Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Apr 2301:30 AM EDT
-02:30 AM EDT
Struggling with GMAT Verbal as a non-native speaker? Harsh improved his score from 595 to 695 in just 45 days—and scored a 99 %ile in Verbal (V88)! Learn how smart strategy, clarity, and guided prep helped him gain 100 points.
Apr 2212:30 AM EDT
-01:30 AM EDT
At one point, she believed GMAT wasn’t for her. After scoring 595, self-doubt crept in and she questioned her potential. But instead of quitting, she made the right strategic changes. The result? A remarkable comeback to 695. Check out how Saakshi did it.
Apr 2308:00 PM PDT
-09:00 PM PDT
Video explanations + diagnosis of 10 weakest areas + 150+ short videos + study plan!
Apr 2610:00 AM EDT
-11:00 AM EDT
The Target Test Prep course represents a quantum leap forward in GMAT preparation, a radical reinterpretation of the way that students should study. Try before you buy with a 5-day, full-access trial of the course for FREE!
Apr 2711:00 AM EDT
-12:00 PM EDT
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors
Apr 2808:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
Whether you are just beginning your MBA journey or fine-tuning your path to a 700+ score, GMAT Day is designed to give you a competitive edge.
Updated on: 03 Jan 2024, 23:52
Originally posted by AbhinavSparsh on 02 Jan 2024, 06:41.
Last edited by AbhinavSparsh on 03 Jan 2024, 23:52, edited 2 times in total.
Last edited by AbhinavSparsh on 03 Jan 2024, 23:52, edited 2 times in total.
Kudos
Bookmarks
My GMAT Story!
Hey there! It's December 31, 2023, and I wanted to reflect on the crazy ride that this year has been for me, full of highs and lows. Let me tell you about my GMAT journey, where I went from an score of 650 (classic- 71 percentile) to a much-improved 695 (focus- 98th percentile ~ 750 in terms of classic).
Background
I graduated from BITS Pilani and worked on the Operations team at Amazon for almost three years. Eventually, I made the decision to pursue an MBA. Finding it challenging to juggle both work and studies, I took a bold step and quit my job to fully focus on my MBA goals. In April 2023, based on recommendations from friends, I enrolled in the e-GMAT course.
Preparing with e-GMAT
The e-GMAT team advised me to take a diagnostic test, specifically one of the Sigma-X mocks. I scored 540, indicating that my current preparation would likely lead to a GMAT score in the range of 530-550. After this, I had the opportunity to set my target score. I have to admit, I went a bit further and set my goal at 730! Pretty ambitious, huh? We'll see how it goes.
Right away, the platform created a personalized study plan for me. It broke down the exam into specific sub-sections. For instance, it identified that I was in the 19th percentile in Sentence Correction (SC), and to achieve a score of 730, I needed to be in the 90th percentile or higher. The platform accurately assessed this and assigned the appropriate number of hours I needed to dedicate to excel in this sub-section. I was highly impressed with this level of detail and guidance!
Once the study plan was created, I decided to start with my preparation. The entire portion of the exam is divided into multiple sub-sections, and each sub-section has multiple video lessons and practice tests. When aligned chronologically, it helps you move in a structured manner.
Verbal Section -
1. Master Comprehension –
Throughout my GMAT preparation, a major focus for me was enhancing my comprehension skills, especially for the verbal section. Despite having an education in English, the GMAT assesses a very specific, formal use of the language, distinct from everyday spoken English. The 'Master Comprehension' module in the E-GMAT course played a pivotal role in this aspect. It guided me in the correct way to read and understand sentences, which was crucial because the GMAT isn't just about knowing English; it's about comprehending the structure, logic, and nuances of the language in a formal context.
Before effectively tackling Critical Reasoning (CR) or Reading Comprehension (RC), I needed a strong foundation in comprehending complex texts. The 'Master Comprehension' module helped me process information aligned with the GMAT's testing style. It went beyond mere reading; it was about deeply understanding the material, deciphering the underlying logic, and systematically dissecting sentences. This skill significantly transformed my CR performance, enabling me to analyze arguments more effectively, identify logical flaws or strengths, and approach each question with a deeper understanding.
