my semester was about to start in August, the R1 applications were about to open for my target MIM programs at the same time, and balancing my master's thesis, B-school applications, and GMAT prep certainly did not sound like a good idea.
I hadn't studied since my previous GMAT attempt on December 27, 2024, when I managed to score a humble 655 - not a bad score, but probably not sufficient to compensate for my low GPA and fetch me a scholarship at top MIM programs, such as the ones offered by HEC Paris, INSEAD, and RSM(Erasmus University). By the end of my preparation for the first attempt, I was convinced that the GMAT Official Guide practice questions and the GMAT Official Review books for the three sections wouldn't take me beyond the 655-score mark - the "90th percentile barrier." This "barrier" prevents you from scoring above 645 or 655 on the GMAT Focus Edition, regardless of the number of questions you solve. You feel stuck, and the only option is to find the right strategy - but how? That's when I decided to opt for a Target Test Prep subscription, with hardly a month to spare.
The question bank was super extensive - I wish I'd opted for TTP before (I might have scored a 100th percentile - who knows?). The lessons were super engaging, and almost every one felt important, because these strategies felt new to me. I tried to skim through as many lessons and solve as many questions as possible, and guess what - I noticed a significant improvement in my accuracy for each of the parts I could cover during the limited time frame. I ensured I perfected every question I studied, especially the Strengthening, Weakening, and Assumption-based questions from the Verbal Reasoning section. Being a non-native English speaker, these questions were no less than a nightmare for me. Verbal questions were always mentally exhausting, but not anymore. I knew how to figure out the premises immediately and not overthink my choices, since eliminating the wrong options was no longer as before.
Despite a strong background in Quant, I never quite managed to use it to my full advantage. I remember that I had badly messed up the Quant section in the previous attempt, and scored an 84, way lower than my average of 87. Poor time management was one of the prime reasons - I would panic and spend too much time on a question whenever I could not solve it. In this case, TTP's timing strategy lessons, specifically designed for the Quant section, helped me. One of the most effective strategies that helped me reach the Q90 mark was 'letting go' - yes, you heard it right! In case you stumble upon a difficult question, rather than overspending your time, please mark it for review and move ahead - remember that you can edit answers for a maximum of three questions in each section! I solved all the quant questions correctly, except one question, which I had marked for review. On re-evaluating the question, I immediately figured it out, changed the answer, and voilà! Every single question on the Quant section was marked correctly.
I couldn't spend much time preparing for the Data Insights section, so I focused primarily on the Graph Interpretation questions. It's a shame that the GMAT Official Guide has no questions to offer for this section, but I had it all covered with TTP. The questions were, of course, very similar to the ones you see on the actual GMAT.
Fast forward to the test day. I remember squealing in joy right after taking a 10-minute break after attempting the DI and Quant sections. I realized by then that I would score way better on the GMAT this time. After completing the test, my score was as follows:
Quant - 90
Verbal - 82
DI - 83
Total score - 705
Total percentile - 98th
I'm glad that I could secure a 705 on this attempt - way higher than the average 635-645 for my target MIM programs, thanks to Target Test Prep! I hope this score will help me secure admission to my target B-schools - wish me luck!
Signing off,
Apurv Yadnopavit
I hadn't studied since my previous GMAT attempt on December 27, 2024, when I managed to score a humble 655 - not a bad score, but probably not sufficient to compensate for my low GPA and fetch me a scholarship at top MIM programs, such as the ones offered by HEC Paris, INSEAD, and RSM(Erasmus University). By the end of my preparation for the first attempt, I was convinced that the GMAT Official Guide practice questions and the GMAT Official Review books for the three sections wouldn't take me beyond the 655-score mark - the "90th percentile barrier." This "barrier" prevents you from scoring above 645 or 655 on the GMAT Focus Edition, regardless of the number of questions you solve. You feel stuck, and the only option is to find the right strategy - but how? That's when I decided to opt for a Target Test Prep subscription, with hardly a month to spare.
The question bank was super extensive - I wish I'd opted for TTP before (I might have scored a 100th percentile - who knows?). The lessons were super engaging, and almost every one felt important, because these strategies felt new to me. I tried to skim through as many lessons and solve as many questions as possible, and guess what - I noticed a significant improvement in my accuracy for each of the parts I could cover during the limited time frame. I ensured I perfected every question I studied, especially the Strengthening, Weakening, and Assumption-based questions from the Verbal Reasoning section. Being a non-native English speaker, these questions were no less than a nightmare for me. Verbal questions were always mentally exhausting, but not anymore. I knew how to figure out the premises immediately and not overthink my choices, since eliminating the wrong options was no longer as before.
Despite a strong background in Quant, I never quite managed to use it to my full advantage. I remember that I had badly messed up the Quant section in the previous attempt, and scored an 84, way lower than my average of 87. Poor time management was one of the prime reasons - I would panic and spend too much time on a question whenever I could not solve it. In this case, TTP's timing strategy lessons, specifically designed for the Quant section, helped me. One of the most effective strategies that helped me reach the Q90 mark was 'letting go' - yes, you heard it right! In case you stumble upon a difficult question, rather than overspending your time, please mark it for review and move ahead - remember that you can edit answers for a maximum of three questions in each section! I solved all the quant questions correctly, except one question, which I had marked for review. On re-evaluating the question, I immediately figured it out, changed the answer, and voilà! Every single question on the Quant section was marked correctly.
I couldn't spend much time preparing for the Data Insights section, so I focused primarily on the Graph Interpretation questions. It's a shame that the GMAT Official Guide has no questions to offer for this section, but I had it all covered with TTP. The questions were, of course, very similar to the ones you see on the actual GMAT.
Fast forward to the test day. I remember squealing in joy right after taking a 10-minute break after attempting the DI and Quant sections. I realized by then that I would score way better on the GMAT this time. After completing the test, my score was as follows:
Quant - 90
Verbal - 82
DI - 83
Total score - 705
Total percentile - 98th
I'm glad that I could secure a 705 on this attempt - way higher than the average 635-645 for my target MIM programs, thanks to Target Test Prep! I hope this score will help me secure admission to my target B-schools - wish me luck!
Signing off,
Apurv Yadnopavit
04 Aug 2025, 12:26
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Congratulations for a great score and all the best!
Ayadnopavit
04 Aug 2025, 21:59
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Thank you so much!
APram
