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29 Apr 2021, 21:27
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It was in September of last year when I had a realization that while doing decently well in my existing role, I had reached a ceiling and needed a way to break through if I was to progress in my career. The best way was to gain the required skill sets via an MBA. A few conversations with some of my friends pursuing an MBA made my belief in an MBA even stronger. But between myself and the MBA lay a big challenge - The GMAT. Every person that I spoke to had his/her own take on the GMAT, but unanimously everyone said that it is challenging and needs proper approach and continued focus. After absorbing the advice everyone had to give, I made up my mind to take on the challenge.
Here is when I should give a brief background about myself. I work as a Country Technical Manager for India, for a global Oil and Gas Firm. A typical workday for me is 12 hours, which can extend late into the night since the operations I deal with are on a 24-hour basis and every moment lost is money lost by my firm. Apart from this, I am also a father to a two-year-old which also massive responsibility - both in terms of time and emotions. While I had decided to pursue an MBA and take the GMAT, the challenge was daunting. Apart from these responsibilities, other factors such as not being from an IIT and not having the best academic record meant that I had to get a competitive score to stand a chance of getting into one of the elite institutes.
I had all the challenges in front of me, what I needed was a coach who can guide me through these challenges, and that is when I was introduced to e-GMAT. A quick look at the reviews online indicated that e-GMAT had very good reviews. Without wasting time, I bought their complete Quant and Verbal Package. I divided my study time into two parts of the day – 2 hours in the morning and squeezing 1.5 to 2 hours post work every day.
I started with the Quant section. The course offered is very well structured, easy to comprehend and focuses more on building ability than on solving a multitude of problems. The course also provides you with effective feedback, based on which you can build upon and improve. After the Quant section, I intended on moving to the Verbal section, but work commitments meant I had to go offshore with no internet and no access to course work. I tried keeping in touch through my notes but with the work timings (or the lack of any) and no internet access, I could not progress and lost more than a month in my prep time
After I got back from the rig, I started with the Verbal section. While at first, analyzing statements/ RC passages looks like a daunting task, e-GMAT provides you with such good methods to approach these questions that something as daunting becomes almost second nature to you by the time you finish the course work and practice – again referring to the point that the platform focuses more on building ability. I completed the course and practised questions – the practice was a mixed bag – but I decided to take my first mock test in January. I struggled in the test and came with a 620. Disheartened and not knowing what to do next, I emailed e-GMAT regarding the issue. Within a day I got a detailed response on where I was going wrong – while I had completed the course work, I had not done structured and targeted practice. What impressed me the most was how they had hit the nail right on the head. I got a detailed way forward from them – I worked on it albeit at a slow pace as again these were times when my workload got in the way. I kept at it and slowly saw an improvement in my performances. I was able to identify my weak and strong areas – delineate them and work on my weak areas to improve on them. I was in constant touch with e-GMAT experts, keeping them posted on my progress. After 3 weeks of dedicated practice, I decided to take an e-GMAT mock. I went in with decently high expectations and came back again with a score of 630. This was probably the lowest point in my preparation – I was putting in the hard yards but just not able to get any result. I had almost lost hope but decided to send one final distress email to e-GMAT.
The next day I received a detailed analysis from Archit from e-GMAT. He was good enough to make a detailed video with complete analysis of my test. From this video I got to know so many things that the score did not tell me – a few them were positive and encouraging. This was the thread I held onto, worked on again on specifics pointed out in that video for three weeks and decided to evaluate my performance through an official mock. I remember feeling as nervous as, or probably more nervous that day than I felt going into the examination centre for the actual test. I came back this time with a 710 – more relieved than elated.
From then on, my preparation continued, performances weren’t still consistent but now always above the 700 mark. One weakness I identified through my mocks was SC – Archit suggested a way forward on this which brought my SC percentile from mid-60s to mid-90s. Consistent scores above 700 allowed me to book a test date. I gave my exam in mid-April and scored a 700. While it was not the score I was targeting and I will give another attempt – my journey from 620 to 700 has enabled me to set my targets even higher and believe that with hard work in proper direction, you will achieve. While hard work is in your hands, you need a partner for ‘proper direction’, which for me has been e-GMAT.
