Break Through 630: Smart Strategies to Reach 700 on the GMAT

September 2022 GMAT 700 V35 Q50 (Evening Prep Class)

【Exam Scores】

• First Attempt: 630 Q49 V25 AWA N/A IR 4 | 2021/12/09 (Canceled)
• Second Attempt: 630 Q50 V25 AWA 4 IR 6 | 2022/02/14
• Third Attempt: 700 Q50 V35 AWA 4 IR 7 | 2022/08/04

【Academic Background】

I’m a third-year student majoring in European Languages and Cultures at National Chengchi University.

【English Proficiency】

My English skills are solid; I scored Level 15 on the General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT) and got an 885 on the TOEIC.

【Preparation Time】

I prepared for the GMAT in two main blocks: August 2021 to February 2022, and then again from May to August 2022. That’s about 10 months of studying, with a three-month break in between.

【Preparation Materials】

I relied on the Official Guide (OG), Official Verbal (OV), Manhattan Prep’s Sentence Correction guide, the PrepPack (PP), GMAT Write (GWD), A2 Prep Class Materials, TOEFL iBT Vocabulary books, Dustin’s Blog and YouTube videos, Kaomanfen, Dustin’s Terminator Materials, and JJ.

【Introduction】

Studying abroad was always my goal, so I decided to tackle the GMAT during the summer before my junior year. After a lot of research, I realized the GMAT is more than just a language test. Juggling my university workload, I opted for a prep course. A2 GMAT came highly recommended online, and their post-class resources seemed really comprehensive, so I signed up for their evening prep class that ran from August to September.

【First Attempt】630 Q49 V25

I really put my all into preparing for my first attempt – probably the hardest I’ve ever studied. I went through the OG three times, the OV once, and also finished GWD and PP once. I reviewed the class materials every week, meticulously organized my notes, and summarized them. It was the same approach I used for the GSAT. Even though I never got nervous for school exams, the GMAT made me incredibly anxious. I also chose the testing order of Verbal first, then Quant, IR, and AWA. This probably messed with my focus, and I struggled to concentrate on the questions. Seeing that 630 score was a huge disappointment. I immediately got an ESR report and scheduled a consultation.

(Shout out to A2 GMAT’s post-class resources here.) During the consultation, it became clear I wasn’t really grasping the meaning of SC sentences and my Quant approach was off. My CR reasoning was too shallow, and I fell into that classic trap: “relying only on techniques, not understanding the logic.” I was just practicing questions blindly, memorizing concepts instead of truly understanding them. I thought doing a lot of problems meant I understood them, which, predictably, only got me a 630. I also asked A2 about my test anxiety. The instructor pointed out that nervousness often stems from insufficient preparation, and it’s not a valid excuse for underperforming.

【Second Attempt】630 Q50 V25

Many people say that if you take a break from GMAT preparation, it’s like starting all over. So, I decided to book my second attempt about three months later and continued preparing. My preparation for the second attempt mirrored the first, but I tried to incorporate the feedback from my consultation. Seeing the exact same 630 score was more baffling than disappointing. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my study methods or my understanding. I started to doubt myself, wondering if I was just not cut out for a 700.

Ultimately, I decided to enroll in Dustin’s Terminator course to give it one more serious try.

【Third Attempt】700 Q50 V35

After half a year of intense preparation under constant pressure, the spring within me had finally relaxed. So, I approached this final attempt with the mindset of “whatever the score, this is the last time.” Consequently, I felt much more relaxed compared to my first and second attempts (though I did get a bit of insomnia the night before due to nerves!). Interestingly, while I encountered repeated questions in the previous two attempts, the exam content changed the day before this attempt, and the questions were new. However, I didn’t feel nervous during the exam. Seeing my score finally break 700 was incredibly joyful.

【SC】

SC was my weakest area. Initially, I thought it was purely a grammar test, but I soon learned that sentence meaning and effectiveness were also crucial. I found A2’s SC materials to be exceptionally well-organized and systematic. It felt like I was relearning English grammar from scratch. The A2 SC materials truly opened my eyes to how I had been studying English previously. I’m quite good at memorization, and during my first two attempts, I completely overlooked the “solving order” that A2 emphasized in class. Simply put, I wasn’t truly understanding the sentence meaning; I was just looking for grammatical errors to solve the problem. This approach kept me stuck in the lower score range.

After taking Dustin’s Terminator SC course, I had a real breakthrough. The strategy of “understanding meaning, adopting the reader’s perspective, and anticipating errors” moved me beyond just looking for grammatical errors in the answer choices. This approach also solved the problem I used to have: feeling confident during practice but freezing up during the actual test.

【CR】

In CR, I used to get stuck agonizing over two options, often dismissing valid choices as “irrelevant.” The Terminator CR course taught me a vital concept: “confirm the question’s premise and formulate an answer.” Before this course, my attempts to confirm the premise were weak. I wasn’t clearly identifying whether I needed to attack the whole argument or just the conclusion. Coming up with an answer beforehand stopped me from getting sidetracked by the answer choices and made my CR problem-solving much smoother and faster. The “logic chain” method was also a game-changer for understanding the questions.

【RC】

For RC, I believe vocabulary and strong reading comprehension are key. Unlike typical reading comprehension exercises, GMAT RC demands logical reasoning. Even with dense passages, understanding the function of each sentence and the overall passage structure helps you nail most RC questions. As Dustin taught in the Terminator RC course, “don’t translate every sentence like Google Translate; you don’t need to understand every single detail.”

【Q】

KH’s course materials were incredibly clear and practical. While the Quant section isn’t overwhelmingly difficult, consistent daily practice is crucial. KH’s four-week/eight-week plan is perfect for maintaining your skills. I also redid the GWD questions from my earlier attempts because the math on the actual GMAT tends to be tougher.

【Dustin Terminator】

I can’t recommend the Dustin Terminator course enough. The personalized study plan, homework feedback, and one-on-one consultations helped me pinpoint and fix my hidden weaknesses. I learned the correct ways to approach problems. This course really drove home the idea that “review is more important than drilling.” Doing just six SC questions daily with thorough review was far more effective than drilling thirty questions without proper follow-up.

【Conclusion】

GMAT prep can be a real mental marathon, but I learned so much from this whole experience. I’m really grateful for all the help and encouragement I received. To all the other test-takers out there, I wish you the very best in hitting your target scores soon!

Related posts:

GMAT 710: Breaking the 630 Plateau & Boosting Verbal from 25 to 35 Strategy vs. Scoring: Two Candidates, Different Fates GMAT 685 (PR97) Insights: How Dustin GMAT Helped Me Build a Strong Foundation and Reshape RC and DI Problem-Solving Strategies Boosting My Score: A2 and Dustin’s Advice