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26 Mar 2023, 09:40
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My Background
Before I begin, let me tell you something about my background. My parents are doctors and I am a medical student as well. I had little motivation to switch to an MBA stream and more so, I had few people who could rightfully guide me. Hence this story is also for many medicos out there who think that they want to be something more than a doctor, and are willing to take a risk. I am out here and will help you through the process as my mentors did for me.
That being said, my story begins in September 2022. While searching for various platforms to prepare for my GMAT, I came across a recommendation from one of my seniors who suggested that e-GMAT could be an excellent option. At that point in time I was halfway through my medical internship, which was going hectic and my major concern was classes and content personalized to my requirements. This senior told me the benefits e-GMAT has to offer in that regard, especially the P.AC.E. AI system in Quant 2.0 which can really help me save time. With that in mind, I took my first SIGma-X mock scoring a 620 in it.
Starting the Preparations
I purchased the e-GMAT 360 course for 4 months and began my preparations. As I signed up, I was directed to the Personalized Study Plan (PSP) that took in my starting score and asked me my targets. It then also adjusted my day-to-day time and taking into consideration, gave me a realistic timetable to follow. I started with Quant first. Taking out time and studying in the middle of the internship was very taxing and stressful but the way the Quant section is designed was immensely helpful. Each section was broken down into concepts and modules, each preceded by a diagnostic quiz, which helped me evaluate my proficiency in the same. It also suggested modules I could skip and modules that I should go through to improve my ability. This was a lifesaver as I saved a lot of hours because of P.A.C.E AI. And since the modules were broken into parts, I could easily manage to study in short intervals whenever possible. Both factors helped me in reaching where I am.
Next, I started with my Verbal preparations. Even though I am an avid reader and have been a top scorer in English in my division, Verbal, especially Sentence Correction was very difficult for me. As I will elaborate more afterward, SC may be the most difficult part for a non-native speaker. So I would suggest spending a little more time on the same during your preparations. While verbal did not have any PACE system, as you cannot skip concepts in the same. However, it did have assessment quizzes in appropriate places which helped me understand my weak areas during the first stage of the preparations.
Overall, the pattern of distribution of content, assessment quizzes, and other interactive modules helped me a great deal in improving my understating of the pattern of the exam and leading me to the correct framework of thinking during the exam.
Few tips up till this I would like to suggest:
1. Create your PSP, the first thing you sign up and try to follow it as much as possible. Stretched schedule dilutes your efforts and leaves you stranded. Do not procrastinate and try to complete the daily targets as much as possible.
2. Be as honest and realistic as possible in the input you provide for the PSP as an overestimation of committed time or an unrealistic score can really mess up the schedule. That being said, you should put the maximum you think is possible and not underestimate yourself.
3.Do not jump directly to Scholaranium. It is a crucial tool, which when used correctly can help you scale points faster than you can imagine.
4. Do not cramp your studies in a single day. Space it out, and study consistently and regularly rather than being inconsistent. Consistency determines the quality of recall and memory you will have on the final day.
5. Do not underestimate any topic. The whole course is designed by experts in their field who know what they are doing. Don’t be presumptuous and say "What does a system know, it doesn't even know me. I know this topic, it is stupid to say I am weak in it. I will just ignore it". Listen to what it is suggesting and follow it. Believe me, it will give you results
Now for more specific things
Quant:
e-GMAT has excellent quizzes, do not skip them. A detailed explanation for each question, combined with the forum discussions, where getting a detailed explanation or any doubt remaining, irrespective of how small or insignificant it may be, helps in building your understanding.
Review answers and explanations carefully. More often than not, it is the simpler things we make mistakes in rather than the hard ones. Carefully reviewing the explanations will make you see the potential places for such mistakes so you don't do it in the test.
Verbal:
e-GMAT offers brilliant frameworks for various types of Verbal questions asked. These frameworks, including Prethinking, Meaning Based Approach, RC Frameworks, have been specifically designed for the test and are very helpful, especially when you get stuck in the last two choices.
Do not rush over to finish things. Verbal is a matter of details and logic. Learn to pay close attention to the questions and the data and think. Once you are well equipped with these skills, the course of e-GMAT will make sure that you increase your speed.
This is the first stage where you solidify your concepts. This stage is important as it builds the foundation for your future progress. The second stage or the Cementing stage focuses on making your accuracy better.
The cementing quizzes in the course are specifically designed to mimic the GMAT.
A few important things to keep in mind:
The Error Log
The error log is an excellent tool to learn from your mistakes. One thing I realized during my preparation was that I learned more from my mistakes than from the theory. Committing mistakes is normal. But analyzing it and learning from it is the key difference between a mediocre score and an excellent score. And try filling it out as soon as possible after the test, preferably within the first hour. And do not underestimate the questions you got right. Analyze each question and you will realize that there was so much you missed in it.
