Mocks 675 -- Official GMAT FE 615 Q78V81DI82 (Arithmetic killed me..)

Question

Really gutted with my score. Especially tough because I was got 675, 635, 675 in my last 3 practice tests. For context, I’m self-taught, studied ~200+ hours over 2 months (learned tips for M-Prep, did 12 Practice Tests, and hundreds of Questions from OG/Gmat Club). My first mock was 565 so I guess there was improvement but I know I should have done so much better.

What hurts most is that the exam  felt  fine. No unusual anxiety, time management was solid, and I genuinely thought I’d hit at least 675. Seeing the score was a punch to the gut.

Score report showed the main damage came from Quant. I made some very dumb mistakes in Arithmetic and ended up at ~50th percentile, which is by far my lowest ever (I’m usually ~80th). Algebra was 100th percentile, so the gap is clearly fundamentals in Arithmetic (25th%).

Verbal was decent overall, but RC slipped in the last few days and probably cost me 20–30 points. CR remains a bit hit-or-miss.

One positive: I’m genuinely proud of Data Insights. My weaker areas are Two-Part Analysis and MSR, which makes sense. Math-related DI is ~70th percentile vs ~90th for non-math DI, so I guess Arithmetic weakness is leaking into DI.

Looking for guidance on:

Quant:  How to truly lock down Arithmetic fundamentals (ratios, rates, percentages, word problems). Any structured approach or resources that actually work? 
  Verbal:  Besides volume of practice, any tips for stabilizing RC and making CR more consistent? 
  Data Insights:  Should I aggressively fix Quant (Arithmetic) first and let that naturally lift DI as well? 
  Retake:  Whether I should even give a retake...Round 2 deadlines are almost up, and I can probably cover up my Math Deficiency through my grades in Uni / A Level Math which are excellent.  
Appreciate any blunt, practical advice. Trying to learn from this rather than dwell on it.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi AliEjaz01,

I think the GMAT just isn't good enough to differentiate between really good test takers, and as a result, a few mistakes can lead to major score drops, especially in quant.

As for what you should do, which schools are you targeting? If you're looking at something like ISB R3 you may still be able to retake after the minimum gap.

AliEjaz01 · Answer

Hi Ajitesh, thanks for reaching out. My target schools are in UKI including Warwick, Manchester, LSE, Kings, Edinburgh, Bristol & Nottingham. If I had a better score I'd shoot for Imperial, but prolly won't now.

dotsoftme · Answer

I hear you, and honestly, that "punch to the gut" feeling is something many high achievers experience with the GMAT Focus Edition. But here is the objective truth:  A 605 is not a reflection of your intelligence, but it is a "red flag" for an Indian Male Engineer (IME) applicant at the M7/T15 level. 
Because you are an engineer, schools expect your Quant to be your "floor." A 50th percentile Quant score will likely lead to a rejection at Wharton or Booth, regardless of your 7.44 GPA, because they need to be certain you won't struggle with their rigorous finance and stats cores.
Here is the blunt, practical roadmap to fixing this.
 
1. The Retake Decision: Do you have a choice?
You mentioned Round 2 deadlines.  I would strongly advise against applying to M7/T15 schools with a 605 in Round 2. 
 
  The Reality:  The IME pool is flooded with 695+ scores right now. 
  The Play:  Since you originally planned for 2027 admission (per your first message),  do not rush a Round 2 application.  You have 6.5 years of experience; you are in a "sweet spot" where waiting until Round 1 of the next cycle (Sept 2026) won't hurt your age profile but  will  drastically improve your scholarship chances with a higher score.  
2. Fixing the Quant "Leak" (Arithmetic)
The fact that you hit 100th percentile in Algebra but 25th in Arithmetic proves this isn't a "math ability" issue—it’s a  process and trap  issue.
 
  The Resource:  Look into  Target Test Prep (TTP)  or  GMAT Ninja’s YouTube series  specifically for Arithmetic. TTP is incredibly "granulated"—it will force you to do 100+ questions on just "Ratios" until you can do them in your sleep. 
  The Strategy:  Arithmetic on the GMAT isn't about calculation; it's about  Logic . Stop doing long division. Start looking for "number properties" (even/odd, divisibility, prime factors) within those word problems. If you are doing heavy scratching on the pad for a percentage problem, you’ve already missed the "GMAT way" to solve it.  
3. Data Insights & Verbal Stabilization
 
  DI Strategy:  Yes,  fix Arithmetic first.  MSR (Multi-Source Reasoning) and Table Analysis are essentially Arithmetic on steroids. Once you master "Percent Change" and "Weighted Averages" in the Quant section, your DI score will naturally jump 3–4 points. 
  Verbal (RC/CR):  You are likely "over-reading."
 
  RC:  Focus on the  structure  (The "Why") rather than the  content  (The "What"). Practice identifying the "Main Idea" after reading only the first and last sentence of each paragraph. 
  CR:  You need a "Pre-phrase" strategy. Do not look at the answer choices until you have predicted what the answer should look like. If you go straight to the choices, the GMAT's "trap" answers will pull you in.  
  
4. The "Round 2" Pivot
If you are dead-set on applying  now  (this month):
 
  Target "Waiver" Schools:  Look at  Darden, Ross, or NYU Stern . These schools have formal waiver processes. However, your 7.44 GPA is "good," not "elite," so you must pivot your essays to focus heavily on your  $200M+ procurement impact  to prove your quantitative prowess. 
  Lower the Tier:  If you apply with a 605, look at schools in the  T25–T30 range  (e.g., Georgetown McDonough, Vanderbilt Owen, Rice Jones). You are much more likely to get an admit there with your current score.  
 
My Recommendation
 Wait and Retake.  You have the "work experience" gold; don't devalue it with a "silver" GMAT score.
Take a 2-week total break to clear the "gut punch" feeling. Then, start a  structured  10-week prep focusing on Arithmetic and DI logic. If you can move from a 605 to a 695 (very doable given your 675 mocks), you move from "Maybe" at a T25 to "Full-Ride Scholarship" at a T15.

AliEjaz01 · Answer

Hey, thanks for reaching out and sharing your advice which I'll look into. Albeit some of the info you mentioned may be confused with someone else. I'm not an Indian Male Engineer, I don't have a 7.44 GPA, my GMAT FE score is 615 not 605, I have 3 years experience instead of 6.5, and I wish I had a 200M+ procurement impact. In that case, I agree I would have gone for a retake eyes closed, that is an insane achievement.

AjiteshArun · Answer

I don't know what the deadlines for most of these schools are, or if they have rolling admissions, but I would recommend you give yourself one more attempt if possible. You're clearly capable of getting a higher score, and even if you don't retake immediately or get a 675, a 645-655 could still make a difference. You could then consider applying to Imperial as well in R3. Also, keep in mind that you're actually already pretty close to the average at Imperial (615 ~ 650-680).

All the best.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

One way to reduce careless errors is to adopt the strategy of reading the question, deriving an answer, and then re-reading the question before submitting your response. This strategy can prove useful since, while solving the question, you identify the key components of the prompt, so when you re-read the question later, key information such as *x is an INTEGER* or *y is POSITIVE* will pop out at you if you neglected to consider that information in your solution.

For calculation errors, practice with an error log where you record and review your mistakes to identify patterns or frequent errors. This method not only helps in correcting repeated mistakes but also sharpens your attention to detail.

Also, check out these articles: 
 -  Improving Your Accuracy on the GMAT  
 -  GMAT Error Log: Do I Need One?

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Mocks 675 --> Official GMAT FE 615 Q78V81DI82 (Arithmetic killed me..)

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