Just got back home after my GMAT and am happy to report I managed a 770 . I am satisfied with my score and believe it is an accurate representation of my ability. FIRST THINGS FIRST - If there's one thing I've learned (and let me put this up in bold to make sure you see it...) What works for X MAY NOT work for Y! Another important thing, which is absolutely essential to my philosophy of the bigger picture... Your GMAT score is irrelevant to who you really are, which is pure, innocent, intent-less Awareness. (Obviously the second disclaimer is slightly out of scope here, but if you're interested we can talk about that too ) With the formalities out of the way, let's kick some GMAT butt. Things you SHOULD do: 1. Study from RELIABLE sources. There is no such thing as the ONLY reliable source for the GMAT. All the different materials available have their distinguishing virtues, so don't jump to the conclusion that you absolutely must worship the OG or that the MGMAT SC guide is indispensable. People are quick to attribute cause-effect relationships (similar to those CR passages in the GMAT) once they are done with the GMAT. In retrospect, it is easy to say that I did well because of a particular book, but this is not true. I believe a good, wholesome preparation strategy involves a lot of different kinds of material that contribute to a holistic and varied armory of question-approaches. I, for example, did only about 150 questions from the OG and used the MGMAT SC guide only for certain concepts I was weak at. In short, build your approach arsenal using a variety of quality sources. 2. Practice. A lot. Obvious thing is obvious - but there's no substitute for good old fashioned practice. Here's how my preparation went: Time-frame : 2 months (took a break from work since I needed to move to a new city as well) Sources: Grockit, Knewton course, BTG resources, GMATClub resources, OG, MGMAT SC guide, and other miscellaneous stuff I found in various member posts. Strategy: Month 1 - Practiced about 1500 questions in Grockit. The timed environment from the get-go really honed my speed. Interaction with other GMAT-takers was an added boon. Some of the discussions really helped improve my approaches. You need more than one approach for every problem so that you will never be completely stumped at a question. Did OG Diagnostic + GMATPrep1, and all the free CATs available. Month 2 - Focused on content that I was weak in conceptually. Completed the Knewton course - this is an excellent online course that is perfectly structured and it helps you ensure you haven't missed a question-type or are unaware of a concept. Did Knewton CATS 2-5 and MGMAT CATS 2-6. As you can see I attempted quite a few mock exams, and I stand by the fact that getting used to the time-constraints and improving your stamina is vital. - Other than this I did about half of Kaplan 800 - you can do the whole book in 2 days if you care to. Good exposure to some tough questions. - Got through the free MGMAT tutorials available online. They will give you some excellent takeaways. I also went through their free flashcards - really useful. - Watched the "Thursday's with Ron" BTG Archive. Ron Purewal is this brilliant man whose explanations I've found extremely useful. They really created a paradigm shift in the way I approached questions. - I also used https://www.platinumgmat.com/ ... some excellent questions available for free in the tough section, and they have a brief overview of several math and verbal concepts that you can get through quickly as a revision. - Brushed up on Grammar basics with some free online resources. Something that I did a lot of was answer questions on the forum. Members usually post questions they found challenging, so you are bound to come across stuff you yourself can't get your head around. When you set out to explain an answer to someone, you find your own reasoning getting polished. This was especially helpful in Critical Reasoning questions. I really recommend talking to other GMAT-aspirants and sharing strengths and weaknesses. Speak to people who share a common goal with you. NOTE: My Practice scores ranged from 730 to 780, averaging about 760. Things you SHOULDN'T do: 1. Unauthentic or non-GMAT material Do not waste your time with unreliable questions. If you are attempting a question, make sure you have an authentic explanation and a source for it. Do not do Olympiad or local entrance-exam questions - this heavily takes away from the simple, straight-forward thinking you will need to perform on the GMAT. 2. Buy too many books or spend too much time plan ning While I do advocate a varied strategy, don't buy every book in the store. Start with the stuff that has good reviews, and make use of the great free resources available on websites like this one. It is important to have a study plan, but don't waste your time asking every person you encounter for advice. Be open to suggestions, and listen carefully when wisdom speaks, but that doesn't mean you transform yourself into a human dustbin for everyone's "pearls". ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All in all, read up on the exam, be informed of its nuances, develop a strategy and then get down to business. Practice as much as you can and make sure you understand every question you ever attempt - you should try not to get the same question wrong twice. Maintain error logs if you can, or if you are as lazy as I am, at least make a mental map of concepts you need to work on. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TEST-DAY tips: 1. Do whatever it takes to avoid getting too nervous. 2. You don't need Red Bull, chocolates, Gatorade, Tylenol and all the other stuff people recommend. I had a nice lunch before my 4pm appointment, and spent my breaks stretching, relieving myself, splashing some water on my face and sipping some water. Don't do anything new. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do let me know if I can help any of you with your preparation. I will continue to be active on the forum and look forward to interacting with you guys! Peace!

Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 19:13

It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 19:13

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

[770 Q51 V44] Thank you GMATClub!

1 2 3

dolly12

Joined: 12 Aug 2009

Last visit: 12 Nov 2012

Posts: 50

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 2

Products:

Posts: 50

Kudos: 18

16 Jul 2010, 19:26

Kudos

Bookmarks

Abhay - Grockit is nice site to get some quick practice. Did you take $70 package or tried the free one?

I was not sure if there are additional features/probelms you can get through paid membership. Please advise.

- Dolly

AbhayPrasanna

Joined: 04 May 2010

Last visit: 05 Jan 2025

Posts: 61

Own Kudos:

354

Given Kudos: 7

GPA: 3.8

WE 1: 2 yrs - Oilfield Service

Products:

Posts: 61

Kudos: 354

17 Jul 2010, 03:34

Kudos

Bookmarks

I paid for the full membership so I could practice solo and review my questions on my own time. if the free membership suits your needs you could stick with it.

Posted from my mobile device

ssowmya2108

Joined: 14 Jun 2010

Last visit: 21 Jul 2010

Posts: 7

Given Kudos: 1

Location: Hyderabad

Posts: 7

Kudos: 0

17 Jul 2010, 12:02

Kudos

Bookmarks

congratss

can you please tell me the awa topics u got??

The actual gmat exam, in terms of difficulty, was the most similar to which of the following free tests available online?

kaplan?
manhattan?
knewton?
princeton?

( i hav my exam in 4 days !! )

gurpreetsingh

Joined: 12 Oct 2009

Last visit: 15 Jun 2019

Posts: 2,272

Own Kudos:

3,915

Given Kudos: 235

Status:<strong>Nothing comes easy: neither do I want.</strong>

Location: Malaysia

Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship

Schools: ISB '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 670 Q49 V31 Verified score

GMAT 2: 710 Q50 V35 Verified score

Products:

Schools: ISB '15 (M)

GMAT 2: 710 Q50 V35 Verified score

Posts: 2,272

Kudos: 3,915

17 Jul 2010, 14:20

Kudos

Bookmarks

Please spare a minute and post the center review here :
review-gmat-centers-96476.html

actionong

Joined: 09 Jul 2010

Last visit: 16 Aug 2011

Posts: 2

Kudos: 0

18 Jul 2010, 07:43

Kudos

Bookmarks

thank you for the tips. Maybe I'm low expectation, but I just wanna break 700

ballubalraj

Joined: 27 Jun 2010

Last visit: 05 Dec 2010

Posts: 48

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 21

Location: India

WE 1: 1 Year Research & Development

WE 2: 7.5 Years IT Consultant

Posts: 48

Kudos: 5

19 Jul 2010, 02:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

Congratulations buddy - you have got great score.
Thanks for the wonderful debrief.

