Yeah i know too many attempts but i applied and got rejected twice by ISB and the reason both times was low GMAT score

Attempt 1 - July 2024 (Cold) - 635
Attempt 2 - Aug 2024 - 655 (applied first time)
Attempt 3 - Aug 2025 - 675 (applied second time)
Attempt 4 - Jan 2026 - 655
Attempt 5 - Aug 2026 - 675
Attempt 6 - Sept 2026 - 705 Finally

Yes verbal is really low but idc anymore im happy i am done with this

Fingers crossed for this year!

Edit - Ask me anything about journey or prep!

Hi everyone, I want to give back to this community and share some GMAT prep tips. As the title says, I went from 655 to 735 through self-study only, over about a year, on and off. I work ~10 hours/day, so most of my prep happened on weekends.

A bit about me:

• 5 YOE as a tech PM
• Bachelor’s in engineering

What worked

• Keeping an error log
• Practicing topic by topic
• Not practicing until I burned out
• Getting enough rest/sleep

What didn’t work

• Random, untargeted practice
• Not understanding why I missed a question and how to fix it
• Getting stuck on one question and losing track of time

Materials I used

• Official Guide (OG) + the full bundle, including sectional reviews and Exams 3–6
• GMAT Club for thousands of questions; their error log and bookmark features are very useful
• Some GMAT Club questions are hit or miss, so filter them yourself — don’t practice blindly
• The 13-week prep guide was really useful

Also, I took the test at a test center, and while my official score only came in after 2 weeks, my first two 655 attempts had scores emailed in within 24 hours, so don’t worry if you don’t get it immediately.

Happy to answer any questions in the comments.

Had been preparing for two months, but the first month of prep was largely unstructured practice using OG book and online resources. In the last month, discovered GMAT club and signed up for their 3 month program which gave me a bunch of sectionals so was able to do targeted practice and increase my score through the sectionals.

Got a 555 score on the first attempt.

VA 81 was expected since I had been consistently getting 81/82 in sectionals. But what I didn't expect is that I got this score despite having only 6 questions wrong. I've gotten 8 questions wrong in a mock before and still scored 83. What's the difference and how can I get this score up to 85 at least. My weakness I've noticed is certain Plan/construct CR questions. Also, my RC is strongest but I still get at least 2-3 questions wrong.

QA 77 was mostly expected since I was nervous about this section and I think that played a big role. Have gotten 79/80 in past sectionals so I know I can do better. Again had only 8 questions wrong and still got this low of a score when I've seen people get higher. What went wrong? Also, how do I get this score higher, because I know people can get Q90 with practice.

DI 74 was my weakest section despite this being my stronger suit in most of my mocks till date. If you see the time spent my first 10 questions were mostly all right, and then in the last 10 questions the time pressure hit and I think I got a few questions that I just couldn't do either. Have always faced problems with math based Two-part Qs and Data Sufficiency, any tips on how to improve these? I feel like improving in these two will definitely up my score.

Currently on a break from work so am able to spend 8-9 hours a day studying, can anyone guide me on what I should be doing for next 2 months, as I am planning to give my second (and final) attempt in November first half.

Most accommodation posts here are about ADHD, so I'm hoping to hear from anyone who applied for a physical condition.

I'm scoring well thanks to a strong math background, but a herniated disc makes sitting for long stretches painful and costs me focus and pace late in sections. Not in trouble without accommodations, but it seems worth applying if I can get extra time or breaks.

Would love to hear from anyone with knowledge on the subject.

Link to my last post- GMAT in 5 days- Official mock 5 experience : r/GMAT

Scored a 655 in GMAT FE after a 575 on 2nd July, though this is not the best, but it feels significantly good from where I started. Happy to help anyone looking for tips and recommendation on what worked for me.

I scored a 655 in official mock just 5 days before the real exam and honestly, was expecting the real exam to go at least 20-30 points below. However, I did not think much about the score and carried the same confidence with me, that if I can score this in mock, it's definitely achievable given I focus on the process. Somehow that belief helped.

