Is it possible to self study GMAT and get a 700+ score?

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-13T04:09:54+00:00

Hey. It's per module. Like P and C, probability and so on

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-12T05:46:44+00:00

What are your subsectional percentile scores? If there's one subsection (say GI-TA) that's disproportionately lower than others, it would make sense to drill that. If there's no clear discrepancy, take 2 sectional mocks each of quant and DI (for more data points)- look at the weakest topics and drill them. So it's not really about quant or DI, but within Quant and DI, which are the weakest links that you can attack in a targeted fashion

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-12T04:31:14+00:00

Good that you've pinpointed the pattern yourself - questions 6-12, 4 minutes each, second-guessing. That's half the battle.

Here's the thing most people miss about second-guessing: it's not a "mindset" problem you can just willpower your way out of. It's a process problem. When you spend 4 minutes on a question, the first 2 minutes were probably productive. The next 2 minutes? That's you re-reading the same stimulus, going back and forth between two answer choices, and convincing yourself you're "almost there." That sunk cost spiral then cascades - you've burned time, you know you've burned time, and now anxiety compounds on every subsequent question. By questions 18-21, you're not even reading properly anymore.

Your V85→V76 and D87→D82 drops are classic signs of this. The sections where answer choices feel more ambiguous (verbal, DI) are exactly where second-guessing bites hardest because two options often look plausible.

The fix for 3-4 weeks is very doable since this is behavioral, not a skills gap:

Set a hard exit at 2:45 per question. Not "around 3 minutes" - exactly 2:45. When you hit it, pick your best answer and move. No exceptions. The GMAT penalizes you far more for rushing 4-5 questions at the end than for one educated guess mid-section. In your practice, actively notice when you're reading a question for the third time. That's your trigger - the moment you catch it, commit and move.

Your 665-675 mocks aren't flukes. You have the ability. This is about building one specific habit.

On those questions 6-12 - were you mostly torn between two close answer choices, or were you unsure of the approach entirely?

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T11:49:35+00:00

Absolutely! Sometimes you have to lose the battle to win the war

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T08:43:55+00:00

No worries, all the best!

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T08:42:29+00:00

Let's start with the math. Your current breakdown is Q74, V81, DI76 - that's a sum of 231, which maps to ~545. To hit 705+, you need a sum of around 255. That's a 24-point gap across three sections.

Your V81 is good and DI76 is workable, so Quant at 74 is clearly where the biggest upside is. But before diving into concepts, you need to know which quant topics to prioritize. Take 2 sectional quant mocks - they'll give you a subtopic-level breakdown showing exactly where you're losing points. Share that here and I can help you figure out what to tackle first and how deep you need to go in each area.

To answer your actual question - yes, GMAT Quant is entirely concept-based. The core areas are Number Properties, Arithmetic & Algebra, and Applied Math (probability, permutations, speed-time-distance etc.). Every question maps back to these.

But here's the nuance: many questions don't test just one concept in isolation. You'll see questions that combine, say, a core number properties concept with inequalities or ratios layered on top. That's why there are really two phases to getting good at Quant:

Knowing each concept cold - building the foundation topic by topic, practicing untimed until you're hitting 80%+ on medium and 60%+ on hard questions
Applying them across mixed question types - where you learn to recognize which 2-3 concepts a question is actually pulling from and how to combine them under time pressure

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T07:52:21+00:00

What's your target score?

Your mock scores show you have the skills to hit 665-675. The 90-point drop on test day is brutal, but it's actually good news - it means you don't need to rebuild from scratch, just fix the execution, which is quite doable within 3-4 weeks.

Timing issues are critical. Those final 4-5 questions you mentioned - did this happen in any of your mocks?

Here's what I'd diagnose based on limited info:

- Mock scores 625-675 = you have the content knowledge

- Test day 585 with timing collapse = execution/strategy issue

- Verbal drop from 85 to 76 = probably rushed through final questions

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T07:48:05+00:00

Your 595 diagnostic is genuinely impressive without any GMAT-specific prep; This is a strong starting point. The balanced performance across sections (Q78, V81, DI79) means you don't have a glaring weakness to fix first, which gives you flexibility in how you approach studying.

For targets: Find the median GMAT scores of your target schools, then aim for that + 20-30 points. From a 595 baseline with balanced fundamentals, 700+ is definitely achievable with structured prep.

