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StanleyVu
Joined: 10 Jun 2025
Last visit: 17 Mar 2026
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Location: Viet Nam
Schools: Simon '26 (A$$$$) ESSEC (A) Duke '26 (I) UNC '26 (I) McCombs '26 (I) Mendoza'26 (I) Sloan (MIT) (I)
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V84 DI86 
GRE 1: Q169 V158
GPA: 3.91
Schools: Simon '26 (A$$$$) ESSEC (A) Duke '26 (I) UNC '26 (I) McCombs '26 (I) Mendoza'26 (I) Sloan (MIT) (I)
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V84 DI86
GRE 1: Q169 V158
Posts: 36
Kudos:
15
30 Jan 2026, 11:37
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello everyone! My name is Linh. I come from Vietnam. After my GMAT second-take on Dec 22nd 2025, I frantically finished my whole R2 application while starting a new job in 2 weeks. Now that everything is done and I'm nervously waiting for the results, I have another box unticked on my to-do list - Writing a GMAT debrief on gmatclub. That's why I'm here 
I hope that my story could help someone on this amazing forum, just like how countless discussions here supported me throughout my 2025 test-taking and application journey.
NOTE: Skip to the Better preparation for 2nd take to see resources I found useful for my prep. Apologize beforehand if my long story bores anyone 😂 (I get emotional)
How it all started
Back in 2023, I originally wanted to pursue a PhD, hence the GRE. I didn't realize back then, but I really struggled throughout the whole 6-month prep. While GRE Quant was quite enjoyable (as Quant has always been my strength), GRE Verbal was a thorn in my flesh. As a non-native who hated vocabulary memorization, I found myself lost and demotivated amidst a gigantic list of exotic words. 2 months before the test, I knew my result would not be great and lost confidence in my PhD app. Deciding to take a job instead and buy myself 1 more year to improve my profile, I felt less pressured when the test came. Even though 327 was not as bad as I thought, as an international PhD applicant, I knew I still needed to score better. But thinking about the exhausting vocab learning kept me procrastinating the GRE re-learning, and so I got carried away with my job.
And then the time came
In 2025, I finally felt ready to write my PhD app and do whatever was needed to finally pursue my dream, including the GRE retake. But a work-related issue emerged out of nowhere, which made me rethink everything. Lucky for me, this time, I got a great counsellor who pointed out how this PhD path actually suffocated me and suggested I consider business schools instead. The first thing I tried was to take a mock GMAT to see if I had any chance with the b-school app. I still remember my feeling that night, taking the GMAC Free Exam 1 without any prior understanding of what the GMAT was. It felt so exciting, and the problems intrigued me rather than burning me out. The 635 score was also a confidence boost, and so I made up my mind to completely switch to b-school app.
But the GMAT journey was harder than I expected. My original plan was to apply R1 and finish soon, and clearly, I didn't give myself enough time with GMAT. I started out not too focused, just taking a couple of lessons and doing about 40-60 problems per week via a local course. Then July came, I put off the whole app process to spend 100% effort on GMAT. I literally crammed 2 weeks before my first take in August, doing ~300 OG questions per day.
Not surprisingly, the result was not as good as I wanted.
I got 645, just 10 more than my Exam 1 without any prep.
Self-analysis of What went wrong
My biggest mistake was to delay doing mocks until the last 4 days. This led to 3 main issues:
1. Not enough time to make full use of all resources:
I purchased the full GMAC Exam 3-6 and Experts' Global (EG) mock test package, only to finish just Exam 3 and 2-3 EG
2. Not aware of my actual performance under pressure:
Doing practice on a normal morning was totally different from sitting for the whole 135-minute 3-part test. Before the mocks, I didn't even know that my brain would freeze when doing Quant right after DI (it literally stopped calculating near the end of the Quant part). I didn't know that I would run out of time while having 2-3 verbal questions left.
