GMAT 690 on My Sixth Attempt: A Working Professional’s Journey and Recommended Study Methods

By

Author: JameerNelson (Nelson)
Board: GMAT
Title: [Experience] 6th Attempt 690: My Journey of Preparing While Working
Time: Sat Feb 8 18:31:30 2020

Exam Scores

不確定自己現在幾分？

12 題免費測出分數區間 →

  • First Attempt 630 Q50 V25 IR:4 (2018/03/22)
  • Second Attempt 610 Q50 V24 AWA:4 IR:4 (2018/12/19)
  • Third Attempt 640 Q51 V25 AWA:4 IR:4 (2019/03/11)
  • Fourth Attempt 650 Q48 V30 AWA:3.5 IR:6 (2019/06/04)
  • Fifth Attempt 630 Q49 V26 IR:8 (2019/09/02)
  • Sixth Attempt 690 Q50 V33 AWA:4 IR:7 (2019/12/16)

Background and Preparation Information

Educational Background: International Business Department, National Chengchi University; currently working in the consulting industry.

Preparation Time: November 2017 – December 2019, a total of 25 months. All preparation was done while working, which led to intermittent study and made it difficult to achieve a good score quickly ><

Preparation Materials: OG, OV, PP, GWD, A2GMAT-Dustin Finisher Class materials

Want to practice more similar questions?Try the AI tutor for free →

My Journey and Tutoring Choices

When I first started self-studying for the GMAT, I found it quite challenging. However, believing my logic skills were decent, I thought I could conquer it eventually. So, even though my scores improved slowly, I diligently buried myself in studying step by step.

It wasn’t until my fifth attempt, when my score dropped, that I became truly alarmed. Especially with the application deadline approaching, I couldn’t afford to keep fumbling around and experimenting. Having often consulted Dustin’s blog for information during my past preparations, I felt his teaching content aligned well with the essence of the GMAT test and the training mindset of business schools. Therefore, I chose A2GMAT-Dustin’s course—the GMAT Finisher Class—hoping to leverage external help to complete the final leg of my preparation.

As someone who’s been through it, I advise everyone to honestly assess their abilities during preparation. Tutors at prep schools have a thorough understanding of the exam, and if you have any questions about the problems, there’s always someone to ask, which can save a lot of time spent figuring things out on your own. If your scores aren’t significantly improving, like mine, then it’s worth trying to get some help from others.

Finisher Class Subject-Specific Insights

Below, I’ll describe the teaching characteristics of the Finisher Class for each Verbal section:

SC (Sentence Correction)

I really like Dustin’s “human language” training, which involves expressing the information in the sentence stem in a simple way. This training made the originally dry SC practice feel more relatable. More importantly, by understanding the meaning, I wasn’t blindly led by the options when I got to them.

Additionally, comparing options in pairs is an important technique for solving problems, as it helps avoid wasting precious time on non-tested points. Compared to our past English learning, which focused more on grammatical correctness, Dustin emphasized the reasonableness and clarity of meaning in class. This was an area I had previously overlooked and was weak in. Through the Finisher Class’s SC training, I gained a more diverse set of tools to tackle various SC question types.

CR (Critical Reasoning)

This was my favorite part of the Finisher Class. In the past, I disliked prep classes largely because they often overemphasized rote training. But Dustin taught us how to outsmart the GMAT test makers and how to become smarter in our problem-solving.

Therefore, in class, I barely took any notes; instead, I continuously thought along with Dustin, learning his thought process and enabling myself to anticipate 2-3 possible answers in a short amount of time, rather than being foolishly confused by the five options. I believe this training method is most aligned with the purpose of the GMAT test. More importantly, this way of thinking can be applied to the workplace; as someone in the consulting industry, I can logically clarify client problems and propose potential solutions more clearly.

RC (Reading Comprehension)

Before exams, I used to always pray that I wouldn’t encounter long passages, feeling a sense of dread before even starting. This led to low confidence in my answers and a lot of wasted time, a double whammy. In the Finisher Class, Dustin strongly emphasized reading training, organizing the information from the passage in my own words, but not translating sentence by sentence.

This training was truly crucial. Once I became proficient, it not only sped up my reading but also allowed me to absorb the important information in the passage. I still remember in my last exam, even with lengthy passages, I could conquer that question set within 7 minutes. Looking back, the reading training really made a huge difference.

Q (Quantitative)

I won’t say much about the Q section, as I simply did practice problems and don’t have any special preparation tips worth sharing.

The only thing I can share is: never underestimate the importance of daily Q practice and pace management. After getting a perfect score on Q in my third attempt, I became overly complacent. I spent almost all my Q practice time on V, and the result was that V improved, but Q significantly declined. Besides losing my problem-solving touch, I also became too fixated on one or two problems, spending too much time on them, which messed up my pace. Therefore, even for Q, which many find easier, it’s crucial to strictly implement stop-loss strategies and properly allocate time for each problem.

IR (Integrated Reasoning)

At first, I found IR questions annoying because there was so much information to read and absorb, yet time was very limited. However, after my reading skills significantly improved, I realized that getting a high score on IR isn’t difficult. I recommend not spending too much time delving into this section; just familiarize yourself with the question types and formats before the exam. As long as your fundamentals are solid, your score in this section will naturally be rewarding.

Conclusion: Persistence and Method

The GMAT truly is an exam where effort pays off. Looking back, the greatest benefits the Finisher Class brought me, besides the innovative teaching methods mentioned above, were Dustin’s tireless reminders and the mutual encouragement from my study group teammates. These kept me motivated to grit my teeth and study late into the night with my prep materials, even when I was physically and mentally exhausted after work.