AbhayPrasanna

Joined: 04 May 2010

Last visit: 05 Jan 2025

Posts: 61

Own Kudos:

354

Given Kudos: 7

GPA: 3.8

WE 1: 2 yrs - Oilfield Service

Products:

Posts: 61

Kudos: 354

19 Jul 2010, 07:40

Kudos

Bookmarks

ssowmya2108

congratss

Thanks!

Sorry, but I'd rather not disclose actual Test questions and topics as I could risk losing my GMAT score. I will say that the argument essay topic was rather long and wordy and took me a few minutes to digest. The issue was simple and straightforward so you can focus on thinking of examples. I was quick in all the sections except AWA - barely finished. Be quick and it would help if you type fast

The MGMAT tests were great, though the quant is a bit tougher than the actual GMAT, especially the DS questions.
Kaplan and Princeton were rather erratic in their adaptive nature.
Knewton was also great, though a couple of the CATs were slightly easier in the quant section. Verbal is very representative.

Good luck!

gurpreetsingh

Please spare a minute and post the center review here :
review-gmat-centers-96476.html

Will do that ASAP!

AbhayPrasanna

Joined: 04 May 2010

Last visit: 05 Jan 2025

Posts: 61

Own Kudos:

354

Given Kudos: 7

GPA: 3.8

WE 1: 2 yrs - Oilfield Service

Products:

Posts: 61

Kudos: 354

19 Jul 2010, 09:42

Kudos

Bookmarks

UPDATE:

Just looked at my official report - thankfully no change in the scaled score :-D

AWA - 6.0! Was pleasantly surprised considering I hurried through them since I spent a bit too long reading the topics.

A few points about the essays:

Argument:

1 Introductory paragraph rephrasing the topic. CLEARLY STATE YOUR OPINION.

2 Paragraphs attacking the assumptions. Use critical but non-derogatory vocab. (I used very subtle but good-humored sarcasm too, so apparently that works. Shows you have character! Be very careful with that though, you don't want to appear flippant.)

1 paragraph attacking the premise. Question the basis of the opinion, and list out other factors and present a paradigm shift in the way to assess the underlying "issue".

1 conclusion paragraph clearly summarizing your opinion. Mention a few suggestions on how one could strengthen the argument (studies, statistics, etc.)

Issue:

1 Introductory para introducing the issue. Speak about a background for it, what the current situation is in the world, a historical or scientific backdrop of sorts. CLEARLY STATE YOUR OPINION.

1 Paragraph accepting the positive side of the opinion mentioned explicitly or implicitly in the issue. Give an example of a situation in which the opinion holds true. Mention a contrasting viewpoint though.

2 Paras giving counter=examples or additional examples (depending on the topic). I listed a LOT of examples - everything I could think of and covering all the subjects mentioned in the topic. Explain how there are other factors in play, how there are several contradicting situations. Show that you have a firm hold of the issue and know what you are talking about. Include personal experiences and don't be afraid to make stuff up - it totally works, i can vouch for that Very Happy

1 concluding para summarizing the issue and its various considerations. Here, rather than use a very formal concluding sentence, make it personal by homing in on your take - eg. "As a voracious reader, I would hope that authors feel encouraged to continue writing about a variety of themes."

GENERAL TIPS:

1. Quantity does matter - longer essays are more likely to be scored higher simply because they probably include more examples and evidence. Aim for a total of at least 4 solid, independent paragraphs.

2. This leads to the next point - type quickly and don't waste too much time looking for a big word you once knew. Just put it down in plain, easy-to-understand English.

3. Don't be afraid to cut-copy-paste and rearrange your essay to maintain continuity. DO NOT DELETE AN ENTIRE PARA. Leave it there or try to edit what's already in there. 30 mins isn't a lot of time for an essay, trust me.

4. Build an arsenal of a few generic introductions, conclusions and critiques and if possible a few panacean examples. Remember and understand a few standard words from debating vocabulary, eg. cogent, coherent, etc.

