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PocusFocus
Updated on: 07 Dec 2025, 06:23
Originally posted by PocusFocus on 03 Dec 2025, 16:11.
Last edited by PocusFocus on 07 Dec 2025, 06:23, edited 4 times in total.
Last edited by PocusFocus on 07 Dec 2025, 06:23, edited 4 times in total.
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Background:
Peruvian, 34 years old. Industrial Engineer with 8 year of experience in Financial Planning and Analysis - diverse industries from Pharmaceuticals to Climatech.
1. How It All Started (Nov 2023)
My GMAT journey began in November 2023, during the last months of the old GMAT. At that time, I had absolutely no idea what the exam really was. I made the classic mistake: “It’s just Quant and Verbal, how hard can it be?”
Turns out... very hard.
I didn’t know anything about strategy, timing, question types, or even proper prep. I bought a course, didn’t finish it, and simply sat for the exam.
Result:
500 (Old GMAT) → around 19–20th percentile.
A wake-up call.
I dropped GMAT prep for months.
2. Attempt #2 – The First Real Study Effort (Nov 2024 → Mar 2025)
I came back in November 2024 with a much clearer idea of what the GMAT required. This time, I:
Result:
575 (GMAT FE, Mar 2025) – a solid improvement and proof that consistency pays off.
But this was still not competitive for my target schools, especially applying R3 with a below-average GMAT.
3. Attempt #3 – The Humbling One (May 2025)
Given the situation, I decided to try one more time in May 2025.
This is where the GMAT reminded me who’s boss.
Despite working harder, I scored 50 points lower than before.
This was the moment I first experienced real test anxiety, which hit me hard, and I’m someone who grew up doing math competitions and very competitive university entrance exams.
Even with the lower score, I received some interviews, but ultimately I was rejected, totally understandable. Still, it hurt.
I took a break to breathe and reflect.
4. Attempt #4 – The Plateau (Sep 2025)
I resumed studying in August 2025, again following the 13-week Ninja plan but this time combining it with:
Result:
575 (again).
Same score.
Same wall.
Same feeling: “Not enough to break through yet.”
But at the same time: “I know I can improve.”
5. The Final Push – Consistency + Mental Work (Oct → Nov 2025)
I decided to study daily, 2–3 hours per day, taking Sundays completely off to reset.
This routine was mentally hard, frustrating, emotional, sometimes draining.
For the first time, I added therapy/relaxation techniques to control anxiety on test day. My mocks were strong, and I wanted my real score to actually reflect that.
This approach made a difference.
6. Final Result (Nov 2025)
625 (GMAT Focus Edition - Q84 D81 V78)
A bit below my last mocks, but within expected range and — more importantly — representative of my true level.
After a long, difficult, but deeply meaningful journey, I finally feel satisfied with the outcome.
7. What I Learned
8. Shoutouts
Massive thanks to:
I know I could score higher with more time, but I also know this score gives me a solid chance.
Now it’s time to focus on:
Peruvian, 34 years old. Industrial Engineer with 8 year of experience in Financial Planning and Analysis - diverse industries from Pharmaceuticals to Climatech.
1. How It All Started (Nov 2023)
My GMAT journey began in November 2023, during the last months of the old GMAT. At that time, I had absolutely no idea what the exam really was. I made the classic mistake: “It’s just Quant and Verbal, how hard can it be?”
Turns out... very hard.
I didn’t know anything about strategy, timing, question types, or even proper prep. I bought a course, didn’t finish it, and simply sat for the exam.
Result:
500 (Old GMAT) → around 19–20th percentile.
A wake-up call.
I dropped GMAT prep for months.
2. Attempt #2 – The First Real Study Effort (Nov 2024 → Mar 2025)
I came back in November 2024 with a much clearer idea of what the GMAT required. This time, I:
- Re-bought the same platform
- Studied much more consistently
- Joined the 13-week Ninja GMAT Plan
- (Confession: only reached Week 9 😅)
Result:
575 (GMAT FE, Mar 2025) – a solid improvement and proof that consistency pays off.
But this was still not competitive for my target schools, especially applying R3 with a below-average GMAT.
3. Attempt #3 – The Humbling One (May 2025)
Given the situation, I decided to try one more time in May 2025.
This is where the GMAT reminded me who’s boss.
Despite working harder, I scored 50 points lower than before.
This was the moment I first experienced real test anxiety, which hit me hard, and I’m someone who grew up doing math competitions and very competitive university entrance exams.
Even with the lower score, I received some interviews, but ultimately I was rejected, totally understandable. Still, it hurt.
I took a break to breathe and reflect.
4. Attempt #4 – The Plateau (Sep 2025)
I resumed studying in August 2025, again following the 13-week Ninja plan but this time combining it with:
- Topical and untimed Quant sessions (thanks @MartyMurray for the amazing blog!)