My previous five attempts were due to being too lenient with myself, which resulted in an indefinitely prolonged battle, turning an acute problem into a chronic one. I hesitated to enroll in A2GMAT’s Finisher Class because I worried I couldn’t commit to studying 4 hours on weekdays. Later, I realized that whether I enrolled in this class or not, I should have been spending that much time on the GMAT every day to achieve a good score. It’s not something that can be accomplished overnight, at least not for me.

I still want to remind students who are considering enrolling or have already enrolled in the Finisher Class to diligently follow Dustin’s study plan. After all, he has accumulated a wealth of experience from many test-takers. Not following his advice might lead you down many unnecessary detours.

690 isn’t an outstanding score, but it’s sufficient for me. During my preparation, I strengthened my reading comprehension (RC), analytical skills (CR), and writing skills (SC). This has allowed me to analyze problems more thoroughly in my consulting work; to write more concise and organized essays when applying to schools; and to quickly grasp key points when reading international literature. Reflecting on these improvements, they are the culmination of two years of effort, and I cherish every bit of it.

In the world of baseball, even a highly talented player can improve their batting performance with guidance from a good hitting coach who strengthens their offensive strategy. The same applies to GMAT preparation: natural talent doesn’t necessarily translate into good scores. Only a systematic approach to problem-solving can lead to steady growth in ability.

不確定自己現在大概幾分？
12 題適性診斷，難度隨作答即時調整，立即拿到 GMAT Focus 分數區間估計與弱點分析

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailMy 710 GMAT Score: A Six-Time Test Taker’s Hard-Won Victory Default Thumbnail5 GMAC 2025 MBA Application Trends Every International Applicant Should Know Default ThumbnailMy GMAT Comeback: From 500s to 700 with A2+Dustin Default ThumbnailMy GMAT Journey to 700 in 7 Attempts: High-Score Tips from a Mature, Working Test-Taker on How I Improved from 540 to 700

Similar Posts

What a GMAT test-taker, from 500 to 605, wants to say to Dustin and fellow students

By

Alan | Third Attempt 605 (Focus Second Attempt) | Finisher Class Table of Contents Toggle A Letter to Dustin Phase 1 (Before Focus First Attempt) Phase 2 (After Focus First Attempt ~ Before Second Attempt) Passing on Experience to Fellow Test-takers Problem-Solving Technique Advice for Test-takers I. Work-Rate Problems II. Mixture Problems A Letter to…

Self-Studying to a 730 GMAT: My Journey with Dustin GMAT

By

This article originally appeared on PTT GMAT. We’ve translated and edited it to make it more accessible to a wider audience.

This article is an explanation of a common Quant problem type that appears on the GMAT, specifically focusing on the logic behind solving it. Let’s dive in.

The GMAT Quant section loves to test your understanding of ratios and proportions. One tricky but common problem type involves mixing quantities of different items and then asking about the resulting ratio or the amount of one item needed to achieve a specific ratio. These problems can seem straightforward, but they often trip students up if they don’t approach them systematically.

Let’s break down the core concepts and then look at a typical example.

Understanding Ratios in Mixtures

At its heart, a ratio problem involving mixtures is about maintaining the correct proportions. When you combine two or more ingredients, the ratio of those ingredients changes based on the amounts you add. The key is to track how these changes affect the overall ratio.

The Common Pitfall

Many students make the mistake of simply adding or subtracting quantities without considering the ratio. For instance, if you have a mixture of A and B in a 2:3 ratio, and you add more A, you can’t just add the new quantity of A to the existing amount of A and keep the existing amount of B. You have to recalculate the ratio based on the new total amounts.

Example Problem

Let’s look at a classic example:

A container has a mixture of milk and water in the ratio 5:2. If 10 liters of milk are added to the mixture, the ratio of milk to water becomes 7:2. What was the original quantity of milk in the container?

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Represent the initial quantities:
Let the initial quantity of milk be 5x liters and the initial quantity of water be 2x liters.
The initial ratio is (5x) : (2x) = 5:2.

2. Account for the addition:
10 liters of milk are added.
The new quantity of milk is (5x + 10) liters.
The quantity of water remains the same: 2x liters.

3. Set up the new ratio:
The new ratio of milk to water is (5x + 10) : (2x).
We are told this new ratio is 7:2.

4. Form an equation:
So, we have the equation:

(5x + 10) / (2x) = 7 / 2

5. Solve for x:
Cross-multiply:
2 * (5x + 10) = 7 * (2x)
10x + 20 = 14x
Subtract 10x from both sides:
20 = 4x
Divide by 4:
x = 5

6. Find the original quantity of milk:
The original quantity of milk was 5x.
Substitute x = 5:
Original milk quantity = 5 * 5 = 25 liters.

Why This Works

This method works because we’re using a variable (x) to represent the common multiplier for the initial ratio. When we add to one component, we adjust its quantity accordingly, and then we use the *new* quantities to form the *new* ratio. Solving the equation then allows us to find the value of ‘x’ and subsequently the original amounts.

Variations and Tips

GMAT problems might involve removing liquid, adding both components, or asking for the final quantity. The core logic remains the same:
* Define variables: Use a variable (like ‘x’) to represent the unknown multiplier for the initial ratio.
* Track changes: Carefully adjust the quantities of the components based on what’s added or removed.
* Set up the equation: Use the new quantities to form the new ratio and set up an equation.
* Solve and check: Solve for your variable and then use it to find the specific quantity asked for in the question. Always double-check your answer by plugging it back into the original problem statement.

Mastering these ratio mixture problems is a great way to boost your GMAT Quant score. Practice a few different variations, and you’ll find they become much less intimidating!