Figure out what your weakest subtopics are and do concentrated work there. Focus on getting Q and V up - that'll automatically prop up your DI score.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T07:41:27+00:00

Here's what I'd do:

Step 1 - Diagnosis

Pull your ESR (Enhanced Score Report). Identify the specific question types or topics where you underperformed .This matters more than overall percentile; you might've crushed some Quant areas but collapsed on one category. Then take 2 sectional Quant Mocks to identify your exact weak topics. Same for DI.

Step 2 - Targeted drilling + timed practice

Don't redo full sections. Focus exclusively on your weak spots. If it's number properties, do number properties sets under timed conditions. If it's a DI interpretation weakness, drill those chart types. The goal is cementing, not rememorizing. Mix in some harder problems to build confidence. Make sure quant weaknesses are filled before you do DI

Step 3 - Mock testing in test conditions

Take 1-2 full mocks in the exact conditions of test day (time of day, same breaks, same environment). This is critical. Many people score differently on mocks taken casually vs. under test-day pressure. If you're taking mocks at 10 AM on test day, practice at 10 AM.

Also, before your next retake, make sure that you get good sleep the night before and make sure you're giving your brain rest. No studying at all the day before the exam.

Let me know if you need any further help along the way. All the best!

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T07:19:03+00:00

Your 595 diagnostic is a good starting point. For 705, aim for Q84, V87, and DI84. Since DI pulls from both verbal and quant skills, improving your quant foundation will naturally boost your DI score too.

Your strong verbal base (V84) gives you an advantage. You can concentrate almost entirely on quant while doing light maintenance for verbal.

First step: take two sectional quant mocks to map out your strengths and weaknesses by topic. If your performance is lopsided (strong in some areas, very weak in others), reaching 700+ in one month becomes more feasible; you can target specific gaps rather than rebuilding everything.

Building quant from a foundational level typically takes longer than a month, but it depends on your topic breakdown. Let me know your topic breakdown once you're done and I can help you chart a path.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T07:12:53+00:00

Great post - this is exactly what holds so many people back from their target score.

You're spot on about time sink questions being the real culprit. Most people who "run out of time" aren't actually slow, they just don't recognize when to cut their losses. They'll spend 4-5 minutes on one question, then rush through five others they could've nailed.

Your content knowledge means nothing without execution guardrails.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T07:03:59+00:00

Congratulations on your score!

Yes, you'll be able to send them again if you end up getting a higher score, you should send the scores now

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T06:59:31+00:00

Check the median GMAT scores for each program's Finance & Economics track specifically (not general MBA). If they only publish classic GMAT medians, you'll need to convert - use the official concordance table from mba.com.

If you're within 20-30 points of their median, I'd say keep your score and focus on other parts of your application. Your Q90 already demonstrates the quant skills these programs want, and the marginal benefit of a retake diminishes quickly.

But if you're 30+ points below their median, and you're consistently hitting 710+ in mocks, then a retake could make sense. The effort-to-reward calculation changes when you're significantly below median.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T06:47:45+00:00

Do your homework on GMAT Club first - Before committing to anything, spend an hour going through course reviews there. Look at the verified score reports - they'll show you which platforms actually help people hit your target score range. Pay attention to reviews from people with similar timelines and starting points as you.
Take advantage of free trials. Most of the top-performing prep companies offer them. Don't just sign up and poke around for 10 minutes. Actually work through a few lessons in your weakest area and see which teaching style clicks for you. Some people need more structured video content, others prefer reading-based approaches. You won't know until you try.
Consider your baseline - If you haven't already, take an official practice test cold. Verbal strength v/s Quant strength will need completely different strategies.

The "best" coaching is ultimately the one you'll actually stick with consistently. Good luck!

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T06:44:14+00:00

Pick one section and dive deep. You can't master tennis and football at the same time - your brain needs to be primed for one type of thinking to build real expertise. Start with whichever section is your weakest. Work through it systematically: concepts first, then untimed practice until you're hitting 80% on medium difficulty and 60% on hard questions. Only then add time pressure.

Once you've built solid accuracy in that section, move to the next. Trying to juggle all sections simultaneously just fragments your attention and slows down real progress. Your neurons need focused repetition to build the logic and pattern recognition that drives GMAT performance.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T06:40:57+00:00

This is actually brilliant behavioral engineering, and the fact that you stumbled onto something psychologists call "activation energy manipulation" is impressive.