- Verbal practice
- DI drills
- GMAT Club for 90% of my learning (huge thanks to @bb, the experts, and the community)
Result:
575 (again).
Same score.
Same wall.
Same feeling: “Not enough to break through yet.”
But at the same time: “I know I can improve.”
5. The Final Push – Consistency + Mental Work (Oct → Nov 2025)
I decided to study daily, 2–3 hours per day, taking Sundays completely off to reset.
This routine was mentally hard, frustrating, emotional, sometimes draining.
For the first time, I added therapy/relaxation techniques to control anxiety on test day. My mocks were strong, and I wanted my real score to actually reflect that.
This approach made a difference.
6. Final Result (Nov 2025)
625 (GMAT Focus Edition - Q84 D81 V78)
A bit below my last mocks, but within expected range and — more importantly — representative of my true level.
After a long, difficult, but deeply meaningful journey, I finally feel satisfied with the outcome.
7. What I Learned
- The GMAT is way more psychological than people think.
- Consistency beats intensity.
- Taking Sundays off helped avoid burnout.
- Relaxation/therapy techniques were game changers.
- GMAT Club is the most valuable resource out there.
8. Shoutouts
Massive thanks to:
- MartyMurray – your Verbal blog transformed my way to approach my studies.
- bb – for building this incredible platform.
- The GMATNinja team, the 13-week structure works.
- HarshavardhanR thanks for being a supportive friend and guide in this journey.
- All the experts ( MartyMurray , GMATNinja, @Bunuel, HarshavardhanR, KarishmaB ) and members who answer questions daily, you have no idea how many people you help.
- The GMAT Club community, you kept me motivated through every plateau.
I know I could score higher with more time, but I also know this score gives me a solid chance.
Now it’s time to focus on:
- Essays
- Letters of Recommendation
- Interviews
Attachments
DI.png [ 59.86 KiB | Viewed 476 times ]
Verbal.png [ 77.57 KiB | Viewed 478 times ]
Quant.png [ 53.69 KiB | Viewed 475 times ]
Last attempt.png [ 109.25 KiB | Viewed 907 times ]
GMAT Journey.png [ 127.47 KiB | Viewed 909 times ]
Score Evolution - table.png [ 37.98 KiB | Viewed 904 times ]
Score evolution -graph.png [ 23.9 KiB | Viewed 903 times ]
03 Dec 2025, 17:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
Congratulations!
Thank you so much for sharing the debrief and awesome to see it ❤️🙌
I love your score progression chart.
180 point improvement is nothing to blink at. Very few people are able to get to this kind of level. Congratulations for perseverance and not giving up.
Did you notice your sectional scores fluctuating match or were they pretty consistent?
Just curious if you were focusing on something specific or you had to focus on all three sections
Thank you so much for sharing the debrief and awesome to see it ❤️🙌
I love your score progression chart.
180 point improvement is nothing to blink at. Very few people are able to get to this kind of level. Congratulations for perseverance and not giving up.
Did you notice your sectional scores fluctuating match or were they pretty consistent?
Just curious if you were focusing on something specific or you had to focus on all three sections
PocusFocus
03 Dec 2025, 18:15
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi bb! Great to see your message!
Regarding sectional fluctuation, most of mine happened in Quant, where I ranged between Q82 and Q90. As many people have noted, the GMAT FE isn’t very forgiving with small mistakes in Quant.
Verbal was more predictable than quant for me. I knew I was around V80, with maybe a ±2 point swing depending on test-day factors.
In the end, DI felt the most stable and predictable of the three sections. I focused heavily on CR and DI, and although I couldn’t fully translate the CR work into a higher Verbal score, I do think that effort helped me perform better in DI.
For Quant, I strengthened my weak areas (combinatorics, probability, rates, and word problems) by studying topically on the forum and by doing plenty of GMC sectionals, 9 in Quant and 7 in DI. It definitely required less time than CR and DI, but the sectionals made a big difference.
Regarding sectional fluctuation, most of mine happened in Quant, where I ranged between Q82 and Q90. As many people have noted, the GMAT FE isn’t very forgiving with small mistakes in Quant.
Verbal was more predictable than quant for me. I knew I was around V80, with maybe a ±2 point swing depending on test-day factors.
In the end, DI felt the most stable and predictable of the three sections. I focused heavily on CR and DI, and although I couldn’t fully translate the CR work into a higher Verbal score, I do think that effort helped me perform better in DI.
For Quant, I strengthened my weak areas (combinatorics, probability, rates, and word problems) by studying topically on the forum and by doing plenty of GMC sectionals, 9 in Quant and 7 in DI. It definitely required less time than CR and DI, but the sectionals made a big difference.
bb
!
