Hello, everyone. My name is Meghana, and I'm thrilled to share my GMAT journey with you. This journey has been filled with challenges, learning, and, ultimately, triumph. I hope my story can inspire and guide those preparing for their GMAT.
The Early Days: Underestimating the GMAT When I first approached the GMAT, I underestimated the effort required. My first mock test was a reality check, scoring around 580. Despite being disheartened, I didn't give up. I focused on quant, where, like many Indian students, I had a strong foundation but needed to work on timing and shortcuts. I learned that shortcuts are not often explicitly taught; they are discovered through practice and detailed analysis of the solutions.
The Path to 680 and Beyond As I continued to prepare, I saw gradual improvement. At this phase, I was mainly using
Magoosh for Quant and
OG for my prep. After revising the theory and solving more questions, my mock test score rose to 680. I took a couple more mocks, reaching around 700. I avoided taking mocks in the last week before the exam to maintain my confidence.
In the last week, I focused on sectional tests and revising concepts, particularly those for which I was weak. This period was crucial for fine-tuning my preparation.
First GMAT Attempt: Scoring 710 In my first attempt, I scored a 710 with a Q49 and V38, but time management was a major issue. I had only five minutes left for about four verbal questions, forcing me to guess and affecting my score.
The Final Push: e-GMAT For VerbalMy initial strategies weren’t aligned with what the GMAT demanded. I quickly realized that while I could apply the strategies, the timing was a significant hurdle. Resuming my preparation amid professional commitments, I balanced my study schedule while managing work. This phase taught me the importance of discipline and time management.
In my GMAT preparation, particularly with the verbal section, I adopted specific
e-GMAT strategies that dramatically improved my performance. For Sentence Correction (SC), I followed a meaning-based approach. This method was pivotal in understanding the essence of sentences, rather than just focusing on grammatical correctness. It involved deeply analyzing the sentence structure to grasp the intended meaning, which helped me choose the most coherent answer options.
For Critical Reasoning (CR), pre-thinking became my go-to strategy. Before delving into the answer choices, I spent time understanding the argument and anticipating the possible directions in which a question could lead. This proactive approach allowed me to filter through the answer choices more effectively, as I had already formed a logical framework in my mind.
One of the tools I particularly enjoyed using was the Scholaranium question bank of
e-GMAT. It was not just a collection of questions, but a comprehensive learning tool. The variety and depth of questions in Scholaranium helped me identify my weak areas, especially in quant. Its detailed explanations and analytics offered insights into my performance patterns, allowing me to tailor my study plan more effectively. Engaging with Scholaranium was both challenging and enjoyable, making a significant difference in my overall preparation.
Test Day ExperienceWhile I was confident, I remained calm and gave my best shot – The result? 760!!! 😊 I was pleasantly surprised!!
My GMAT journey was not just about learning concepts and strategies; it was about perseverance, introspection, and growth. Scoring a 760 and receiving multiple Tier 1 college admits (Kellogg, Stern, Tepper, Cornell, and Tuck) was a dream come true. To those embarking on their GMAT journey, remember that with the right approach and determination, you can achieve your goals.