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ayush_pranav_10
Joined: 15 Jan 2024
Last visit: 30 Jun 2025
Posts: 23
Given Kudos: 17
Location: India
Schools: Tepper '27 (A$$) Ross '27 (WL) MIT '27 (WL) Fuqua '27 (D) Tuck '27 (D) LBS '26 (D) Johnson '27 (WL) Columbia '27 (WL)
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q90 V84 DI83 
GPA: 8.53
Schools: Tepper '27 (A$$) Ross '27 (WL) MIT '27 (WL) Fuqua '27 (D) Tuck '27 (D) LBS '26 (D) Johnson '27 (WL) Columbia '27 (WL)
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q90 V84 DI83
Posts: 23
28 Apr 2024, 02:21
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I took the GMAT Focus Edition for the first time in person on April 6th and scored 715 (with Q90, V84, DI83). I'd like to share my experience preparing for the GMAT.
Background
As an Indian engineering graduate, I am currently employed at Disney+Hotstar as an Assistant Manager in Business & Strategy Analytics. With a solid background in mathematics from both school and my bachelor's degree, I have a strong foundation in quantitative skills. Additionally, my professional experience has provided me with exposure to data interpretation.
Situation
I began my GMAT self-preparation in May 2023. However, due to personal reasons and the demands of my job (which often required long hours), I rarely had free time for GMAT study. After struggling for a month without finding a consistent rhythm, I had to put my preparation on hold. Motivated by my desire to pursue an MBA, I resumed my preparation in January 2024. With the introduction of a new format (focus edition), I had to adjust my strategy and quickly adapt to the changes.
Preparation Strategy
I went through the practice questions in the Official Guide 2024 to get acquainted with the question types and concepts tested. Following that, I took a Full Mock (GMAT Club) and scored 595 (Q79, V82, DI77).
My strategy involved meticulously analyzing the mocks and documenting scores across different topics within each section. Additionally, I made note of the numerous silly mistakes I made during mock attempts. Before moving on to the next mock, I dedicated ample time to address each area of weakness by studying the theory and practicing relevant questions.
Furthermore, I experimented with different orders of sections during mock exams to determine the most suitable sequence for me. Over time, I observed a gradual improvement in my scores as I addressed my weak areas and reduced the frequency of careless mistakes.
Exam Day
Despite achieving a score of 715 in the official mock the day before the exam, I still felt anxious about the upcoming test. I opted to tackle the exam in the order that suited me best (Quantitative → Data Interpretation → 10-minute break → Verbal).
The test began smoothly, with me feeling very confident in the Quantitative section. However, I encountered numerous challenges during the Data Interpretation section. I found the DI questions to be significantly more difficult and time-consuming compared to those in the official mocks. Additionally, I was unable to revisit a DI question that I knew I had answered incorrectly due to time constraints.
During the break, I grappled with a strong sense of having already faltered in the exam. It was a significant mental battle to gather my courage and calm myself down in preparation for tackling the Verbal section, which was my weakest area.
In the end, despite not performing as well as I had hoped in the DI section, I was still satisfied with my overall score.
Preparation Material Referred
Thank you for taking the time to read! Have a wonderful day!
Background
As an Indian engineering graduate, I am currently employed at Disney+Hotstar as an Assistant Manager in Business & Strategy Analytics. With a solid background in mathematics from both school and my bachelor's degree, I have a strong foundation in quantitative skills. Additionally, my professional experience has provided me with exposure to data interpretation.
Situation
I began my GMAT self-preparation in May 2023. However, due to personal reasons and the demands of my job (which often required long hours), I rarely had free time for GMAT study. After struggling for a month without finding a consistent rhythm, I had to put my preparation on hold. Motivated by my desire to pursue an MBA, I resumed my preparation in January 2024. With the introduction of a new format (focus edition), I had to adjust my strategy and quickly adapt to the changes.
Preparation Strategy
I went through the practice questions in the Official Guide 2024 to get acquainted with the question types and concepts tested. Following that, I took a Full Mock (GMAT Club) and scored 595 (Q79, V82, DI77).
My strategy involved meticulously analyzing the mocks and documenting scores across different topics within each section. Additionally, I made note of the numerous silly mistakes I made during mock attempts. Before moving on to the next mock, I dedicated ample time to address each area of weakness by studying the theory and practicing relevant questions.
Furthermore, I experimented with different orders of sections during mock exams to determine the most suitable sequence for me. Over time, I observed a gradual improvement in my scores as I addressed my weak areas and reduced the frequency of careless mistakes.
Exam Day
Despite achieving a score of 715 in the official mock the day before the exam, I still felt anxious about the upcoming test. I opted to tackle the exam in the order that suited me best (Quantitative → Data Interpretation → 10-minute break → Verbal).
The test began smoothly, with me feeling very confident in the Quantitative section. However, I encountered numerous challenges during the Data Interpretation section. I found the DI questions to be significantly more difficult and time-consuming compared to those in the official mocks. Additionally, I was unable to revisit a DI question that I knew I had answered incorrectly due to time constraints.
During the break, I grappled with a strong sense of having already faltered in the exam. It was a significant mental battle to gather my courage and calm myself down in preparation for tackling the Verbal section, which was my weakest area.
In the end, despite not performing as well as I had hoped in the DI section, I was still satisfied with my overall score.
Preparation Material Referred
- Official GMAT Focus Edition Guide
- GMAT Club Question Bank
- GMAT Club Mocks
- TTP Question Bank (for Verbal, DI) - available on trial basis for 5 days
- Official GMAT Mocks
- Each individual has unique strengths and weaknesses. Experiment with different approaches at the outset of your preparation to discover the most suitable strategy for you. Just because a particular method worked for someone else doesn't guarantee it will yield the same results for you.
- Merely taking mock tests won't necessarily lead to score improvement unless you thoroughly analyze each mock to pinpoint and address your weak areas. Quality matters more than quantity; focus on maximizing the benefit from the 5-10 mocks you attempt rather than aiming to attempt a high number of mocks.
- Persistence is key. There will be days when you feel overwhelmed or tempted to give up. Trust in your abilities and keep pushing forward.
- Don't be too hard on yourself – there's room for error. You don't need to answer every question correctly to achieve a good score. Develop an understanding of the types of questions (your weak areas) where you can afford to make mistakes while still reaching your target score.
Thank you for taking the time to read! Have a wonderful day!
29 Apr 2024, 09:42
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Nice work, Ayush!
Strengthening your weaker areas and reducing the number of careless mistakes you make worked like a charm.
Strengthening your weaker areas and reducing the number of careless mistakes you make worked like a charm.
04 Jun 2024, 01:34
Kudos
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Hello Ayush
Congrats on the brilliant score. If you don't mind, could you tell how many errors you made in each section?
Congrats on the brilliant score. If you don't mind, could you tell how many errors you made in each section?