Similarly, in RC, the improved comprehension ability made it easier to grasp main ideas, themes, and structures of passages, resulting in a notable enhancement in my performance. In summary, mastering the skill of comprehension shifted my approach from simply answering questions correctly to genuinely engaging with and understanding the material.
2. Sentence Correction –
Facing Sentence Correction (SC) was like dealing with my nemesis; I even experienced panic attacks due to this section. Since my background involved communicating primarily through spoken English, I had to unlearn and then relearn how to read and comprehend SC-type questions. The struggle was real, and my dislike for SC was evident.
3. Critical Reasoning –
At the start, I had a habit of rushing through Critical Reasoning (CR) questions, prioritizing speed over a deep understanding. Unfortunately, this approach often resulted in avoidable errors. I soon realized that excelling in CR wasn't just about quickly finding the right answer; it required a profound understanding of the argument presented. This realization led me to the game-changing concept of pre-thinking or the e-GMAT way.
Pre-thinking involves anticipating a potential correct answer before looking at the choices. It's about grasping the argument, identifying the conclusion, and considering what kind of information would strengthen or weaken it. This approach made me more analytical and less reactive. Instead of immediately diving into the answer choices, I took a moment to ponder the argument's structure and what a logical answer might involve. This strategy proved effective in steering clear of the distractors that the GMAT often throws into the mix.
Pre-thinking not only enhanced my accuracy but also improved my speed. By investing time upfront to understand the argument, I reduced the time needed to assess the answer choices, particularly in more challenging questions where the correct answer wasn't immediately apparent. In conclusion, adopting the pre-thinking strategy in CR marked a significant turning point in my preparation. It shifted my focus from superficially scanning for answers to genuinely understanding and analyzing the arguments. This deeper engagement played a crucial role in elevating my CR performance and, consequently, my overall verbal score.
4. Reading Comprehension –
Initially, I found Reading Comprehension (RC) passages daunting, mainly due to their length and complexity. However, as I progressed with e-gmat, I developed strategies that significantly improved my approach and performance in this challenging section.
A key lesson I learned was the importance of truly understanding the passages, moving beyond simply skimming through them to answer questions. This shift in approach was influenced by the skills I acquired from the 'Master Comprehension' module in my E-GMAT course. It taught me to read with the intent to understand and engage with the content, transforming my experience with RC.
I began making short notes for each paragraph, helping me distill the main ideas and structure of the passages. This technique proved invaluable, especially for longer and more complex texts. It allowed me to efficiently recall information when answering questions, reducing the need to repeatedly refer back to the passage. With consistent practice and strategies from the E-GMAT course, I reached a stage where I could summarize passages without detailed notes. Taking 15 seconds after each paragraph to absorb information kept me immersed, saving time in the long run by reducing the need to refer back to the passage. This approach improved efficiency, comprehension, and retention.
Another crucial aspect was learning how to manage large, seemingly overwhelming passages. Strategies like summarizing large names or omitting unnecessary details while still capturing the essence of the text made the passages more manageable and less intimidating.
Furthermore, my improved comprehension skills from Critical Reasoning (CR) had a positive spill-over effect on my RC performance. The ability to analyze arguments and understand underlying logic in CR helped me better grasp the themes and arguments in RC passages.
To sum up, my RC strategy was a combination of enhanced comprehension skills, efficient note-taking, and a methodical approach to answering questions. These techniques not only helped me tackle RC more effectively but also made me appreciate the subtleties and complexities of the passages, turning a challenging section into an enjoyable and rewarding part of my GMAT preparation.
Quant Section –
Coming from an engineering background, I was confident about quant. The PACE feature in E-GMAT helped identify my weak areas, saving me over 44 hours in preparation. The comprehensive question bank in E-GMAT covered all types of quant questions, providing ample practice.
