GMAT Focus Debrief: Knowing Yourself and Achieving Success

After recently graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering, I decided to prioritize the GMAT before embarking on my professional journey. As someone aspiring to pursue an MBA in the future, I believe that gaining business knowledge would complement my engineering background. This conviction was further reinforced by recommendations from my peers during an internship at a consulting firm, leading me to choose e-GMAT as my primary study resource for GMAT preparation.

Initial Assessment and Self-Awareness:
My GMAT journey began with a comprehensive self-assessment in September to pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses. My high school education in the US equipped me with a strong foundation in Verbal, and my engineering background prepared me well for the Data Interpretation (DI) section. However, the Quantitative section posed a significant challenge. Despite initially assuming I had it covered, I soon realized I was rusty on certain concepts, requiring substantial improvement to meet my target score.

My Journey:
To tackle the Quantitative challenge, I diligently went through the e-GMAT quant course. Additionally, I adopted a comprehensive note-taking strategy, meticulously documenting any formulas or properties that needed reinforcement. This systematic approach facilitated learning retention and efficient revisions.

Test Readiness: Timing and Strategy:
In the final stretch of my preparation, I implemented a focused timing and strategy regimen to optimize my test readiness. During the last week leading up to the exam, I adopted a rigorous practice routine: conducting a mock test in the morning and reviewing the questions in the afternoon. This routine enabled me to simulate real exam conditions and identify areas that needed further improvement.

Through this intensive practice, I realized I had timing issues specifically in the Quantitative section. Despite my efforts, the highest score I achieved in this section was 85, underscoring the need for strategic time management.

To address this challenge, I set a maximum time limit of 4 minutes per particular question during practice sessions. This constraint forced me to prioritize questions, allocate time judiciously, and swiftly identify when to move on to the next question to maintain momentum and complete the section within the allotted time.

By refining my timing strategy and implementing focused practice sessions, I enhanced my efficiency and confidence in managing the Quantitative section's demands, ensuring better performance on the actual exam day.

Conclusion and Future Aspirations:
With the GMAT now behind me, I am excited to shift my focus towards gaining valuable work experience. My long-term aspiration includes applying to business school a couple of years from now. This period will provide me with the opportunity to further hone my skills, broaden my perspective, and better define my career goals, ultimately strengthening my MBA application.

Furthermore, the conventional advice of allocating 2.5 minutes per question should be approached flexibly, adapting to each question's demands to optimize performance. Consistency remains paramount; prioritize understanding over rote memorization, and engage in regular practice to identify and strengthen weak areas. By maintaining a positive mindset, managing test anxiety, and believing in your preparation, achieving success in the GMAT is within reach.