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19 Nov 2023, 04:06
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi Folks!
When I took my first mock and scored a 590, I realized that reaching my target score of 730 would require much more effort than I had initially thought. Coming from a non-tech background with a decent grasp of English, I overestimated my verbal capabilities and performed poorly in the verbal section of my first mock. Fortunately, I did not lose hope and decided to embark on this journey. I enrolled in the e-GMAT course in June of this year and began my GMAT preparation in full swing.
Strategy and Approach:
I started with Sentence Correction (SC), followed by Critical Reasoning (CR) and Reading Comprehension (RC) in the verbal module. Even though I had a clear understanding of some concepts in each section, I made sure to watch every video in the module. I went through all the concepts, practiced every question, and took all the application quizzes at the end of each section. Upon completing the syllabus for a specific subsection, I took cementing quizzes, which played a crucial role in building my confidence in different sections.
RC presented a real challenge for me, starting with a 51st percentile in RC and eventually reaching the 84th percentile in the final test. Understanding the Master Comprehension module and mastering process skills played a crucial role in improving my RC. The significance of small words such as 'many' and 'some' is often underestimated by test-takers, but in reality, they play a huge role in determining the correct answer choice when options are closely aligned.
Moving to quant, I started with a QA41 and ultimately achieved a QA50. I attribute this progress to the challenging questions in Scholaranium. These questions, of slightly higher difficulty, made the actual test questions feel like a pleasant breeze.
A structured approach helps a student prepare with maximum efficiency. My mentor, Abha, used to provide me with a weekly/daily study plan. Mixed quizzes with varying lengths of questions worked wonders for me. Initially, I would get bogged down by such quizzes, but gradually I realized that they were helping me build the stamina required for my best performance in the final test.
Mocks:
I did not overwhelm myself with too many mocks during my entire preparation. I took a total of 10 mocks, including the e-GMAT and the official GMAT Prep mocks. These mocks were evenly spaced out throughout my preparation. My mock scores ranged from 660 to 720, starting with a 660 and gradually rising to 720 in these practice tests.
I did not let the initial score of 660 dishearten me. There were times when I felt like giving up, especially when I couldn't see the results on paper despite putting in so much effort. However, consistency and perseverance proved to be the keys to overcoming obstacles.
Failed Attempt 1:
I booked my test date well in advance, giving myself about a month and a half to prepare. I remained consistent in my preparation, strictly following my study plan. However, as the exam date approached, I started losing confidence. Even though I performed well in practice quizzes, the fear of the final exam's uncertainty crept into my mind. What if I couldn't score close to my target? What if I failed? These doubts plagued my thoughts, eroding the calm and composure I had maintained throughout my preparation.
On the test day, I approached the exam center with the thought that this was a do-or-die situation. If I failed, there was no Plan B for me. I constantly reminded myself that I had to succeed; I was too close to the final leg. However, as I progressed through the verbal section, I felt the questions were becoming difficult, and doubt crept in. I ended up spending too much time on the first two blocks, leaving myself with little time for the last 8-9 questions. Time seemed to be flying unusually fast that day, and I struggled to keep up with the questions. In the end, I had to skip a few questions that I could have answered correctly had I managed my time better. I somehow completed the verbal section and took an 8-minute break.
I tried my best to stay calm, but panic had set in, reflecting in my quant section as well. That day, I learned that no matter how well prepared you are, stress or panic can lead to underperformance and mistakes on even easy questions. When I finished the paper and clicked on the submit button, a score of 620 appeared on the screen. I was shattered; all my hard work seemed in vain. When I got home, I decided to give up on the exam, telling myself it wasn't my cup of tea.
I consider myself lucky to have had a supportive mentor and family. They encouraged me not to give up and to give it another shot. A special thank you to Abha for believing in me at a point when I had let everyone down.
Attempt 2:
I took a break of 2-3 days before resuming my preparation. Since I had covered the concepts, I focused on improving my test-taking abilities. Abha, my mentor, helped me by providing a topic-wise plan to work on my weak areas. Everything went smoothly this time, and I was happy with my progress. Four days before the test, I randomly checked and found no available slots until late December. This tensed me as I had planned to take the test in 1-2 months. Luckily, I found a slot after 4 days and immediately booked it. Although I hadn't taken a mock in the past month, I was confident, knowing my mistakes and being prepared not to repeat them. I took my final mock a day before the exam and scored a 710. I could have done better in quant, but with a calm mind and without pressuring myself about the consequences, I went to the test center, telling myself this wasn't the end, and I would give my best.
The exam went smoothly, and I was satisfied with my strategy. As I clicked the blue submit button at the end of the exam, 730 flashed on the screen. I jumped with joy; I had finally achieved it. My hard work had paid off, and my patience had borne fruit. My journey from a 590 to a 730 ended with flying colors.
I am deeply grateful to Abha, the e-GMAT team, Vinit, Praveen, my family, and friends for believing in me throughout my journey and not giving up on me.
Tips:
Finally, I would like to share a few quick tips for all those taking the test:
Do not panic; trust me, you've got this.
1.Remember, it's just an exam. If you've prepared well, you will do well.
