Scored a 710 with only 3 months of prep!

Question

I only had a couple months to study before all of the applications closed... so I was referred to EmpowerGMAT by a friend. Hands down the best decision I have made throughout the MBA process! I was really concerned about my Quant score, so I'm glad the course started with math. The math section of this course is REALLY strong. The best part is that there are videos with each practice question, so that you can watch Rich explain the problem and solve it in front of you with notes and tactics. This was a game changer for me, because it felt like I was working with my very own tutor who could explain things in the easiest way possible.

I still struggled with the Quant section and got a pretty low score the first time I took the real exam, but then I got some super targeted advice from Rich in the weeks following, and refocused my study on some crucial elements. I ended up getting a 710! And my Quant score went up by over 20 percentile points (I was around the 22nd percentile, and my final score had me at the 45th percentile). I was strong in the Verbal, but this course was super helpful because it gave me a formalized strategy for attacking Verbal questions, rather than just relying on gut instinct and which answer "sounded" correct.

It was pretty amazing, and I know I could not have scored that high without this course. It's also the best priced course out there, and has so much bonus materials, guides, and suggested orders. It's honestly such a life saver. I can't recommend it enough, especially if you have been out of school for a while and need a structured program to help you move through the prep! It's also great if you only have a few months to prep, because you can really hone in on tactics and skills, rather than just practicing a million math questions over and over. Their customer service is also superb, and the team really wants to help you get a high score (like I said, Rich actually helped me after I got my bad score!) Highly recommend this course if you are taking the GMAT soon! Good luck!!

bb · Answer

Welcome to GMAT Club! Awesome score! 
What was your starting diagnostic score? Do you remember where you started at? Just curious.

Also, did you find that your practice tests were in line with the final score?

Posted from my mobile device

globaldesi · Answer

Great score. Can you share more insights and how much time did you dedicate? What were your weaker areas and how did you cope up with all. I am struggling in some areas like RC and would be interested to know how you improved

kntombat · Answer

Hey jm6192 , Welcome to GMAT Club. Congratulations on your awesome score, I wish you the very best on the journey ahead.

Toffelfabriken · Answer

Nicely done. Getting a 710 in that little time is quite impressive.

jm6192 · Answer

I'll answer a couple of questions here!

Can you share more insights and how much time did you dedicate? What were your weaker areas and how did you cope up with all. I am struggling in some areas like RC and would be interested to know how you improved. I dedicated about 1 - 2 hours per day, about 5 days per week. In the first few weeks, I was spending tons of time (probably 3 hours a day, plus studying all weekend). Like I said, I was strong in Verbal so I spent most of my time on the math modules. The first time I took the real GMAT, I got a very low score of 570. So before I took it again, I reviewed the entire first module of Empower, specifically the Test It tactic. When I first learned Test It, I was trying to re-learn SO MANY math concepts (even long division again haha!), so I really don't think the Test It tactic sunk in for me. I wasn't using it enough on the tests, so I was still struggling with math even though I knew all the formulas etc. Once I reviewed these concepts, I took the exam again and that's when I got the 710. For RC, I did well but I did find the passages to be needlessly confusing sometimes. They are super dense, so I think they are trying to slow down your brain haha! If you are struggling with RC, I would spend extra time on the Empower tactics to beat that section. They'll tell you how to read, and how to distill the essential information. I didn't spend too much time on those modules (though I did go through them all, just to pick up tips). For me, like I said I struggled with math, so I spent extra time on those modules, and did lots of extra practice questions. If you struggle with RC, then be diligent about really USING the tactics from Empower. What was your starting diagnostic score? Do you remember where you started at? Just curious. Also, did you find that your practice tests were in line with the final score? My starting diagnostic score was about a 570. That was a truly "blind" practice test before I even signed up for the Empower course, and before I had cracked open my text book yet. My first "real" practice CAT score was about 620 I believe. My other practice scores were 650 and 660. I never hit as high as a 700+ in any practice test, and yet I scored that well on exam day, so it was a great surprise! I'll also say I took the Online GMAT exam (due to Covid) and it "felt" easier to me. I am sure it wasn't, but it felt easier the second time I took it! It was also a nice mental preparation to take the test in my house because I was comfortable, didn't have to wear a mask, and was taking the test at the same desk where I'd done all my studying. So I think that helped me be less nervous than I was at the test center. I hope that helps! And, since someone asked, no this is not an "ad"! I genuinely stumbled upon this course and this was the best thing for me to prepare for the GMAT. I've seen others say here that it's the best course for someone who is working full time and I really think that is true. I was balancing a full time job (and a second role at work that I had to cover) at the same time as studying. It was helpful that I could keep myself paced by doing a couple modules per night.

bb · Answer

Thank you! 140 points is a great improvement! Congrats!
710 should be a score you can use for pretty much any program!

P.S. I deleted the mis-placed comment about the ad (though that is sometimes a reaction of folks when one creates an account on the day of the debrief). Don't take it personally; it is just the always looking out for spam folks. We are trained to be suspicious

Thelegend2631 · Answer

Lot of GMAT aspirants enter GmatClub and then give GMAT. However he gave the test and then entered GMAT.

Wonder how much more he would've scored if he joined earlier.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jm6192,

This is an OUTSTANDING result - and from what you've shared about your applications so far, I think that this is just the beginning of a new series of achievements for you going forward!

Congratulations on all of your successes so far!
 
Another GMAT Assassin has been made!
Rich

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Scored a 710 with only 3 months of prep!

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