To briefly introduce myself, I am not a native English speaker. I have an undergrad. degree in Engineering from the US. I took the test last Saturday and scored 700 92% (Q 49 - 89% , V 36 - 80 %). I took the GMATprep the first time in my GMAT preparation trip and scored 490. By then I realized I needed alot of preparation to get to 700 or so. I registered for Kaplan's course and spent $1,500. Here is what I think of Kapan's course: it is good only for beginers and those looking for up to 550 - 600. Kaplan classes are more heavily focused on test strategies and guessing tricks than the underlying knowledge and skills needed to score high on the GMAT. My 2 cents ? almost all that you can learn from Kaplan's class in two months can be easily obtained from a Kaplan book or the MGMAT series in two weeks time for ALOT less cost. One major negative side of Kaplan is that they never mention the Official Guide for the GMAT by mba.com. As the kaplan course ended I took the real GMAT and scored 600 (Q 48, V 25). I knew I needed much improvement in Verbal. Early in 2007 I discovered the GMATclub. I learned alot from this forum and I figured out the existence of the OG. I am not trying to be nice or something, but I really want to thank GMATClub for taking me to the 7xx club. I couldn't have done it without the help of all active members of GMATClub at the math and verbal forums. Many posts of old members back in 2005 and 2006 were extremely helpful as well. I spent a great deal of my time surfing the GMATclub forum. I am not going to waste your time with my test day story and my practice scores .. etc. I will start directly with my test prep strategies, hints, and advices. I can summarize my conclusion in ten big HINTS : Hint 1: The GMAT is getting harder and harder. The GMAT a year ago was alot easier, both quant and verbal sections. Hint 2: The Official Guide 11 is a MUST have/do. If you take the GMAT test without doing every single problem in the OG 11, then you're wasting your time and money unless you are really good and already in the 700 level. If you take the GMAT before doing all problems in the OG and taking the GMAT prep 2 tests, then it is entirely your fault and lack of hard work and strong preparation. Hint 3: Take the GMAT Prep tests each once to examine your level and approximate score. Then, retake the GMAT Prep as many times as you can to get new questions for practice in verbal and math, mainly untill you get almost all questions available in the pool. These questions are very good practice materials and reflect the type of questions you would see on the test. Bare in mind that the GMAT Prep is NOW easier than the actual GMAT test. The hardest questions you'll get on GMAT prep math are not as hard as the upper bin ones you'd see on the real test. Hint 4: Don't do the big and most common mistake of the following: I love math, I'm good in math and I have a technical degree (engineer, CS, math .. etc). My English is fluent and I read newspapers in english .. well, at the end I did my degree in an english speaking institute. I can do reading. I know how to write correct english. As long as I'm good in Math I will score good in GMAT. You take the GMAT and boom 560 (Q 48-50, V 15-25). What ?!! This is unfair.. oh I need help ! Hint 5: the GMAT is not an easy test. It is a big challenge for most people. Less than 10% of test takers score higher than 690 on the GMAT. If you want your 720, you must pay alot of time, great amount of effort, and some money . GMAT is not fun by any means. getting an MBA from a top school is worth the effort you put into preparing for the GMAT. Hint 6: You have a free amazing tool for the GMAT. Whether you utilize it or not, it is your problem. If you don't believe me, at least I did my part and gave you the advice. USE GMATCLUB !!!! Be an active member. answer problems, involve in discussion of hard SC questions. Help others and get help. Instead of paying $1000 on GMAT books from every single available test prep company, use the free posts on the GMATclub. It should take months before you can say that you fully utilized and took advantage of the GMATclub. Read posts from even 2004. tons of 7xx scorers have posted their experience in here. Hint 7: If you're shooting for 48+ on the math/quant part of the GMAT, GET THE CHALLENGES (now GMAtclub tests) ( https://www.gmatclub.com/wiki/tests ). Those tests are really amazing and teach you alot of advanced concepts. Previously, they used to be much harder than what you may see on the GMAT. Nowdays, many questions from the challenges reflect the hard big questions on the real GMAT . So these challenges are worth more now than before. Hint 8: To score high on the GMAT you need three things. You can not score high unless you have mastered these three: 1. Knowledge: SC structure and grammer, MATH forumals and concepts, Vocabulary for GMAT in RC and CR .. etc 2. Skills: Process of Elimination, reading skills, logical reasoning, ability to extract information data from a math questions, data sufficiency skills .. etc 3. Strategy: time management, educated guessing, skipping hard and time consuming questions, stamina strategy .. etc Example: By strategy and skills only you can never do very well in RC unless you know good vocabulary to understand the passages. The same thing applies if you don't know the main arithmatic equations. Example: If you master the knowledge and concepts behind the GMAT and have the sufficient skills, you can never do really well if you don't manage your pace throughout the test and end up not finishing the section. Hint 9: Practice .. Practice .. Practice .. Practice .. Practice .. Practice .. No score is out of your league. Once you get the knowledge, skills, and strategy, you can keep practicing untill you reach 800 if you want. Hint 10: I have compiled a list of top qoutes and advices by many top scorers GMATclub members. It is the "Golden Qoutes by GMAT Clubbers !" https://gmatclub.com/forum/1-t43532 What I used to prepare and that I would recommend : o GMATclub challenges (5 of them only) - https://gmatclub.com/wiki/tests o Manhattan Sentence Correction book and Manhattan number properties book (Both are a must) o Official Guide 11th edition and Official Guide Verbal and Official Guide Quantitative Reviews o Spidey notes for SC - https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/p572956#p572956 o GMAT Club forums o Kaplan book (for basic concepts and introductory strategies to left me from 490 to 600). o GMAT prep tests o Peterson AWA book (worth it) I may retake the test to score higher because I know I can get any score I want. If you have any questions, please feel free to post here or PM me . I will be around in the GMAT club for a long while as I will start preparing my MBA applications (Columbia Jan 09 intake and INSEAD ). This Debrief is a part of the Best GMAT Stories - Period collection.

Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 17:25

It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 17:25

Toolkit

Share GMAT Experience

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Nov 20
UCR MBA Impact - Live Q&A with UCR AdCom & Student
07:30 AM PST
-
08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
Nov 22
GMAT RC Masterclass
11:00 AM IST
-
01:00 PM IST
Do RC/MSR passages scare you? e-GMAT is conducting a masterclass to help you learn – Learn effective reading strategies Tackle difficult RC & MSR with confidence Excel in timed test environment
Nov 23
Conquer Algebra on the GMAT Focus Edition
11:00 AM IST
-
01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease.
Nov 25
Try OnDemand GMAT Masterclass
10:00 AM EST
-
11:00 AM EST
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors.

Back to Forum

Create Topic

My GMAT Journey: from 490 to 700 ! (Q49, V36)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

ekinwang

Joined: 28 Dec 2004

Last visit: 07 Mar 2022

Posts: 20

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Location: NYC

Concentration: Finance / International Business

Schools:Stern | Tepper | IESE | CEIBS | Anywhere that takes me!

Posts: 20

Kudos: 4

29 Mar 2010, 21:04

Kudos

Bookmarks

congratulations! this gives the rest of us (well, me) hope!

nonameee

Joined: 23 Apr 2010

Last visit: 30 Sep 2013

Posts: 475

Own Kudos:

392

Given Kudos: 7

Posts: 475

Kudos: 392

15 May 2010, 06:29

Kudos

Bookmarks

Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Posted from my mobile device

serhio

Joined: 04 Feb 2009

Last visit: 09 Jun 2011

Posts: 154

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 20

Location: Ukraine

Concentration: Strategy

Schools:Ross 2013

GPA: 3.85

WE 1: Pharmaceutical industry 5 years, C level

Posts: 154

Kudos: 58

17 May 2010, 07:29

Kudos

Bookmarks

cingratulations

cjanoam

Joined: 22 May 2010

Last visit: 13 Mar 2011

Posts: 26

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Posts: 26

Kudos: 2

23 May 2010, 01:24

Kudos

Bookmarks

cjanoam

Joined: 22 May 2010

Last visit: 13 Mar 2011

Posts: 26

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 1

Posts: 26

Kudos: 2

[1]