5. Don't repeat things redundantly - if you must reintroduce something, please use different words an try to include a new idea.

Let me know if I can help you guys with your essays.

Cheers!

gurpreetsingh

Joined: 12 Oct 2009

Last visit: 15 Jun 2019

Posts: 2,272

Own Kudos:

3,915

Given Kudos: 235

Status:<strong>Nothing comes easy: neither do I want.</strong>

Location: Malaysia

Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship

Schools: ISB '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 670 Q49 V31 Verified score

GMAT 2: 710 Q50 V35 Verified score

Products:

Schools: ISB '15 (M)

GMAT 2: 710 Q50 V35 Verified score

Posts: 2,272

Kudos: 3,915

19 Jul 2010, 12:24

Kudos

Bookmarks

That is great Abhay. Thanks for reviewing the Gmat center, I m sure it will help many in the long run.

ssowmya2108

Joined: 14 Jun 2010

Last visit: 21 Jul 2010

Posts: 7

Given Kudos: 1

Location: Hyderabad

Posts: 7

Kudos: 0

20 Jul 2010, 09:37

Kudos

Bookmarks

thanks a lot!
i have my exam day after.. phew!!

dreamchase

Joined: 26 Jun 2011

Last visit: 27 Nov 2015

Posts: 217

Own Kudos:

116

Given Kudos: 26

Location: India

Schools: CBS '15 (D) Darden '15 (A) Ross '15 (WL) Anderson '15 (D) Kellogg '15 (I) Johnson '15 (WL) Sloan '15 (WL) ISB '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V41 Verified score

Schools: CBS '15 (D) Darden '15 (A) Ross '15 (WL) Anderson '15 (D) Kellogg '15 (I) Johnson '15 (WL) Sloan '15 (WL) ISB '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V41 Verified score

Posts: 217

Kudos: 116

22 Jul 2011, 17:27

Kudos

Bookmarks

Great Score ! Congrats !

You somewhere mentioned you took 18 CATs.
Can you elaborate where did you find those 18 CATs ?
And which are paid, which free ?

qweert

Joined: 27 May 2010

Last visit: 02 May 2014

Posts: 141

Own Kudos:

212

Given Kudos: 3

Posts: 141

Kudos: 212

22 Jul 2011, 23:09

Kudos

Bookmarks

Very good score!

Would you care to elaborate on the books & the material used.

mourinhogmat1

Joined: 08 Jun 2010

Last visit: 11 Aug 2015

Posts: 213

Own Kudos:

199

Given Kudos: 13

Location: United States

Concentration: General Management, Finance

Schools: Darden '15 (D) Wharton '15 (D) Johnson '15 (S)

GMAT 1: 680 Q50 V32 Verified score

Schools: Darden '15 (D) Wharton '15 (D) Johnson '15 (S)

GMAT 1: 680 Q50 V32 Verified score

Posts: 213

Kudos: 199

23 Jul 2011, 02:01

Kudos

Bookmarks

Great score buddy!

crackHSW

Joined: 07 Aug 2010

Last visit: 04 Dec 2024

Posts: 248

Own Kudos:

484

Given Kudos: 27

Status:Now or never

Location: India

Concentration: Strategy, Technology

Schools: McCombs '15 (D) Jones '15 (D) Foster '15 (M) McDonough '15 (WL) Anderson '15 (D) Mays '15 (D)

GPA: 3.5

WE:Consulting (Consulting)

Schools: McCombs '15 (D) Jones '15 (D) Foster '15 (M) McDonough '15 (WL) Anderson '15 (D) Mays '15 (D)

