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06 Jun 2025, 06:44
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Hey everyone,
This is my second debrief post on GMAT Club — and this one’s really special because I just wrapped up my final attempt with a score of 735 (Q86 V90 D84). I’ve improved by 60 points since my first official test, and over 120 points since my cold mock. This post is meant to be a detailed breakdown of everything that helped me get here: my resources, strategies, challenges, and learnings.
If you’d like to read my first debrief after scoring 675 on Attempt 1, you can find it here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-focus-1 ... l#p3578528
Background
I’m an Indian male engineer, set to graduate in July 2025. I’m targeting MiM programs at LBS, INSEAD, and HEC Paris. I began my GMAT Focus journey in early February, starting with a cold official mock on mba.com, just to see where I stood - and scored a 615 (Q82 V80 D80).
That gave me a rough sense of the work ahead - especially in Quant and Verbal timing - and from there, the real prep began.
Score Progression
Here’s a snapshot of my official mocks and actual test scores:
Prep Timeline & Resources
After my first mock, I enrolled in the 6-month Target Test Prep (TTP) plan. I used its built-in calendar tool to allocate daily study hours and track progress. That structure helped me break a large goal into manageable chunks.
Main resources used:
Key Learnings and Strategies
Test Day Experience
Attempt 1 – 675 (17 May)
I followed the section order: Quant → DI → Break → Verbal.
Quant went quite smoothly - I was in control and kept good pace. During the break, I stepped out, went to the restroom, had a protein bar, and drank some water to reset. But DI turned out to be the turning point. I got caught up in a Graphs & Tables question and spent over 6 minutes trying to crack it, which left me with very little time for the remaining questions. That time mismanagement cost me — I had to rush through the end of the section, and the momentum was slightly off going into Verbal. Verbal itself felt alright, but the damage was already done in DI.
Attempt 2 – 735 (5 June)
Quant → Break → DI → Verbal.
Quant was again solid. During the break, I stuck to the same routine — restroom, water, protein bar — just to refresh and refocus. This time in DI, I was disciplined. I had a clear rule: move on if a question goes beyond 2.5 minutes, no matter how tempting it was to solve. That decision made a big difference — I maintained steady pacing throughout. Verbal felt great — all the CR and RC practice really paid off, and I was able to stay calm and logical. I walked out feeling like I had done everything right, and seeing that 735 on the screen was a genuinely fulfilling moment.
What I Would Do If I Were to Start Again
If I had to go through this entire journey again, here’s exactly what I’d do — and what I suggest for anyone starting out:
Final Thoughts
If you’re someone scoring in the 610–650 range, don’t be discouraged. I’ve been there - confused, frustrated, and wondering if I could ever hit 700+. You absolutely can.
I’m now working on my MiM applications for LBS, INSEAD, and HEC - and GMAT Focus is one milestone I’m proud to check off.
Feel free to reach out or drop questions below - happy to help others on the same path.
Cheers!
GMAT-Club-Forum-n8eq6t7x.png [ 71.95 KiB | Viewed 4038 times ]
This is my second debrief post on GMAT Club — and this one’s really special because I just wrapped up my final attempt with a score of 735 (Q86 V90 D84). I’ve improved by 60 points since my first official test, and over 120 points since my cold mock. This post is meant to be a detailed breakdown of everything that helped me get here: my resources, strategies, challenges, and learnings.
If you’d like to read my first debrief after scoring 675 on Attempt 1, you can find it here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-focus-1 ... l#p3578528
Background
I’m an Indian male engineer, set to graduate in July 2025. I’m targeting MiM programs at LBS, INSEAD, and HEC Paris. I began my GMAT Focus journey in early February, starting with a cold official mock on mba.com, just to see where I stood - and scored a 615 (Q82 V80 D80).
That gave me a rough sense of the work ahead - especially in Quant and Verbal timing - and from there, the real prep began.
Score Progression
Here’s a snapshot of my official mocks and actual test scores:
- Cold Mock (Feb 1st week): 615 (Q82 V80 D80)
- Mock 2 (April 14): 675 (Q86 V81 D83) – after finishing TTP
- Mock 3 (May 10): 685 (Q83 V86 D83) – improved Verbal after OG work
- Attempt 1 (May 17): 675 (Q85 V85 D80)
- Mock 4 (June 1): 675 (Q83 V86 D82) – missed final DI question
- Attempt 2 (June 5): 735 (Q86 V90 D84)
Prep Timeline & Resources
After my first mock, I enrolled in the 6-month Target Test Prep (TTP) plan. I used its built-in calendar tool to allocate daily study hours and track progress. That structure helped me break a large goal into manageable chunks.
Main resources used:
- Target Test Prep (TTP): Easily the most comprehensive Quant course out there. Their teaching style suited me well — bite-sized lessons, lots of practice, and constant reinforcement. Logged nearly 300 hours on it.