3. Not enough time to fully build a test-taking strategy:
I learned about my performance and time-management issues too late, and so could only test my strategy for about 3 mocks. On the actual test day, my under-preparation was clear:
- I did not keep good track of time in DI, 2 questions taking > 5 mins and thus 4 last questions having to random
- For verbal, on my 3rd RC passage, my brain just stopped trying to understand the passage
To make things worse, many crazy things happened on that day as well. An unusual storm hitting my city. Traffic jam made me turn up just 10 minutes early. I got 2 MSRs for DI, 1 MSR even came with a complex flow chart @@
Better preparation for 2nd take
I had to delay my app to R2 and retake GMAT. This time, I focused on 4 goals:
1. Improve my Verbal foundation
2. Make 0 mistake in Quant and max 5 mistakes in DI
3. Build a rigorous test-taking strategy (section order and time management). Make it my second nature
4. Take mocks earlier in the process
For Verbal foundation:
I signed up for TTP1-month plan. Worth every penny. I got a clear map of different types of Verbal questions and how Assumption built foundation for all subsequent types, learned correct and incorrect types of answers (so mind-blowing), and efficiently reviewed questions from an easy-to-use error log.
For Quant and DI improvement:
I focused on 655+ GMAT Prep (Focus) and Gmatclub challenge questions. I also did high-level RC passages on gmatclub, including LSAT and Ron Purewal's.
For test-taking strategy:
I came up with one that suited my nature the most:
1. Do my strongest section first, and No Quant-DI together. My final sequence: Quant - Verbal - (break) - DI
2. Come up with a time-tracking rule for each section, inspired by The Quarter method from Manhattan Prep:
- Quant: Q7 clock (ie time left) must ≥ 31 min, Q14 - 17 min
- Verbal: Q8 - 31 min, Q16 - 14 min, Q23 - 5 min
- DI: Q5 - 36 min, Q10 - 26 min, Q15 - 15 min, Q20 - 5 min (this makes sure I finish the section before time's up)
When taking mocks and the actual test, I write these time rules in the right corner of my sheets to follow.
For anyone who wants to try this time-tracking method, I highly recommend experimenting to come up with your own timing. It will be easier to remember and apply.
And I DON'T recommend this method if you are not good at memorizing rules or don't have much time to form new time-tracking habits.
3. Keep an anxiety-reducing routine 2 weeks prior to the test, inspired by GMAT Ninja's video:
- No social media exposure (very extreme): I used the Nuclear option in the StayFocusd extension to block all social media
- Work out every day, after test prep and before dinner
- Go to sleep early (11PM) and wake up early (5AM)
For mock schedule:
I took mocks every 2 weeks from Oct to Dec. In the last 1 week before the actual test, I stopped doing practice questions and only re-did mocks + reviewed past mocks + questions
A better test experience
I came 30 minutes earlier on test day. After checking in, I had waiting time before the test, and so I walked around and did breathing exercise to calm my nerves.
Quant was quite my level on that day. I only had trouble with 1 question. Couldn't find the most efficient method, so I just calculated the whole sequence out to approximate the result. Lucky I got it correct and ended up at 90.
For Verbal, I made the same number of mistakes as the 1st take (ended up at 84), so clearly it still remained my weakness. I changed answers 3 times, and 2 out of 3 from incorrect to incorrect, so you know how clueless I was 😂
I found DI harder than GMAC Exam 6. Felt like I got 1-2 experimenting questions. By the end, I didn't stick to my time management rule. After Q20, I only had 1 min left. My mind just blanked, and I stared at the screen until time was out, accepting my fate. Lucky I only got 4 wrong and ended up at 86.
The end
Getting 735 after 6 months was way beyond my expectations. I'm very grateful for all the teachers I "met" through gmatclub and courses I took. This journey really made me a better and more independent thinker. I'm also relieved I switched my path to b-schools. Such a life-changing decision.
I wish everyone all the best with GMAT/GRE and applications. You can do it, just keep going and believe in yourself!!!
