Hi guys i took my GMAT yesterday, in DI i saw 4 non math related DS questions - i never really came across them during practice in gmat club so i just guessed them....
any practice material related to these?

Hi everyone,

I’m sharing my journey here because I’m trying to understand where I went wrong with my GMAT preparation and how I can make a much stronger comeback for Round 2 MBA application.

1. My background

- Undergraduate degree: BA (Hons.) in Economics, with around 70%.

- Postgraduate degree: MA, with approximately 68–69%.

- Work experience: Around 4 years in school operations and finance management, with responsibilities relating to the operational and financial aspects of a school.

- UPSC preparation: Approximately 3 years preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. I consistently cleared the CSAT paper during my attempts.

- Additional learning: IIM Rohtak Business Intelligence and Data Analytics certificate, Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, and other professional development programmes.

- Social impact: I also completed a social entrepreneurship internship with an NGO, contributing to a digital-access initiative.

After spending years preparing for competitive examinations, I decided to shift my focus towards an MBA, with long-term interests in business strategy, management and finance.

1. My GMAT experience

I prepared for around 3 months using the MentorMe platform and the GMAT materials available to me. I completed the sectional tests and attempted around 7–8 mocks, where I was consistently scoring 650+.

However, my actual GMAT score was 455.

This was a huge disappointment because I expected to perform significantly better after months of preparation.

My official score report highlighted some serious weaknesses:

- Critical Reasoning: 1st percentile

- Reading Comprehension: 12th percentile

- Quant: 23rd percentile

- Data Insights: Relatively stronger in certain question types, particularly maths-based DI

My biggest mistake was underestimating Verbal, especially Critical Reasoning. I spent a considerable amount of time on Quant and Data Insights, assuming that Verbal would be manageable. In the actual examination, I struggled with analysing arguments, identifying assumptions and evaluating answer choices under time pressure.

I also felt that some of the older Manhattan Prep materials I used were not fully aligned with the question styles I encountered.

I now realise that my preparation strategy needs a complete rethink rather than simply solving more questions from the same sources.

1. My retake and Round 2 plan

I’m considering retaking the GMAT after approximately 2–2.5 months of focused preparation and applying in Round 2.

My target is to improve my score substantially, ideally to 700+, although I understand that moving from 455 to that range is a significant challenge.

I want to prioritise Verbal, particularly CR and RC, while continuing to practise Quant and DI. This time, I want to use a smaller set of reliable, current-GMAT resources and follow a structured plan with regular timed practice and error analysis.

1. My MBA goals: US Top 30 programmes

My aspiration is to target US Top 30 MBA programmes, provided I can make my application competitive through a stronger GMAT score and a well-presented professional profile.

I’m interested in programmes with strong career opportunities in strategy, management and finance. Scholarships and overall return on investment are also important considerations for me as an international applicant.

I understand that my current GMAT score is not competitive for these schools, and I would not apply with the expectation that my existing profile alone will compensate for it. My plan is to improve my score first and then build a sensible school list.

1. I would really appreciate your advice on the following

GMAT preparation

1. Which current GMAT resources would you recommend for CR and RC? I’m looking for high-quality practice questions and detailed explanations, not just basic concept videos.

2. What would be the best official and third-party question banks for Quant, Verbal and DI?

3. Would you recommend a personal tutor or a structured course after a 455, particularly given the gap between my mock scores and actual result?

4. How should I structure the next 8–10 weeks to maximise improvement without neglecting Quant and DI?

MBA admissions and school selection

1. If I improve my GMAT substantially, which US Top 30 MBA programmes would be worth researching for my profile? Which schools should I consider ambitious, and which might offer a more balanced set of options?

2. How should admissions committees view school operations and finance management experience when it is not traditional corporate experience? What evidence of leadership, responsibility and measurable impact should I emphasise?

3. Would applying in Round 2 after a stronger GMAT attempt be a sensible strategy, or would delaying to a later intake be worth considering if my score does not improve enough?

4. Which programmes might offer meaningful merit scholarships to international applicants, and how should I balance school reputation, employment outcomes, scholarship potential and total cost?

I’m not expecting anyone to guarantee admission or tell me that a particular score will get me into a particular school. I’m looking for realistic advice on building a strong application and creating a balanced school list.

I’m open to honest criticism of my profile and preparation strategy. I know that the 455 is a serious setback, but I want to use it as a diagnostic rather than repeat the same mistakes.

If you have faced a similar situation, improved significantly on a retake, or applied to US MBA programmes with a non-traditional background, I would genuinely appreciate your advice.

