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12 Nov 2024, 07:40
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Hi GMAT Club community!
After months of preparation alongside a demanding full-time job, I recently scored 685 (Q87, V85, D80). I'm writing this debrief hoping it helps others who might be in similar situations, balancing test prep with busy work schedules.
When I started my GMAT journey, I had a decent foundation in quant (Q85) but needed significant improvement in verbal. My first attempt with another course wasn't giving me the results I needed, especially in Critical Reasoning. After careful research and recommendations, I switched to e-GMAT, attracted by their structured approach to verbal improvement.
Verbal Strategy
Verbal was my weakest section, to be honest, especially CR. With a score of V79, I knew I needed serious improvement there.
In CR, initially, I would rush through passages, jumping between question-and-answer choices, often getting lost in the process. This not only meant that I was getting a whole lot of questions wrong but also that I was taking a lot of time solving the question.
The turning point in my preparation came when I changed my approach to Critical Reasoning. Learning to pre-think before looking at answer choices completely changed this.
I was skceptical at first - spending time to pre-think seemed counterintuitive when timing was already a concern. But with practice, it became natural and actually saved time. Once I could predict the direction of the answer, eliminating wrong choices became much more straightforward. This helped me bring down my time taken to solve CR questions.
For Reading Comprehension, I kept things simple. I'd take 3 minutes for short passages, 4 for longer ones, jotting down quick paragraph summaries (P1, P2, P3). I avoided detailed note-taking as it wasn't adding enough value to the time invested. This approach especially helped with the main point and the author's belief questions.
Quant Preparation
Despite starting with Q85, improvement still needed work. e-GMAT's PACE feature helped identify which topics needed focus and which I could skim, saving me nearly 60 hours of study time. In Algebra, I was delighted when I saved over 16 hours of prep time.This was crucial given my packed schedule.
Regular practice with challenging questions in Scholaranium proved invaluable. When I encountered difficult questions during the actual test, they felt manageable because I'd practiced with similar difficulty levels.
Time Management
Working 12–13-hour days meant getting creative with study time. I turned my 1.5-hour commute into study sessions using the GMAT Club app for CR practice and quant formula review. Lunch breaks became 10–15-minute practice sessions. After work, I committed to a minimum of 2 hours of study, with 6-7 hours each on weekends.
It wasn't easy maintaining 20 weekly study hours, but consistency was key. Even on exhausting days, I made sure to stay connected with the material, even if just for a short while.
Final Days to the test day:
The most challenging part was dealing with mock scores that didn't reflect my practice performance. My mock score had plateaued at the 645 – 665 level.
Rather than getting discouraged, I focused on analyzing mistakes and improving test-taking behaviour. Two days before the actual test, I switched from intense preparation to mental preparation, which helped me maintain a positive mindset.
But I knew that I had prepared well and I knew I was way better than where I started – so despite the varying mock scores, I was still confident when I reached the test center. The test went well, except in quants where in I changed my answer from correct to incorrect during review☹
Instead of panicking, I took a deep breath, gave myself 10 seconds to regroup, and focused on my next section which was verbal! I am glad that I regrouped😊
I have to mention how crucial the Last Mile Push program was to my success. From day one, the team's response was incredibly personal - I still remember receiving a personalized video from my mentor Rashmi, that made me feel I would be well taken care of. Throughout my preparation, having a mentor made a huge difference. The constant encouragement, specific sectional targets, and guided preparation strategy helped me stay on track. What really stood out was the level of personalized attention I received at a very reasonable cost compared to other options in the market. This structured support system was exactly what I needed to achieve my target score.
Key Takeaways
This journey taught me that success isn't just about concept knowledge - it's about application and mindset. Understanding topics thoroughly proved more valuable than rushing through numerous questions. Having clear sectional targets helped focus preparation better than aiming for perfection everywhere.
Most importantly, I learned that setbacks are normal. It's how you respond to them that matters. If you're currently preparing, remember that consistency trumps intensity, and it's okay if progress isn't linear.
Feel free to reach out with questions. Wishing everyone the best in their GMAT journey!
Best Regards,
Sanjana
After months of preparation alongside a demanding full-time job, I recently scored 685 (Q87, V85, D80). I'm writing this debrief hoping it helps others who might be in similar situations, balancing test prep with busy work schedules.
