Hello all!
Before delving into my GMAT journey, allow me to provide some background about myself. I pursued engineering during my undergrad and graduated in 2020. I had a plan to pursue an MBA post-graduation once I acquired around 4 years of work experience. Test-taking came naturally to me, so I wasn't overly concerned about the GMAT. I planned to take the GMAT in April 2023 to allow sufficient time for Round 1 applications (and a potential retake if needed). Aiming for a 750+ score was crucial, considering the competitiveness of my demographic and the high GMAT scores expected by the schools I was targeting. Initially confident (now realizing it might have been overconfidence), I believed I could achieve this score based on my success in past competitive exams. However, I soon discovered that the GMAT is a unique challenge, underestimating its adaptive nature and the stress it imposes on test-takers. Now, let’s dive into my journey.
GMAT Attempt 1 (700 Q50 V34) — 1st May 2023 — Test CenterMy preparation started in late February '23. Opting for self-study, a method that had proven effective during my CFA exams, I purchased the OGs for Verbal & Quant for practice and the 2
Manhattan books for studying topics (All the Quant, All the Verbal). Sentence Correction (SC) posed a slight challenge for me, as it was relatively new. Uncomfortable approaching problems with weak fundamentals, I realized the need to revise my grammar foundations, last studied in high school around 8 years ago. I referred to GMATClub’s Grammar Book, dedicating 8-10 days to cover all topics. Once confident in my foundational grammar, I delved into individual topics in Sentence Correction (Modifiers, Parallelism, Verbs, Idioms, etc.). After completing SC, I quickly skimmed through CR and RC notes in less than 5 days. Finishing theory, I felt ready to practice Verbal questions and completed the
OG Verbal by mid-April ’23. For Quant, with an engineering background, I wasn't overly concerned, as Math had been my favorite subject since childhood. Two weeks before my 1st attempt, I took the 2 official mocks (the free ones), scoring 720 (Q50 V36) and 710 (Q50 V35). The mock scores significantly dented my confidence, and I decided that if I didn't score well on my 1st attempt, I'd book the 2nd attempt for a month later. Slightly nervous while traveling to the test center, and that nervousness persisted throughout the exam. Scoring a 700, I returned home realizing I shouldn’t be disappointed; this was in line with my mock scores. Not stressed about this attempt, I moved on to preparing for my next try.
GMAT Attempt 2 (730 Q50 V38) — 30th May 2023 — Test CenterRecognizing the need for more exam practice, I purchased the 4 official mocks from mba.com and decided to take all of them before my 2nd attempt. Additionally, since I had exhausted most
official guide questions for Verbal, I bought the official verbal review & quant review book for more practice. I took a mock exam every Saturday leading up to my 2nd attempt. Late May, I was introduced to the GMAT Club
Forum Quiz feature—grateful to the person who created this (wish I had known about it earlier). Mock performance improved: 730 (Q50 V39), 770 (Q50 V44), 760 (Q50 V42), and 740 (Q51 V38). After my 740 mock, I observed an odd pattern; by then, I had scored all possible scores (in mocks & official attempt) from 700 to 770 except 750. I optimistically believed the universe had reserved that 750 score for my 2nd official attempt. However, I fell flat on my face when I saw the 730 score flash on my screen. Devastated, I couldn't think of what to do next, unprepared for the impact on my application preparation time.
GMAT Attempt 3 (730 Q51 V37) -- 12th June 2023 — OnlineDiscussing my situation with close friends, someone suggested purchasing the ESR for my previous 2 attempts (don’t know why I didn’t do that earlier) and analyzing them to identify patterns. Verbal showed 85+ percentiles in SC and RC, but CR brought my score down (45 & 60 percentiles). I hadn't realized this during practice since I was comfortable with CR, typically achieving high accuracies. I dedicated focused time to CR this time. Additionally, to alleviate test center nervousness, I opted for an online exam in an environment where I performed well in mocks (i.e., my bedroom). Registering for my 3rd attempt, I exhausted all
official guide & review questions. GMATClub’s
forum quiz became my new best friend, solving official verbal questions from previous years using the custom filter. Since I had exhausted official mocks, I took 62-minute timed quizzes to replicate the mock experience. I heard mixed reviews about GMAT Club practice tests for Verbal, so I decided to avoid them. I hoped for a score improvement this time, but things unfolded differently. I scored a 730 with a slightly different breakup compared to my previous attempt. Crushed and lost, I started doubting myself, attributing my failure to different things: maybe I’m not good at adaptive tests (since this was a first for me), maybe I can’t perform well under pressure, maybe I’m not a person who thinks critically (since CR was a pain). I took a break from GMAT for 5 days and tried to divert my attention to other aspects of my life (friends, work, family). Once I started feeling mentally better, I thought about resuming my GMAT preparations and finishing the exam as soon as possible. Reading debriefs on reddit (r/GMAT) and GMATClub, I noticed positive reviews about
e-GMAT. What caught my attention was that
e-GMAT is considered the best course for "Verbal" for "Non-Native Speakers." This seemed like a ray of sunshine amidst all the challenges. I never thought I would sign up for a prep course when I started my GMAT preparation journey. But sometimes, you do need outside help—someone who can help you see things from a different perspective.