Thank you!

Hi! A bit of a long shot here, but is anyone based in Singapore and planning to take the GMAT in the next 2/3 months for Round 2 MBA applications?
Would love to connect and find an accountability partner of sorts to keep each other motivated and on track. Getting tough grinding it out alone haha. Please feel free to dm me! Thank you!

Hey GMAT folks and experts out there!

I am seeking your help on achieving the goal for a good GMAT score, 675+. My score currently hovers around 555-575 on OG mock and the major challenge is time management in all the sections. I have around 3 weeks before my exam. I can take a retake later if needed.

I gave OG Mock 2 around a month back and OG Mock 3 recently both being a month apart with quite a bit of prep involved in the month.

Mock 3 Analysis

Sequence: Quant - Verbal - DI

Quant(A detailed one):

Q3 - Permutations Question, I am weak at P&C but will improve soon.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-manager-of-a-certain-advertising-agency-must-divide-the-group-of-424458.html#p3335939

Q5 - Careless mistake - question asked the largest difference between couple of numbers which was in % but it was written as "percent" so i missed it. My answer was 0.65 and but as the input was %, the actual answer was 0.0065. This can be improved.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/four-banks-offered-home-equity-loans-at-the-rates-of-4-7-8-percent-425133.html#p3343771

Q7 - I couldn't figure out how to solve it as I misread the question a bit, in this Qn, one transaction is one lot sell and one lot buy separately for each but I though one transaction for both. Also, while solving again untimed, I observed it and made a linear equation but failed to get the right answer as I was using a Diophantine eqn approach in Ax-By=C instead of Ax+By=C. So this was more of a capability issue I would say.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/an-automobile-rental-agency-purchases-new-cars-from-the-manufacturer-420798.html#p3290257

Q14 - This felt super hard and I had to let it go, but the bad part was that it might have taken me 2 mins to decode the Qn and additional 2 mins working on it to realise I can't solve it.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/two-machines-x-and-y-working-together-at-their-repsective-constant-r-420817.html#p3287036

Q15- solvable but included quite a bit of calc, I went through longer approach maybe and from here the downfall started.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-store-sold-60-percent-of-the-hats-from-a-shipment-of-hats-at-a-414476.html

Q16- Something that I was able to solve in <1.5 min while resolving it, it was pure anxiety due to less time left.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-xyz-0-and-w-x-x-y-y-z-then-w-z-must-be-equal-to-which-of-the-420518.html#p3288255

And then it was screwed up completely.

Verbal:

I was able to only do 15 Qn, Infact, I couldn't even complete all the question and hence I didn't see the 19th to 23rd question, I know this is a big problem and we should never leave blank, but I lost a track of time as I was on the 14,15 the Qn of RC.

I don't know what's wrong but I am doing the process right to my knowledge. One thing, I might be wasting time in making notes, like in CR, I will write down conclusion and Premise, for RC, I will write down the summary of all the Para. What I realised yesterday that I don't go back much to the notes but if I take a pause write stuff down, it helps me process in my mind, Else if I just read, I lose the argument. Also, I generally take a bit of time to read Qn compared to maybe what others are taking. If I go too fast, I miss the Qn, If I go slow, I miss the time, I am in this loop now.

For RC, I used to struggle with topics like Art and Archeology as I am a science student but I have started reading like 2 articles a day on Scientific American and now I can read topics which I am even uncomfortable with but still I take a lot of time to read RC as you see..

In the OG Mock 3 of Verbal, I got 2 RC Question wrong and one CR Question wrong.

RC Qn - I read the wrong Qn again after the exam and it felt like I might have not understood the RC properly.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-1860-in-the-united-states-of-all-employees-only-state-judges-in-s-425355.html#p3347140

CR Qn - I couldn't comprehend and connect the choice to the Qn and hence selected the wrong one, for a sec I felt to select the right one but the reason I reject is because I was not properly infer how would it make a change in the argument.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/absolute-or-perfect-pitch-the-ability-to-identify-the-pitch-of-an-426973.html#p3364259

Overall in Verbal I didn't get a feeling of I not being able to solve it.

Data Insight

I haven't practiced this section a lot but I have been able to solve DS in general, I while overwhelmed but questions which need 3 answers correct, I end up taking a lot of time like the below:

So TPA and MSR is where I feel like I have to do a lot of calc, and I end up spending a lot of time.

For Graphs and Tables, I feel I am good at understanding them( I work in management) but somehow I do the mental math that easily, like if they are asking which qtr had the max % increase, I have to calculate couple of them but I see a lot of people end up observing the chart pattern and quickly see stuff.