23 May 2010, 01:34

Kudos

Bookmarks

[rating1]Hi everybody.Since i have been working (for 20 years in fact) I did not have the luxury of a long prep time for GMAT. I took one month's leave. I studied entirely from the OG and Quantitative Review and studied exclusively from these two. Initial brushing up of basic skills was from GMAT for Dummies especially since I had studied math a long time back. I also purchased the previous years papers from the GMAT site.These papers are worth it. In the twenty two days that I could study, I used to revise OG in the forenoon and give tests in the afternoon session. The questions that I got wrong in the OG I used to mark for further revision. That strategy is useful if you are hard pressed for time, like I was. I got a decent score, 710 and 6 for AWA.Am applying for INSEAD, ISB, SAID,Queens, Ivey and Judge

Cheers[/rating1]

maivietdung2002

Joined: 15 May 2010

Last visit: 13 Jan 2014

Posts: 9

Concentration: International Business

Schools:ESADE, THUNDERBIRD, EMLYON, IVEY, SMURFIT

GPA: 4.45

WE 1: ESADE

Posts: 9

Kudos: 0

23 May 2010, 04:06

Kudos

Bookmarks

meetbhagz

Hi i wanted to know that how do you approach to DS problems and the verbal section.....What should i initailly do....i have no idea.....i gave GMAT today my score was 360....I knoe its worst well but inspite of solving all the DS problems and all the verbal sections from OG I am still unable to knoe the fact that what is the thing that I am missing....i really want guidance on what should be my approach .....I have Princeton Review and OG....I would be great if you can help me out on this...

No offense, but 360 is quite low and you should try very hard. :D
English is my 3rd language and I managed to get 650 in the 2nd attempt. I studied it myself. I dont want to pay to any schools for my GMAT preparation. With $1500 USD I can take GMAT 6 times. :D hehe.

I believe with lots of practice you can do much better than me. One of my friend who is also not a native speaker got 700+ without going to any GMAT preparation.

I think OG is great for practice because its exercises are quite similar to the real exam but not so good on theory.

cjanoam

Joined: 22 May 2010

Last visit: 13 Mar 2011

Posts: 26

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Posts: 26

Kudos: 2

23 May 2010, 17:24

Kudos

Bookmarks

I think if the verbal part is a problem, and if you have time, and the MGMAT, Kaplan etc have not helped, have a look at the original grammar book which all of us were supposed to study in school. I am referring to Wren and Martin, of course. It really clears some fundas. There are also a lot of online exams available.

fogpanther

Joined: 08 Sep 2009

Last visit: 02 Sep 2011

Posts: 2

Given Kudos: 5

Posts: 2

Kudos: 0

24 May 2010, 09:35

Kudos

Bookmarks

Thank you for your suggestions, I will definitely take a few of your tips into account when working up my studying plans!

Very helpful!

hcb

Joined: 19 May 2010

Last visit: 01 Sep 2010

Posts: 53

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Posts: 53

Kudos: 2

27 May 2010, 09:55

Kudos

Bookmarks

That is really inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story.

anandbha

Joined: 22 Apr 2010

Last visit: 12 Aug 2013

Posts: 8

Own Kudos:

Concentration: Technology Marketing

Schools:UCLA, USC, INSEAD, NYU

Posts: 8

Kudos: 1

01 Jun 2010, 15:37

Kudos

Bookmarks

Congrats.....Inspiring.

phoenixrulzz

Joined: 02 Jan 2010

Last visit: 31 Dec 2011

Posts: 91

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 3

Posts: 91

Kudos: 6

03 Jun 2010, 00:38

Kudos

Bookmarks

i scored exactly 490 in my gmat prep test, hoping i can get above 700 just like you!!!!

gmatbull

Joined: 21 Dec 2009

Last visit: 04 Feb 2018

Posts: 334

Own Kudos:

2,673

Given Kudos: 20

Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Finance

Posts: 334

Kudos: 2,673

12 Jun 2010, 01:54

Kudos

Bookmarks

This post is a great motivation to many; from 490 to 700- that isn't a joke.