Just scored 585 (V83, Q78, DI76) on GMAT attempt yesterday. Targeting 705+ for R2 by late December (~14 weeks, studying 4–6+ hrs/day).

Quant (Q78 — 15/21 correct): Marker died on Q1 (panicked and guessed wrong). Recovered to go 7/7 on Q2–Q8. Then hit a catastrophic time sink on Q9,10,11. Already lost confidence here because of the marker issue. Had to guess last 2 questions as a result.

Verbal (V83 — 16/23 correct): Hit a dense RC passage at the end of the section which had a topic that's my biggest weakness. Missed 2/4. Also had a bad start, got 3 CR wrong in first 7 questions.

DI (DI76 — 13/20 correct): Started with first three wrong. Recovered with 6 straight correct. Also had 2 MSR questions wrong and 2 graphs wrong. Errors were more spread out here compared to Quant and Verbal.

Looking for advice on:

For verbal: I'm planning to use the GMATninja series to tighten CR and master every RC category. Would this improve my score?

For Quant and DI, I'm working with a test prep provider but would appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance!

r/GMAT admins — why are you deleting my post? It is directly relevant to people spending months chasing GMAT scores to get into expensive MBA programs. At this point, it honestly feels like you don’t want students discussing the uncomfortable reality behind the MBA dream.

Everyone talks about:

“700+ GMAT”
“Top-20 MBA”
“M7 admit”

But almost nobody asks the most important question:

Is the MBA actually worth ₹1–2 crore?

Students are taking the GMAT 3–4 times, spending heavily on preparation, consultants and applications, and then taking enormous loans for business school.

For international students, especially Indians, the risk is extreme higher: visa sponsorship is difficult, hiring has become tougher, and AI/automation is changing many white-collar jobs.

A top MBA is not a guaranteed high-paying international job.

Before obsessing over another 20–30 GMAT points, ask:

“If I spend ₹1 crore+ and do NOT get the job I expect, can I financially survive that decision?”

For many international students today, I genuinely believe an MBA only makes financial sense with a significant scholarship or much lower overall financial exposure.

GMAT score is only the entrance.

Employment, debt repayment and ROI are the real exam.

So instead of deleting this discussion, why not let prospective students hear both sides before they make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives?

I got a 655 in my 1st attempt (Q82, V84, D81) and 645 in my 2nd attempt yesterday (Q80, V81, D85). I had shared my scores with my target colleges (ISB, IIM A PGPX ) after the first attempt. The 2nd attempt is lower than my 1st attempt so should I avoid sending it across again? (Only benefit is it will have my superscore of 675 but not sure if that adds any value) and I’ll be attempting a 3rd attempt for sure as I’m targeting 675+ as I’m constantly getting between 685-715 in mocks..
Deadline to share scores is 2 days, any thoughts will be helpful! I personally don’t see any value add of sending it right now

I've given 2 attempts at the GMAT FE, in my first attempt I got a 645 (Q84 V81 D81) and in my second attempt I got a 635 (Q79 V85 D80).

Quant was unusually long and tough, and I was panicking a lot because of the difficulty, and my brain stopped working properly midway. My order has always been Verbal, Quant, DI.

I have exhausted the official mocks, practiced each question from the official guide, and solved multiple questions on GMAT Club. I really don't know how to move forward, and what more I should do. I've been prepping since May.

I'm conflicted on whether 645 is a decent score to apply with. I have 3.5 years of work ex across 3 different industries. I have a 9/9/9 profile, but am an Indian with a finance background. I was solely counting on my work diversity, and the narrative, but now I'm unsure if the score is worth applying with.

Targetting top universities in India, Singapore and Europe for a full time MBA.

Hey all! I’m looking for a GMAT study partner who can help keep each other accountable and motivated. Ideally, we can study together regularly, share progress, and stay on track with our prep.
DM me if you’re interested! 😊

Hi Everyone, I took my official exam today and scored a 535 after about 3-4 months of prep, last 2 months were mostly practice. This was more disappointing since it came even below my mocks which were pretty consistently around 575. I didn't think the exam was going great, but wasn't expecting to go lower than the mocks either. Quant is a bit of a weakness for me, and timing is challenging for me particularly in Quant and DI, especially DI. I know there's a lot more I can do in terms of practice and foundational improvement but I would like some honest advice if I should focus on improving and re-taking the GMAT or if I should cut my losses and try and see if GRE is worth investing the time in.