Do not cramp but no delays!
Studying and solving tests need to be on time. Regularity and persistence are more important than volume. Cramping the week's work on the weekend will not lead to a better result. It may even harm your chances of actual learning. At the same time, spacing out too much and dragging the coursework will not help. As a rule, I set my target to solve 1-2 quizzes each day and fill out error logs right after the test.
Go back to basics.
Basics are more important than I can stress. During the final phase of my preparations, I started performing poorly in my verbal, especially the SC. It was devasting for me to go through those 10 days before my test. I could not identify what was going wrong. I sought help from Dhruv, my mentor, to help me. On his suggestion, I recorded myself while solving the questions and realized what was happening. After that, I went back to the Master comprehension course(the basics for Verbal) and went through it all again. I returned to solving the questions, and I was performing better than before. That is how important the basics are. Most of you are already good at these subjects. But it is not the objective of the test to see how complex you can solve, but to see how you can apply the knowledge you have, and the key factor to do that is to be clear with your basics. The clearer you are, the easier it is to apply a concept to even the most complex problems.
After you complete your cementing quizzes, you move to the third stage, Test Readiness. It starts slowly with only one sub-section and builds it to a complete section at a time and finally the mocks. This stage is important as it judges and prepares you from doing a few questions in some time to simulating the GMAT will the right conditions.
Do not rush to solve the mocks directly. You must go through each step in the sequence. This is to step by step build your ability and sniffle out any problems you are facing. Breaking this sequence means losing the golden opportunity to identify your weaknesses and to correct them.
One of the most helpful things during these stages was the detailed explanations of all the questions that e-GMAT had to offer. I went through all the solutions, irrespective of getting them right or wrong. These detailed solutions have been created by experts and take you through the most effective and easiest of the methods. It does not give or encourage shortcuts as they are subjected to the pattern of the question and are not reliable. These solutions are comprehensive and sound from all angles.
Another great tool was the discussion forums. On all concepts and questions, you can open up the previous threads of doubts where others have posted their doubts or you can post your own. Be it your doubt or someone else's, they are solved by the experts. Going through them not only clarifies your doubts but may even lead to you learning something new and probably preventing any mistake that you might have done some other time.
The SigmaX mocks.
The SIGma-X mocks in e-GMAT are a lot different from any other mocks. Keeping aside how it works, it is a very effective simulation of the real test. Even while giving my GMAT test, I was comfortable and familiar with the pattern because these mocks had given me many insights into it.
But the best part about these mocks was the solutions and the insights. The block and topic-wise analysis that it provides is really helpful and insightful. It helped me to understand my weaknesses and which aspect of the same needs work.
The LMP program.
The Last Mile Push (LMP) was something that really changed my score from medium to high. I thank my mentor, Dhruv Joshi, for helping me through it all. I would not have been able to achieve what I did without this. After all the preparations, I still did not know what to expect and what was the correct way to go about in the final phase. Dhruv helped me streamline my thoughts and guide my preparations. He helped me to identify and iron out the last few kinks in my ability. But the most important thing is the support that he offered. Having someone to guide you who is experienced and knows how to best utilize your time is a boon. During the final phase, when I was struggling with SC, he pulled every string he could to help me. He even reached out to the subject experts to make sure that I justified my potential. Having someone by your side who is equally dedicated to the process as much as you gave me the confidence that nothing else could have.
All in all, my GMAT experience was verry unique and exciting. I thank eGMAT and Dhruv to have successfully guided me. And of course my parents and Family and Nandita who were always by my side always. Scoring 730 was not easy, but with the right approach and mindset, it was fun.
To anyone who is reading this, and have any questions or need support, please feel free to connect. It would be my pleasure to give back to this community.
Before I begin, let me tell you something about my background. My parents are doctors and I am a medical student as well. I had little motivation to switch to an MBA stream and more so, I had few people who could rightfully guide me. Hence this story is also for many medicos out there who think that they want to be something more than a doctor, and are willing to take a risk. I am out here and will help you through the process as my mentors did for me.
That being said, my story begins in September 2022. While searching for various platforms to prepare for my GMAT, I came across a recommendation from one of my seniors who suggested that e-GMAT could be an excellent option. At that point in time I was halfway through my medical internship, which was going hectic and my major concern was classes and content personalized to my requirements. This senior told me the benefits e-GMAT has to offer in that regard, especially the P.AC.E. AI system in Quant 2.0 which can really help me save time. With that in mind, I took my first SIGma-X mock scoring a 620 in it.
