From 630 to 730. A journey of Failures, Learning and Success.

Question

Hello Everyone,

Like many candidates, I was always inspired and motivated by reading GMAT experiences, and I dreamed of writing my own one day. After three years of failures and learning, I finally achieved my target score of 730 (Q50, V39). I want to share everything I learned during this journey so others with the same dream can benefit—and save both time and money.

The First Attempt  : August 2015
 Score  : 630 (Q46,V33) .  Time taken to study  : 4-5 Months
 GMATPREP Average Score  : 670
 Resources Used  : OG Official Guide Only

The First Mistake: Considering GMAT Official Guide as the Ultimate Bible and the Only Requirement to Crack GMAT 
Before my first attempt, I came across several blogs claiming the OG was all I needed. Trusting that advice, I devoted myself to it entirely. I solved around 90% of OG Quant questions easily and picked up a few new concepts from the rest. For Verbal, I relied solely on the OG solutions to build strategies for SC, CR, and RC—making notes and creating my own methods.
After completing and reviewing the OG, I felt confident and test-ready. I assumed that mastering the OG meant I could handle the real GMAT. But I was wrong. The actual test was noticeably tougher, and it became clear that OG alone doesn’t fully reflect GMAT’s difficulty—especially in Quant and Verbal.
I also made the mistake of not engaging with other test-takers. Talking to others could have helped me gauge where I stood and how to better prepare for a 700+ score. It would have also helped me interpret my GMATPrep scores more realistically.
 
The Outcome: 
 
 I relied entirely on the OG and didn’t understand the true depth of concept-building the GMAT requires. 
 By focusing only on the OG, I missed out on excellent online courses that could have strengthened both my Quant and Verbal foundations. 
 I was unaware of powerful platforms like GMAT Club and how much value they offer during prep. 
 I scored around 670 on GMATPrep mocks and assumed I was ready for a 700+, which was far from accurate.  
 
The Learning from GMAT 1 (This Will Help First-Time GMAT Takers – Make Sure You’re Not Repeating These Mistakes): 
 
 OG alone is  not enough . The real exam includes tougher and more nuanced questions. 
 OG Quant questions are  easier  than those you’ll see on the actual test. 
 Despite reading all OG Verbal solutions and extracting strategies, I was still  underprepared  for SC and CR. 
 GMATPrep mocks are  not entirely reliable  for scoring—they often showed me 30–40 points higher than my actual score (even in later attempts). 
 Interpreting mock scores correctly is  crucial . For example, a 670 on GMATPrep may reflect a 630–650 real score. In contrast, a 670 on tougher mocks like Manhattan or VeritasPrep might mean you're closer to a 680–700. GMAT Club Quant tests are highly accurate—if you're consistently scoring Q49–Q51 there, it's a strong indicator of real test performance.
 (Note: I’m not saying GMATPrep isn’t valuable—it’s the only official mock and should be used. But score interpretation varies across platforms and must be analyzed carefully.)  
 I lacked core  Verbal concepts , which I later realized could’ve been strengthened through high-quality online resources—many of which are free or affordable. 
 I learnt that GMATCLUB is the ultimate tool for GMAT test takers; it has every single thing a student would need to crack the exam. It is very important to get used to the website and make the best use of it during preparation. Below is an amazing post by  abhimahna , This post will tell you how to make the best use of GMATCLUB for preparation. Do go through the post, and also follow  abhimahna , his insights on how to attempt and prepare for the GMAT test will take you places.  https://gmatclub.com/forum/abhimahna-s-secret-no-1-gmatclub-follow-functionality-257054.html  
  Stay connected with fellow GMAT test takers.  Sharing strategies, study plans, and experiences can be incredibly helpful. Learning from others' mistakes and successes can save you time—and even money—by helping you make better decisions during prep. You can find study partners on platforms like GMAT Club, GMAT-focused WhatsApp groups, or even locally. A little effort goes a long way.

The Second Attempt  : April 2016
 Score : 690 (Q46, V38) .  Time taken to study : 4-5 Months
 GMATPREP Mock Scores : 710 - 730 (Range) in Prep 1-6
 Resources Used : OG Official Guide, EGMAT SC Course (Recommended), PowereScore Bible - CR (Recommended).
 Schools Applied for 2017 Batch with Result : Kenan Flagler (D), Vanderbilt (D), McDonough (D), Rice Jones (WD), ISB (D), Schulich (A).

