Saying Goodbye to My Long-Stuck 500 Score: How I Scored 710 with Dustin GMAT
Table of Contents
August 2023 GMAT 710 V35 Q50 (Evening Training Class + Dustin Finisher Class)
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[Exam Scores]
- First Attempt 580 Q49 V20 IR:7 (cancelled) 2021/09/13
- Second Attempt 560 Q49 V18 IR:5 (cancelled) 2022/05/30
- Third Attempt 590 Q45 V26 IR:4 AWA:4 2022/08/31
- Fourth Attempt 710 Q50 V35 IR:7 AWA:5 2022/11/16
[Educational Background]
[Preparation Time]
- July-August 2021: Training Class ~ First Attempt in Sept 2021
- Oct-Dec 2021:Prepared half-heartedly while interning
- Feb-Apr 2022: Finisher Training Class + Snake Game
- May 2022: Second Attempt
- May-Aug 2022: Focused on Verbal and saw improvement, but my Quant score dropped
- Sept-Nov 2022: Re-listened to A2’s recordings, re-read the handouts, and combined with Dustin’s reading training and logical thinking, I finally hit 710!
[Study Materials]
- V: A2 Training Class Handouts, Dustin Finisher Course, OG, OV, PP 1-4, GWD Mock Tests, KMF, Dustin’s Blog
- Q: KH Handouts, Snake Game, GMAT Exam Questions (Jijing)
[Interlude]
My friends were also taking classes at A2, so I signed up with them! I remember just before the training class started, there was a sudden pandemic, and classes were temporarily moved online. The day before class, I still hadn’t received my handout package. To my surprise, A2 and the administrative staff immediately drove to deliver the handouts to me in another county. Even before class started, I was already encouraged by A2 GMAT’s warmth, which motivated me to study hard!
[Foreword]
During the July-August training class, I felt I was incredibly diligent in class, taking notes diligently and reviewing everything. However, this confidence led me to believe I remembered all the concepts after my first two attempts, and I only reviewed my separate notes.
It wasn’t until I was preparing for my fourth attempt that I suddenly realized I needed to re-study A2’s handouts and listen to the recordings. I discovered I had missed so many details, so I want to remind everyone to truly listen to A2’s advice! After practicing questions for a year or two, and with the improved reading ability and problem-solving mindset from Dustin’s training class, listening to the course recordings again truly revealed how well-structured A2’s handouts are. The entire SC framework became clear, and it was like a light bulb went off!
[First Attempt 580]
After finishing the training class, I studied for a month and a half, completed OG and PP1-2, and decided to test the waters. As expected, I performed terribly. After my first attempt, I took my ESR to A2 for a consultation. The teacher gave me a question and asked me to translate it for him. He immediately pointed out my issues: trying to rely on cleverness and my existing English ability to take the test, and not reading carefully enough, often missing a lot of information in a single question.
[Second Attempt 560]
During the training class, I vividly remembered A2’s repeated advice: “If you don’t touch GMAT for a day, you’ll feel hideous!” But after each attempt, I would get extremely discouraged and doubt myself for a long time before starting again. Each time I restarted, I just kept practicing questions (thinking I remembered all the concepts).
After two months of practicing questions, I still found my error rate to be very high. So, I enrolled in Dustin’s Finisher Class, which gave me a completely different mindset for approaching questions and simultaneously improved my reading ability! I highly recommend Dustin’s Finisher Class; it’s perfect for students who need a push. At that time, I was interning, taking classes, and preparing for the GMAT simultaneously. Dustin would regularly have one-on-one discussions with students about their progress. He completely called me out on my lack of seriousness, and it was evident that my score even dropped when I took the test right after :(
[Third Attempt 590]
My internship ended, and the declining score jolted me awake. This time, I seriously practiced Dustin’s reading strategies, focusing entirely on Verbal. My Verbal score improved, but I neglected Quant, falling into the trap of focusing on one at the expense of the other QQ.
[Fourth Attempt 710]
[SC]
In my first two attempts, I relied on what I thought I remembered to repeatedly work through OG and PP1-2. Even when following the teacher’s problem-solving steps and identifying the hierarchy of test points, I would just look at the explanations or KMF for every mistake and assume I understood. Little did I know, I was completely wrong!
After the solid training from Dustin’s Finisher Class, my reading ability significantly improved, and I gained a better grasp of SC sentence structure and modification.
