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19 Feb 2025, 09:41
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From 540 to 715: Overcoming the GMAT Challenges
Hi everyone! Finally achieved a 715 (Q90, V84, D82) after starting from 540 (515 if you are not familiar with the old exam). As someone from an IIT working in tech, I always wanted to get into a leadership role, and an MBA seemed like the natural next step. Let me share how I overcame various challenges to get here.
Challenge 1: Maintaining Consistency
The biggest challenge wasn't really the content - it was maintaining consistent preparation alongside work. Had to take breaks in between because of work and family commitments. Initially I tried studying whenever I got time, but this random approach wasn't working. That is when I decided to join e-GMAT.
Solution:
The key was to keep putting in the effort, even when things got tough. I made sure to study at least for some time every day, whatever time I could get during the day. Even on days when I couldn't study much, just maintaining that consistency was crucial. Having a structured plan helped me come back stronger after breaks and get the mocks done at specific intervals.
Challenge 2: Perfecting Quant
Coming from an engineering background and having prepared for competitive exams like GRE, the basic concepts weren't a problem. However, GMAT questions are very tricky, especially when you have to solve them in a two-minute time frame. I would often solve a question perfectly but end up marking something else entirely!
Solution:
I quickly understood that there might be some trick in each GMAT question. Whatever you've solved might not always be what they're asking for. Sometimes, you just need to find a basic intermediary answer rather than solving the entire thing. Question reading became more important than actually solving - if you've done the practice, you can solve it, but you need to know exactly what to solve for.
Challenge 3: The Verbal Jump
Started around 35th-36th percentile in Verbal. The main struggle was getting stuck between the last two answer choices in CR. Initially tried to rely on intuition, but that clearly wasn't enough for harder questions.
Solution:
Pre-thinking transformed my approach completely. Before looking at the options, I started analyzing what exactly I needed to do - like for strengthen questions, understanding exactly how to support the author's argument. For RC, I developed my own strategy - used the notepad extensively (yes, even in the online version) because I didn't want to keep going back to read the whole passage while answering questions. This helped me stay engaged with the passage and made answering questions much easier.
Challenge 4: Mastering Data Insights
DI was tricky because it combined both Quant and Verbal skills. The verbal-based questions like TPA and MSR were particularly challenging at first. Time management was also an issue - was taking up to 5 minutes per question initially.
Solution:
For MSR, I developed a strategy of spending more time upfront understanding all the data rather than jumping straight to questions. While this might sound time-consuming, I knew I could make up time on DS questions, which I could solve in about 1.5 minutes. I applied my CR approach to TPA questions - analyzing exactly what was being asked before looking at options. This combination of strategies helped me manage time effectively and avoid getting bogged down by complex data.
Challenge 5: The Final Push to 715
The jump from 685 to 715 wasn't about learning new things - it was about execution and precision. I knew I had the ability for Q90, but small mistakes were costing me points.
Solution:
I focused entirely on being precise and avoiding silly mistakes. Instead of rushing through questions, I made sure to verify exactly what each question was asking and double-check my answers. For example, in quant, I would often come to the right answer but mark something else - had to fix this habit of careless errors. This attention to detail made all the difference in the final score. Rida helped me stay focused on the goal. Made sure to verify exactly what each question was asking before moving on. Having someone to analyze my performance and provide regular feedback made a huge difference in this final phase.
Key Takeaways
Remember - if you're putting in consistent effort and following a structured approach, you will see improvement. Happy to answer any specific questions about my experience.
Good luck everyone!
Hi everyone! Finally achieved a 715 (Q90, V84, D82) after starting from 540 (515 if you are not familiar with the old exam). As someone from an IIT working in tech, I always wanted to get into a leadership role, and an MBA seemed like the natural next step. Let me share how I overcame various challenges to get here.
Challenge 1: Maintaining Consistency
The biggest challenge wasn't really the content - it was maintaining consistent preparation alongside work. Had to take breaks in between because of work and family commitments. Initially I tried studying whenever I got time, but this random approach wasn't working. That is when I decided to join e-GMAT.
