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22 Nov 2024, 07:56
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Working in consulting, I had a job that had frequent travel and unpredictable schedules – this meant that I knew my GMAT preparation needed careful planning. I started preparing on my own, however, I found myself plateauing at 665, despite consistent effort. I was solving the easy questions with perfect accuracy but I was struggling with difficult ones, getting only 3-4 correct out of 10.
After months of this pattern and with limited time due to work commitments, I knew I needed a structured approach.
My research led me to e-GMAT after extensive analysis on the GMAT Club and discussions with friends preparing for GMAT. Three factors stood out:
After enrolling, I took their diagnostic assessment which revealed different abilities across sections, something I hadn't fully understood before. This assessment helped create a customized study pathway to work on my GMAT score.
Verbal Preparation (V84):
Starting at the 70th percentile, I needed more comprehensive improvement in verbal than Quants and DI. The Master Comprehension module laid the foundation by transforming how I processed information. In Critical Reasoning, the pre-thinking approach revolutionized my technique - by the time I finished reading a passage, I could predict possible answers before looking at options.
This systematic approach replaced my earlier intuitive method, leading to a significant accuracy improvement on hard questions from 35% to 65%.
For Reading Comprehension, the key was learning to read strategically rather than just for comprehension. Understanding passage structures and the author's intent became more important than merely absorbing information.
Quant Preparation (Q88)
Despite my engineering background, GMAT Quant required a different approach. Through focused practice on Scholaranium, I realized something crucial - success wasn't about complex mathematics but understanding how GMAT tests concepts. For instance, while I knew probability from engineering, GMAT questions focused on specific patterns and approaches I needed to master.
The cementing quizzes helped refine my approach, especially in identifying common traps and edge cases in Number Properties. Rather than learning new concepts, I focused on understanding GMAT-specific question patterns and timing strategies.
This focused practice helped me not only get a consistently good accuracy for hard questions in Quants but also improved my confidence:
DI Score (DI83):
I extensively work with data, given my professional background. The irony? Despite this being my strongest suit, time became a crucial constraint. With looming work deadlines and professional commitments, I found myself staring at the test date before I could devote substantial time to DI preparation.
What saved me was the strategic use of sectional mocks. Rather than stressing about full-length practice tests, these focused sessions proved invaluable. They provided the perfect balance - short enough to fit into my packed schedule yet comprehensive enough to maintain test readiness. These sectional mocks became my primary tool for DI practice, allowing me to stay consistent with preparation despite my irregular schedule.
Leveraging Limited Study Time
With frequent work travel, traditional study plans weren't feasible. Instead, I focused on:
Following my practice routine, I kept a steady pace through each section. The sectional practice had built enough stamina and confidence to maintain focus throughout the test. My systematic approach to each question type helped me manage time effectively.
Given the time limitation that I had, I did not have any time to take the full-length mocks – but my practice and the sectional mocks helped me get test-ready.
The most crucial learning was that starting ability should dictate preparation strategy. A one-size-fits-all approach wouldn't have yielded the same results. Structured, personalized preparation made it possible to achieve a 705 despite time constraints.
I'm happy to provide more specific details about any aspect of my preparation.
Feel free to ask questions.
Best regards,
Smarajit
After months of this pattern and with limited time due to work commitments, I knew I needed a structured approach.
My research led me to e-GMAT after extensive analysis on the GMAT Club and discussions with friends preparing for GMAT. Three factors stood out:
- Their data-driven approach meant I could find out the exact gaps and to overcome a score plateau
- Reviews on the GMAT club consistently highlighted their structured methodology
- Their platform was self-paced which suited my requirements as my work timings were off and I had a lot of travel
After enrolling, I took their diagnostic assessment which revealed different abilities across sections, something I hadn't fully understood before. This assessment helped create a customized study pathway to work on my GMAT score.
Verbal Preparation (V84):
Starting at the 70th percentile, I needed more comprehensive improvement in verbal than Quants and DI. The Master Comprehension module laid the foundation by transforming how I processed information. In Critical Reasoning, the pre-thinking approach revolutionized my technique - by the time I finished reading a passage, I could predict possible answers before looking at options.
This systematic approach replaced my earlier intuitive method, leading to a significant accuracy improvement on hard questions from 35% to 65%.
For Reading Comprehension, the key was learning to read strategically rather than just for comprehension. Understanding passage structures and the author's intent became more important than merely absorbing information.
Quant Preparation (Q88)
Despite my engineering background, GMAT Quant required a different approach. Through focused practice on Scholaranium, I realized something crucial - success wasn't about complex mathematics but understanding how GMAT tests concepts. For instance, while I knew probability from engineering, GMAT questions focused on specific patterns and approaches I needed to master.
The cementing quizzes helped refine my approach, especially in identifying common traps and edge cases in Number Properties. Rather than learning new concepts, I focused on understanding GMAT-specific question patterns and timing strategies.
This focused practice helped me not only get a consistently good accuracy for hard questions in Quants but also improved my confidence:
DI Score (DI83):
I extensively work with data, given my professional background. The irony? Despite this being my strongest suit, time became a crucial constraint. With looming work deadlines and professional commitments, I found myself staring at the test date before I could devote substantial time to DI preparation.
What saved me was the strategic use of sectional mocks. Rather than stressing about full-length practice tests, these focused sessions proved invaluable. They provided the perfect balance - short enough to fit into my packed schedule yet comprehensive enough to maintain test readiness. These sectional mocks became my primary tool for DI practice, allowing me to stay consistent with preparation despite my irregular schedule.
Leveraging Limited Study Time
With frequent work travel, traditional study plans weren't feasible. Instead, I focused on:
- Regular, focused 30-40 minute study sessions
- Sectional tests rather than full-length mocks
- Consistent daily engagement with preparation, even during travel
Following my practice routine, I kept a steady pace through each section. The sectional practice had built enough stamina and confidence to maintain focus throughout the test. My systematic approach to each question type helped me manage time effectively.
Given the time limitation that I had, I did not have any time to take the full-length mocks – but my practice and the sectional mocks helped me get test-ready.
The most crucial learning was that starting ability should dictate preparation strategy. A one-size-fits-all approach wouldn't have yielded the same results. Structured, personalized preparation made it possible to achieve a 705 despite time constraints.
I'm happy to provide more specific details about any aspect of my preparation.
Feel free to ask questions.
Best regards,
Smarajit
22 Nov 2024, 08:36
Kudos
Bookmarks
Congrats and all the best going ahead
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