Starting the Preparations
I purchased the e-GMAT 360 course for 4 months and began my preparations. As I signed up, I was directed to the Personalized Study Plan (PSP) that took in my starting score and asked me my targets. It then also adjusted my day-to-day time and taking into consideration, gave me a realistic timetable to follow. I started with Quant first. Taking out time and studying in the middle of the internship was very taxing and stressful but the way the Quant section is designed was immensely helpful. Each section was broken down into concepts and modules, each preceded by a diagnostic quiz, which helped me evaluate my proficiency in the same. It also suggested modules I could skip and modules that I should go through to improve my ability. This was a lifesaver as I saved a lot of hours because of P.A.C.E AI. And since the modules were broken into parts, I could easily manage to study in short intervals whenever possible. Both factors helped me in reaching where I am.
Next, I started with my Verbal preparations. Even though I am an avid reader and have been a top scorer in English in my division, Verbal, especially Sentence Correction was very difficult for me. As I will elaborate more afterward, SC may be the most difficult part for a non-native speaker. So I would suggest spending a little more time on the same during your preparations. While verbal did not have any PACE system, as you cannot skip concepts in the same. However, it did have assessment quizzes in appropriate places which helped me understand my weak areas during the first stage of the preparations.
Overall, the pattern of distribution of content, assessment quizzes, and other interactive modules helped me a great deal in improving my understating of the pattern of the exam and leading me to the correct framework of thinking during the exam.
Few tips up till this I would like to suggest:
1. Create your PSP, the first thing you sign up and try to follow it as much as possible. Stretched schedule dilutes your efforts and leaves you stranded. Do not procrastinate and try to complete the daily targets as much as possible.
2. Be as honest and realistic as possible in the input you provide for the PSP as an overestimation of committed time or an unrealistic score can really mess up the schedule. That being said, you should put the maximum you think is possible and not underestimate yourself.
3.Do not jump directly to Scholaranium. It is a crucial tool, which when used correctly can help you scale points faster than you can imagine.
4. Do not cramp your studies in a single day. Space it out, and study consistently and regularly rather than being inconsistent. Consistency determines the quality of recall and memory you will have on the final day.
5. Do not underestimate any topic. The whole course is designed by experts in their field who know what they are doing. Don’t be presumptuous and say "What does a system know, it doesn't even know me. I know this topic, it is stupid to say I am weak in it. I will just ignore it". Listen to what it is suggesting and follow it. Believe me, it will give you results
Now for more specific things
Quant:
e-GMAT has excellent quizzes, do not skip them. A detailed explanation for each question, combined with the forum discussions, where getting a detailed explanation or any doubt remaining, irrespective of how small or insignificant it may be, helps in building your understanding.
Review answers and explanations carefully. More often than not, it is the simpler things we make mistakes in rather than the hard ones. Carefully reviewing the explanations will make you see the potential places for such mistakes so you don't do it in the test.
Verbal:
e-GMAT offers brilliant frameworks for various types of Verbal questions asked. These frameworks, including Prethinking, Meaning Based Approach, RC Frameworks, have been specifically designed for the test and are very helpful, especially when you get stuck in the last two choices.
Do not rush over to finish things. Verbal is a matter of details and logic. Learn to pay close attention to the questions and the data and think. Once you are well equipped with these skills, the course of e-GMAT will make sure that you increase your speed.
This is the first stage where you solidify your concepts. This stage is important as it builds the foundation for your future progress. The second stage or the Cementing stage focuses on making your accuracy better.
The cementing quizzes in the course are specifically designed to mimic the GMAT.
A few important things to keep in mind:
The Error Log
The error log is an excellent tool to learn from your mistakes. One thing I realized during my preparation was that I learned more from my mistakes than from the theory. Committing mistakes is normal. But analyzing it and learning from it is the key difference between a mediocre score and an excellent score. And try filling it out as soon as possible after the test, preferably within the first hour. And do not underestimate the questions you got right. Analyze each question and you will realize that there was so much you missed in it.
Do not cramp but no delays!
Studying and solving tests need to be on time. Regularity and persistence are more important than volume. Cramping the week's work on the weekend will not lead to a better result. It may even harm your chances of actual learning. At the same time, spacing out too much and dragging the coursework will not help. As a rule, I set my target to solve 1-2 quizzes each day and fill out error logs right after the test.
Go back to basics.
Basics are more important than I can stress. During the final phase of my preparations, I started performing poorly in my verbal, especially the SC. It was devasting for me to go through those 10 days before my test. I could not identify what was going wrong. I sought help from Dhruv, my mentor, to help me. On his suggestion, I recorded myself while solving the questions and realized what was happening. After that, I went back to the Master comprehension course(the basics for Verbal) and went through it all again. I returned to solving the questions, and I was performing better than before. That is how important the basics are. Most of you are already good at these subjects. But it is not the objective of the test to see how complex you can solve, but to see how you can apply the knowledge you have, and the key factor to do that is to be clear with your basics. The clearer you are, the easier it is to apply a concept to even the most complex problems.
