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 2601:30 AM EDT
-02:30 AM EDT
Learn how Keshav, a Chartered Accountant, scored an impressive 705 on GMAT in just 30 days with GMATWhiz's expert guidance. In this video, he shares preparation tips and strategies that worked for him, including the mock, time management, and more.
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.
Apr 2912:30 AM EDT
-01:30 AM EDT
Learn how Kamakshi achieved a GMAT 675 with an impressive 96th %ile in Data Insights. Discover the unique methods and exam strategies that helped her excel in DI along with other sections for a balanced and high score.
May 0111:00 AM PDT
-12:00 PM PDT
Free- full-length test + 15 concept videos + 150+ short videos + study plan!
May 0306:30 AM PDT
-08:30 AM PDT
Verbal trouble on GMAT? Fix it NOW! Join Sunita Singhvi for a focused webinar on actionable strategies to boost your Verbal score and take your performance to the next level.
14 Oct 2024, 18:16
Kudos
Bookmarks
From V83 to V86: My GMAT Journey to a 665
Introduction
Hey GMAT Club! I'm excited to share my GMAT journey with you all. A bit about me: I have a Bachelor's in Political Science and a Master's in Public Policy. Currently, I work in data and policy, focusing on public finance issues.
I recently took the GMAT and scored a 665 (V86, DI83, Q80). My verbal score was in the 97th percentile, and my Data Insights score was in the 96th percentile. I'm happy with the Verbal and Data Insights scores, especially considering I started with a V83. The key resource that helped me achieve this improvement was the e-GMAT course.
GMAT Preparation Overview
When I first decided to take the GMAT, I did a lot of research on different prep courses. I read reviews on Reddit and GMAT Club, trying to understand what worked for others. I felt I had a decent grasp on verbal but needed help with quant. e-GMAT's reputation for a rigorous quant section caught my attention, so I decided to give it a shot.
Section-wise Breakdown
Verbal: Coming from a policy background, I felt pretty confident with Reading Comprehension from the start. However, I needed work on some forms of Critical Reasoning questions, particularly inference and assumption questions.
The e-GMAT verbal course, especially the CR section, was a game-changer for me. The pre-thinking strategy they taught was incredibly helpful. It forced me to really understand what the question was asking before jumping into the answer choices. Once I had a firm grasp on the question stem and given information, finding the correct answer became much more straightforward.
What really impressed me was the improvement in my performance on hard verbal questions. When I started, my accuracy on hard cementing questions was a disappointing 29%. But as I worked through the course and applied the strategies I learned, I saw a dramatic improvement. By the end of my preparation, I was consistently scoring above 70% accuracy on hard passages. This boost in performance on challenging questions was key to my overall verbal score improvement.
For RC, even though it was already a strength, going through the course helped refine my approach. It taught me to make mental summaries as I read, which was crucial for tackling longer passages efficiently. This strategy helped me avoid rereading entire sections and allowed me to quickly locate relevant information for each question.
The combination of improved strategies, consistent practice, and focus on challenging questions really helped me push my verbal score from V83 to V86. It just goes to show that even when you're starting from a strong base, there's always room for improvement with the right approach.
Quant: Quant was my weaker area, so I spent a lot of time here. The e-GMAT quant course provided a solid conceptual review, especially for algebra topics. One of my biggest challenges was question translation, particularly in word problems. The course gave me plenty of practice converting from math to English and back again, which was incredibly helpful.
I saw significant improvement in my performance on hard word problems. My accuracy on these challenging questions jumped from a mere 45% to an impressive 80% by the end of my preparation. This boost in performance was crucial for my overall quant score improvement.
In Algebra, my cementing performance showed significant improvement as well. I was thrilled to see myself consistently scoring 80% on consecutive quizzes. This steady performance was a clear indicator that the concepts were really sticking, and it gave me a huge confidence boost.
I found the PACE engine to be a fantastic feature. It allowed me to move quickly through concepts I already understood well and spend more time on areas where I needed extra practice. In total, I saved over 40 hours using the PACE engine!
The combination of focused practice on word problems, consistent improvement in Algebra, and efficient use of study time through the PACE engine really helped me make strides in my quant performance. It's amazing how much you can improve with the right strategies and tools at your disposal.
What Went Wrong on Test Day: Despite my preparation, I encountered some challenges in the Quant section on test day. Early on, around the seventh question, I came across a problem in a format I hadn't seen before. I spent about two minutes trying to work it out, but ultimately had to make the tough decision to guess and move on.
Later in the section, I hit a particularly nasty algebra question. In hindsight, I think I could have solved it with more time, but the pressure of the test environment and the ticking clock got to me. I made an educated guess and moved forward.