Overall Growth/Final Touch:
After completing all the concepts and solidifying my understanding, the final tuning was achieved through the LMP program. This program assisted me in developing consistent test-taking focus by solving various custom and mixed quizzes that simulated the test environment. This proved tremendously helpful in enhancing my test-taking focus, allowing me to formulate a test-taking strategy (including the ordering of sections) that worked best for me. This final push and touch-up were instrumental in my preparation.
My 1st attempt – 650 (V 29, Q 50) July’23 last week (score rejected)
After three months of preparation, my mock exam scores were consistently in the 730s. However, I recognized a challenge in managing time during the verbal section, an area where I lacked confidence. After a few more days of practice, I gave my first attempt and scored a 650 (I aimed to score a 700+, given that I belong to an overrepresented pool of candidates – Indian Male Engineer). Looking at the score, I instantly felt –
Heart Attack🤕🤕
This isn’t a true representation of my potential. I could do better.
I need to stay calm during the test.
Something needs to be done about verbal
Connecting with my mentor, we reviewed my Enhanced Score Report (ESR) and identified a significant disparity between how I approached Critical Reasoning (CR) in mock exams and the actual test. Determined to improve, I scheduled another test appointment for 15 days later, aiming to conquer the challenges I faced.
The 15 days
I diligently adhered to the study plan provided by my mentor, revisiting key concepts and taking mock exams. However, a critical aspect that required attention was my test day readiness and mindset. Despite scoring well in verbal during mocks, I carried a mindset that I was weak in Sentence Correction (SC), creating unnecessary tension on the final day.I realised, this nervousness and anxiety resulted in lapses in my test-day strategies. For instance, I missed the prethink stage in Critical Reasoning (CR) and jumped directly into analyzing answer choices.
The Exile: 2nd Attempt – 700 (V 32, Q 51) August’23
Receiving the borderline score was bittersweet. While not entirely satisfied, I was undeniably burnt out. Expecting better results in verbal, my mentor encouraged me to give it another shot, but with my mental exhaustion, financial constraints, and looming Round 1 application deadlines, it wasn't a feasible option. Moreover, my father had undergone heart surgery in the first week of August, and I didn't want to add unnecessary financial pressure to my family. Acknowledging these factors, I accepted the score and shifted my focus to preparing my applications, taking a break from GMAT preparation.
Happy Ending– 695 (V86, Q 88, D79) Dec’23
Fast forward to December 1st, crazy year so far, I aimed to conclude 2023 on a positive note without any regrets. Determined to give the GMAT another shot, I reached out to my mentor Rashmi. Together, we brainstormed whether to attempt the classic or focus pattern, took mocks in both, and concluded that the focus pattern aligned better with my strengths (especially without the SC, my nemesis).
Verbal section- I adopted (and finally implemented😂) a strategic approach. For Reading Comprehension (RC), my mindset was to read the passage with the goal of understanding it rather than focusing solely on answering questions. In Critical Reasoning (CR), I read the premise, identified the question stem's requirements, pre-thought a few lines of reasoning, and then proceeded with answer choice analysis through elimination. Remarkably, this method resulted in 100% accuracy in CR.
Quant Section – the material was generally straightforward for me. However, I did make a mistake on a question costing me 2 points. Nonetheless, I understand that on test day, a few errors here and there are inevitable, and it's okay not to stress too much about them. Though it does bug me from time to time, after all I am good at quant.
DI- This was new as i had not prepared for IR before so most of my time (approx 2 weeks ) was spent on DI. The course proved to be extremely beneficial, providing ample practice questions to establish a solid foundation. Due to time constraints, I couldn't explore additional practice questions, but the course content was comprehensive and instrumental in my DI preparation. 😄
Lastly, fostering a positive mindset was crucial for my success. During this attempt, I consciously had no expectations and didn't associate any future plans with the test scores to avoid unnecessary stress. The absence of my nemesis (yes, SC) was an added bonus, contributing to a calm testing experience.
