Need help with score improvement and guidance

Question

Hello there ! 
I am a current final year college student, looking to apply for Deffered MBAs in april. Have done Official Books, All 6 mocks and TTP Course.

Attempt 1 score : 655 (Q83 V85 DI78)
Attempt 2 score : Planning in 15 days

How to go about the same. Should I focus on DI and Q only? Struggled with timing in DI due to lack of practice but also got wrong questions I didnt think I would. For QA got 3 wrong only one of which I was sure of. Thanks !

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

While answering DI questions, here are some general time-saving strategies to keep in mind: 
 - Skim the given information to understand the type of information provided. Don’t get bogged down in the details. Just get a sense of what the data is conveying.  
 - Use the answer choices to your advantage. In many cases, the answer choices will be so spread apart that you can quickly answer the question through approximation rather than precise calculations. 
 - Use process of elimination when possible. Narrow down choices by identifying clear inconsistencies or irrelevant options in the data. 
 - Stay organized. Jot down quick notes or calculations to keep track of information to avoid rereading the same data multiple times. 
 - Prioritize quick decision-making. If a question seems too time-consuming, it’s better to make an educated guess and move on rather than get stuck. Developing this type of decision-making mindset will help you better navigate the section.

For more information, check out these articles:  
 -  How to Prepare for GMAT Data Insights  
 -  Data Insights Timing Strategy

temporeincidunt · Answer

the problem I face with skimming is missing the sense of the question entirely, and having to re-read the whole questions instead which makes time management a problem, and If i do read everything for all questions from the very get-go- though quickly, i am still left with 3-4 questions in the end.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

You may need to try different rates of skimming to find your optimal speed. 
Also, just to be clear, do not skim the questions. Just skim the given charts and graphs so that you can get a general idea of the information they provide.

Edskore · Answer

Great situational awareness on your part — identifying the exact problem (losing the thread when skimming, and running out of time when reading fully) is actually the harder half of fixing a DI timing issue. Here's what worked for me and what I've seen work for others with a similar profile.

Your core challenge isn't skimming vs. reading — it's that you haven't yet built a structured reading protocol for each DI question type. The Data Insights section has four distinct types (Data Sufficiency, Graphs & Tables, Multi-Source Reasoning, Two-Part Analysis), and each one demands a different pacing approach.

For your 15-day sprint, here's what I'd focus on:

For Graphs & Tables specifically — stop reading the data before you read the question. Read the question stem first, identify what you're looking for (a comparison? a maximum? a calculation?), and only then pull the relevant number from the chart. This alone cuts 30–45 seconds per question for most people.

For Multi-Source Reasoning — skim the tab titles and the first sentence of each source tab, then read only the tab that's relevant to each question. Do not try to read all three tabs front to back. This is the biggest time sink in DI.

For Two-Part Analysis — don't fill in column 1 then come back for column 2. Work the logic once and lock in both answers simultaneously. Going back wastes 60+ seconds per question.

On the "running out of time" front: with DI78 (83rd percentile), you're not making careless errors — you're getting harder questions and spending too long on them. The fix is strict time boxing: give yourself 2:30 per question maximum, and when you hit that threshold, make your best guess and move. Leaving 3-4 questions blank is a much bigger penalty than a wrong guess.

Given your Q83 and V85, your DI is genuinely the bottleneck to 700+. A DI score of 82–85 would likely push you to the 675–700 range. Totally achievable in 15 days with this kind of targeted work.

You've got this.

— Kavya | GMAT Focus 725 (99th percentile)

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