Towards the end of the section, fatigue started to set in. I suspect I made a few careless mistakes on questions I would typically get right. The combination of test day nerves, time pressure, and mental fatigue definitely impacted my performance.
These experiences taught me the importance of staying calm under pressure and making strategic decisions about time management during the test. While I didn't achieve the Quant score I was hoping for, I'm proud of how I handled the challenges and maintained my focus throughout the exam.
Data Insights: Coming from a data background, I felt pretty comfortable with graphical analyses and table analyses from the start. However, the two-part analysis questions were new to me and required some extra attention.
The e-GMAT DI course was crucial in helping me develop a strategy for these questions. I learned to build my approach based on the answer choices given, which proved to be very effective.
For time management, I went in with the mindset that it's okay to take strategic losses. The DI section is forgiving in terms of the number of questions you can get wrong and still score well. I played to my strengths, moving quickly through areas I was confident in and not getting bogged down on any single question.
Study Tools and Resources
The Scholaranium quiz portal on e-GMAT was a key part of my preparation. The questions were high quality and often more difficult than official questions, which really pushed me to improve. The diversity of concepts and question styles helped me feel prepared for anything the real test might throw at me.
Mock Tests
My mock test scores ranged from 645 to 695. I treated each mock as a learning opportunity, building an error log for every question I got wrong, especially in quant. I made sure to thoroughly understand each mistake to avoid repeating it in the future.
One strategy that really helped was making each mock as representative of the real test as possible. I took them at the same time I had scheduled my actual exam and used the same section order. This helped build familiarity and reduce test-day anxiety.
Final Preparation and Test Day Experience
On test day, I made sure to get a good night's sleep and scheduled the test for a time when I felt I'd be at my sharpest. I arrived at the test center early and did some breathing exercises in the car to stay calm. I also did a few warm-up verbal and quant questions to get into the problem-solving mindset.
During the test, I encountered a few challenging questions, including one in a format I hadn't seen before. I made the strategic decision to guess and move on rather than waste too much time. This kind of decision-making is crucial on test day.
Key Takeaways and Advice
Studying for the GMAT is definitely a journey. It can be intense, but if you stay resilient and dedicated, putting in intentional time every day, you will see improvement. Remember, it's not just about the destination (your score), but also about the skills and discipline you develop along the way.
I will be attempting the test again to try for a higher quant score.
Introduction
Hey GMAT Club! I'm excited to share my GMAT journey with you all. A bit about me: I have a Bachelor's in Political Science and a Master's in Public Policy. Currently, I work in data and policy, focusing on public finance issues.
I recently took the GMAT and scored a 665 (V86, DI83, Q80). My verbal score was in the 97th percentile, and my Data Insights score was in the 96th percentile. I'm happy with the Verbal and Data Insights scores, especially considering I started with a V83. The key resource that helped me achieve this improvement was the e-GMAT course.
GMAT Preparation Overview
When I first decided to take the GMAT, I did a lot of research on different prep courses. I read reviews on Reddit and GMAT Club, trying to understand what worked for others. I felt I had a decent grasp on verbal but needed help with quant. e-GMAT's reputation for a rigorous quant section caught my attention, so I decided to give it a shot.
Section-wise Breakdown
Verbal: Coming from a policy background, I felt pretty confident with Reading Comprehension from the start. However, I needed work on some forms of Critical Reasoning questions, particularly inference and assumption questions.
The e-GMAT verbal course, especially the CR section, was a game-changer for me. The pre-thinking strategy they taught was incredibly helpful. It forced me to really understand what the question was asking before jumping into the answer choices. Once I had a firm grasp on the question stem and given information, finding the correct answer became much more straightforward.
What really impressed me was the improvement in my performance on hard verbal questions. When I started, my accuracy on hard cementing questions was a disappointing 29%. But as I worked through the course and applied the strategies I learned, I saw a dramatic improvement. By the end of my preparation, I was consistently scoring above 70% accuracy on hard passages. This boost in performance on challenging questions was key to my overall verbal score improvement.
For RC, even though it was already a strength, going through the course helped refine my approach. It taught me to make mental summaries as I read, which was crucial for tackling longer passages efficiently. This strategy helped me avoid rereading entire sections and allowed me to quickly locate relevant information for each question.
The combination of improved strategies, consistent practice, and focus on challenging questions really helped me push my verbal score from V83 to V86. It just goes to show that even when you're starting from a strong base, there's always room for improvement with the right approach.
Quant: Quant was my weaker area, so I spent a lot of time here. The e-GMAT quant course provided a solid conceptual review, especially for algebra topics. One of my biggest challenges was question translation, particularly in word problems. The course gave me plenty of practice converting from math to English and back again, which was incredibly helpful.
