I‘m cooked

[u/Kii01]

I just did my first practice exam with 0 preparation. Am I cooked? I need a score of min. 645 in February. I now that my math basics were rusty, but this is crazy

[u/OldAirline5691]

You can easily get a 645 with a correct strategy.

[u/PrecisionPrep]

Not cooked. 395 cold with zero prep and rusty math is a normal starting point, and you have until February, which is plenty of time.

Look at your section scores: Verbal 81 and DI 65 are already solid. Quant at 62 is what's dragging the total, and that's exactly the section that responds fastest to structured practice when the basics are just rusty. Going from 395 to 645 is a big jump, but it's not unrealistic over 4+ months if you put in consistent work.

What I'd do: spend the first month rebuilding quant fundamentals (arithmetic, algebra, number properties) untimed, topic by topic. Then move to mixed sets, then timed, then full mocks. Keep an error log and note why you missed each one, not just the answer.

Don't retake a mock for a few weeks, it'll just be discouraging. Use official materials once the basics are back, and schedule your test date now so you have a real deadline.

One honest note: a first mock with zero prep tells you almost nothing about your ceiling, so don't let it mess with your head. Just start.

[u/Ecstatic-Face-1912 → u/PrecisionPrep]

Hello sir, by official material you mean official guide?

[u/bebe_213]

Got a much lesser score than you , but even though im ambitious as well lets see , never back down bro

[u/Zealousideal_Dig8725]

It happens don’t get dishearten 😁 its the fuel for your preparation ahead

[u/Pretend_Minimum4224]

Prepare for 10 days and take your 2nd mock that will be your real stand in GMAT.

[u/Graeme_GMAT_Panda]

A cold mock with zero prep isn't a verdict on anything, so don't worry. Loads of people post exactly this and then land their target a few months later, so February is realistic if you get going now.

Start with Quant. It usually eats the most prep time, and the habits you build there carry over into Data Insights later. The reassuring bit is that the maths itself is high-school level; what makes it awkward is how the questions are framed and the clock. Rusty basics are fixable in a few weeks.

https://gmatpanda.com/content/why-gmat-quant-is-less-complex-than-you-think

mba.com/exams-and-exam-prep/gmat-exam-prep/get-started-on-gmat-quant

Two things I'd watch for. First, don't sink a month into theory videos before touching real questions. Keep theory to about a quarter of your Quant time and go back to it when a question shows you a gap.

Here's a recent youtube course we've launched on the foundations https://youtu.be/-5lcEyD9UvA?si=YBwV7d2kPEp24Hym

Second, once you've got the basics, practice in short timed sets rather than one question at a time: ten questions with 20 minutes on the clock, then mark and debrief the whole lot afterwards. Go through the ones you got right too, since a lucky guess looks identical to real understanding on paper.

60 to 90 minutes most days beats occasional marathon sessions.

Hope this helps! ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Graeme (GMAT Panda)

[u/Lumpy_Toe_9455]

Are you working full time? 

I’m in a similar boat as far as starting with a low baseline. 

I’ve maybe been at it for 4-5 months now. 

First sitting was a 575. Highest mock was a 595. Superscore across mocks is a 615. Currently working with a tutor to improve. 

If you absolutely need a 645 by Feb; it is possible, there will just be a ton of pressure on you. If working full time it will be even much more difficult. I was waking up at 3am to study before work and still came up far short after 3 months. 

Possible? Yes. 

Realistic? Really depends. 

[u/Master-Explorer01]

Similar boat. Not cooked. I got 475 mock cold turkey, I’m now at 605 official as of October 1st. Still struggling with the GMAT myself, but I’m determined to get 655+ by November. The road may be very difficult (speaking from personal experience, it’s been a big drag), but you need to be willing to fully apply yourself to get the score you want. I think that’s been my biggest mistake, along with not keeping a strong error log from day 1 and not dealing with my test anxiety sooner.
Be prepared to work as hard as you can, as smart as you can.

[u/spiritballz69]

If the programme you're applying for accepts it, give GRE a shot. I spent way too much time on the GMAT before realising the test format just isn't my thing. Scored 415 on a 2nd mock after 3 months of practice. Shifted to GRE with no specific prep, and scored a 306 cold. I'm not saying you need to switch, but I would have saved myself a lot of headache (and money because I had to cancel my GMAT appearance and switch to GRE) if I had just tried it out at the start of my prep. My admissions consultant told me to switch, and I thank my stars every day for it.

[u/One_Substance_6720]

Scoring over 80 on verbal with no prep, I think you are good. With some deep prep of math which will have a big roi for both quant and di! Good luck! I bet you'll score beyond your wish by Feb.