For my fourth attempt, after re-reviewing A2’s SC handouts, I organized the test points more comprehensively. For every mistake, I cross-referenced the handouts and my notes, re-examining that specific test point. Even for questions I answered correctly, I would look at why other incorrect options couldn’t be chosen. If I couldn’t explain it myself, it meant I didn’t fully understand.
[CR]
I always felt confident about CR before the exam. When I first finished the class and worked on the handout questions, my error rate was the lowest among Verbal sections. However, once I started practicing with PP, it became dreadful.
Later, through Dustin’s Finisher Class, I learned a different way of thinking: after reading the question, first anticipate my own answer (during the exam, I’d even hear a voice in my head saying, “Explain it in plain English”), and then look at the options. I used to be easily misled by options or eliminate answers based on irrelevance. In retrospect, I realized I was often just skimming. But using Dustin’s method suited my thinking better. After solving each question, I would also consider why other options were incorrect. I believe this step is crucial, and reviewing incorrect options also helps reinforce many concepts!
[RC]
My RC score was highest in my first attempt. At that time, A2 pointed out that I was relying too much on my existing English skills, just brute-forcing my way through. I wasn’t really accustomed to or skilled at precisely identifying the article’s structure. Especially under time pressure, I often just randomly picked answers based on keywords. But with more practice, I realized the two most important things for RC are:
- When reading, grasp the article’s structure and the main idea of each paragraph.
- When answering questions, locate the relevant text in the passage.
[Quant + Math Snake Game]
For Quant, I really must warn everyone not to neglect it. In my first attempt, I thoroughly reviewed the handouts and completed the practice questions, which helped me score Q49. For my second attempt, I continued practicing questions. I highly recommend the Snake Game course: 12 questions daily, small meals but frequent, covering different concepts in a balanced way, and practicing questions of a certain difficulty level. My Quant level was maintained!
The key was that during my third attempt, I intensely focused on Verbal. I thought I remembered the Quant concepts, so I didn’t specifically practice it. The result was exactly what I feared: focusing on one at the expense of the other! My Verbal score went up, but Quant dropped to 45, preventing my overall score from increasing. I didn’t even break 600 in my third attempt; I could have kicked myself for being so foolish == (You really need to listen to your teacher’s advice).
[Dustin Finisher Course]
The Finisher Course solidly honed my reading ability from the ground up. In class, Dustin would have us do reading comprehension exercises, and homework assignments also included reading articles and continuously practicing reading questions to see if our reading ability improved. The enhanced reading ability, combined with recording my problem-solving thought process and receiving feedback from Dustin, allowed me to quickly and effectively identify my blind spots and areas for improvement. It was truly efficient!
Dustin has a very comprehensive and detailed study plan. He would regularly meet with us one-on-one to discuss our progress. He could tailor the amount of material to study and questions to practice based on the time I had available for studying, creating a personalized study plan for me. Whenever I felt stressed or encountered difficulties, I could always bring them up with Dustin, and he would help me adjust based on my individual situation. It was truly custom-made!
One of the most thoughtful aspects of the Finisher Class was assigning us to small groups to discuss questions. And before the exam, you could even book Dustin’s accompanying service to get his encouragement before entering the test center. In the Finisher Class, not only do you get abundant resources and fellow students to work with, but also excellent guidance and companionship from a mentor. It truly is a confidence booster on the path to conquering the GMAT!
[IR/AWA]
For IR, I practiced for my first attempt and went straight to the exam. I didn’t specifically practice for subsequent attempts. The main thing is to be careful. If your reading ability is up to par, IR should be stable!
Memorize the “Seven Deadly Sins” from the AWA handout; they are very useful! I would take out the handout’s templates and the Seven Deadly Sins to memorize them the day before each exam when I was anxious. It helped to slightly divert my attention from being too nervous about Verbal and Quant!
[Conclusion]
You really need to listen to your teacher’s advice. Blindly practicing questions is just a waste of time. You need to delve into why incorrect options are wrong and then review the concepts. You don’t necessarily need to do many questions, but you need to do them thoroughly.Being unable to settle down, not preparing for the GMAT in one go, and focusing on one section at the expense of another were the reasons I couldn’t break the 600 mark three times. You need to build up your reading ability, constantly review concepts, organize test points, and with the resources from A2GMAT, Dustin’s blog, and the Finisher Course, and by adjusting your mindset, you will eventually achieve your target score! Everyone, keep up the good work! I wish you all success in conquering the GMAT soon!