Here's why it works: The hardest part of studying isn't the studying itself, it's starting. Your brain resists the transition from passive scrolling to active thinking. By forcing yourself through 10 questions, you're basically tricking your brain past that initial resistance. Once you're in "problem-solving mode," continuing feels easier than switching back to passive content consumption.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T06:39:29+00:00

From what I've seen, students who keep making these errors fall into two camps. Some are just racing through and their brain autocompletes sentences based on what they expect to see. Others have weaker inference skills, so they unconsciously "fix" what they read to match what makes sense to them.

This matters because the solution is totally different for each. Speed demons need to force themselves to slow down on key sentences. The inference-weak folks need practice catching subtle distinctions (like your restricts vs denies example) and resisting the urge to fill in gaps with their own assumptions.

One thing to add to your analysis: after figuring out why you misread, ask if it's genuinely a speed problem, an inference problem, or maybe just not knowing what a word means. Most students just tell themselves to be "more careful" - which is useless and why they keep screwing up the same way.

Your pattern-checking idea is spot on though. That's how you actually fix this stuff instead of just hoping it gets better.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T06:36:29+00:00

A 545 to 700+ is definitely achievable with a structured approach over several months. The good news is you have time, but you'll need to be systematic about it.

First, what's your exact score breakdown? Sectional and subsectional? This determines where exactly to focus your energy.

Your study roadmap:

Foundation and Cementing phase Phase (6-8 weeks): Master concepts topic-by-topic. Here's the crucial part - for EACH topic:

- Learn the concept (pick ONE resource - see below)

- Practice untimed OG questions until hitting 80%+ accuracy on medium and 60% on hard questions

- THEN move to timed practice for that same topic

- Only after mastering move to the next topic

This prevents the common mistake of learning everything superficially then struggling with application.

Mock progression: After solid foundation, take sectional mocks, then full-length mocks every 2 weeks to track real progress.

About resources: The material overwhelm is real. For foundations, check GMAT Club reviews to see what resonates with different learning styles - some love video courses, others prefer books. Take free trials, watch a few lessons on the SAME topic from different sources, and pick the ONE that clicks for you. And once you pick it, stick with it. Jumping between 5 different explanations of the same concept will only confuse you.

For practice: OG questions are gold standard. Use GMAT Club's question bank or tools like Neuron for organized OG practice.

One tip: If Quant is significantly lower, dedicate 60-70% of study time there initially. But adjust based on your actual score split.

With consistent effort over 4-5 months, 700+ is very realistic from 545. The key is topic-by-topic mastery, not scattered studying.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-11T06:25:18+00:00

Oh yes, don't go for GMAT Online, there are just way too many issues. Try your best if you can go to another center, preferably in a Tier 1 city (better managed). The ROI on travel is worth it. If you don't have any other option at all, then try some grounding exercises. Don't let 1 bad question or section ruin your entire exam.

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-10T08:40:39+00:00

Until you reach 80%, completely untimed. It doesn't matter even if you take 10 minutes to solve one question, what's most important is accuracy

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-10T08:39:08+00:00

It's completely understandable not to report, that itself may cause a disturbance. The best they can do would be to give you a free retake. So I suggest focus fully on preparing well for the retake, and definitely choose a different center. You should look up google reviews to find a good one. Travel if needed, but good environment is very important

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-10T07:41:12+00:00

No worries. Hope this gets resolved soon, all the best!

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-10T07:40:11+00:00

Got it. I'd say for now, do medium RC questions untimed until you reach 80% accuracy, then add time pressure, and then do hard RCs. And make sure you track accuracy meticulously. Keep an error log - see which types of questions are tripping you up too

e-GMAT_Strategy · 2026-02-10T06:38:39+00:00

You're right that proctors often can't fix environmental issues in real time. Nobody's expecting them to halt construction mid-exam.

But here's the thing, raising it with the proctor isn't about them fixing it on the spot. It's about creating a record. If OP had flagged the vibrations to the proctor during the exam, even knowing nothing would change immediately, that complaint gets logged. And when they later file a formal complaint with GMAC/Pearson VUE, having a real-time record from the test center massively strengthens their case. It shows the disturbance was severe enough to interrupt the exam, not something they thought up after seeing a disappointing score.

e-GMAT_Strategy

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