Here is when I should give a brief background about myself. I work as a Country Technical Manager for India, for a global Oil and Gas Firm. A typical workday for me is 12 hours, which can extend late into the night since the operations I deal with are on a 24-hour basis and every moment lost is money lost by my firm. Apart from this, I am also a father to a two-year-old which also massive responsibility - both in terms of time and emotions. While I had decided to pursue an MBA and take the GMAT, the challenge was daunting. Apart from these responsibilities, other factors such as not being from an IIT and not having the best academic record meant that I had to get a competitive score to stand a chance of getting into one of the elite institutes.
I had all the challenges in front of me, what I needed was a coach who can guide me through these challenges, and that is when I was introduced to e-GMAT. A quick look at the reviews online indicated that e-GMAT had very good reviews. Without wasting time, I bought their complete Quant and Verbal Package. I divided my study time into two parts of the day – 2 hours in the morning and squeezing 1.5 to 2 hours post work every day.
I started with the Quant section. The course offered is very well structured, easy to comprehend and focuses more on building ability than on solving a multitude of problems. The course also provides you with effective feedback, based on which you can build upon and improve. After the Quant section, I intended on moving to the Verbal section, but work commitments meant I had to go offshore with no internet and no access to course work. I tried keeping in touch through my notes but with the work timings (or the lack of any) and no internet access, I could not progress and lost more than a month in my prep time
After I got back from the rig, I started with the Verbal section. While at first, analyzing statements/ RC passages looks like a daunting task, e-GMAT provides you with such good methods to approach these questions that something as daunting becomes almost second nature to you by the time you finish the course work and practice – again referring to the point that the platform focuses more on building ability. I completed the course and practised questions – the practice was a mixed bag – but I decided to take my first mock test in January. I struggled in the test and came with a 620. Disheartened and not knowing what to do next, I emailed e-GMAT regarding the issue. Within a day I got a detailed response on where I was going wrong – while I had completed the course work, I had not done structured and targeted practice. What impressed me the most was how they had hit the nail right on the head. I got a detailed way forward from them – I worked on it albeit at a slow pace as again these were times when my workload got in the way. I kept at it and slowly saw an improvement in my performances. I was able to identify my weak and strong areas – delineate them and work on my weak areas to improve on them. I was in constant touch with e-GMAT experts, keeping them posted on my progress. After 3 weeks of dedicated practice, I decided to take an e-GMAT mock. I went in with decently high expectations and came back again with a score of 630. This was probably the lowest point in my preparation – I was putting in the hard yards but just not able to get any result. I had almost lost hope but decided to send one final distress email to e-GMAT.
The next day I received a detailed analysis from Archit from e-GMAT. He was good enough to make a detailed video with complete analysis of my test. From this video I got to know so many things that the score did not tell me – a few them were positive and encouraging. This was the thread I held onto, worked on again on specifics pointed out in that video for three weeks and decided to evaluate my performance through an official mock. I remember feeling as nervous as, or probably more nervous that day than I felt going into the examination centre for the actual test. I came back this time with a 710 – more relieved than elated.
From then on, my preparation continued, performances weren’t still consistent but now always above the 700 mark. One weakness I identified through my mocks was SC – Archit suggested a way forward on this which brought my SC percentile from mid-60s to mid-90s. Consistent scores above 700 allowed me to book a test date. I gave my exam in mid-April and scored a 700. While it was not the score I was targeting and I will give another attempt – my journey from 620 to 700 has enabled me to set my targets even higher and believe that with hard work in proper direction, you will achieve. While hard work is in your hands, you need a partner for ‘proper direction’, which for me has been e-GMAT.
globaldesi
Joined: 28 Jul 2016
Last visit: 23 Feb 2026
Posts: 1,140
Given Kudos: 67
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Human Resources
Schools: ISB '18 (D)
GPA: 3.97
WE:Project Management (Finance: Investment Banking)
Products:
29 Apr 2021, 22:58
Kudos
Bookmarks
Very beautifully written and an amazing score indeed. Congratulations for a good score.
Looking forward to see which college you finalize.
Time management is indeed a difficult problem and your de brief explains that one can take out time if needed.
Looking forward to see which college you finalize.
Time management is indeed a difficult problem and your de brief explains that one can take out time if needed.
29 Apr 2021, 23:58
Kudos
Bookmarks
globaldesi Thank you for the kind and encouraging words. Will post once I retake the GMAT and complete the admissions process.
