GMAT Score Jump: From 640 to 710 – Strategies & Resources
GMAT 710 (Q51 V34) Experience: A Long Battle with Myself
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Exam Scores and Background
- First Attempt: 600 (Q49 V24) IR: 7 (2020/10/12)
- Second Attempt: 640 (Q49 V30) IR: 4 (2021/08/11)
- Third Attempt: 640 (Q50 V26) IR: 6 (2021/10/08)
- Fourth Attempt: 710 (Q51 V34) AWA: 4 IR: 6 (2021/11/11)
Academic Background: Department of Economics, National Central University (College Entrance Exam English Score: Level 15)
Preparation Time: 2020/07-10 & 2021/02-2021/11 (Total 14 months)
Preparation Materials: Dustin’s GMAT Verbal Terminator Course, A2 GMAT Training Class Handouts, OG, OV, AQ, GWD, PP1, Dustin’s Youtube and Blog, Math JJ
Preparation Journey (First to Fourth Attempt)
First Attempt: 600 (Q49 V24)
For my first attempt, my preparation was just not complete. I’d only gotten through the OG once, CR Book B, KH’s two lecture notes, and PP1 & 2. I wanted to see where I stood, hoping for a bit of luck, but that didn’t happen. After the exam, I was pretty frustrated. Even though I hadn’t really prepared enough, I still went for a consultation with Kory. He looked at my ESR, patiently explained where I needed to improve, and pointed out that while I’d put in effort, I was too naive. I just hadn’t worked hard enough, and I realized I needed the right methods and serious effort to get a good score.
Second Attempt: 640 (Q49 V30)
After a four-month break – during which school projects made me start my GMAT prep all over again – I enrolled in the GMAT Terminator course. Before this attempt, I’d gone through the OG about three times and started OV. My math score didn’t budge, even after a 28-day plan, so KH patiently dug into my blind spots. For Verbal, I talked with Dustin. He saw I was spending way too little time per question (59 seconds in Part 4) and told me to watch his video on dynamic stop-loss and fix my pacing. I’m really thankful Dustin explained the GMAC scoring rules live; it really drove home how important pacing is.
My second attempt taught me:
- You really need to boost your reading comprehension skills.
- Just doing more math problems won’t automatically raise your score.
- Time management is a huge deal.
- Doing the same thing over and over with the same methods won’t get you different results. You have to keep tweaking your approach and find what works best for you.
Third Attempt: 640 (Q50 V26)
By attempt three, I’d basically gone through all the required materials more than twice, focusing mainly on OG 22 and OV. As Dustin says, after reading the OG so many times, you start to think more like the GMAT does, developing a real “language intuition.”
For instance, in SC, I began to spot issues with ambiguity, illogical meaning, and sentence structure. But my Verbal score actually dropped to 26 this time, all because of RC. My SC and CR scores had improved, but in my rush to beat the clock, I’d sometimes just pick an answer I felt was right and move on, not even checking other options, just to keep pace. I had initially hoped to finish the GMAT on my third attempt, so I was quite discouraged and began to doubt if I was suited for this exam. I consulted with Dustin again and then gathered the courage to go for a fourth attempt. My third attempt showed me that just switching strategies isn’t enough; you need a method that fits you, and crucially, you need to keep a positive mindset.
Fourth Attempt: 710 (Q51 V34)
Subject-Specific Preparation Tips
SC
Honestly, up until my second attempt, I hadn’t really grasped what the sentences were trying to say. I’d jump straight to looking for test points, but that’s a risky way to go. As both A2 and Dustin recommend, you absolutely must understand the meaning first. Once you get the sentence’s intent, tackling its issues becomes much easier. My grammar foundation was very weak, so the recommended book for the Terminator course, “Grammar Club,” was incredibly helpful. Of course, A2’s SC Books B and C are essentially encyclopedias of grammar and idioms.
Also, A2’s SC Book A handout is fantastic for clearly understanding how modifiers connect clauses. In tough spots during the exam, the test points A2 taught in class (like the 90%, 95% rules) were super helpful. But the real trick is knowing how to use them and comparing options carefully to avoid errors.
CR
CR really hinges on understanding the question itself. You’ve got to nail the premise! Assumption questions were always my downfall. Eventually, I learned to spot the logical gaps in the argument by fully understanding the question, and then I could pick the right answer. For CR, try to come up with one or two predictions before you even look at the answer choices – it stops you from getting sidetracked. Reviewing shouldn’t just be about labeling question types; it needs to be about figuring out how to tackle similar problems better next time. Dustin’s Terminator training focuses on activating your thinking. After analyzing the question, form your own predictions before entering the options, which will reduce your error rate.
RC
RC was always my biggest hurdle, especially Main Idea questions. After digging into it, I realized for Purpose questions, the verbs are key (understanding the author’s tone and the article’s structure helps). It’s more efficient to eliminate some options and then analyze the details of the remaining ones. Active reading is absolutely essential. I found it helpful to constantly ask myself while reading: “Who’s speaking? What are they saying? Why are they saying it? What’s their evidence? Who are they disagreeing with? What’s that evidence? What happened next?”
Q
KH’s two lecture notes cover all the crucial concepts. The practice problems at the end and those in the study plan are really important. When you review problems, don’t just make a quick correction. Instead, figure out exactly where your solution process went wrong. For example:
- What made the calculation overly complicated and waste time?
- How should I approach similar problems in the future?
- If I’m making a lot of careless mistakes, what strategy can I use to avoid them on the actual test?
During the exam, I actually saw two JJ questions, which was lucky. Big thanks to KH for the detailed JJ explanations.
AWA & IR
The training class handouts cover everything you need for these sections. I usually just reviewed the last two AWA sample essays a day or two before the exam and memorized useful phrases like “at first glance” and “groundless.” I didn’t specifically practice IR, but the handouts have plenty of practice questions.
Dustin’s Verbal Terminator Course
I am incredibly fortunate to have decided to enroll in the Terminator course in July. This period marked the most significant improvement in my preparation. Dustin stays actively involved, discussing progress with students and helping adjust individual study plans. You never feel lost about what to do next. The Terminator course is demanding and thorough, with a significant daily workload. But I truly believe that commitment is what got me to my current score.
One of the most frustrating things about GMAT prep can be finding conflicting advice online. The Terminator course includes study groups where you can hash out doubts, and Dustin always steps in to clarify things, which really boosts learning efficiency and confidence. Bottom line, I really appreciate Dustin’s teaching style and the course content – it made a huge difference for me!
Conclusion
There are so many people at A2 GMAT who are more accomplished than I am, but I’m incredibly proud and happy with what I achieved! Huge thanks to teachers A2, Kory, KH, and Dustin for all their guidance. Also, a shout-out to everyone in the G1S14 study group, my good buddy Anthony, my supportive friends, and my family – Mom, Dad, and Brother. Thank you all; I couldn’t have done it without you.
The GMAT demands real sacrifice. My advice? Tackle it all at once and be done with it, rather than splitting it up, which just wastes precious time, as I learned the hard way.
Preparing for the GMAT is a journey of self-doubt; you absolutely must believe in yourself!