2.Take mocks in the time slot you've booked for the exam.
3.Avoid taking too many mocks; ensure they are evenly spaced throughout your preparation.
4.Practice sectional quizzes to build stamina.
5.If you struggle with RC, solve at least 2 RC passages daily. Make yourself comfortable with RC passages. Give your heart and soul to the first line of the passage; enjoy the passage and be inquisitive.
6.Always eliminate answer choices; do not just select.
7.Let go of questions that have gone; focus on what is on the screen.
8.If unsure of the answer and you've spent more than 3 minutes on the question, move on; it's not worth it.
9. Remember to follow the plan that works best for you. I just mentioned mine here.
9.Sleep well before the exam day. Give yourself proper rest. Go to the test center with a smile, and all will go well.
Best of luck to all test-takers. You will do great.
Thank you!
When I took my first mock and scored a 590, I realized that reaching my target score of 730 would require much more effort than I had initially thought. Coming from a non-tech background with a decent grasp of English, I overestimated my verbal capabilities and performed poorly in the verbal section of my first mock. Fortunately, I did not lose hope and decided to embark on this journey. I enrolled in the e-GMAT course in June of this year and began my GMAT preparation in full swing.
Strategy and Approach:
I started with Sentence Correction (SC), followed by Critical Reasoning (CR) and Reading Comprehension (RC) in the verbal module. Even though I had a clear understanding of some concepts in each section, I made sure to watch every video in the module. I went through all the concepts, practiced every question, and took all the application quizzes at the end of each section. Upon completing the syllabus for a specific subsection, I took cementing quizzes, which played a crucial role in building my confidence in different sections.
RC presented a real challenge for me, starting with a 51st percentile in RC and eventually reaching the 84th percentile in the final test. Understanding the Master Comprehension module and mastering process skills played a crucial role in improving my RC. The significance of small words such as 'many' and 'some' is often underestimated by test-takers, but in reality, they play a huge role in determining the correct answer choice when options are closely aligned.
Moving to quant, I started with a QA41 and ultimately achieved a QA50. I attribute this progress to the challenging questions in Scholaranium. These questions, of slightly higher difficulty, made the actual test questions feel like a pleasant breeze.
A structured approach helps a student prepare with maximum efficiency. My mentor, Abha, used to provide me with a weekly/daily study plan. Mixed quizzes with varying lengths of questions worked wonders for me. Initially, I would get bogged down by such quizzes, but gradually I realized that they were helping me build the stamina required for my best performance in the final test.
Mocks:
I did not overwhelm myself with too many mocks during my entire preparation. I took a total of 10 mocks, including the e-GMAT and the official GMAT Prep mocks. These mocks were evenly spaced out throughout my preparation. My mock scores ranged from 660 to 720, starting with a 660 and gradually rising to 720 in these practice tests.
I did not let the initial score of 660 dishearten me. There were times when I felt like giving up, especially when I couldn't see the results on paper despite putting in so much effort. However, consistency and perseverance proved to be the keys to overcoming obstacles.
Failed Attempt 1:
I booked my test date well in advance, giving myself about a month and a half to prepare. I remained consistent in my preparation, strictly following my study plan. However, as the exam date approached, I started losing confidence. Even though I performed well in practice quizzes, the fear of the final exam's uncertainty crept into my mind. What if I couldn't score close to my target? What if I failed? These doubts plagued my thoughts, eroding the calm and composure I had maintained throughout my preparation.
On the test day, I approached the exam center with the thought that this was a do-or-die situation. If I failed, there was no Plan B for me. I constantly reminded myself that I had to succeed; I was too close to the final leg. However, as I progressed through the verbal section, I felt the questions were becoming difficult, and doubt crept in. I ended up spending too much time on the first two blocks, leaving myself with little time for the last 8-9 questions. Time seemed to be flying unusually fast that day, and I struggled to keep up with the questions. In the end, I had to skip a few questions that I could have answered correctly had I managed my time better. I somehow completed the verbal section and took an 8-minute break.
I tried my best to stay calm, but panic had set in, reflecting in my quant section as well. That day, I learned that no matter how well prepared you are, stress or panic can lead to underperformance and mistakes on even easy questions. When I finished the paper and clicked on the submit button, a score of 620 appeared on the screen. I was shattered; all my hard work seemed in vain. When I got home, I decided to give up on the exam, telling myself it wasn't my cup of tea.
I consider myself lucky to have had a supportive mentor and family. They encouraged me not to give up and to give it another shot. A special thank you to Abha for believing in me at a point when I had let everyone down.
Attempt 2:
I took a break of 2-3 days before resuming my preparation. Since I had covered the concepts, I focused on improving my test-taking abilities. Abha, my mentor, helped me by providing a topic-wise plan to work on my weak areas. Everything went smoothly this time, and I was happy with my progress. Four days before the test, I randomly checked and found no available slots until late December. This tensed me as I had planned to take the test in 1-2 months. Luckily, I found a slot after 4 days and immediately booked it. Although I hadn't taken a mock in the past month, I was confident, knowing my mistakes and being prepared not to repeat them. I took my final mock a day before the exam and scored a 710. I could have done better in quant, but with a calm mind and without pressuring myself about the consequences, I went to the test center, telling myself this wasn't the end, and I would give my best.