I saw significant improvement in my performance on hard word problems. My accuracy on these challenging questions jumped from a mere 45% to an impressive 80% by the end of my preparation. This boost in performance was crucial for my overall quant score improvement.
In Algebra, my cementing performance showed significant improvement as well. I was thrilled to see myself consistently scoring 80% on consecutive quizzes. This steady performance was a clear indicator that the concepts were really sticking, and it gave me a huge confidence boost.
I found the PACE engine to be a fantastic feature. It allowed me to move quickly through concepts I already understood well and spend more time on areas where I needed extra practice. In total, I saved over 40 hours using the PACE engine!
The combination of focused practice on word problems, consistent improvement in Algebra, and efficient use of study time through the PACE engine really helped me make strides in my quant performance. It's amazing how much you can improve with the right strategies and tools at your disposal.
What Went Wrong on Test Day: Despite my preparation, I encountered some challenges in the Quant section on test day. Early on, around the seventh question, I came across a problem in a format I hadn't seen before. I spent about two minutes trying to work it out, but ultimately had to make the tough decision to guess and move on.
Later in the section, I hit a particularly nasty algebra question. In hindsight, I think I could have solved it with more time, but the pressure of the test environment and the ticking clock got to me. I made an educated guess and moved forward.
Towards the end of the section, fatigue started to set in. I suspect I made a few careless mistakes on questions I would typically get right. The combination of test day nerves, time pressure, and mental fatigue definitely impacted my performance.
These experiences taught me the importance of staying calm under pressure and making strategic decisions about time management during the test. While I didn't achieve the Quant score I was hoping for, I'm proud of how I handled the challenges and maintained my focus throughout the exam.
Data Insights: Coming from a data background, I felt pretty comfortable with graphical analyses and table analyses from the start. However, the two-part analysis questions were new to me and required some extra attention.
The e-GMAT DI course was crucial in helping me develop a strategy for these questions. I learned to build my approach based on the answer choices given, which proved to be very effective.
For time management, I went in with the mindset that it's okay to take strategic losses. The DI section is forgiving in terms of the number of questions you can get wrong and still score well. I played to my strengths, moving quickly through areas I was confident in and not getting bogged down on any single question.
Study Tools and Resources
The Scholaranium quiz portal on e-GMAT was a key part of my preparation. The questions were high quality and often more difficult than official questions, which really pushed me to improve. The diversity of concepts and question styles helped me feel prepared for anything the real test might throw at me.
Mock Tests
My mock test scores ranged from 645 to 695. I treated each mock as a learning opportunity, building an error log for every question I got wrong, especially in quant. I made sure to thoroughly understand each mistake to avoid repeating it in the future.
One strategy that really helped was making each mock as representative of the real test as possible. I took them at the same time I had scheduled my actual exam and used the same section order. This helped build familiarity and reduce test-day anxiety.
Final Preparation and Test Day Experience
On test day, I made sure to get a good night's sleep and scheduled the test for a time when I felt I'd be at my sharpest. I arrived at the test center early and did some breathing exercises in the car to stay calm. I also did a few warm-up verbal and quant questions to get into the problem-solving mindset.
During the test, I encountered a few challenging questions, including one in a format I hadn't seen before. I made the strategic decision to guess and move on rather than waste too much time. This kind of decision-making is crucial on test day.
Key Takeaways and Advice
- Choose a prep course that aligns with your needs. For me, e-GMAT's strong quant section was exactly what I needed.
- Practice translating between math and English, especially for word problems.
- For verbal, really focus on understanding the question before looking at answer choices.
- Use tools like the PACE engine to optimize your study time.
- Treat mock tests as dress rehearsals for the real thing.
- On test day, be prepared to make strategic decisions about when to guess and move on.
- Stay calm and focused. The GMAT is as much about mental endurance as it is about knowledge.
Studying for the GMAT is definitely a journey. It can be intense, but if you stay resilient and dedicated, putting in intentional time every day, you will see improvement. Remember, it's not just about the destination (your score), but also about the skills and discipline you develop along the way.
I will be attempting the test again to try for a higher quant score.
RishS94
Joined: 05 Jan 2020
Last visit: 27 Feb 2025
Posts: 266
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 118
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Sustainability
Schools: ISB '25 (D)
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.5
Products:
14 Oct 2024, 21:23
Kudos
Bookmarks
Great score. All the best for applications!
Archit3110
Major Poster
14 Oct 2024, 22:19
Kudos
Bookmarks
congratulations for score all the best with applications...
