Journey of GMAT from 710 to 750 in just 10 days - Suspense TV show?

Question

I have been on the GMAT journey for more than 11 years now. In these 11 years, I took the GMAT multiple times, and my best score was 710.

I was happy with that score and did a few things with that score, such as MBA, MS, and whatnot. I did complete those things (MBA etc.) with a happy ending. However, now my situation dictates that I want to apply for a Ph.D. program this season.

I have been reading/following all your threads and posts on this platform since I started my GMAT journey 11 years ago. However, this is the first time I am sharing my thoughts with you via this post.

Yes, one would say 710 is not too bad a score to break into a Ph.D. admissions process. However, that 710 score of mine has expired. Thus, after ten days of writing this post, I will again take the GMAT.

Yes, this is a "Share GMAT Experience" sub-forum, and I will do exactly that. However, I will do that in a different manner.

Most posts about sharing GMAT experience on this sub-forum are like a "movie." In one or more posts, he/she/they would share their experience of increasing/decreasing their GMAT score or an account of the first time GMAT experience.

However, I am going to share my GMAT experience in a format of a "TV series," and this is the "first episode."

.....

Moreover, there is one more difference in how I will share my GMAT journey with you - that is, I will share my journey with you beforehand. Thus, for both "you and I" this will be like a "suspense TV series."

Yes, I would love to get 710 again or at least cross the 700+ barrier.

Yes, my dream score is 750.

If I fall down, I would like to stop at something like 680.

If I get anything below 700, then I'll be disappointed. If I get anything below 680, it might make things difficult for me for my Ph.D. applications.

However, as of writing this "first episode," I have no idea what will happen.

...

Now, without further due, I will start the first episode, where-in I will share what I have been doing till now and at what point I am in my preparation.

In a few episodes, I will also share my previous GMAT experience in increasing my GMAT score from 680 to 710 in about two weeks. I will do so to make this sharing thing of mine not purely hypothetical (as in, I want to get a 750 score in 10 days!)

I am doing this because irrespective of what score I get on my GMAT, I wanted to share my experience (either increasing my score from 710 or dropping my score), but I wanted to try a new way of sharing my GMAT experience.

....

Episode 1 - Official Mock Test 1 - 690 score achieved

.....

I took my Official Mock test 1 to kick start my preparation, and I got 690 (Q47, V37) on that test.

Verbal

SC - got 9 correct out of 14 - 64.29% accuracy
RC - got 10 correct out of 13 - 76.93% accuracy
CR - got 5 correct out of 9 - 55.56% accuracy

Thus, CR seems to be a problem for me in the above test. However, in the past, in my GMAT attempts, I was okay with CR (more than 60% accuracy), but I had issues with SC (around 50% accuracy).

Thus, I am optimistic about CR, but at the same time, I am worried about SC.

...

What I did

SC - I read the GMAT SC Bible book by Powerscore

RC - Nothing much. I didn't solve any RC questions till now. However, I am a faculty (teacher) for either Manhattan, Kaplan, or Princeton Review (I can't tell you which one exactly because I'd like to belong to the faction that likes to mask their identities as much as possible on this platform). (I can understand that there is another faction who likes to may be making their identity known on this platform, but I'd like to belong to the other faction of non-identity disclosures). Anyway, this faculty (teacher) thing may be helped my cause for RC in the above test. However, I will now start practicing Verbal from my OG books.

CR - Nothing much. I think the faculty thing helped a bit in RC, but CR being a different beast in the GMAT, I won't cross the CR barrier until I start practicing. Thus, practicing CR. RC, and SC is the next step.

Quant - I had read all concepts of Math before taking the first mock test
...

What I will do further

For all Verbal - as explained above, I will start practicing from my OG books. I read on this platform several times that I should only use OG material for the Verbal section. I can practice Quant from other vendors, but for the Verbal, I should stick to the OG books and online resources. Thus, I am going to do the same.

However, I will extensively use other vendors' books for strategies, tips, and concepts for the Verbal section.

CR - I am going to read Powerscore CR Bible

SC - I am going to read Powerscore SC Bible and the Manhattan SC Guide

RC - I am going to read Manhattan RC Guide

Quant

Revise all concepts I had read before taking the first Official mock test.

Start practicing Quant from the OG and other resources.

...

My next step will be to take the second official mock test. I might take it soon, and then I would like to have a bit more gap between the first two official mocks and the last four official mocks.

I only have ten days left, so it might be a situation like taking official mocks alternatively soon.

...

I hope to reach the 750 score barrier, but the suspense will be unveiled later in the season.

...

If you have any suggestions for me after reading the above post, I'd be happy to hear them.

I have one question for you all,

Q - Should I preserve one of the six official mock tests for a worst-case scenario where-in I might need to retake the GMAT? Or should I go all-in, be confident, and take all six official mock tests before the actual GMAT, which is ten days from now?

...

The End

...

Looking forward so sharing "episode 2" with you soon.

One of the later episodes will have a full debrief of my experience at the testing center where I will take my GMAT.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Averdoc.

Your plan sounds pretty good overall.

Much of what you need to do over the next 10 days is to practice effectively. So, I think you'll find the following post on how to practice for the GMAT helpful.

The Best GMAT Practice Methods

Also, since you need to work on verbal in particular, I'll share the following post as well.

