How I Scored A 725 On The Gmat Focus And How You Can Ace The Gmat Too

In this video, I'm sharing my journey of scoring in the 99th percentile on the GMAT Focus. This isn't just a story of hard work; it's about strategic preparation and understanding the nuances of the exam. From a humble 46th percentile to a leap into the top 1%, I saw my score jump by nearly 200 points.
In this detailed video, I outline the practical steps and strategies that helped me excel. I emphasize the importance of creating the right study environment and aligning your preparation with the actual test conditions. I discuss the study duration, highlighting the need to train your brain for the GMAT Focus's intensity and length.
I delve into the selection of prep courses, comparing my experiences with different providers to help you make an informed choice. As the GMAT Focus doesn't allow calculators, I also stress the importance of sharpening your mental math skills.
Beyond the basics, I offer insights into physical preparation, such as using a bookstand to simulate test conditions, and mental readiness, including the crucial aspect of timing your practice. My advice is rounded off with a focus on maintaining a calm and composed mindset during the test.
This video is packed with practical advice and strategies for anyone aiming to excel in the GMAT Focus. Whether you're prepping for your first GMAT or looking to improve your score, you'll find invaluable guidance and inspiration in my journey.
If you're interested in learning more about business and preparing for an MBA, remember to like this video and subscribe to the channel for more content like this. Feel free to drop any questions in the comments, and I'll do my best to help. Thank you for watching, and I look forward to seeing you in the next video.
0:00 Intro
1:00 Where?
2:31 How Long?
4:58 Should You Take A Course?
6:11 Which Course Should You Take?
7:30 Math
9:30 Your Little Study Book
10:15 Section Order
11:10 The Most Important Advice

[@Bishkae_]

Can you bring your own paper and pen to take notes during the test? or the test center provide you with paper and pen? Can I have the paper and pen during all the sections (Quant, Verbal and Data Insights). Also can you make a short video about your test day like how many hours before the test you woke up, how you were feeling when you are about to take the test on computer etc.. Thank you so much for your video! It was very helpful ;)

[@coby_hunter]

If you take it at home you use a white board and marker if you take the test in person, you have these laminated papers and a whiteboard marker, if enough people like your comment I’ll totally do a prep video

[@obZen07]

@@coby_hunter Would def appreciate a prep video and pros and cons of taking at the center vs home.

[@sainaicker4940]

This would be super helpful. Thanks for this video its gold.

[@thegmatstrategy]

Great job staying in the game and getting a great result! And thanks for giving back by sharing your experience. Super valuable!

[@coby_hunter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@IkechiUkazu]

Great video Coby. Super uplifting and encouraging. Will do these tips, bro.

[@Galbra1th]

Great video!! This was super reassuring for me as I didn’t perform as well as I would’ve liked on the first exam.. I too struggled with quant the most and was very good at others. Do you think Manhattan is best for quant?

[@coby_hunter]

I only did manhattan and Princeton reviews but I think manhattans was better but ultimately you just have to drill your math concepts a ton

[@lorenzoolgiati2480]

Any tip for the verbal part? Both reading and comprehension and critical reasoning.

[@andrecorreia4301]

Hi Coby! Thanks for the video. Really insightful. I was just wondering whether you got Self Study Toolkit, GMAT Focus™ Edition or the All the GMAT Strategy Guide Set by Manhattan Prep. I was wondering whether it would be worth it to pay extra to get the 6 Gmat Focus practice exams and the updated books. Also how did you go about actually making test runs, did you buy OG mocks?

[@coby_hunter]

I would recommend getting the one with the practice exams. I think I ended up doing eight total practice exams preparing for my test. And I did all of them through Manhattan prep. They give you promo codes that give you access to the gmat official guide, mock tests.

[@braxtonhatch4295]

Would love to get guidelines on how long we should be spending on easy questions versus medium versus the hard quant questions. At what point should we cut our losses on those hardest questions.

[@surmin9751]

Thanks for the video! Do you think the previous years books are relevant to study (like 2021)? Or only the most recent ones are good?

[@coby_hunter]

If you work with GMAT books instead of GMAT focus books, you’ll end up studying a bunch of stuff that isn’t on the test so I’d get up to date books. The little cost savings isn’t worth it

[@Anon48657]

What is the best resource when you start from 0 and come from an undergrad which is not business related?

[@Dazzler1223]

I cant find manhattan prep for gmat focus ?

[@ritik2044]

I have been procrastinating starting the prep for months now. Have made up my mind to start today. Any advice going in? I work weekdays so I’ll be taking prep classes on weekends

[@coby_hunter]

I would just make sure you take time every day to study, after you get home from work, get a little workout in and then put at least an hour of study in. It’ll be grueling but it’ll pay off

[@sohail.melwani]

I'm in the same situation. The thing is, I don't know where to start.... I need to build my foundations but again i'm not sure where from. Any tips?

[@gutstodance9999]

I loved your video and your energy ! What is the difference between "all the quant" and "foundations of math" ? Thanks !

[@coby_hunter]

All the quant is the actual math for the gmat, the foundations of math is just that foundations to get you to the point where you are ready for flat math. So if your algebra and basic math facts are already pretty strong you won’t need the foundations hardly at all

[@gutstodance9999]

@@coby_hunter do you have advice specific to improve on CR questions ? thanks !

[@coby_hunter]

I will be making a full video on this in the coming weeks

[@dirk.no-whisky.4u]

0:11 actually, Gmat focus scales are different from Classic scale, so your jump from 550 on classic to 725 on Focus is a lot more impressive. 725 is something like 770 on the old scale

[@Pearl-mg1fx]

any advice for Reading Comprehension in specific?

