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Apr 2711:00 AM EDT
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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
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Apr 2912:30 AM EDT
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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.
Apr 3001:30 AM EDT
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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.
May 0111:00 AM PDT
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May 0306:30 AM PDT
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25 Nov 2024, 10:12
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My journey to GMAT 725 in the first attempt!
I'm excited to share my journey to scoring a 725 (V86, D87) on my first attempt. As someone who holds a job with extensive fieldwork, this was challenging at times! But I am glad that I am on the other side now and want to share my experience with you all.
Initial Preparation and Decision
I started with mock scores in the mid-600s range – varying from 645 to 675. While this was a decent starting point, I knew reaching the elite percentiles would require structured preparation. From the outset, I had set my sights on a 700+ score so that I get a good fighting chance to get into my dream school. As someone who had attempted competitive exams before, I understood that moving from the 85th percentile to the 98th-99th percentile demands a different level of effort and approach.
The challenge was twofold: achieving these ambitious targets while managing a demanding field job. I needed a preparation method that would provide clear direction without requiring me to spend time searching for resources or figuring out what to study next.
This is where I discovered e-GMAT and I am glad to say that their Personalised Study Plan gave me the structure that I was looking for and the course gave me the resources that helped me reach this 99%ile score.
On coming on board, the first thing I did was to create my Personalised Study Plan: The plan gave me the framework that I was looking for and even laid out a day-wise plan for me. Now all I had to do was follow the plan. We started with verbal and then moved to DI – just maintaining quants since I was starting out at a higher score there.
Verbal Journey (V86 - 97th percentile)
My approach to verbal, particularly Critical Reasoning, underwent a significant transformation. The journey involved two key realizations:
For Reading Comprehension, the master comprehension course was particularly helpful. Rather than getting bogged down by complex subject matter (like biology passages), I learned to identify passage structure and focus on answering questions accurately without needing deep subject expertise.
Data Insights journey to D87
However, what transformed my DI performance was understanding that success in this section requires a perfect blend of verbal and Quant skills.
The e-GMAT course played a crucial role here. After completing my verbal and Quant prep, I moved to the DI course which taught specific techniques for different question types. The strategies for GITA and MSR questions were particularly helpful in saving time. Having a strong verbal foundation from earlier preparation helped me tackle the verbal-heavy DI questions with much greater efficiency.
My approach evolved significantly through the course and focused preparation:
Test Day Experience
My test day strategy was to treat it as "just another mock." I followed the same sequence I'd practiced - Verbal, Quant, DI, with a break after Quant. When Quant which I believed was my strongest section didn't go as planned, I was disappointed and saw my target score evaporating.
However, I used the break to regroup and approached DI with renewed focus. I knew that that I would not get a perfect score in quants, but also was way more confident about DI now. I knew if I maintained focus and applied all my learnings, I would be able to score well in DI and verbal. And that is what happened – my final score was dominated by verbal and DI – two of my weaker sections (of course when I started out – not anymore).
Some tips about balancing work and preparation
I know a lot of you are working professionals and I know that managing preparation with busy work is not easy. Who better to understand than I – one who spent most of the time on the field? Coming back home tired, I genuinely did not want to sit down to study. One of my key learnings was about consistency. Early on in my preparation, I realized that weekend-only preparation isn't sufficient for the GMAT. Consistency is important - when work commitments forced 3–4-day breaks in my preparation, I noticed it took time to regain my flow. I found that even 30 minutes of focused study during weekdays was crucial for maintaining momentum. The structured approach helped immensely here. Having a clear plan meant I could make the most of limited study time without wasting energy deciding what to study. I know it is difficult – but it pays in the end!
Key Takeaways
Remember, GMAT is about more than just concepts and application - it's about understanding the process and approaching questions in the most effective way.
Good luck to everyone preparing! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
#GMATSuccess #GMATPreparation #GMAT725
I'm excited to share my journey to scoring a 725 (V86, D87) on my first attempt. As someone who holds a job with extensive fieldwork, this was challenging at times! But I am glad that I am on the other side now and want to share my experience with you all.
Initial Preparation and Decision
I started with mock scores in the mid-600s range – varying from 645 to 675. While this was a decent starting point, I knew reaching the elite percentiles would require structured preparation. From the outset, I had set my sights on a 700+ score so that I get a good fighting chance to get into my dream school. As someone who had attempted competitive exams before, I understood that moving from the 85th percentile to the 98th-99th percentile demands a different level of effort and approach.