Posts: 248

Kudos: 484

25 Jul 2011, 04:07

Kudos

Bookmarks

Congrats mate , 770 is mindblowing score to say the least

LifeChanger

Retired Thread Master

Joined: 12 May 2011

Last visit: 13 May 2012

Posts: 120

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 33

Status:How can I crack Verbal

Location: India

Concentration: General Management, Finance

Schools: Thunderbird Darden '14 Jones Boston U

GMAT 1: 700 Q51 V32 Verified score

GPA: 3

Schools: Thunderbird Darden '14 Jones Boston U

GMAT 1: 700 Q51 V32 Verified score

Posts: 120

Kudos: 29

25 Jul 2011, 04:51

Kudos

Bookmarks

770!!! Great score..Thanks for the debrief..
Are there any suggestions you would like to give for Verbal section? Did you practise from RC99,CR99(aristotle's)? Any other books apart from OG's and MGMAT SC that helped you score better?

Thanks,
LC

mydreammba

Joined: 28 Jul 2011

Last visit: 06 Dec 2013

Posts: 224

Own Kudos:

1,625

Given Kudos: 16

Location: United States

Concentration: International Business, General Management

GPA: 3.86

WE:Accounting (Commercial Banking)

Posts: 224

Kudos: 1,625

28 Jul 2011, 23:14

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi Everyone,

Daily How many hours do you think is required for Preparing GMAT,right now i am working and i daily have hardly an hour or 2 and i am in a dilemma whether take a break for 2-3 months or prepare for GMAT when i am working...........any suggestions please

Warlock007

Joined: 08 Jan 2011

Last visit: 25 May 2012

Posts: 149

Own Kudos:

224

Given Kudos: 46

Status:==GMAT Ninja==

Schools:ISB, IIMA ,SP Jain , XLRI

WE 1: Aditya Birla Group (sales)

WE 2: Saint Gobain Group (sales)

Posts: 149

Kudos: 224

28 Jul 2011, 23:38

Kudos

Bookmarks

AbhayPrasanna

Just got back home after my GMAT and am happy to report I managed a 770 [Q 51 V 44]. I am satisfied with my score and believe it is an accurate representation of my ability.

Peace!

Hey Abhay
congrats for a fantastic score

a very well structured debrief....

all the best for your success ahead

Warlock007

Joined: 08 Jan 2011

Last visit: 25 May 2012

Posts: 149

Own Kudos:

224

Given Kudos: 46

Status:==GMAT Ninja==

Schools:ISB, IIMA ,SP Jain , XLRI

WE 1: Aditya Birla Group (sales)

WE 2: Saint Gobain Group (sales)

Posts: 149

Kudos: 224

28 Jul 2011, 23:47

Kudos

Bookmarks

AbhayPrasanna

Sorry guys I am currently on holiday so have limited access to the internet. I will definitely try and answer all you questions as soon as possible.

Hey Abhay
have a great holiday man

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

supereco87

Joined: 06 Nov 2009

Last visit: 09 Nov 2013

Posts: 172

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 3

Concentration: Finance, Strategy

Posts: 172

Kudos: 9

29 Jul 2011, 00:09

Kudos

Bookmarks

Great score buddy :-D

. Your notes are really interesting. I would everybody recommend reading them!!

crackHSW

Joined: 07 Aug 2010

Last visit: 04 Dec 2024

Posts: 248

Own Kudos:

484

Given Kudos: 27

Status:Now or never

Location: India

Concentration: Strategy, Technology

Schools: McCombs '15 (D) Jones '15 (D) Foster '15 (M) McDonough '15 (WL) Anderson '15 (D) Mays '15 (D)

GPA: 3.5

WE:Consulting (Consulting)

Schools: McCombs '15 (D) Jones '15 (D) Foster '15 (M) McDonough '15 (WL) Anderson '15 (D) Mays '15 (D)

Posts: 248

Kudos: 484

29 Jul 2011, 10:55

Kudos

Bookmarks

kotela

Well 2-3 hours daily is ok and on weekends around 4-5 hours , dont take a break , it might be difficult for you to explain it to the ad coms.

1 2 3

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

[770 Q51 V44] Thank you GMATClub!

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