After you complete your cementing quizzes, you move to the third stage, Test Readiness. It starts slowly with only one sub-section and builds it to a complete section at a time and finally the mocks. This stage is important as it judges and prepares you from doing a few questions in some time to simulating the GMAT will the right conditions.
Do not rush to solve the mocks directly. You must go through each step in the sequence. This is to step by step build your ability and sniffle out any problems you are facing. Breaking this sequence means losing the golden opportunity to identify your weaknesses and to correct them.
One of the most helpful things during these stages was the detailed explanations of all the questions that e-GMAT had to offer. I went through all the solutions, irrespective of getting them right or wrong. These detailed solutions have been created by experts and take you through the most effective and easiest of the methods. It does not give or encourage shortcuts as they are subjected to the pattern of the question and are not reliable. These solutions are comprehensive and sound from all angles.
Another great tool was the discussion forums. On all concepts and questions, you can open up the previous threads of doubts where others have posted their doubts or you can post your own. Be it your doubt or someone else's, they are solved by the experts. Going through them not only clarifies your doubts but may even lead to you learning something new and probably preventing any mistake that you might have done some other time.
The SigmaX mocks.
The SIGma-X mocks in e-GMAT are a lot different from any other mocks. Keeping aside how it works, it is a very effective simulation of the real test. Even while giving my GMAT test, I was comfortable and familiar with the pattern because these mocks had given me many insights into it.
But the best part about these mocks was the solutions and the insights. The block and topic-wise analysis that it provides is really helpful and insightful. It helped me to understand my weaknesses and which aspect of the same needs work.
The LMP program.
The Last Mile Push (LMP) was something that really changed my score from medium to high. I thank my mentor, Dhruv Joshi, for helping me through it all. I would not have been able to achieve what I did without this. After all the preparations, I still did not know what to expect and what was the correct way to go about in the final phase. Dhruv helped me streamline my thoughts and guide my preparations. He helped me to identify and iron out the last few kinks in my ability. But the most important thing is the support that he offered. Having someone to guide you who is experienced and knows how to best utilize your time is a boon. During the final phase, when I was struggling with SC, he pulled every string he could to help me. He even reached out to the subject experts to make sure that I justified my potential. Having someone by your side who is equally dedicated to the process as much as you gave me the confidence that nothing else could have.
All in all, my GMAT experience was verry unique and exciting. I thank eGMAT and Dhruv to have successfully guided me. And of course my parents and Family and Nandita who were always by my side always. Scoring 730 was not easy, but with the right approach and mindset, it was fun.
To anyone who is reading this, and have any questions or need support, please feel free to connect. It would be my pleasure to give back to this community.
Updated on: 28 Mar 2023, 23:18
Originally posted by eGMATAkash on 28 Mar 2023, 21:54.
Last edited by eGMATAkash on 28 Mar 2023, 23:18, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by eGMATAkash on 28 Mar 2023, 23:18, edited 1 time in total.
Kudos
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Congratulations RaghavGSK! 
Thank you for sharing your story and tips on how to prepare for the GMAT exam. It's great to hear that you utilized the Personalized Study Plan and the P.A.C.E AI system for saving time and managing your study schedule while juggling your medical internship.
Consistency and attention to detail are also key factors in your success. I appreciate your advice on not underestimating any topic. It is common for test-takers to feel confident about certain topics and presume that they don't need to study them thoroughly. However, the GMAT exam is designed in a way that tests a candidate's ability to analyze, interpret, and apply concepts from various fields. Therefore, it is important to take each topic seriously and not overlook any subject.
Congratulations on your achievement and thank you for sharing your experience with others who may be considering a similar path.
Wish you all the best for your next steps!
Regards,
Akash
Thank you for sharing your story and tips on how to prepare for the GMAT exam. It's great to hear that you utilized the Personalized Study Plan and the P.A.C.E AI system for saving time and managing your study schedule while juggling your medical internship.
Consistency and attention to detail are also key factors in your success. I appreciate your advice on not underestimating any topic. It is common for test-takers to feel confident about certain topics and presume that they don't need to study them thoroughly. However, the GMAT exam is designed in a way that tests a candidate's ability to analyze, interpret, and apply concepts from various fields. Therefore, it is important to take each topic seriously and not overlook any subject.
Congratulations on your achievement and thank you for sharing your experience with others who may be considering a similar path.
Wish you all the best for your next steps!
Regards,
Akash
28 Mar 2023, 22:01
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Bookmarks
Wow. No practice test, no official guide, no GMAT prep… ? this is the longest most forgetful Debrief…
Why are you switching from medical field to GMAT and MBA?
Posted from my mobile device
Why are you switching from medical field to GMAT and MBA?
Posted from my mobile device