The exam went smoothly, and I was satisfied with my strategy. As I clicked the blue submit button at the end of the exam, 730 flashed on the screen. I jumped with joy; I had finally achieved it. My hard work had paid off, and my patience had borne fruit. My journey from a 590 to a 730 ended with flying colors.
I am deeply grateful to Abha, the e-GMAT team, Vinit, Praveen, my family, and friends for believing in me throughout my journey and not giving up on me.
Tips:
Finally, I would like to share a few quick tips for all those taking the test:
Do not panic; trust me, you've got this.
1.Remember, it's just an exam. If you've prepared well, you will do well.
2.Take mocks in the time slot you've booked for the exam.
3.Avoid taking too many mocks; ensure they are evenly spaced throughout your preparation.
4.Practice sectional quizzes to build stamina.
5.If you struggle with RC, solve at least 2 RC passages daily. Make yourself comfortable with RC passages. Give your heart and soul to the first line of the passage; enjoy the passage and be inquisitive.
6.Always eliminate answer choices; do not just select.
7.Let go of questions that have gone; focus on what is on the screen.
8.If unsure of the answer and you've spent more than 3 minutes on the question, move on; it's not worth it.
9. Remember to follow the plan that works best for you. I just mentioned mine here.
9.Sleep well before the exam day. Give yourself proper rest. Go to the test center with a smile, and all will go well.
Best of luck to all test-takers. You will do great.
Thank you!
22 Nov 2023, 20:59
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi bhargaviroy22,
Congratulations on your remarkable achievement of scoring 730 on the GMAT!
Your post truly takes us through your GMAT adventure, and we are captivated by your determination and growth. It is fantastic to see how you turned a challenging start into a resounding success.
The email you sent me after the test absolutely brightened my day! 😊 Here's a thrilling excerpt from your message.
Strategic Approach for Success
Your approach to tackling the GMAT step by step is commendable. Starting with Sentence Correction and progressing to Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension shows meticulous planning and structured approach.
Your progress in the verbal section, especially in Reading Comprehension, from the 51st percentile on the first mock to the 84th percentile on the test is truly commendable.
Here is an image of your Scholaranium stats, where you can be seen excelling in the Hard RC passages.
Quantum Leap in Quant Skills
Your journey from a Q41 to a Q50 in the quant section is nothing short of remarkable. What caught my attention the most was your willingness to embrace these difficult questions and use them to your advantage. This is a testament to your commitment to excellence, which you aptly described as making "the actual test questions feel like a pleasant breeze."
Here is an image that clearly demonstrates high accuracy levels in various subsections of the Quant section.
Bouncing Back from Setbacks
Your candid account of your first attempt, where you scored 620, reminds us all, that setbacks are part of the journey. Your journey from the setback to a triumphant 730 is not just inspiring; it is a triumph of grit and unwavering determination.
Your story truly makes us believe that even when things don't go as planned, with the right mindset and unwavering support, one can overcome adversity and come out stronger.
Your tips for GMAT test-takers are pearls of wisdom. Your advice to stay calm, align mock tests with the exam time slot, and focus on stamina-building through sectional quizzes is invaluable.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. You are a true GMAT rockstar, and we're proud to have been a part of your success story.
Regards
Abha Mohan
Congratulations on your remarkable achievement of scoring 730 on the GMAT!
Your post truly takes us through your GMAT adventure, and we are captivated by your determination and growth. It is fantastic to see how you turned a challenging start into a resounding success.
The email you sent me after the test absolutely brightened my day! 😊 Here's a thrilling excerpt from your message.
Strategic Approach for Success
Your approach to tackling the GMAT step by step is commendable. Starting with Sentence Correction and progressing to Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension shows meticulous planning and structured approach.
Your progress in the verbal section, especially in Reading Comprehension, from the 51st percentile on the first mock to the 84th percentile on the test is truly commendable.
Here is an image of your Scholaranium stats, where you can be seen excelling in the Hard RC passages.
Quantum Leap in Quant Skills
Your journey from a Q41 to a Q50 in the quant section is nothing short of remarkable. What caught my attention the most was your willingness to embrace these difficult questions and use them to your advantage. This is a testament to your commitment to excellence, which you aptly described as making "the actual test questions feel like a pleasant breeze."
Here is an image that clearly demonstrates high accuracy levels in various subsections of the Quant section.
Bouncing Back from Setbacks
Your candid account of your first attempt, where you scored 620, reminds us all, that setbacks are part of the journey. Your journey from the setback to a triumphant 730 is not just inspiring; it is a triumph of grit and unwavering determination.
Your story truly makes us believe that even when things don't go as planned, with the right mindset and unwavering support, one can overcome adversity and come out stronger.
Your tips for GMAT test-takers are pearls of wisdom. Your advice to stay calm, align mock tests with the exam time slot, and focus on stamina-building through sectional quizzes is invaluable.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. You are a true GMAT rockstar, and we're proud to have been a part of your success story.
Regards
Abha Mohan
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