The Second Mistake: What Does Cracking the GMAT Mean to You? 
Should you have a target score in your mind before taking the GMAT? Is it important to list your target schools before you write the test, or can you shortlist them later? Should you evaluate your profile against your target schools before you take the exam? The answer to all these questions is  YES .
Think about it: Do you want to decide on your business school based on your interests, or do you want your GMAT score to decide the school for you?
I know many test takers who aimed for a 700 without knowing which schools they wanted to apply to, achieved that score, and then realized it wasn’t enough to get admitted to their dream schools. That was my experience, too.
In my second GMAT attempt, I scored 690 (Q46, V38). I made the mistake of believing 690 was a decent score for applying to US business schools ranked 17-25. While it’s a decent score, it was not a strong enough score for my profile. This realization came very late in the application process—after I was rejected by every school except one.

I also trusted an expensive consultant who gave me a rosy picture of my profile and pushed me to apply with a 690 instead of retaking the GMAT. He was more interested in starting the application process quickly to earn his fees. Believing in my efforts, my score, and the consultant, I jumped into applications. It was only after 6-8 months, when I got my final rejection from Rice Jones in June 2017, that I realized I had made a huge mistake by not retaking the test.
 Two major consequences of this misjudgment were: 
 
 Except for Kenan-Flagler and ISB, all the schools I applied to were not my first choice. I had no other option but to apply to schools whose class profiles fit my GMAT score and overall profile. So, I compromised on school selection. (Even Kenan-Flagler was a stretch at 690.) 
 I got rejected by every school except Schulich (which was not my heartfelt choice). You might wonder why I applied to schools I didn’t want to attend. The reason was the consultant’s overly optimistic assessment. Since I had already spent money and time building my essays and profile, I couldn’t back out. I had to hope for admits from Kenan-Flagler or ISB, but those chances were slim. I was rejected from all, and it became clear I had made a serious error.

If I had evaluated my profile realistically, talked to more people, admission committees, or checked reliable forums, I could have saved time and money. Through all this, one thing became clear: schools like McCombs, Tepper, Anderson, Kenan-Flagler, and Foster were my true dream schools, but my 690 score was below their average requirements (especially as a male science student from India). If only I had known this earlier!
Many test takers don’t shortlist schools before the exam, which leads to wasted time and money when their scores don’t align with their dream schools.
 
So here’s my advice: 
Set your target schools, evaluate your profile accordingly, and set a target GMAT score that aligns with those schools. Only take the exam when you are ready to hit that target score. Use mock tests to check your readiness. This is a great time- and money-saving strategy.
 (Note: I’m not saying 690 is always a bad score. A friend of mine got admitted to INSEAD with 690 and a stellar profile. It depends on your profile and your schools.) 
 
The Outcome: 
 
 I had to either start my GMAT prep over again or join Schulich’s 1-year Hyderabad/Canada MBA program (which I declined). 
 It felt like two years of effort were wasted, and I was very demotivated—but I never lost hope. I knew that if I pursued an MBA, it had to be at a school of my choice, not just any school. 
 I could have saved a lot of time and two GMAT attempts if I had been more aware of my target schools, score requirements, resources, and mock test analysis. 
 After a year of failed applications, I decided to prepare and retake the GMAT, now aiming for 730-740—a 40-50 point leap. Having already improved from 630 to 690, I was confident I could do it again.  
 
Learning from GMAT Attempt 2: 
 
  Verbal: 
 My verbal score improved from 33 to 38, thanks mainly to the  E-GMAT SC course , which helped me master basic and advanced grammar. I highly recommend this course for anyone struggling with Sentence Correction (SC). It is easy to understand and well-structured. My SC accuracy improved from 50-60% to 80-90%.
 The  PowerScore Critical Reasoning Bible  was another essential resource. Read it thoroughly and practice consistently.
 I made my notes on SC rules and strategies, reviewing them weekly. Many top scorers do this, and I recommend it. For CR, I focused on understanding the concepts rather than note-taking. 
  Reading Comprehension (RC): 
 I read  The Economist  for an hour every day to improve comprehension and reading speed. The topics and writing style closely resemble GMAT passages.
 Initially, focus on understanding rather than speed—speed will improve over time.
 I practiced 1-2 Official Guide RC questions daily in the two months before the exam. RC is mostly about comprehension skills, so reading quality material helps more than solving hundreds of questions. Improving CR skills also supports RC success. 
  Sentence Correction Strategy: 
 A valuable tip I got was to analyze every SC question deeply. Don’t just find the right answer; identify  all  errors in the wrong choices. This deep analysis helps you recognize common errors in SC questions. Use this strategy when practicing untimed to maximize learning. 
  Quant: 
 My quant score stayed the same because I didn’t add new resources besides the Official Guide. To reach 730-740, I realized I needed a minimum quant score of 50, requiring additional study materials. 
  General Advice: 
 Set your target schools and target score before starting prep, and evaluate your profile realistically. Study plans for 740 differ greatly from those for 700.
 Don’t rush into applications once you get your score—make sure it matches your school goals. If not, retake the test or reconsider your school list.
 Don’t rely on a single consultant. Use GMAT forums like GMATCLUB for multiple free profile reviews. Talk to alumni and admissions committees when possible.
 Keep in mind, GMATPrep mocks usually overestimate your score by 20-40 points.
 Complete the entire Official Guide for quant and verbal—it’s official material and essential practice.