- GMAT Club: My go-to platform for explanations and CR/RC discussions.
- Special thanks to Bunuel and Scott (TTP) for their rock-solid Quant explanations.
- And a huge shoutout to Marty Murray — his Critical Reasoning explanations are gold. They were a game-changer for my Verbal prep.
- Official Guides (OG): I purchased the Verbal Review after identifying it as a weak spot. OG + GMAT Club explanations made a huge difference in my Verbal confidence.
Key Learnings and Strategies
- As a non-native speaker, Verbal was not my comfort zone — especially RC. But daily, focused practice helped me develop the logic and pacing required.
- The jump from 675 to 735 came from better time management, especially in DI where I had previously lost precious minutes on single tough questions.
- I learned to let go of questions if they were dragging beyond the 3-minute mark — especially in DI and CR.
- One thing that helped a lot: visualizing the score before the test. It helped reduce anxiety and boost confidence.
Test Day Experience
Attempt 1 – 675 (17 May)
I followed the section order: Quant → DI → Break → Verbal.
Quant went quite smoothly - I was in control and kept good pace. During the break, I stepped out, went to the restroom, had a protein bar, and drank some water to reset. But DI turned out to be the turning point. I got caught up in a Graphs & Tables question and spent over 6 minutes trying to crack it, which left me with very little time for the remaining questions. That time mismanagement cost me — I had to rush through the end of the section, and the momentum was slightly off going into Verbal. Verbal itself felt alright, but the damage was already done in DI.
Attempt 2 – 735 (5 June)
Quant → Break → DI → Verbal.
Quant was again solid. During the break, I stuck to the same routine — restroom, water, protein bar — just to refresh and refocus. This time in DI, I was disciplined. I had a clear rule: move on if a question goes beyond 2.5 minutes, no matter how tempting it was to solve. That decision made a big difference — I maintained steady pacing throughout. Verbal felt great — all the CR and RC practice really paid off, and I was able to stay calm and logical. I walked out feeling like I had done everything right, and seeing that 735 on the screen was a genuinely fulfilling moment.
What I Would Do If I Were to Start Again
If I had to go through this entire journey again, here’s exactly what I’d do — and what I suggest for anyone starting out:
- Start With a Cold Official Mock
Before you even think about prep plans, take an official mock to understand where you truly stand. Don’t overthink it — it’s just a benchmark, but an important one. - Get a Structured Course Early On
I personally used Target Test Prep (TTP) and it worked really well for me, especially in Quant. But don’t just follow the crowd — research a bit and pick a platform that suits your learning style. Structure is crucial when you’re tackling something as broad as the GMAT. - Trust Only the Official Mocks
Once you feel reasonably confident, write an official practice mock. Avoid reading too much into scores from third-party platforms. The mba.com mocks are the most reflective of the real test experience and scoring. - Target Your Weakness Ruthlessly
If one section (like Verbal or DI) is consistently pulling your score down, double down on it. Put your stronger sections in maintenance mode — just enough practice to keep them sharp. If you’re hitting a wall due to mental fatigue or pacing, try changing the section/break order — sometimes a small tweak can fix a concentration dip. - Book the Exam When You’re Near Your Target
Once your mock scores are in the ballpark of your target score, don’t wait too long. Book the exam. And in the last 3–4 days before test day, don’t try to learn anything new. Instead, protect your mindset — cut off distractions, avoid negative energy, and stay in your own lane. - Use Official Mocks Very Wisely
You only get a limited number of official mocks — space them out, and treat each like a dress rehearsal. Review them thoroughly and focus more on analyzing mistakes than celebrating scores. - Don’t Be Nervous on Test Day
I know easier said than done, but seriously — just treat the exam like another mock. You’ve trained for this. Stay calm, breathe, and trust your preparation.
Final Thoughts
If you’re someone scoring in the 610–650 range, don’t be discouraged. I’ve been there - confused, frustrated, and wondering if I could ever hit 700+. You absolutely can.
- Use structured tools like TTP to build fundamentals
- Use GMAT Club + OG for fine-tuning
- Maintain an error log for focused practice.
- Know when to move on from a question
- Trust your effort and be consistent
I’m now working on my MiM applications for LBS, INSEAD, and HEC - and GMAT Focus is one milestone I’m proud to check off.
Feel free to reach out or drop questions below - happy to help others on the same path.
Cheers!
Attachment:
GMAT-Club-Forum-n8eq6t7x.png [ 71.95 KiB | Viewed 4038 times ]
06 Jun 2025, 09:33
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Gratz on the 735. All the best going forward.
07 Jun 2025, 10:26
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Congrats on the great score and thanks for sharing your journey!
Ghost333
