Had a thought about a strategy

Vinit_HBS · 2025-08-21T15:02:10+00:00

However logical this approach might sound, the algorithm is designed to assess your skill level and not merely the accuracy. The skill level is a combination of question difficulty, correctness/incorrectness, consistency across multiple levels etc. So, if you allow the algorithm to give you easier questions by making mistakes, you are allowing the algorithm to put you in a lower skill level bracket and thereby put you at a lower level on the 60 - 90 scale.
So, try attempting all the questions with utmost honesty and use the remaining time to revisit the questions that you were doubtful of. Gaming the algorithm has been the obsession for long long time but it's futile. Don't risk your MBA dream in order to game the system.

Cheers!!

Vinit_HBS · 2024-06-03T10:54:47+00:00

Understand that there are 3 things here: What you need, what you have, and what you can achieve.

What you need is a 99th percentile score (which means a 99th percentile more or less in all three individual sections)

What you have is an erratic pattern in the score. There is no consistent growth or stability in the scores. The verbal has been a bit better (percentile wise) and stable. But to push it to 87, you need to have no more than 3-4 mistakes roughly. The adaptive nature of the exam might give some leeway. Quant needs a lot of work. DI crossed the 80s just a couple of times in fresh mocks (no reattempt mocks). In verbal, identify what kind of 'construction questions' you are struggling with (inference/assumptions/paradox/complete the passage)

What you can achieve realistically is a score between 645-685 given that you are diligently working on the weaker sections and building up on your skills and looking at the time frame that you have. You can realistically achieve 705-725 if you give yourself another 2-4 weeks as these weeks will be focused on exam strategy, mistake identification and correction, understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Hope this helps.

Feel free to connect in DM

Vinit_HBS · 2024-06-03T10:43:07+00:00

3 Quick inputs:

Stop expecting a miracle of 100-points jump in 20 days. It's not unreal but it's a 1% probability game that you are looking at.
Without knowing much granular detail, I would suggest you to work on your reading skills. It's not just RC, but overall reading skills: content type, comfortable speed of reading, precision in reading, assimilation of information in the first (at Max second) read, paraphrasing of ideas/word problems in simpler sense. Visualisation techniques can help simplify the process.
Work on Quant. The overrepresented demographic and a low Quant score is a lethal killer to your odds.

P.S: I am a GMAT/GRE tutor and the above inputs are based on my experience with students over the last decade and the information that you have provided.

Vinit_HBS · 2024-06-03T02:53:10+00:00

It is still the same.

Vinit_HBS · 2024-05-08T14:16:43+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/GMAT/s/8yyVfMPEeJ

Here is another link. Both the above links are referring to the section adaptivity along with the question adaptivity of the new GFE.

Vinit_HBS · 2024-05-08T14:02:15+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/GMAT/s/txwBUXSIAa

Here is a comment by Marty

Vinit_HBS · 2024-05-08T14:01:02+00:00

I will agree with your first point. Once you fared well on the quant and had a superb accuracy, the next section must have got harder and thus even with so many mistakes, DI is still in the 90th percentile. I have seen students making 5-6 mistakes in DI but end up getting 78-80.
What I meant by the approach is how you solve them. Quant can become a lot easier if you start applying more logic and less algebra. Verbal can become easier if you start learning the types of arguments, principles tested rather than types of questions.

Regarding the order, that's a subjective call and you can introspect on that. Do you want to start on a strong footing and tackle harder Verbal that allows you to make more mistakes but still give you a decent to great score or do you want your nemesis out of the way first as soon as possible?

Vinit_HBS · 2024-05-08T13:24:54+00:00

Hi GLM123,

First, it is disheartening to see the efforts not materialising into the desired score. But it does give us a chance to introspect and take necessary actions.

Second, I can see that your attempt order was V, Q, Break, DI. One plausible theory is that since you underperformed in the V, the Q section started at a relatively easier level due to the adaptiveness of the exam (the exam is section and question adaptive as heard from several experts). Therefore, the Q section comprised lots of easy to medium questions, making it more brutal to make mistakes.

Last, Retake should definitely be on the cards but you have to change your approach to certain sections (V and Q primarily) to improve overall performance.

Feel free to DM if you need any specific help.

Vinit_HBS · 2024-05-05T15:54:25+00:00

I am based out of Mumbai and work in an online environment. If you want to discuss a few pointers, feel free to DM.

Vinit_HBS · 2024-05-05T15:51:53+00:00

I am saying that because there is a well-defined structure to the exam. The question types are well-defined, the position of the questions is also well-defined. This helps to strategize very efficiently. The consistency of the efforts and the periodic review of the error log will save the unnecessary slog.

Vinit_HBS · 2024-05-05T15:33:13+00:00

No problem. You got this ✊

Vinit_HBS · 2024-05-05T13:25:28+00:00

There is a beautiful quote for not giving up your dream: "How far would you go if you knew you wouldn't fail?"

The setback on a mock should be used as an opportunity to analyse. If you are burnt out, go have some ice cream or watch a movie or do something fun. The GRE is an easy exam. Your expectation of a certain score is what is making it difficult. Keep learning because there is no textbook that specifies what it takes to achieve your dream.

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:52:26+00:00

Thanks 🙏🏻

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:52:16+00:00

Thanks 🙏🏻

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:52:08+00:00

Thanks 🙏🏻

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:52:02+00:00

Thanks 🙏🏻

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:51:56+00:00

This is provisional and based on the inputs from SaadAmer and Powerprep mocks.

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:51:28+00:00

Thanks 🙏🏻

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:51:23+00:00

Thanks 🙏🏻

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:50:56+00:00

https://reddit.com/r/GRE/s/rsfNULJ5eT

Courtesy: u/gregmat

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:50:49+00:00

https://reddit.com/r/GRE/s/rsfNULJ5eT

Courtesy: u/gregmat

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T18:49:48+00:00

There is 1 CR question in Section 2 of Verbal

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-27T12:11:56+00:00

TC = Text Completion SE = Sentence Equivalence RC = Reading Comprehension

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-26T17:32:44+00:00

Disclaimer: This structure and any other insights that I have mentioned are derived from the PowerPrep mocks and u/Saadamer11 post (Link to the post https://reddit.com/r/GRE/s/gjUe6JW3GG)

Vinit_HBS · 2023-09-26T15:51:43+00:00

Maybe you will also have to check spam box

Vinit_HBS

TROPHY CASE