I hope that my story could help someone on this amazing forum, just like how countless discussions here supported me throughout my 2025 test-taking and application journey. NOTE: Skip to the Better preparation for 2nd take to see resources I found useful for my prep. Apologize beforehand if my long story bores anyone 😂 (I get emotional)
How it all started
Back in 2023, I originally wanted to pursue a PhD, hence the GRE. I didn't realize back then, but I really struggled throughout the whole 6-month prep. While GRE Quant was quite enjoyable (as Quant has always been my strength), GRE Verbal was a thorn in my flesh. As a non-native who hated vocabulary memorization, I found myself lost and demotivated amidst a gigantic list of exotic words. 2 months before the test, I knew my result would not be great and lost confidence in my PhD app. Deciding to take a job instead and buy myself 1 more year to improve my profile, I felt less pressured when the test came. Even though 327 was not as bad as I thought, as an international PhD applicant, I knew I still needed to score better. But thinking about the exhausting vocab learning kept me procrastinating the GRE re-learning, and so I got carried away with my job.
And then the time came
In 2025, I finally felt ready to write my PhD app and do whatever was needed to finally pursue my dream, including the GRE retake. But a work-related issue emerged out of nowhere, which made me rethink everything. Lucky for me, this time, I got a great counsellor who pointed out how this PhD path actually suffocated me and suggested I consider business schools instead. The first thing I tried was to take a mock GMAT to see if I had any chance with the b-school app. I still remember my feeling that night, taking the GMAC Free Exam 1 without any prior understanding of what the GMAT was. It felt so exciting, and the problems intrigued me rather than burning me out. The 635 score was also a confidence boost, and so I made up my mind to completely switch to b-school app.
But the GMAT journey was harder than I expected. My original plan was to apply R1 and finish soon, and clearly, I didn't give myself enough time with GMAT. I started out not too focused, just taking a couple of lessons and doing about 40-60 problems per week via a local course. Then July came, I put off the whole app process to spend 100% effort on GMAT. I literally crammed 2 weeks before my first take in August, doing ~300 OG questions per day.
Not surprisingly, the result was not as good as I wanted.
I got 645, just 10 more than my Exam 1 without any prep.
Self-analysis of What went wrong
My biggest mistake was to delay doing mocks until the last 4 days. This led to 3 main issues:
1. Not enough time to make full use of all resources:
I purchased the full GMAC Exam 3-6 and Experts' Global (EG) mock test package, only to finish just Exam 3 and 2-3 EG
2. Not aware of my actual performance under pressure:
Doing practice on a normal morning was totally different from sitting for the whole 135-minute 3-part test. Before the mocks, I didn't even know that my brain would freeze when doing Quant right after DI (it literally stopped calculating near the end of the Quant part). I didn't know that I would run out of time while having 2-3 verbal questions left.
3. Not enough time to fully build a test-taking strategy:
I learned about my performance and time-management issues too late, and so could only test my strategy for about 3 mocks. On the actual test day, my under-preparation was clear:
- I did not keep good track of time in DI, 2 questions taking > 5 mins and thus 4 last questions having to random
- For verbal, on my 3rd RC passage, my brain just stopped trying to understand the passage
To make things worse, many crazy things happened on that day as well. An unusual storm hitting my city. Traffic jam made me turn up just 10 minutes early. I got 2 MSRs for DI, 1 MSR even came with a complex flow chart @@
Better preparation for 2nd take
I had to delay my app to R2 and retake GMAT. This time, I focused on 4 goals:
1. Improve my Verbal foundation
2. Make 0 mistake in Quant and max 5 mistakes in DI
3. Build a rigorous test-taking strategy (section order and time management). Make it my second nature
4. Take mocks earlier in the process
For Verbal foundation:
I signed up for TTP1-month plan. Worth every penny. I got a clear map of different types of Verbal questions and how Assumption built foundation for all subsequent types, learned correct and incorrect types of answers (so mind-blowing), and efficiently reviewed questions from an easy-to-use error log.