Maybe I am uncomfortable with the three Qn because I haven't practiced these? I felt I'll get them once I learn Quant and Verbal but this doesn't come close.

Thanks for reading till the end. I wanted to give my complete prospective so you can respond properly after looking at Data. Any help is really appreciated!!!

~Just another guy struggling at GMAT

Hi everyone,

I prepared for GMAT for almost 6 months and scored 645 (V86, Q83, DI79). Gave it again after some more prep but ended up scoring 645 again.

I was scoring around 675-695 in mocks, so maybe exam day nerves affected my score.

After that I took a 6 month break and now thinking of starting prep again. My target is 695+.

I'm confused whether I should stick with GMAT since I've already spent so much time preparing for it or switch to GRE.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is it realistic to improve from 645 to 695+ or would GRE be a better option? Also how do you deal with exam day pressure when your mock scores are much higher?

Would really appreciate some advice. Thanks!

I scored a 685 on the GMAT Focus recently.
I am an Indian male (23 Y) working in IT for a top MNC, working with clients across the world in a cross functional team across different timezones. I graduated from a Tier-1 Engineering college with a 3.9 GPA.
I’m currently working on some side projects for class 11 and 12 students and I have started volunteering in NGOs and I do CrossFit on the weekends.
I have a lot of extracurricular experience from my college life as well, I was heading a fest team for a Double ISO certified fest and I was the president of a Product Management club

I am planning on selectively applying only to a few of the top European MBA Programs, preferably INSEAD, LBS and HEC Paris.

I have decided to apply once I have around 4 years of work exp, could someone please give me some honest feedback of where I stand? Whether I would have to boost my GMAT score as well because I don’t know if a 685 would be sufficient considering I come from an oversaturated pool of applicants.

The same wrong answer can feel like progress or like failure. Which one it feels like depends on why you're practicing.

If your objective in a practice session is to learn, a wrong answer serves that objective: it shows you something you didn't understand. If your objective is to find out whether you're good enough, the same wrong answer fails it: it tells you you're not there yet.

Many students mix the two. They sit down to learn, but they also use every question to check how far they are from their target. So a session full of useful mistakes leaves them feeling they've failed.

One of my students was doing exactly this. Each wrong answer made her doubt whether she would ever reach her target, and she lost hours, sometimes days, to that doubt. I suggested she separate the two objectives: check where she stood after three weeks, and until then, treat every wrong answer as something to learn from.

Separating them helps for two reasons. You already know you're not at your target yet, which is why you're practicing, so checking after every question only repeats that answer. And once checking has a date, the question of whether you're good enough gets answered then, so you can set it aside until that day.

To separate the two:

1. Schedule an evaluation every 2–3 weeks to check where you stand.

2. Between evaluations, end each session by writing down what you learned, not how many questions you got right.

Est ce que quelqu'un à un avis sur la prepa du site reussirlegmat.com?

I'm preparing for my third GMAT attempt and it's booked for 25 days from now.

My first was 535 and second 615. But for some reason, I just can't get myself to study. I actually feel dumb. Like I just can't break the barrier anymore.

any advice on how to motivate myself?

I've taken days/weeks off and it's just not working. I need 645 for college application but it just feels so hard rn

My sectional breakdown last time q79, v83, di80

The scores y'all post here are the new format, right? GMAT FE?

Or do I have everything understood wrong?

I alongside a fellow redditor have been scammed by this institution. We enrolled in their GMAT prep course hoping to build foundations for GMAT but the course material they provided us was totally CAT based and had the entire DI section absent from it. My experiences were one of the worst here. The classes were supposed to begin on October 9th but have not recieved any substantive response from them. The team is pathetic. The admin is pathetic. They keep emailing me time schedules for classes only to realzie that there was no class at the center and a test was going on. The communication from the admin team is poor. The study material they provided is CAT based and not GMAT based at all. Wasting time and money of students. Most of their positive reviews on Reddit are associted with accounts that have now been fully banned/suspended. An example of this is on this subreddit -

https://www.reddit.com/r/GMAT/comments/1qtnri4/please_help_me_find_good_gmat_coaching_in_india_i/.

Look at the comment praising EduShastra on this subreddit made from this account - Calm_Radish5558. If you click on this account - It has now been suspended. Most of such accounts that praise this instituion have been banned/suspended across multiple subreddits.

They're actively lurking on Reddit to find people to scam. Please do your own research before engaging with a test prep company. I've already applied for a refund. Will keep everybody updated until this gets fully resolved.