The challenge was twofold: achieving these ambitious targets while managing a demanding field job. I needed a preparation method that would provide clear direction without requiring me to spend time searching for resources or figuring out what to study next.
This is where I discovered e-GMAT and I am glad to say that their Personalised Study Plan gave me the structure that I was looking for and the course gave me the resources that helped me reach this 99%ile score.
On coming on board, the first thing I did was to create my Personalised Study Plan: The plan gave me the framework that I was looking for and even laid out a day-wise plan for me. Now all I had to do was follow the plan. We started with verbal and then moved to DI – just maintaining quants since I was starting out at a higher score there.
Verbal Journey (V86 - 97th percentile)
My approach to verbal, particularly Critical Reasoning, underwent a significant transformation. The journey involved two key realizations:
- Pre-thinking Process: Initially I used to dive straight into answer choices and often found myself stuck between two options. The game-changer was learning to pre-think before looking at answer choices. Initially sceptical, I followed the technique religiously. With practice, it became second nature, and my accuracy improved dramatically, especially in eliminating choices with confidence. Not only that, my time for solving the questions was reduced too – as is obvious in this image
- Note-Taking Evolution: I was initially resistant to taking notes during verbal practice, believing it would consume too much time. However, following the course's recommendation, I discovered something interesting - after about two mocks, I no longer needed to physically take notes. The process had become internalized, "wired into my thought process" as I'd say.
For Reading Comprehension, the master comprehension course was particularly helpful. Rather than getting bogged down by complex subject matter (like biology passages), I learned to identify passage structure and focus on answering questions accurately without needing deep subject expertise.
Data Insights journey to D87
However, what transformed my DI performance was understanding that success in this section requires a perfect blend of verbal and Quant skills.
The e-GMAT course played a crucial role here. After completing my verbal and Quant prep, I moved to the DI course which taught specific techniques for different question types. The strategies for GITA and MSR questions were particularly helpful in saving time. Having a strong verbal foundation from earlier preparation helped me tackle the verbal-heavy DI questions with much greater efficiency.
My approach evolved significantly through the course and focused preparation:
- Strategic Reading: Rather than trying to absorb all information at once, I learned to quickly skim through the sources to get a general idea, then dive deeper as per question requirements.
- Calculator Usage: Coming from an engineering background, I initially resisted using the calculator, thinking I could manage calculations mentally. However, I learned that GMAT provides the calculator for a reason - using it strategically saved precious time and reduced silly errors.
- Time Management: Through consistent practice and the right strategies, I went from running out of time to completing the section with 7 minutes to spare on test day - giving me ample time to review my answers.
Test Day Experience
My test day strategy was to treat it as "just another mock." I followed the same sequence I'd practiced - Verbal, Quant, DI, with a break after Quant. When Quant which I believed was my strongest section didn't go as planned, I was disappointed and saw my target score evaporating.
However, I used the break to regroup and approached DI with renewed focus. I knew that that I would not get a perfect score in quants, but also was way more confident about DI now. I knew if I maintained focus and applied all my learnings, I would be able to score well in DI and verbal. And that is what happened – my final score was dominated by verbal and DI – two of my weaker sections (of course when I started out – not anymore).
Some tips about balancing work and preparation
I know a lot of you are working professionals and I know that managing preparation with busy work is not easy. Who better to understand than I – one who spent most of the time on the field? Coming back home tired, I genuinely did not want to sit down to study. One of my key learnings was about consistency. Early on in my preparation, I realized that weekend-only preparation isn't sufficient for the GMAT. Consistency is important - when work commitments forced 3–4-day breaks in my preparation, I noticed it took time to regain my flow. I found that even 30 minutes of focused study during weekdays was crucial for maintaining momentum. The structured approach helped immensely here. Having a clear plan meant I could make the most of limited study time without wasting energy deciding what to study. I know it is difficult – but it pays in the end!
Key Takeaways
- Consistency trumps duration: Regular, shorter sessions are more effective than sporadic long ones
- Process building is crucial: Initial investment in building proper processes (like notetaking) pays off significantly
- Mental preparation matters: Treating the actual test like a mock help manage pressure
- Foundation first: Strong verbal skills contribute significantly to DI performance
- Strategic breaks: Taking a break after a challenging section helps reset focus
Remember, GMAT is about more than just concepts and application - it's about understanding the process and approaching questions in the most effective way.
Good luck to everyone preparing! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
#GMATSuccess #GMATPreparation #GMAT725
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