Three Key Practice Tips for Mastering GMAT Verbal

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

All the best with your prep journey. A good sign that a person will hit their target score is two consecutive Official Mocks that do so.  For Sentence Correction, here's an idiom list  you may find helpful.

Q - Should I preserve one of the six official mock tests for a worst-case scenario where-in I might need to retake the GMAT? Or should I go all-in, be confident, and take all six official mock tests before the actual GMAT, which is ten days from now?

Since you have multiple Official Mocks remaining, it may not be a bad idea to save 1 or 2 just in case.

TheUltimateWinner · Answer

it's very hard to change huge difference within this short period of time. The best thing is just practice, practice, and practice (for quant both official and unofficial; and for verbal  only  official material). You can also watch categorized base video from the link that i keep as my 'signature'. Wish you best of luck.

bb · Answer

Nice topic title! 😎👍

I don’t think you need to take the remaining of the six official tests in the next 10 days or a week. I know I will sound like an old man that I am, but there was a time when you only had two official tests and people still managed to get decent scores.… keep in mind, that every time you take a test, you probably rob yourself of about five hours of study time. Think about what has a better ROI, studying, and brushing up some weaknesses or repeating tests.

Posted from my mobile device

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Averdoc,

I agree that trying to take 6 practice exams in just 10 days would be too much. Perhaps shoot for just two, so you can stay fresh for your exam.

Averdoc · Answer

Episode 2 - The quiet before the storm!

My GMAT was a nightmare. I am became sick before and after the test. I had to go to a different city because I was not getting any slots. I scored around 660, so I cancelled my score. I read somewhere that I can reinstate this score later if needed. Also, I recently took GRE, and I got 320+ in that. Thus, I'd better use that.

Also, I am retaking GRE soon to improve on my current scores!

All your suggestions were very helpful, and I listened to you all. I think given the situation 660 was not so bad (at least for me). However, I will have to work harder for my next steps.

Thanks all again, and I will hope to have a positive ending on this particular series, and I wish that I can write an "episode 3" that is more positive.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Do you think you'd score higher on the GMAT if you don't get sick, or were you sick in connection with the GMAT?

Meanwhile, your GRE score is pretty solid, and if you can push it up a little more even, you should be set.

egmat · Answer

Hi Averdoc,

Very interesting documentation of your journey!

Should you feel the need to take the GMAT again to improve upon your score, you can check out our free trial course by  clicking here .

All the best for your GRE retake. Looking forward to Episode 3!

-Vaibhav

Averdoc · Answer

Thank you for your kind words about the GRE score. Yes, I do hope to push a bit more if possible. That'd be helpful. About the GMAT score, I was not that sick before and during taking the GMAT exam. I became mainly sick after the exam. It was related to the food I had after the exam, so I do not think that whatever happened during the GMAT influenced my getting sick. However, I had taken an official GMAT mock test in exact replicating circumstances because I read so many articles here about taking care not to push up the official mock scores. I got 710 in that official mock test - Q49 and V37, which was the same score as when I took the actual GMAT 6 years back. Everything the same! In the actual GMAT, six years back, I received a score of 710 - Q49 and V37. This time, I did get V38 in verbal, which was the highest I have scored in my multiple GMAT attempts of actual GMAT and official GMAT mock exams. However, I got Q44 in Quant, the lowest I have scored in any actual GMAT or official GMAT mock tests. Thus, I was a bit surprised! I think I was stumped because of the GMAT algorithm - the adaptive thingy. May be I was not that efficient with time management during this GMAT attempt. That's why I chose to go with GRE. When I get back my mojo to take on the battle with the GMAT algorithm, then I will take it sometime later in my life!

Averdoc · Answer

Thank you, Vaibhav for your wishes and kind words!

I am on a hiatus with respect to the GMAT. I have decided to go for the GRE for this application cycle.

Thank you for the link for your free trial course, though. I did try to find you for GRE prep. I tried a few keywords like egre.com and some more, but I wasn't able to find them.

I have heard great things about your GMAT course. In fact, I think at one time, as I felt optimistic about your product, I had applied for a sales or BD type of job at eGMAT. I even made it to the second round or something, but then all this application thingy came, and I lost touch. Life is full of surprises, in a way life is indeed like a box of chocolates, we never know what we are going to get!

Anyway, I will head back to my GRE prep. The GRE is scheduled for the very start of January. I hope for the best!

Anyway, I will head back to my GRE prep. The GRE is scheduled for the very start of January. I hope for the best!

selberenova · Answer

I got late reading this thread, but this episode/tv show stuff got me hooked! Sad to know GMAT didn't work out the way you wanted it to, but I hope you make the best out of your GRE exam! Best of luck, hope you score well

egmat · Answer

Hi  Averdoc

Thank you for your kind words for the course. It’s very interesting to know that you had earlier applied for a job with e-GMAT; we might have worked together at some point. 😊

About GRE - yes, as of now, we are solely focusing on GMAT. We haven’t yet ventured into GRE, but you never know what the future holds!

Wish you the very best in your exam ahead!

-Vaibhav

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Yes, it's possible that, with better time management, you would have scored significantly higher in quant. In that case, with your strong verbal score, you would have beaten your personal best.

Anyway, on with the game.

stm579 · Answer

Yeah 10 days is not enough time to improve gmat skill. If you still want to give yourself a decent shot of 750, then I would save all the mocks you have left, and do a bit of practice every day for a couple months (Manhattan, Powerscore, OG questions)

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