The Third Attempt  : 9th September 2018
 Score : 690 (Q48,V37).  Time taken to study : 6-7 Months
 Mock Scores : 750 or 750+ for all Prep 1,2,3,4.  GMATCLUB Quant Test Score : Started with Q45 and eventually ended up scoring Q49-51 consistently after a couple of exams.  Prep Mocks : Started with a 640 (Exam 1) and reached 720 by Exam 4. 
 
Resources Used : OG Official Guide, EGMAT SC Course (Recommended), PowereScore Bible - CR (Recommended), GMATCLUB Quant Tests (Recommended), VeritasPrep/Manhattan Mock Tests (Recommended - I used VeritasPrep), Aristotle RC-99. Manhattan/Magoosh/Veritasprep blogs for verbal/GMATCLUB forums for both Verbal and Quant.

The Third Mistake: Setting Unrealistic Expectations and Putting Too Much Pressure on Exam Day 
After more than a year since my second GMAT attempt—which also included almost 6-7 months of applications—I was back to GMAT preparation all over again. It felt almost like starting from scratch due to the big gap between my 2nd and 3rd attempts. But this time, I was not willing to take any chances. I did everything a GMAT taker should do to aim for a 740 score.
So, where did I go wrong?
 Only One Thing: 
I had set so many expectations for myself to score 740 that on exam day, I was under tremendous pressure. I kept telling myself,  “It is now or never.”  While this mindset helped me prepare more rigorously, it also piled a lot of stress on me the day of the exam.
 
The Outcome: 
 
 I couldn’t sleep properly the night before the exam. 
 Despite fatigue from lack of sleep, I was under pressure to score well. 
 I was expecting the worst—a mindset that’s definitely not helpful on exam day. 
 The result? A 690 yet again.  
 
Learning from GMAT Attempt 3 (What changed/added in preparation): 
 
  Quant was still my weak spot. 
 From my second attempt, where I only studied from the Official Guide (OG) for quant, I knew I needed more than that. To improve, I needed more concepts, more mocks, and more practice questions. Where could I find all that for free? One place— GMATCLUB .
 There are no words to thank the community enough. GMATCLUB was the biggest and only resource I used to boost my quant score after my second attempt. It felt like it was built to help every GMAT aspirant reach their dream score.
 I used the search filters on GMATCLUB to find 600-700 and 700-800 level questions from trusted sources like Manhattan, VeritasPrep, and the GMAT Official Guide. I identified my weak areas and practiced them heavily during my third prep.
 I followed the legend Bunuel religiously, tracking his posts, questions, and solutions everywhere. Also, I highly recommend following  VeritasKarishma , whose solutions are some of the simplest and easiest ways to reach the right answer.
  GMATCLUB search link  
  Joined WhatsApp groups for both Verbal and Quant (200+ students). 
 These groups shared amazing daily questions for verbal and quant that I solved while at the office, in the bus, metro, or whenever I had free time. Such groups are an excellent way to utilize spare moments effectively.
 The discussions around different solution methods helped me learn something new every day. There are hundreds of such groups online—if possible, find one and join. They keep you engaged and focused on your goal. 
  GMATCLUB Quant Tests: 
 Many people suggested I try the GMATCLUB quant tests, and it was the best decision I made. The tests helped me improve my concepts and build stamina for the quant section. I strongly recommend that every GMAT candidate take these tests. The questions are well-designed, and finishing these tests will leave you feeling confident. 
  Avoid solving GMATPrep questions before mock tests. 
 You might get easy access to GMATPrep questions online, but don’t solve them before taking the actual prep tests. Otherwise, the questions might repeat in your mocks, giving you an inaccurate assessment of where you stand. 
  Take VeritasPrep or Manhattan Mocks for an accurate assessment. 
 To be 100% sure of your readiness, take mocks from VeritasPrep or Manhattan. Both are slightly tougher in quant compared to the actual exam, but if you score 700+ on these mocks, you can be confident of scoring 700-720+ on the real test.
 For example, I scored 720 on my last VeritasPrep mock and then got 730 on my final GMAT. 
  Follow inspiring people on GMATCLUB. 
 During this time, I started following some amazing contributors on GMATCLUB whose posts truly enlightened me throughout my preparation. I want to take this opportunity to thank them all for building such a beautiful community for GMAT takers.
 Your posts and solutions have motivated us, pushed us forward, and shown us the right path toward our desired scores. Thank you.
 Bunuel   bb   chetan2u   daagh   GMATNinja   mikemcgarry   sayantanc2k   VeritasKarishma   abhimahna   carcass   souvik101990