When I started my GMAT journey, I had a decent foundation in quant (Q85) but needed significant improvement in verbal. My first attempt with another course wasn't giving me the results I needed, especially in Critical Reasoning. After careful research and recommendations, I switched to e-GMAT, attracted by their structured approach to verbal improvement.
Verbal Strategy
Verbal was my weakest section, to be honest, especially CR. With a score of V79, I knew I needed serious improvement there.
In CR, initially, I would rush through passages, jumping between question-and-answer choices, often getting lost in the process. This not only meant that I was getting a whole lot of questions wrong but also that I was taking a lot of time solving the question.
The turning point in my preparation came when I changed my approach to Critical Reasoning. Learning to pre-think before looking at answer choices completely changed this.
I was skceptical at first - spending time to pre-think seemed counterintuitive when timing was already a concern. But with practice, it became natural and actually saved time. Once I could predict the direction of the answer, eliminating wrong choices became much more straightforward. This helped me bring down my time taken to solve CR questions.
For Reading Comprehension, I kept things simple. I'd take 3 minutes for short passages, 4 for longer ones, jotting down quick paragraph summaries (P1, P2, P3). I avoided detailed note-taking as it wasn't adding enough value to the time invested. This approach especially helped with the main point and the author's belief questions.
Quant Preparation
Despite starting with Q85, improvement still needed work. e-GMAT's PACE feature helped identify which topics needed focus and which I could skim, saving me nearly 60 hours of study time. In Algebra, I was delighted when I saved over 16 hours of prep time.This was crucial given my packed schedule.
Regular practice with challenging questions in Scholaranium proved invaluable. When I encountered difficult questions during the actual test, they felt manageable because I'd practiced with similar difficulty levels.
Time Management
Working 12–13-hour days meant getting creative with study time. I turned my 1.5-hour commute into study sessions using the GMAT Club app for CR practice and quant formula review. Lunch breaks became 10–15-minute practice sessions. After work, I committed to a minimum of 2 hours of study, with 6-7 hours each on weekends.
It wasn't easy maintaining 20 weekly study hours, but consistency was key. Even on exhausting days, I made sure to stay connected with the material, even if just for a short while.
Final Days to the test day:
The most challenging part was dealing with mock scores that didn't reflect my practice performance. My mock score had plateaued at the 645 – 665 level.
Rather than getting discouraged, I focused on analyzing mistakes and improving test-taking behaviour. Two days before the actual test, I switched from intense preparation to mental preparation, which helped me maintain a positive mindset.
But I knew that I had prepared well and I knew I was way better than where I started – so despite the varying mock scores, I was still confident when I reached the test center. The test went well, except in quants where in I changed my answer from correct to incorrect during review☹
Instead of panicking, I took a deep breath, gave myself 10 seconds to regroup, and focused on my next section which was verbal! I am glad that I regrouped😊
I have to mention how crucial the Last Mile Push program was to my success. From day one, the team's response was incredibly personal - I still remember receiving a personalized video from my mentor Rashmi, that made me feel I would be well taken care of. Throughout my preparation, having a mentor made a huge difference. The constant encouragement, specific sectional targets, and guided preparation strategy helped me stay on track. What really stood out was the level of personalized attention I received at a very reasonable cost compared to other options in the market. This structured support system was exactly what I needed to achieve my target score.
Key Takeaways
This journey taught me that success isn't just about concept knowledge - it's about application and mindset. Understanding topics thoroughly proved more valuable than rushing through numerous questions. Having clear sectional targets helped focus preparation better than aiming for perfection everywhere.
Most importantly, I learned that setbacks are normal. It's how you respond to them that matters. If you're currently preparing, remember that consistency trumps intensity, and it's okay if progress isn't linear.
Feel free to reach out with questions. Wishing everyone the best in their GMAT journey!
Best Regards,
Sanjana
12 Nov 2024, 08:09
Kudos
Bookmarks
Congrats and all the best for applications
RishS94
Joined: 05 Jan 2020
Last visit: 27 Feb 2025
Posts: 266
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Given Kudos: 118
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Sustainability
Schools: ISB '25 (D)
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.5
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12 Nov 2024, 09:34
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Great score!! wish you luck with apps