Solution:
The key was to keep putting in the effort, even when things got tough. I made sure to study at least for some time every day, whatever time I could get during the day. Even on days when I couldn't study much, just maintaining that consistency was crucial. Having a structured plan helped me come back stronger after breaks and get the mocks done at specific intervals.
Challenge 2: Perfecting Quant
Coming from an engineering background and having prepared for competitive exams like GRE, the basic concepts weren't a problem. However, GMAT questions are very tricky, especially when you have to solve them in a two-minute time frame. I would often solve a question perfectly but end up marking something else entirely!
Solution:
I quickly understood that there might be some trick in each GMAT question. Whatever you've solved might not always be what they're asking for. Sometimes, you just need to find a basic intermediary answer rather than solving the entire thing. Question reading became more important than actually solving - if you've done the practice, you can solve it, but you need to know exactly what to solve for.
Challenge 3: The Verbal Jump
Started around 35th-36th percentile in Verbal. The main struggle was getting stuck between the last two answer choices in CR. Initially tried to rely on intuition, but that clearly wasn't enough for harder questions.
Solution:
Pre-thinking transformed my approach completely. Before looking at the options, I started analyzing what exactly I needed to do - like for strengthen questions, understanding exactly how to support the author's argument. For RC, I developed my own strategy - used the notepad extensively (yes, even in the online version) because I didn't want to keep going back to read the whole passage while answering questions. This helped me stay engaged with the passage and made answering questions much easier.
Challenge 4: Mastering Data Insights
DI was tricky because it combined both Quant and Verbal skills. The verbal-based questions like TPA and MSR were particularly challenging at first. Time management was also an issue - was taking up to 5 minutes per question initially.
Solution:
For MSR, I developed a strategy of spending more time upfront understanding all the data rather than jumping straight to questions. While this might sound time-consuming, I knew I could make up time on DS questions, which I could solve in about 1.5 minutes. I applied my CR approach to TPA questions - analyzing exactly what was being asked before looking at options. This combination of strategies helped me manage time effectively and avoid getting bogged down by complex data.
Challenge 5: The Final Push to 715
The jump from 685 to 715 wasn't about learning new things - it was about execution and precision. I knew I had the ability for Q90, but small mistakes were costing me points.
Solution:
I focused entirely on being precise and avoiding silly mistakes. Instead of rushing through questions, I made sure to verify exactly what each question was asking and double-check my answers. For example, in quant, I would often come to the right answer but mark something else - had to fix this habit of careless errors. This attention to detail made all the difference in the final score. Rida helped me stay focused on the goal. Made sure to verify exactly what each question was asking before moving on. Having someone to analyze my performance and provide regular feedback made a huge difference in this final phase.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on consistency rather than intensity - even an hour a day is better than irregular study
- For Quant, question comprehension matters more than calculation speed
- Pre-thinking in CR gives you clarity before looking at options
- Develop strategies that work for you - like my extensive note-taking in RC
- At 680+ level, it's more about precision and avoiding silly mistakes than learning new concepts
- Trust your preparation and keep pushing forward, even when progress seems slow
Remember - if you're putting in consistent effort and following a structured approach, you will see improvement. Happy to answer any specific questions about my experience.
Good luck everyone!
BelronMajes
Joined: 22 Jun 2024
Last visit: 16 Apr 2025
Posts: 31
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Economics
Schools: ESADE ESSEC MFin "26 ESSEC MiM "27
GMAT Focus 1: 575 Q79 V79 DI77 
GPA: 6.6
Products:
19 Feb 2025, 09:54
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Congratulations on the amazing score!! All the best moving forward.
20 Feb 2025, 01:56
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That's a pretty impressive jump in score, Congratulations!
Schools would expect nothing less than a Q90 from an IITian
I have two quick questions for some analysis I'm running:
- How many RC passages did you get? And how many back to back?
- How many MSRs did you get? 1 or 2?
Well done once again.
Schools would expect nothing less than a Q90 from an IITian
I have two quick questions for some analysis I'm running:
- How many RC passages did you get? And how many back to back?
- How many MSRs did you get? 1 or 2?
Well done once again.