For Quant and DI improvement:
I focused on 655+ GMAT Prep (Focus) and Gmatclub challenge questions. I also did high-level RC passages on gmatclub, including LSAT and Ron Purewal's.
For test-taking strategy:
I came up with one that suited my nature the most:
1. Do my strongest section first, and No Quant-DI together. My final sequence: Quant - Verbal - (break) - DI
2. Come up with a time-tracking rule for each section, inspired by The Quarter method from Manhattan Prep:
- Quant: Q7 clock (ie time left) must ≥ 31 min, Q14 - 17 min
- Verbal: Q8 - 31 min, Q16 - 14 min, Q23 - 5 min
- DI: Q5 - 36 min, Q10 - 26 min, Q15 - 15 min, Q20 - 5 min (this makes sure I finish the section before time's up)
When taking mocks and the actual test, I write these time rules in the right corner of my sheets to follow.
For anyone who wants to try this time-tracking method, I highly recommend experimenting to come up with your own timing. It will be easier to remember and apply.
And I DON'T recommend this method if you are not good at memorizing rules or don't have much time to form new time-tracking habits.
3. Keep an anxiety-reducing routine 2 weeks prior to the test, inspired by GMAT Ninja's video:
- No social media exposure (very extreme): I used the Nuclear option in the StayFocusd extension to block all social media
- Work out every day, after test prep and before dinner
- Go to sleep early (11PM) and wake up early (5AM)
For mock schedule:
I took mocks every 2 weeks from Oct to Dec. In the last 1 week before the actual test, I stopped doing practice questions and only re-did mocks + reviewed past mocks + questions
A better test experience
I came 30 minutes earlier on test day. After checking in, I had waiting time before the test, and so I walked around and did breathing exercise to calm my nerves.
Quant was quite my level on that day. I only had trouble with 1 question. Couldn't find the most efficient method, so I just calculated the whole sequence out to approximate the result. Lucky I got it correct and ended up at 90.
For Verbal, I made the same number of mistakes as the 1st take (ended up at 84), so clearly it still remained my weakness. I changed answers 3 times, and 2 out of 3 from incorrect to incorrect, so you know how clueless I was 😂
I found DI harder than GMAC Exam 6. Felt like I got 1-2 experimenting questions. By the end, I didn't stick to my time management rule. After Q20, I only had 1 min left. My mind just blanked, and I stared at the screen until time was out, accepting my fate. Lucky I only got 4 wrong and ended up at 86.
The end
Getting 735 after 6 months was way beyond my expectations. I'm very grateful for all the teachers I "met" through gmatclub and courses I took. This journey really made me a better and more independent thinker. I'm also relieved I switched my path to b-schools. Such a life-changing decision.
I wish everyone all the best with GMAT/GRE and applications. You can do it, just keep going and believe in yourself!!!
30 Jan 2026, 13:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
Nice job following your own advice, "You can do it, just keep going and believe in yourself!!!"
Congrats.
Congrats.
StanleyVu
Joined: 10 Jun 2025
Last visit: 17 Mar 2026
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Location: Viet Nam
Schools: Simon '26 (A$$$$) ESSEC (A) Duke '26 (I) UNC '26 (I) McCombs '26 (I) Mendoza'26 (I) Sloan (MIT) (I)
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V84 DI86
GRE 1: Q169 V158
GPA: 3.91
Schools: Simon '26 (A$$$$) ESSEC (A) Duke '26 (I) UNC '26 (I) McCombs '26 (I) Mendoza'26 (I) Sloan (MIT) (I)
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V84 DI86
GRE 1: Q169 V158
Posts: 36
Kudos:
15
30 Jan 2026, 22:41
Kudos
Bookmarks
MartyMurray
Thank you, sir! I learnt a ton from your CR and RC videos 😊
