My Four-Stage GMAT Score Jump: 530 to 635
GMAT 635 Score (PR85) Student Background and Results
不確定自己現在幾分？
12 題免費測出分數區間 →
Test Score: 635 (PR85)
Academic Background: Department of Finance, National Taipei University
Preparation Materials: OG, OV, GWD, PP, A2 Online Course Materials, Dustin’s Terminator Class, DI Database
Preparation Time: August 2023 – End of May 2024
My Four-Stage GMAT Preparation Strategy
Before the Course: Building a Solid Foundation in Reading and Vocabulary
Before the course began, Dustin administered a reading comprehension assessment to gauge each student’s current level. Based on the results, he assigned specific vocabulary words for us to memorize, utilizing GPT prompts to enhance memory retention.
Stage One: Establishing Problem-Solving Thinking, Focusing on Accuracy Over Speed
The daily problem load was light in this stage, and timing wasn’t required. The focus was on applying Dustin’s taught problem-solving methodologies to each question. After completing the problems, we reviewed them using Dustin’s detailed video explanations and logged our progress in the assignment sheets.
Dustin’s video explanations were incredibly helpful, especially when my problem-solving habits were still developing. Having these videos allowed me to adjust my thinking anytime. I could even identify differences between my approach and Dustin’s on questions I had answered correctly, which highlighted the value of these detailed explanations.
Stage Two: Gradually Increasing Pressure, Adapting to Timed Panic
This was the stage where I took the longest to adapt. The goal here was to gradually introduce time constraints for problem-solving, allowing only a slight overrun of the standard time per question. Initially, the pressure of the timer caused me to panic and unable to even read the questions properly. I overcame this by reducing my time by 5-10 seconds each week, which eventually helped me lower my completion time while maintaining accuracy.
The thought of finishing within a set time felt almost impossible at first. However, by consistently following Dustin’s study plan, I was able to gradually reduce my problem-solving time.
Stage Three: High-Intensity Training to Build Endurance for Continuous Answering
The objective of this stage was to bring the problem-solving time down to match the actual exam conditions. After the training in Stage Two, adaptation in this phase was relatively quicker. Stage Three primarily focused on building endurance for continuous problem-solving, so the daily practice volume was 1.5 to 2 times that of the actual exam.
Even after completing the official practice questions, Dustin provided AI-generated simulated questions based on the official ones. The advantage of this AI tool was its ability to maintain practice momentum while also allowing for the application of similar question types across different topics.
Stage Four: Simulating Real Combat, Building the Courage to Cut Losses
This final stage primarily involved taking mock exams to assess my ability to complete all questions within the exam time. It also required strict adherence to pacing. During practice, I forced myself to move on to the next question after two minutes if I couldn’t solve it, choosing the most likely answer and returning to it later if time permitted.
I used to think that skipping a question after two minutes wasn’t something that needed specific practice. However, during the actual exam, I realized that without this habit, I would get stuck thinking, “Since I’ve started this, I must finish it,” and lack the courage to cut my losses, ultimately leading to a lower score than expected.
GMAT Subject Preparation Tips and Insights
CR Preparation Insights: Clarifying Thought Processes with Logical Chains
Dustin’s logical chain method taught in class was extremely helpful, as it provided a clear framework for reviewing whether my answers were correct. Furthermore, Dustin categorizes all question types into two main groups, which allowed me to approach different question types more systematically.
When eliminating answer choices, it’s crucial to record the reasoning behind your elimination at that moment. This helps in effectively identifying any errors in your analysis of the options, preventing you from mistakenly discarding the correct answer by simply deeming it “irrelevant to the topic.”
RC Preparation Insights: The Key to the Most Significant Improvement
Reading comprehension was the section where I saw the most significant improvement after taking the course. Following the methods taught in class, I learned to apply different reading strategies based on specific conditions. As my reading speed increased, I was able to understand passages in my own natural reading style, just as Dustin described.
The strategy of forming my own answer in my mind before comparing it with the options is, in my opinion, crucial. RC answer choices often present lengthy sentences or numerous traps. Without having my own answer, it’s easy to be swayed by the options and choose a misleading one. Mastering Dustin’s method has allowed me to maintain a high accuracy rate in RC.
DI Preparation Insights: Answering Strategies Under Time Pressure
The most critical aspect of DI is completing the questions within the limited time, making problem-solving strategies paramount. By adopting Dustin’s methods, I successfully reduced my answering time, particularly for Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR) questions.
Consultant KH was responsible for teaching Data Sufficiency. I found KH’s problem-solving approaches and notes to be very clear and concise. The course materials were also thoughtfully organized, highlighting concepts that frequently appear in DS and PS question types.
Q Preparation Insights: Learning Faster Problem-Solving Shortcuts
KH also taught the Quantitative section. While math might not be the most challenging part for many students, I often found that KH’s methods were significantly faster than my own approaches, even for problems I knew how to solve. I made a point of reviewing these faster methods, especially for problems where our approaches differed, to improve my overall efficiency.