[@coby_hunter]

What part of reading comprehension are you struggling with? One thing that helped me was to take super shorthand notes as I was reading that way I had a road map of where different facts were in the reading so I could more easily go back and check it as I was answering a question

[@devagarwal4299]

How to prepare for data insights?? It's actually killing me

[@aaronholmstrom2926]

bro where are you doing your MBA

[@eurofarms.a.6834]

Do you know what the weights are for Quant, Verbal & Data Insights? Are all three sections about 33% of the grade or is there more weight put on Verbal e.g. Verbal 50% Quant 25% Data Insights 25%?

[@coby_hunter]

My understanding is that they are all equally weighted

[@udaykota5927]

It's equal, it's mentioned in the website

[@JanMarsalekWirecard]

Hey, thank you for your video. I have to take the GMAT focus April 28th (so in 18 days), I haven't studied yet do you think it is possible?

[@coby_hunter]

To take it or to do well on it? I don’t think you will be able to get a top score with only 3 weeks of studying. You could score solidly but I would push back the test day if you can

[@JanMarsalekWirecard]

@@coby_hunter also I am a little late with the master's registration due to various factors, so the GMAT exam has been pushed upon me... I really want to fulfill the GMAT and submit the application before May 1, the minimum is a 560 so I aim for that or higher... I am graduating this summer so I want to do my masters as soon as possible... If don't do the GMAT I will have too look for an internship to fill in the inactivity gaps until Feb 2nd (for the second master start).

[@gutstodance9999]

do you have some tips for the critical reasoning section ?

[@coby_hunter]

I'll be posting a video about critical reasoning next week!

[@abhishektomar5314]

Any specific tips for how can I improve my verbal section?

[@coby_hunter]

Are you struggling most with the reading comprehension questions (where you read a text and answer questions on it) or the critical reasoning questions?

[@poojaarora9504]

When I took my first attempt, I couldn't score well and had to cancel it. Now, preparing for New Focus Edition and using the TTP online self-prep course, Official guides, and Gmat club resources. Do you think these materials are sufficient for our prep? If not, then what do you recommend?

[@coby_hunter]

I’m not familiar with ttp’s course but if you take the time to study I’m sure you will do well

[@poojaarora9504]

@@coby_hunter Thank you!

[@omen2667]

hey pooja , How is your TTP course helping you for GMAT fe ? I tried the trial period it looks like full of PDF reading and then practice question , as a visual learner it was kind of tough for me , so now I am kind of confused should I go with TTP or obtain manhatten online

[@t.saditya709]

How is the gmat focus compared to the old version of gmat

[@coby_hunter]

This Kaplan article does a great job of explaining it www.kaptest.com/study/gmat/what-is-the-gmat-focus-edition/#:~:text=Compared%20to%20the%20classic%20version,Integrated%20Reasoning%20to%20Data%20Insights

[@lavanyasinghal6306]

Do you have any free resources which may be helpful like links and stuff

[@coby_hunter]

There are a ton of free resources, I would check out kaplans website but just googling it will give you a lot of resources

[@sarasiddiqui9471]

Which GMAT focus mock is available for free?

[@coby_hunter]

there are lots of options you can just google in and pick whichever you please

[@utkarshtyagi3837]

How is TargetTestPrep for gmat preparation?

[@Pheer777]

I’m taking it right now and am about 30% through. It takes a really long time but I feel like I’m really learning the material.

[@sohail.melwani]

Hey brother, I just came across a 20% sale at Manhattan Prep and thinking about spending $680 for the on-demand course. I just had a few questions if you don't mind addressing? 1. The company advertises 25 video lessons a. How long are these video lessons? Are they short format video lessons or long ones? b. Do the video lessons cover most of the material? I'm someone who likes to watch videos more than read so I'm not very keen on reading material as such c. They are charging me $49 + $85 for shipping the physical books, is this worth it? The other option I have is to join a trainer who takes group classes and charges $600 for 6 months. But the $680 Manhattan charges, they provide official tests and guide which I think would be an advantage as well. Would really appreciate all the help.

[@coby_hunter]

I don’t know about the pre recorded classes, the course I took was 8 or 10 weeks with 3 hours of zoom class each week. They also provide practice tests and such. Paying 135 total for the books is a fine deal. In my course I took, we covered everything so I assume the pre recorded videos would do the same, I recommend you call and ask them for more details

[@coby_hunter]

Also, I think going with a more established company rather than an individual trainer is smart

[@saranyat9338]

which Manhattan prep course did you take?

[@coby_hunter]

I look the live gmat focus course

[@adityaudupa9]

Could you share your cheat sheet notebook with us?

[@coby_hunter]

Yes, I can make a video about it

[@btaylorsversion10]

I took my first gmat without much prep and got a 600(q47,v28) and after three months I took it again and got the same exact score. I've have not done any studying for a month now. I am so unsure how to begin my prep again for gmat focus-which i hope to take before round 1 deadlines this year!!!!!!! really distraught

[@coby_hunter]

Have you used a prep course?

[@btaylorsversion10]

@@coby_hunter I did enroll in e-gmat course but the verbal lessons were so lengthy and boring- didn't understand much.. So after the first attempt,I started studying on my own. I solved the Manhattan prep and OG verbal review (had~ 75%accuracy) . I've not studied for a month now.

[@viswanathsubramani8894]

Should i quit my job to study full time?

[@coby_hunter]

No, the gmat is important but Having more work experience will help you in your mba application so I would not quit your job to study

[@priyakapoor5531]

not allowing calculators is absurd

[@Wreckingknight1720]

Actually using a calculator onscreen is an indicator that you are approaching the question the wrong way😅

[@InconsisTenZ]

Imagine using calculators.. skill issue

[@baileybuttars4563]

Ah yes, a pyromaniacs favorite kind of content: burning things haha😂

[@paulhunter4947]

Studying on the toilet???? TMI