The Final Attempt  : 25th September 2018
 Score : 730 (Q50, V39)  Time taken to study : 15 Days

Guess what? Although I scored 690 on my third attempt, I was fully prepared and confident that I had done everything possible to reach a 740. So, I decided to take one last shot just 15 days later.
 
What Changed in Those 15 Days?  One thing — no pressure. This time, I didn’t aim specifically for a 740. I didn’t pressure myself at all. I was convinced that whatever the score, I would accept it. I simply went with the flow.
During those 15 days, I barely studied—just 1-2 GMATCLUB Quant mocks. The night before the exam, I relaxed, watched TV, and slept peacefully.
 
The Biggest Learning:  Your life does not depend on the score, so never let that feeling creep in before exam day. Prepare seriously and give it your all, but remember—it’s just an exam. Don’t set unrealistic expectations or pressure yourself from the inside out.
The more relaxed you are, the better you’ll perform. So,  BE RELAXED.

The biggest lesson of all?  Never give up.

Below, I have mentioned a few important links that I would seldom use during the preparation. GMATCLUB is full of such amazing posts. It's like a treasure hunt, just use your search skills and you might end up finding the best resource ever.

Quant: 
All You need for Quant by  Bunuel  :
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/all-you-need-for-quant-140445.html

Everything Theory+Ques links Quant GMAT Megathread by  Bunuel  :
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/ultimate-gmat-quantitative-megathread-244512.html

Math Book GMATCLUB by  bb  , walker ,  Bunuel  , shrouded1  :
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-math-book-87417.html

GMAT DIAGNOSTIC TEST by  bb  :
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-diagnostic-test-quest-for-best-gmat-diagnostic-test-79502.html

GMAT PS Question Directory by Topic & Difficulty by  bb  : 
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-ps-question-directory-by-topic-difficulty-127957.html

GMAT DS Question Directory by Topic & Difficulty by  bb  : 
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/ds-question-directory-by-topic-and-difficulty-128728.html

100 Hardest Data Sufficiency Questions by  Bunuel  : 
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/100-hardest-data-sufficiency-questions-162413.html

100 Hardest Problem Solving Questions by  Bunuel  : 
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/100-hardest-problem-solving-questions-162616.html

Tips and Hints for specific Quant Problems by  Bunuel  :
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/tips-and-hints-for-specific-quant-topics-with-examples-172096.html#p1379270

All GMATPREP Questions by  carcass  :
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/all-gmatprep-questions-verbal-quant-194907.html#p1503956

Verbal: 
Amazing Verbal Questions and Concept related Posts by  carcass  :
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/sc-verbal-question-bank-and-directories-by-carcass-195439.html#p1509485 
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-it-good-to-practice-with-sc1000-176225.html#p1392431

At last, I would also like to say that this was my journey, and that your journey will be different. You might not have to spend the same amount of time preparing for the exam. You might have separate issues to deal with during your preparation. Or you might need a completely different set of resources for your GMAT preparation. My whole intent was to share my experience, so that everyone who aspires to beat the GMAT exam can make some use of my learning.

Thank you.
Norgay

abhimahna · Answer

Glad to know that I was helpful in your journey, Norgay

This has been a beautiful journey and the success after so much struggle has it’s own beautiful flavor.

Congratulations.

Good luck with the applications now

u1983 · Answer

Congratulations  Norgay  .......... for the amazing score , tremendous effort & the great great debrief. It will really help a lot of GMAT aspirants down the line.

steveconnell · Answer

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From 630 to 730. A journey of Failures, Learning and Success.

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