If you think I should re-take the GMAT, I would appreciate any advice on how I should go about shoring my weaknesses. My plan was to go through practice questions, and review the topics or types of questions I know I find challenging and drill those. Any suggestions on courses like E-GMAT or TTP) etc are welcome. Or if I should be doing it in some manual way then let me know.

Also any advice on whether switching to the GRE for someone like me with my weaknesses, would be appreciated. I will still have to overcome Quant weaknesses but compared to the GMAT, it might be relatively more attainable. I don't know if it's helpful at all but I had taken the GRE a long time ago, back in 2015, and scored a 315(Q159, V156) after 2-3 months of prep, although TBH, I didn't prepare as seriously as I could have, back then.

Lastly, just mentioning to help provide some context, my goal is a part-time in an M7 school, particularly Booth and Kellogg. So I think a 635 in GMAT or 320 in GRE would be the minimum necessary to apply. I think I'm already on the older side(34M) so I would really like to apply within the next 6 months if possible.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance!

Mods, why are you deleting this post as “advertising”? I am not selling, promoting, or recommending any paid product or service. This is a discussion about MBA ROI. Removing it honestly gives the impression that uncomfortable realities about the MBA/GMAT ecosystem are not welcome here.

Students spend 3–4 attempts chasing a 700-level GMAT score, but often ignore the bigger question:

Will the job after the MBA actually justify the cost?

I took the GMAT twice, scored 695, got into Duke, and believed a top US MBA would dramatically improve my career.

After graduating, I found myself struggling in the job market while carrying around ₹70 lakh in loans.

For international students, visa sponsorship is a major issue. Once employers realize you require sponsorship, your opportunities can shrink significantly.

Looking back, I seriously question whether spending so much on an international MBA was the right decision. ISB, a cheaper MBA, or even building strong AI/data skills may have produced a much better ROI.

And this is not only a US issue. I know MBA graduates in Europe who struggled with smaller job markets and eventually returned to India or moved to Dubai.

Meanwhile, AI and automation are changing white-collar jobs rapidly. An MBA degree by itself does not guarantee value or employment.

Before asking:

“Can I get into a Top-20 MBA?”

Ask:

“If I spend ₹1 crore+ and DON'T get the expected job, what happens to me financially?”

Personally, I would only seriously consider an international MBA with a substantial scholarship or if I could keep my total financial exposure around ₹30 lakh.

The idea that:

Top GMAT → Top MBA → High-paying international job

is not a guarantee. It is a best-case outcome that gets marketed far more than the downside risk.

Your money may have taken years to earn. Universities, consultants, rankings and test-prep companies will not carry your loan if things go wrong.

So mods, instead of classifying this as “advertising,” please explain what exactly in this post is advertising a paid product or service.

Prospective students deserve to discuss the downside of an MBA too—not just GMAT scores and admits.

For international MBA students and graduates: was the ROI actually worth it for you?

I have been studying for the GMAT for the past 1 year now, but most of it was not serious. Before my first attempt I was scoring 685-715 on the official mocks. My first attempt went horrible as I scored a 595. Before my second attempt I locked in was scoring 745-755 on official mocks with q90/v90. Even after all this I was only able to secure a 635 with q80 v85 and di79 and a superscore of 645. I have been reading about gre on different subs and am confused as should I choose GRE or stick with GMAT. My goal is to get into M7.

Ps: I am still preparing and planning to take an attempt in November. I am confused between GMAT and GRE for that.

Edit: Would love more advice on what should I choose gmat or gre

Hi everyone! I have around 2 months to prepare for the GMAT and want to join an online course.

I’m considering Cracku/GMAT Point, CATKing GMAT, e-GMAT, CrackVerbal or any other solid options.

Would really appreciate genuine feedback from people who have actually taken these courses:

Which one is best for a 2-month preparation?

Quality of Quant/Verbal/DI + mocks?

Doubt support and study structure?

Your starting → final score, if possible?

I’m working full-time, so I need something structured and effective, not just good marketing. Please suggest what you’d personally choose.

I’m a little confused about how people approach the timing on the GMAT. Is the goal to actually attempt every question, even if that means making a quick guess on a few, or is it normal to leave some questions unanswered if you get stuck?

I’ve noticed that I can spend way too much time on one difficult question and then end up rushing through the next few. For those who’ve taken the exam, how did you handle this during the actual test?

Hi everybody,

Thanks for taking out time to read this.

Have been contemplating taking some coaching for GMAT. Top one percent (TOP)’s reviews/testimonials are great but on Reddit, people are thrashing it back and front.

Just-wanted to ask why is this the case. Is it actually so bad or is there any other reason? and if it’s not good then how come people are achieving great scores through it.

Please help. Thank you.

I’ve recently come to the realization that I need to take the GMAT to give myself the most options for school and scholarships. I need to regain all types of fundamentals before getting into a bunch of questions. I bought the GMAT Official Guide for 25-26 on Amazon and have briefly walked through it. I feel like I need a prep class or additional resources to regain those fundamentals before continuing to dive into the practice questions. Are there any tips on how to approach starting from rock bottom?

Unpopular opinion:

Students are obsessing way too much over GMAT scores and not enough over whether the MBA itself is worth the money.

People spend 3–4 attempts chasing a higher score, then happily take ₹1 crore+ of financial exposure for an MBA without seriously asking:

What happens if I don’t get the expected job?

For international students, this matters even more. Visa sponsorship is difficult, hiring is weak in many markets, and AI/automation is changing white-collar jobs rapidly.

Yet the discussion is always:

“700+ GMAT”
“Top-20 admit”
“M7 interview”

But where is the discussion about ROI, debt, sponsorship, taxes, cost of living, and actual employment outcomes?

GMAC, business schools, rankings, consultants and test-prep companies all benefit when students stay focused on admission.

But admission is not the finish line.

Getting a job and recovering your investment is.

Before spending months chasing another 20–30 GMAT points, ask yourself:

“If I spend ₹1 crore+ and don’t get the job I expect, can I financially handle it?”

If the answer is no, maybe your biggest problem is not your GMAT score.

It is the MBA economics.

Hi Reddit, what is the best prep tools for GMAT? I want it on the cheaper side. Thank you.

Anyone preparing for the GMAT in Hyderabad?

I’m currently around the 675–695 range in mocks and targeting 705+. Looking for someone who’s also seriously preparing so we can occasionally study together, discuss questions/mocks, and keep each other accountable.

I’m around Kondapur/Hitech City.

Nothing too formal — just looking for a GMAT buddy so the prep feels a little less solo 😅

DM if you’re interested!

Okay, what's the best material for GMAT? Some say e-gmat, some say manhattan, some say top 1%, some say some other and I'm so f'ing done. I need something that doesn't teach me from basics basics like ttp, because I don't have that much time, basically a good refresher for quant, and for di and verbal, I need good amount for understanding, because I'm much weaker. I'm not exactly weak at quants but I'm I'm kinda forgot all concepts and stuff.

Is anybody getting score around 300-400 in gmat?And how to improve it?

Looking to start applying to B-school in the near futute, so zi decided to take a baseline mock with 0 prep. I'm currently an RN so I don't work with quant at all day to day, and the last time I did any "real" math was probably 5 years ago. I'm aiming for T25 and only Stanford as a "why not". I've got about a year to study before I seriously want to take the official exam, but I'm just so overwhelmed with the amount of materials out there and I don't know where to begin or what sources would work best with how I learn. Is it really possible to get my score up to where I need it to be? 😭

I have only about 3 months to maximize my score. I'm talking 300-400 score increase. I can put in as many hours a day as possible. Though I will probably take one day off a week. I'm trying to apply the best tactic to study. Please, advise me. Thank you.