e-GMAT enters my life:I sent the
e-GMAT team my ESRs from the two offline attempts and requested their assistance in my preparation. They promptly responded to my email and were eager to assist me in this journey. I was signed up for the Last Mile Push (LMP) program for free, given my 730 score that I aimed to improve. Abha was assigned to me as a mentor who analyzed my ESRs thoroughly and prepared weekly plans accordingly.
GMAT Attempt 4 (730 Q51 V38) — 20th July 2023 — Test Center:After consulting with Abha, I decided to schedule my 4th attempt in about a month. Abha was very helpful throughout this time, having check-ins with me every 3-4 days and tracking my progress. Since I already had a good score, I was not asked to complete the modules on the platform. However, I was asked to watch a few important videos for CR and RC that I believe were instrumental in helping me unlearn some concepts and then relearn them in a new way, specifically 'pre-thinking' for CR. Although I didn't follow pre-thinking religiously for all CR questions, it did help me a lot of times. Exhausting all previous years'
official guide questions for Verbal, including the GMAC Paper test questions, Scholaranium was a real help for me in this situation. I was skeptical about it initially, specifically for Verbal, but it contains high-quality questions. Additionally, I enjoyed watching the video solutions for the questions I couldn't solve comfortably. During this time, I attempted the first two sigma mocks provided by
e-GMAT. I scored a 730 (Q50 V39) in my first mock and a 770 (Q50 V44) in my second mock. There was quite some variance in my verbal score, again due to my poor performance in CR in my first mock which I improved later. I was confident this time because I knew I had outside help, and there was someone who was looking over my shoulder, so I should do better in my exam. But the outcome remained the same for me again. 730 it was. I had lost hope and thought that maybe it was best to apply with this score and see whatever happens in Round 1 of applications. I talked to Abha post my exam, and she consoled me, assuring me that it was just a bad day. She believed in me and assured me that, looking at my progress on the
e-GMAT platform, I was prepared for a 750+ score. We decided that I wouldn’t waste all the preparation I've done to date and take my last shot to see how things pan out.
GMAT Attempt 5 (760 Q51 V42) — 12th August 2023 — Test Center:I didn’t practice a lot for this attempt. Abha had created a 2-week plan for me, which was easy to follow since I was asked not to practice a lot. This time I was not super stressed about my final attempt since I had mentally accepted that I’d be applying with a 730 to business schools. During this time, I decided to appear for 3 Sigma mocks by
e-GMAT since I knew they’d be of no use to me after this attempt. This time I showed consistency in my mock scores: 740 (Q50 V40), 750 (Q51 V40), and 750 (Q51 v40). However, I did not read too much into these scores. I had this attitude that it was just another day and another exam for me. I used to be always very excited and nervous to see my score once I was done with all the sections. This time, I showed no emotions. I was like I’ll accept whatever comes on the screen. What popped on the screen was a 760. I rubbed my eyes to confirm whether what I was seeing was true or not. I couldn’t believe what I saw. I was not prepared for this. I had tears in my eyes the moment I left the test center. All those months of hard work didn’t go to waste. Finally, I was able to replicate my mock performance in my actual attempt, and I’m very thankful to
e-GMAT and Abha for supporting me in this journey. Sometimes all you need is someone who believes in you, and that can do wonders.
I hope no one experiences what I’ve gone through. Do not overthink. Try not to stress (I know that it’s impossible to completely avoid stress). Have someone close to you during this time who can motivate you and make you feel better. Good luck!