In summary, my GMAT journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Thanks to my mentor Rashmi, who always believed in my ability to excel, and the entire e-GMAT team, my constant pillar of support during tough times, I was able to conclude it on a high note. I hope this detailed account serves as motivation for every GMAT aspirant. To all GMAT aspirants out there, take your time, but NEVER GIVE UP!
Hey there! It's December 31, 2023, and I wanted to reflect on the crazy ride that this year has been for me, full of highs and lows. Let me tell you about my GMAT journey, where I went from an score of 650 (classic- 71 percentile) to a much-improved 695 (focus- 98th percentile ~ 750 in terms of classic).
Background
I graduated from BITS Pilani and worked on the Operations team at Amazon for almost three years. Eventually, I made the decision to pursue an MBA. Finding it challenging to juggle both work and studies, I took a bold step and quit my job to fully focus on my MBA goals. In April 2023, based on recommendations from friends, I enrolled in the e-GMAT course.
Preparing with e-GMAT
The e-GMAT team advised me to take a diagnostic test, specifically one of the Sigma-X mocks. I scored 540, indicating that my current preparation would likely lead to a GMAT score in the range of 530-550. After this, I had the opportunity to set my target score. I have to admit, I went a bit further and set my goal at 730! Pretty ambitious, huh? We'll see how it goes.
Right away, the platform created a personalized study plan for me. It broke down the exam into specific sub-sections. For instance, it identified that I was in the 19th percentile in Sentence Correction (SC), and to achieve a score of 730, I needed to be in the 90th percentile or higher. The platform accurately assessed this and assigned the appropriate number of hours I needed to dedicate to excel in this sub-section. I was highly impressed with this level of detail and guidance!
Once the study plan was created, I decided to start with my preparation. The entire portion of the exam is divided into multiple sub-sections, and each sub-section has multiple video lessons and practice tests. When aligned chronologically, it helps you move in a structured manner.
Verbal Section -
1. Master Comprehension –
Throughout my GMAT preparation, a major focus for me was enhancing my comprehension skills, especially for the verbal section. Despite having an education in English, the GMAT assesses a very specific, formal use of the language, distinct from everyday spoken English. The 'Master Comprehension' module in the E-GMAT course played a pivotal role in this aspect. It guided me in the correct way to read and understand sentences, which was crucial because the GMAT isn't just about knowing English; it's about comprehending the structure, logic, and nuances of the language in a formal context.
Before effectively tackling Critical Reasoning (CR) or Reading Comprehension (RC), I needed a strong foundation in comprehending complex texts. The 'Master Comprehension' module helped me process information aligned with the GMAT's testing style. It went beyond mere reading; it was about deeply understanding the material, deciphering the underlying logic, and systematically dissecting sentences. This skill significantly transformed my CR performance, enabling me to analyze arguments more effectively, identify logical flaws or strengths, and approach each question with a deeper understanding.
Similarly, in RC, the improved comprehension ability made it easier to grasp main ideas, themes, and structures of passages, resulting in a notable enhancement in my performance. In summary, mastering the skill of comprehension shifted my approach from simply answering questions correctly to genuinely engaging with and understanding the material.
2. Sentence Correction –
Facing Sentence Correction (SC) was like dealing with my nemesis; I even experienced panic attacks due to this section. Since my background involved communicating primarily through spoken English, I had to unlearn and then relearn how to read and comprehend SC-type questions. The struggle was real, and my dislike for SC was evident.
3. Critical Reasoning –
At the start, I had a habit of rushing through Critical Reasoning (CR) questions, prioritizing speed over a deep understanding. Unfortunately, this approach often resulted in avoidable errors. I soon realized that excelling in CR wasn't just about quickly finding the right answer; it required a profound understanding of the argument presented. This realization led me to the game-changing concept of pre-thinking or the e-GMAT way.
Pre-thinking involves anticipating a potential correct answer before looking at the choices. It's about grasping the argument, identifying the conclusion, and considering what kind of information would strengthen or weaken it. This approach made me more analytical and less reactive. Instead of immediately diving into the answer choices, I took a moment to ponder the argument's structure and what a logical answer might involve. This strategy proved effective in steering clear of the distractors that the GMAT often throws into the mix.