Wolf

Joined: 18 May 2010

Last visit: 29 Jun 2010

Posts: 163

Own Kudos:

Posts: 163

Kudos: 26

12 Jun 2010, 07:09

Kudos

Bookmarks

great tips! i want to score in 700s too

EggWhitesOnly

Joined: 19 Nov 2009

Last visit: 15 Jul 2014

Posts: 56

Own Kudos:

Location: Northern CA

Concentration: General Management, International Business, Strategy

Schools:HEC Paris

Posts: 56

Kudos: 4

19 Jun 2010, 08:43

Kudos

Bookmarks

Wow, very impressive!

dokiyoki

Joined: 17 Aug 2009

Last visit: 11 Mar 2013

Posts: 184

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 18

Posts: 184

Kudos: 22

27 Jun 2010, 22:01

Kudos

Bookmarks

Its been a while since this debrief was first posted by you, but its never too late to congratulate you. I am sure you must be doing equally good in your B school.

Couldn’t emphasize more on "Using GMAT CLUB". Invaluable resource !

gmatbull

Joined: 21 Dec 2009

Last visit: 04 Feb 2018

Posts: 334

Own Kudos:

2,673

Given Kudos: 20

Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Finance

Posts: 334

Kudos: 2,673

28 Jun 2010, 16:10

Kudos

Bookmarks

I hope to score within the 700+ range too. However, verbal -the achilles heel - has not been
very responsive to my efforts. Nonetheless, I hope to conquer.

YourDreamTheater

Joined: 22 Oct 2009

Last visit: 08 Sep 2012

Posts: 223

Own Kudos:

216

Given Kudos: 1

GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V44 Verified score

GPA: 3.88

GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V44 Verified score

Posts: 223

Kudos: 216

05 Jul 2010, 11:19

Kudos

Bookmarks

Although I am an native English-speaker, I have so much respect for people to tackle this exam having not grown up in an English area. Congrats!

tt11234

Joined: 21 Feb 2010

Last visit: 30 Oct 2011

Posts: 148

Own Kudos:

102

Given Kudos: 1

GPA: 3.8

Posts: 148

Kudos: 102

05 Jul 2010, 11:31

Kudos

Bookmarks

congratz!! very encouraging!!

cchilakapati

Joined: 23 Mar 2010

Last visit: 10 Feb 2015

Posts: 34

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 2

Posts: 34

Kudos: 7

07 Jul 2010, 03:45

Kudos

Bookmarks

hi my princeton review free online test score is 570(q44- v27) (quant questions 30/37 correct , 3 wrong in geometry, 1 probability and 3 in data sufficiency and in verbal 27 correct and 14 wrong as follows :Reading comprehension 8 correct - 6 wrong; sentence correction 9 correct - 6 wrong and critical reasoning 10 correct and 2 wrong ) . i have started preparation, i am weak in verbal especially grammar and RC, i think i am ok in critical reasoning) . I am looking for 710+ score , iam putting around 20 hours a week. can any one suggest me two things :

1.Is 710 acheivable for me.
2.If 1 above is yes, what is the time frame of acheiving 710.

cchilakapati

Joined: 23 Mar 2010

Last visit: 10 Feb 2015

Posts: 34

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 2

Posts: 34

Kudos: 7

08 Jul 2010, 02:18

Kudos

Bookmarks

please so one assess my situation and reply.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Moderator:

Founder

42387 posts

Prep Toolkit

Announcements

Combinatorics Explained Step-by-Step (in 20 Mins)

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for New Videos on GMAT Strategies

Master in Management, Finance, Business Analytics and more Master’s Programs!

Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with ARINGO

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
09:00 am PDT | 10:30 pm IST
Location: GMAT Club Chat

Top GMAT Focus Debriefs

	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Manhattan Prep: $79 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $325 $200 Discount + $79 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

My GMAT Journey: from 490 to 700 ! (Q49, V36)

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards