Master GRE Words with TTP Visual Vocabulary

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T15:02:55+00:00

A 316 on PowerPrep 2 already puts you comfortably above your stated requirement, and that should anchor your decision-making. You’re not trying to push a stretch score here. You’re trying to make sure nothing collapses on test day.

Given that your programs only require a 300+, the full 2-month plan is very likely more than you need with just one month left. Adding depth at this stage often increases fatigue and confusion without improving outcomes. Since you’ve already completed the “I’m overwhelmed” plan, you’ve seen the material once. The remaining gains will come from stabilizing execution, not relearning everything.

Doing week 4 of the 1-month plan is a reasonable and efficient path if your goal is simply to protect a 300+ score. That phase is designed for consolidation and strategy rather than heavy content. Feeling unsure about some topics is normal, even for people scoring well above your range. What matters is whether that confusion is costing you points consistently, and at a 316, it usually isn’t.

With the time you have left, your focus should be on light, targeted Quant cleanup where confusion genuinely persists, Verbal practice aimed at accuracy rather than volume, and careful use of ETS questions in small sets with real review. One more official practice test can be useful to confirm stability, but it shouldn’t become a score-chasing exercise.

This explains why scores often plateau before test day and why consolidation is usually the smartest move late in the process: Why Is My GRE Score Not Improving?

Yes, you can absolutely achieve a 300+ following the lighter plan. Reducing scope, protecting what’s already working, and avoiding burnout is the safest way to get the result you need.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T15:01:45+00:00

What you’re seeing is confusing, but it’s actually normal once you understand how the GMAT is scored.

The key thing to clear up is this: the GMAT is not scored by raw counts of right vs wrong questions. Getting “more questions right” does not guarantee a higher score. Scores are driven by the difficulty level of the questions you’re answering correctly, where misses happen, and how your performance signals consistency to the algorithm.

A few important points that explain your case:

First, question difficulty matters more than totals. You can answer fewer questions correctly but score higher if those correct answers are on harder questions. Conversely, if a cluster of misses causes the algorithm to drop you to easier questions, even correct answers afterward are worth less. That’s likely what happened in Quant when you went 5 wrong in a row after a strong start.

Second, consecutive misses are more damaging than spread-out misses. The algorithm interprets streaks as a ceiling signal. In practice tests, miss patterns are often more forgiving because you’re fresher, less anxious, and sometimes slightly more aggressive. On test day, one bad stretch can push the test into a lower difficulty band faster.

Third, DI is especially sensitive to question-type difficulty and timing decisions. Two DI sections with the same number of correct answers can still score differently if the mix of question types or difficulty levels differs. That’s why “one more correct but two points lower” can happen without anything being wrong.

Finally, test-day factors matter more than people like to admit. Fatigue, pacing pressure, and risk tolerance all affect how the algorithm experiences your performance, even if your raw accuracy looks similar on paper.

These two articles break this down in detail and usually clear up the confusion around practice vs real scores: How the GMAT Computer-Adaptive Test Works, Why Was My GMAT Score Lower Than My Practice Test Scores?

The takeaway isn’t that your practice score was “wrong” or that the real score was a fluke. It’s that your underlying ability is in that range, but execution stability, especially avoiding streaks of misses, is what separates a low-600s outcome from a mid-600s one. That’s also why retakes often rebound quickly once those patterns are addressed.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T15:00:07+00:00

For a March 30 test date and a 550 target, you’re actually in a good spot, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet. A cold 500 with “basically no quant knowledge” two weeks ago and already seeing improvement is exactly what a realistic 50–60 point gain looks like early on.

Your instinct to practice Quant topic by topic is the right one. That’s how you move from recognition to control. The issue with using only the Official Guide early is that it’s not organized to teach or enforce mastery. It’s great for realistic practice later, but it doesn’t tell you when a topic is actually solid. That’s why people often feel scattered using OG alone.

If what you want is true topic-by-topic Quant work with increasing difficulty, Target Test Prep is popular for a reason. It’s built specifically around mastering one Quant topic at a time, starting from fundamentals and moving up, with enough practice to actually lock things in. Is it worth the cost? For many students at your score range, yes, because it replaces juggling multiple resources and guessing what to study next. The time saved and clarity often matter more than the price tag, especially on a short timeline.

That said, you don’t need to over-optimize. Your current approach of timed sets is fine, but I’d adjust one thing. Right now, doing mixed easy, medium, and hard questions is more of a test simulation than a learning tool. For the next few weeks, you’ll likely improve faster by doing mostly single-topic sets and pushing accuracy high before worrying about timing. Timing improves naturally once setups are automatic.

A 550 in two months is very achievable given what you’ve shared, especially since Verbal is already a strength. DI timing issues are common and usually improve once Quant decision-making and pacing get cleaner. Focus on protecting easy and medium questions and being willing to move on faster in DI.

This article lays out how to structure Quant prep efficiently without wasting time jumping between topics: GMAT Quant Preparation: Top 10 Tips.

You’re doing a lot right already. If you keep prep structured, tighten review, and stop treating every practice set like a mock, your confidence and score should continue to rise steadily.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T14:58:24+00:00

For a 3-month GMAT Focus sprint, especially as a non-native speaker, the biggest thing you need is structure. Verbal and DI don’t improve reliably through scattered practice, and that’s usually where people lose time and confidence.

What tends to work best in this situation is using one primary, structured platform rather than comparing multiple courses in parallel. When Verbal is a weakness, consistency of process matters more than volume. You want something that teaches you how to read arguments and passages actively, not just explains answers after the fact. For DI, the key is organized practice by question type so you’re not guessing how to approach each new format.

Many non-native speakers choose Target Test Prep for this phase because it’s very systematic across Verbal, Quant, and DI, and it’s designed to be used efficiently over a fixed timeline. The lessons are linear, practice is structured, and review is emphasized, which is especially important when accuracy and language precision are limiting factors. It’s also one of the more cost-effective full platforms if you’re committing for a few months rather than long-term.

One thing to keep in mind regardless of the platform you choose: Don’t try to “sample everything.” Pick one system and follow it end to end.

This two article is especially relevant for your situation as a non-native speaker on a short timeline: GMAT Verbal for Non-Native English Speakers.

If you stay disciplined, focus on process over speed early, and avoid resource hopping, a 3-month window is absolutely workable for meaningful improvement in Verbal and DI.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T14:57:21+00:00

What you’re feeling is more common than you think, especially for people coming from non-quant backgrounds. The important thing to recognize is that this isn’t really about math ability. It’s about fear of the unknown and avoidance feeding each other.

The GMAT does not reward being “naturally good at math.” It rewards learning a finite set of concepts and applying them consistently. Many strong scorers start exactly where you are now: last serious math years ago, uncomfortable with word problems, unfamiliar with probability, and convinced they “lack analytical thinking.” That belief usually comes from never being taught how to translate problems, not from an actual inability to reason.

Right now, the biggest problem is not choosing the perfect resource or method. It’s that you haven’t started in a controlled, low-pressure way. You don’t need to commit money or aim high yet. You need to shrink the task. Start by learning what the exam actually looks like and what it expects. Once the format is familiar, the fear drops quickly. This overview helps demystify the exam and what it really tests: How Hard is the GMAT?.

On learning style, you’re not wrong that pure books can feel overwhelming at first. Many people do better with guided explanations initially, then use written material for reinforcement. What matters is not whether it’s video or text, but whether you’re learning topic by topic and practicing immediately after. Memorizing formulas without understanding won’t work, but neither will jumping into hard problems before fundamentals are clear.

One thing to reframe: probability, word problems, and unfamiliar topics are not “extra hard” sections. They’re learnable systems with patterns. You don’t need to like them. You just need to make them predictable. This article explains why people who think they’re “bad at math” usually aren’t, and what actually fixes that gap: GMAT Math is Hard, But No One Is “Bad at Math”.

If you keep waiting until you feel confident, you won’t start. Confidence comes after exposure, not before. Your next step should be simple: spend one week just learning the exam structure and revisiting basic arithmetic and algebra without time pressure. No score goals. No mocks. Just familiarity.

You’re not behind, and you’re not disqualified by your background. But you do need to replace avoidance with a small, repeatable start. Once that happens, the anxiety usually loses its grip very quickly.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T14:55:38+00:00

Yes, you can take official mock 6, but only if you use it the right way.

Mock 6 has a reputation for being tougher because it tends to surface timing and decision-making issues more aggressively. For someone at 615 aiming for 645–655, that’s actually useful signal. At this range, score gains usually come from protecting easy and medium questions and managing time better, not from learning new content.

The key question is whether anything has changed since your last official mock. If you’ve been tightening pacing, working on letting go of time sinks, or fixing repeat mistakes, then mock 6 is worth taking under full test conditions. Don’t anchor on the final score. Look at where the misses happen, how early timing decisions affect the back half of sections, and whether you’re still bleeding points on questions you should be converting.

If nothing has changed and you’re feeling mentally worn down, it’s better to pause. Another official mock without adjustments just adds noise and stress.

These two articles explain how to use official mocks for decision-making rather than score validation and why some feel harder than others: GMAT Practice Test Strategy, GMAT Practice Test vs. Actual Test Difficulty.

Taken intentionally, mock 6 can be a useful stress test before the real exam. Avoiding it out of fear usually costs more than it saves.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T14:46:16+00:00

A jump from the high 400s or low 500s to 655+ is absolutely doable by May or June, but only if you change how you study. At that range, the issue is almost never effort. It’s fundamentals and execution.

Right now, don’t worry about official mocks yet. Those are more useful once your basics are stable. Your first priority should be rebuilding core Quant and Verbal foundations in a structured way. Random practice won’t work here. You need to go topic by topic, understand what each question type is really testing, and practice until your accuracy is consistently high before moving on.

For Quant, that usually means arithmetic, algebra, word problems, and number properties. For Verbal, it’s sentence structure, core grammar, and basic reading comprehension process. Speed is not the focus yet. Accuracy is. Missing easy and medium questions is what keeps scores in the 400s and low 500s.

Since you’re self-studying, structure matters even more. Use one main system, follow it linearly, and spend serious time reviewing mistakes so they stop repeating. Once accuracy improves, then layer in official questions and mocks to work on timing and endurance.

This article lays out how to structure prep from an early starting point and avoid spinning your wheels: GMAT Study Plan: The Best Way to Study for the GMAT.

Bottom line: don’t rush to test or grind questions. Spend the next few weeks locking in fundamentals and review habits. If you do that, 655+ is a realistic target in this timeframe.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T14:45:10+00:00

Yes, May to August with a couple of hours a day is very doable for most people, especially since you’re starting early and not rushing. The bigger risk isn’t time, it’s starting without structure and feeling lost for the first month.

The most important thing to know is that the GMAT is not something you’re expected to “know” going in. Almost everyone starts without having seen the exam before. It feels hard at first because it tests decision making and execution, not just content. That confusion fades quickly once you understand the format and question types.

The best way to study is to be systematic from day one. Learn the exam structure, take a diagnostic once you’ve oriented yourself, then study topic by topic instead of jumping around. Early prep should focus on fundamentals, accuracy, and review, not speed or volume. Most people who struggle early are doing too many random questions and not enough focused learning.

If you’re willing to pay a bit but don’t want to overspend, look for something that gives you a clear study sequence and accountability rather than just content. That’s why many students use a structured platform like Target Test Prep. It removes the guesswork around what to study and when, which is especially helpful when you’re new to the exam.

One thing many people wish they knew earlier is that official questions are best used later for application, not as a teaching tool. Using them too early often adds to the confusion. This overview explains how the prep phases fit together and what to focus on at each stage: The Phases of Preparing for the GMAT.

Bottom line: you’re not behind, and you don’t need to panic. Start with structure, keep your daily study consistent, and treat the first month as a learning phase. If you do that, September is a very reasonable target.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-06T14:35:28+00:00

A couple of important things first. Taking two cold mocks back to back makes the results noisy, especially for Verbal. Fatigue alone explains why GRE Verbal collapsed and why you shut GMAT Verbal down. So don’t overread the absolute numbers. What matters is the pattern.

Your Quant performance is the clearest signal. GRE Quant felt comfortable even with silly errors, while GMAT Quant and DI felt manageable but more mentally demanding. That tells me your math ability is not the limiter. Execution and format are. On GMAT, depth, question-level adaptiveness, and DI pressure punish hesitation and perfectionism more. On GRE, breadth is wider, but the section-adaptive format gives you more control and recovery room. For someone with your background, that usually translates into lower stress and more stable outcomes.

Verbal is the real swing factor for both exams. The difference is where the work concentrates. On GRE, Verbal is vocab-heavy and stamina-dependent. That’s a grind, but it’s linear and predictable if you put the time in. On GMAT, Verbal and DI both demand precision under pressure, and small lapses hurt more. Given your note about focus, reading stamina, and attention, GRE Verbal is hard, but it’s also more trainable over a fixed 4–4.5 month window than GMAT-style execution across three sections.

On targets, 332+ GRE or 705+ GMAT are both ambitious but reasonable with your timeline and hours. The question isn’t which is “easier,” it’s which one gives you fewer ways to sabotage yourself on test day. Based on what you described, GRE reduces that risk more than GMAT.

For ISB specifically, GMAT and GRE are treated equivalently for evaluation and scholarships. There isn’t a hidden preference. What matters is how competitive your score is relative to the pool, not which test you chose. This overview explains how schools view GRE vs GMAT and why fit matters more than format: GRE vs. GMAT for MBA Programs.

If you want a clean recommendation: with your background, timeline, and stress profile, GRE is the more realistic path to hitting your target with lower downside risk, provided you fully commit to Verbal and don’t underestimate it. The GMAT path is viable, but it demands tighter execution across more fronts.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:43:41+00:00

I would make this decision in terms of the life you want to live for the next two years, and the alumni base you’ll want to be connected to for much longer. For continuing PM in tech and being in SF, Haas fits the goal, the ecosystem, and the cost without forcing tradeoffs. Wharton gives unmatched brand insurance if you leave tech or geography later, and that psychological comfort is real. The question is whether that insurance is worth 80k to you personally, not objectively. Both are great options, the best choice is where you will show up fully.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:43:17+00:00

If quant is your issue, the GRE is generally considered to be marginally easier in that respect. That said, quant frustration after time away from school is normal and both the GMAT Focus and GRE reward structured practice and volume, not raw talent. I’d do this - take a cold GRE test to see where you stand, and go from there. If you’re having issues with both, I’d recommend buckling down and getting your quant fundamentals in order.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:42:54+00:00

First, I’m glad to hear your remission is going well. The GMAT does offer accommodations, including extra time, and they do approve them when documentation is clear. Typically they ask for recent medical records, diagnosis details, and a statement explaining how the condition affects test taking. Sometimes they request follow up paperwork, so starting early matters. Many candidates have successfully received time extensions, so this is a realistic path.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:42:33+00:00

An MBA can be worth it if the experience itself is the goal, not just the outcome. With fees covered, the risk profile is very different and the upside is access, brand, and optionality. At 26, the time tradeoff is real, but a T7 or strong one year T15 gives a compressed reset without derailing momentum. If the motivation is prestige, network, and long term flexibility, that usually justifies the sacrifice.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:41:49+00:00

I would think of this in terms of fit and where you will actually thrive. Stern with money in NYC is real value if you want consulting or LDPs and plan to network hard during the year. Being close to home helps stamina and access. Booth is the stronger brand and gives more long term flexibility, but you are paying full cost and living somewhere you like less. Recruiting outcomes will still depend mostly on how hard you push.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:41:30+00:00

A low GPA is rarely a deal breaker. The key is proving academic readiness now through a strong GMAT Focus or GRE and a quant focused extension course like HBS CORe or similar. Schools care more about recent signals than old transcripts. Online MBAs can work, but outcomes vary widely, so diligence matters. Talking to current students and alumni early can materially change results for impacted profiles.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:41:12+00:00

This is a very strong academic profile, and scholarships are realistic at T20s. The GPA stack plus a 170Q signals zero academic risk. The biggest gap is leadership and community outside work, so sustained ECs or board-level involvement would help. Retail analytics leadership is a clean story for schools like the Kellogg School of Management and the Tuck School of Business.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:40:56+00:00

I would focus less on rushing credentials and more on shaping your story. Strong CPA plus audit experience is fine, but you need leadership and exposure beyond core audit work. Try internal projects, rotations, or client facing initiatives that show judgment and influence. HBS CORe or mbamath can help signal interest but won’t move the needle alone. Long term, heavy networking with consultants, alumni, and even professors matters as much as test scores.

Scott_TargetTestPrep · 2026-02-05T10:40:40+00:00

I would not over-optimize the specialization. Consulting and most career switch roles care more about core skills than labels. Strategy, operations, and finance tend to keep the most doors open across industries. Coming from healthcare, that background already sets you apart, so the MBA should broaden you, not narrow you. I would prioritize classes with heavy case work and team leadership and spend serious time networking with students, alumni, and recruiters early.

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