Pre-thinking not only enhanced my accuracy but also improved my speed. By investing time upfront to understand the argument, I reduced the time needed to assess the answer choices, particularly in more challenging questions where the correct answer wasn't immediately apparent. In conclusion, adopting the pre-thinking strategy in CR marked a significant turning point in my preparation. It shifted my focus from superficially scanning for answers to genuinely understanding and analyzing the arguments. This deeper engagement played a crucial role in elevating my CR performance and, consequently, my overall verbal score.
4. Reading Comprehension –
Initially, I found Reading Comprehension (RC) passages daunting, mainly due to their length and complexity. However, as I progressed with e-gmat, I developed strategies that significantly improved my approach and performance in this challenging section.
A key lesson I learned was the importance of truly understanding the passages, moving beyond simply skimming through them to answer questions. This shift in approach was influenced by the skills I acquired from the 'Master Comprehension' module in my E-GMAT course. It taught me to read with the intent to understand and engage with the content, transforming my experience with RC.
I began making short notes for each paragraph, helping me distill the main ideas and structure of the passages. This technique proved invaluable, especially for longer and more complex texts. It allowed me to efficiently recall information when answering questions, reducing the need to repeatedly refer back to the passage. With consistent practice and strategies from the E-GMAT course, I reached a stage where I could summarize passages without detailed notes. Taking 15 seconds after each paragraph to absorb information kept me immersed, saving time in the long run by reducing the need to refer back to the passage. This approach improved efficiency, comprehension, and retention.
Another crucial aspect was learning how to manage large, seemingly overwhelming passages. Strategies like summarizing large names or omitting unnecessary details while still capturing the essence of the text made the passages more manageable and less intimidating.
Furthermore, my improved comprehension skills from Critical Reasoning (CR) had a positive spill-over effect on my RC performance. The ability to analyze arguments and understand underlying logic in CR helped me better grasp the themes and arguments in RC passages.
To sum up, my RC strategy was a combination of enhanced comprehension skills, efficient note-taking, and a methodical approach to answering questions. These techniques not only helped me tackle RC more effectively but also made me appreciate the subtleties and complexities of the passages, turning a challenging section into an enjoyable and rewarding part of my GMAT preparation.
Quant Section –
Coming from an engineering background, I was confident about quant. The PACE feature in E-GMAT helped identify my weak areas, saving me over 44 hours in preparation. The comprehensive question bank in E-GMAT covered all types of quant questions, providing ample practice.
Overall Growth/Final Touch:
After completing all the concepts and solidifying my understanding, the final tuning was achieved through the LMP program. This program assisted me in developing consistent test-taking focus by solving various custom and mixed quizzes that simulated the test environment. This proved tremendously helpful in enhancing my test-taking focus, allowing me to formulate a test-taking strategy (including the ordering of sections) that worked best for me. This final push and touch-up were instrumental in my preparation.
My 1st attempt – 650 (V 29, Q 50) July’23 last week (score rejected)
After three months of preparation, my mock exam scores were consistently in the 730s. However, I recognized a challenge in managing time during the verbal section, an area where I lacked confidence. After a few more days of practice, I gave my first attempt and scored a 650 (I aimed to score a 700+, given that I belong to an overrepresented pool of candidates – Indian Male Engineer). Looking at the score, I instantly felt –
Heart Attack🤕🤕
This isn’t a true representation of my potential. I could do better.
I need to stay calm during the test.
Something needs to be done about verbal
Connecting with my mentor, we reviewed my Enhanced Score Report (ESR) and identified a significant disparity between how I approached Critical Reasoning (CR) in mock exams and the actual test. Determined to improve, I scheduled another test appointment for 15 days later, aiming to conquer the challenges I faced.
The 15 days
I diligently adhered to the study plan provided by my mentor, revisiting key concepts and taking mock exams. However, a critical aspect that required attention was my test day readiness and mindset. Despite scoring well in verbal during mocks, I carried a mindset that I was weak in Sentence Correction (SC), creating unnecessary tension on the final day.I realised, this nervousness and anxiety resulted in lapses in my test-day strategies. For instance, I missed the prethink stage in Critical Reasoning (CR) and jumped directly into analyzing answer choices.
The Exile: 2nd Attempt – 700 (V 32, Q 51) August’23
Receiving the borderline score was bittersweet. While not entirely satisfied, I was undeniably burnt out. Expecting better results in verbal, my mentor encouraged me to give it another shot, but with my mental exhaustion, financial constraints, and looming Round 1 application deadlines, it wasn't a feasible option. Moreover, my father had undergone heart surgery in the first week of August, and I didn't want to add unnecessary financial pressure to my family. Acknowledging these factors, I accepted the score and shifted my focus to preparing my applications, taking a break from GMAT preparation.
Happy Ending– 695 (V86, Q 88, D79) Dec’23
Fast forward to December 1st, crazy year so far, I aimed to conclude 2023 on a positive note without any regrets. Determined to give the GMAT another shot, I reached out to my mentor Rashmi. Together, we brainstormed whether to attempt the classic or focus pattern, took mocks in both, and concluded that the focus pattern aligned better with my strengths (especially without the SC, my nemesis).
Verbal section- I adopted (and finally implemented😂) a strategic approach. For Reading Comprehension (RC), my mindset was to read the passage with the goal of understanding it rather than focusing solely on answering questions. In Critical Reasoning (CR), I read the premise, identified the question stem's requirements, pre-thought a few lines of reasoning, and then proceeded with answer choice analysis through elimination. Remarkably, this method resulted in 100% accuracy in CR.
Quant Section – the material was generally straightforward for me. However, I did make a mistake on a question costing me 2 points. Nonetheless, I understand that on test day, a few errors here and there are inevitable, and it's okay not to stress too much about them. Though it does bug me from time to time, after all I am good at quant.
DI- This was new as i had not prepared for IR before so most of my time (approx 2 weeks ) was spent on DI. The course proved to be extremely beneficial, providing ample practice questions to establish a solid foundation. Due to time constraints, I couldn't explore additional practice questions, but the course content was comprehensive and instrumental in my DI preparation. 😄
Lastly, fostering a positive mindset was crucial for my success. During this attempt, I consciously had no expectations and didn't associate any future plans with the test scores to avoid unnecessary stress. The absence of my nemesis (yes, SC) was an added bonus, contributing to a calm testing experience.
In summary, my GMAT journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Thanks to my mentor Rashmi, who always believed in my ability to excel, and the entire e-GMAT team, my constant pillar of support during tough times, I was able to conclude it on a high note. I hope this detailed account serves as motivation for every GMAT aspirant. To all GMAT aspirants out there, take your time, but NEVER GIVE UP!
02 Jan 2024, 07:45
Kudos
Bookmarks
Gratz on the 695. All the best going forward.
-contact: gmatknight site | gmatclub dm
-contact: gmatknight site | gmatclub dm
04 Jan 2024, 23:41
Kudos
Bookmarks
Dear AbhinavSparsh,
Congratulations on your impressive GMAT score of 695, a testament to your resilience, dedication, and strategic approach to mastering this challenging exam. Your journey from a 650 to a remarkable 695, overcoming numerous challenges and personal hurdles, is truly inspirational. Your story is a testament to the fact that with hard work and unwavering belief in one’s ability, anything is possible. Thank you for sharing your experiences – I am sure, a lot of GMAT aspirants out there will benefit a lot from your journey.
I know that this score is a hard-earned one, and I am glad to have been a part of this inspirational journey. The title of your debrief - Journey from 650 – 695, does not do justice to the actual improvement. Because it is not a journey from 650 to 695, but a journey from 540 (your cold mock score) to a 695 – from the 37th percentile to the 98th percentile! What an improvement and what a journey – take a bow!
Verbal Journey from 19th percentile to 98th percentile:
Your verbal journey from a V19 (19th percentile) to a V88 (98th percentile) is one of the most impressive improvements I have seen. You did not leave any stone unturned in this endeavor to excel in GMAT verbal.
From building your basics through Master Comprehension to learning concepts and mastering applications – you did it all and the final score is a testament to your effort and perseverance.
In SC, where you started at the 10th percentile, through mastering the meaning-based approach you were able to improve to the 80th percentile ability. As you have mentioned, “SC was your nemesis”, but I am impressed with the effort that you put into taking on this nemesis head-on and coming out a winner. This image shows the steady improvement in SC, brought about by the meaning-based approach:
In CR, it is commendable how you extended the skills you learned in Master Comprehension to understand the logic behind the argument – one of the key skills needed to excel in CR. You complimented this by mastering the pre-thinking approach that helped you improve your accuracy and reduce your speed. The image below depicts this improvement in action:
In RC too, I commend you on spending the time to learn and internalize the reading strategies. This helped you move from the process of skimming to the process of reading to comprehend and this made all the difference. I remember how you mentioned that in your final attempt, the RC passages were lengthy and “boring”, but how this focus on comprehension and application of reading strategies helped you tackle them with ease. This image shows how this approach helped you excel on all topics in RC:
Quant Journey from Q45 (55th percentile) to Q88 (95th percentile):
Being from an engineering background, you could have ignored quants. But I am glad that you did not give in to overconfidence but rather leveraged the PACE feature of e-GMAT quant to identify and fix your areas of weakness. This strategic approach not only ensured a top quant score (Q51 and Q88) but also helped you save over 23 hours of prep time😊 Here is an image to showcase the amazing quant ability that you built through this brilliant approach:
Previous GMAT attempts in current format – 650 & 700:
Through this dedicated and structured approach, you built an extraordinary ability that would get you a top score on the GMAT. However, unfortunately, your first two GMAT attempts did not pan out as expected.
One of the primary reasons for that was your fear of SC and test anxiety. It is one thing to have an amazing ability, but another to translate that into a great score on the test day. Despite internalizing and perfecting the processes, anxiety did not allow you to apply these processes during the actual GMAT and so we were not able to get the score of your dreams during these attempts. I know this was a very disappointing time during your preparation, but I am so glad that you believed in yourself and decided to give yourself another chance.
Final GMAT attempt – GMAT 695 – 98th percentile with Q88, V85 and D79:
When you returned to the preparation again and decided on GFE, your verbal and quant were already sorted. The only thing that you needed to work on was DI. I am glad to know that you found the e-GMAT materials sufficient for all your DI needs. We have spent a lot of effort on offering our students high-quality DI material and it feels good to be validated😊
I commend you on spending the time to get to the root cause of the challenges that you faced during your previous attempts. This provided valuable insights and learning opportunities that you used to adapt and enhance your test-taking strategy for this attempt. Recognizing and addressing these issues was a crucial step in you acing the GMAT this time around with a brilliant 695😊 What an achievement – congratulations!
In conclusion, your GMAT journey is an inspiring story of overcoming obstacles, fine-tuning strategies, and unwavering dedication. It underscores the importance of understanding personal challenges, adapting strategies accordingly, and the significant impact of a supportive learning environment.
It is an inspiration to all GMAT aspirants, showcasing that with determination, the right approach, and supportive guidance, reaching ambitious goals is entirely possible. We wish you the best in your MBA pursuits and future endeavors. This accomplishment is undoubtedly a precursor to many more successes in your journey ahead.
Warm regards,
Rashmi Vaidya
Congratulations on your impressive GMAT score of 695, a testament to your resilience, dedication, and strategic approach to mastering this challenging exam. Your journey from a 650 to a remarkable 695, overcoming numerous challenges and personal hurdles, is truly inspirational. Your story is a testament to the fact that with hard work and unwavering belief in one’s ability, anything is possible. Thank you for sharing your experiences – I am sure, a lot of GMAT aspirants out there will benefit a lot from your journey.
I know that this score is a hard-earned one, and I am glad to have been a part of this inspirational journey. The title of your debrief - Journey from 650 – 695, does not do justice to the actual improvement. Because it is not a journey from 650 to 695, but a journey from 540 (your cold mock score) to a 695 – from the 37th percentile to the 98th percentile! What an improvement and what a journey – take a bow!
Verbal Journey from 19th percentile to 98th percentile:
Your verbal journey from a V19 (19th percentile) to a V88 (98th percentile) is one of the most impressive improvements I have seen. You did not leave any stone unturned in this endeavor to excel in GMAT verbal.
From building your basics through Master Comprehension to learning concepts and mastering applications – you did it all and the final score is a testament to your effort and perseverance.
In SC, where you started at the 10th percentile, through mastering the meaning-based approach you were able to improve to the 80th percentile ability. As you have mentioned, “SC was your nemesis”, but I am impressed with the effort that you put into taking on this nemesis head-on and coming out a winner. This image shows the steady improvement in SC, brought about by the meaning-based approach:
In CR, it is commendable how you extended the skills you learned in Master Comprehension to understand the logic behind the argument – one of the key skills needed to excel in CR. You complimented this by mastering the pre-thinking approach that helped you improve your accuracy and reduce your speed. The image below depicts this improvement in action:
In RC too, I commend you on spending the time to learn and internalize the reading strategies. This helped you move from the process of skimming to the process of reading to comprehend and this made all the difference. I remember how you mentioned that in your final attempt, the RC passages were lengthy and “boring”, but how this focus on comprehension and application of reading strategies helped you tackle them with ease. This image shows how this approach helped you excel on all topics in RC:
Quant Journey from Q45 (55th percentile) to Q88 (95th percentile):
Being from an engineering background, you could have ignored quants. But I am glad that you did not give in to overconfidence but rather leveraged the PACE feature of e-GMAT quant to identify and fix your areas of weakness. This strategic approach not only ensured a top quant score (Q51 and Q88) but also helped you save over 23 hours of prep time😊 Here is an image to showcase the amazing quant ability that you built through this brilliant approach:
Previous GMAT attempts in current format – 650 & 700:
Through this dedicated and structured approach, you built an extraordinary ability that would get you a top score on the GMAT. However, unfortunately, your first two GMAT attempts did not pan out as expected.
One of the primary reasons for that was your fear of SC and test anxiety. It is one thing to have an amazing ability, but another to translate that into a great score on the test day. Despite internalizing and perfecting the processes, anxiety did not allow you to apply these processes during the actual GMAT and so we were not able to get the score of your dreams during these attempts. I know this was a very disappointing time during your preparation, but I am so glad that you believed in yourself and decided to give yourself another chance.
Final GMAT attempt – GMAT 695 – 98th percentile with Q88, V85 and D79:
When you returned to the preparation again and decided on GFE, your verbal and quant were already sorted. The only thing that you needed to work on was DI. I am glad to know that you found the e-GMAT materials sufficient for all your DI needs. We have spent a lot of effort on offering our students high-quality DI material and it feels good to be validated😊
I commend you on spending the time to get to the root cause of the challenges that you faced during your previous attempts. This provided valuable insights and learning opportunities that you used to adapt and enhance your test-taking strategy for this attempt. Recognizing and addressing these issues was a crucial step in you acing the GMAT this time around with a brilliant 695😊 What an achievement – congratulations!
In conclusion, your GMAT journey is an inspiring story of overcoming obstacles, fine-tuning strategies, and unwavering dedication. It underscores the importance of understanding personal challenges, adapting strategies accordingly, and the significant impact of a supportive learning environment.
It is an inspiration to all GMAT aspirants, showcasing that with determination, the right approach, and supportive guidance, reaching ambitious goals is entirely possible. We wish you the best in your MBA pursuits and future endeavors. This accomplishment is undoubtedly a precursor to many more successes in your journey ahead.
Warm regards,
Rashmi Vaidya
