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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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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.
19 May 2025, 07:38
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The GMAT is finally behind me! I finally hit my target - a 715 on the GMAT (Q90, V84, DI83)! I wanted to share my journey in case it helps anyone else currently in the GMAT trenches.
I've been working in the finance sector for the last two years and recently decided I want to pursue investment banking through a top business school. So naturally, the GMAT became my new best friend.
After doing some research and talking to friends who had scored well, I decided to go with e-GMAT for my preparation. What attracted me was their structured approach and Last Mile Push program. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I made for my GMAT journey.
First Attempt: 665
My mock scores were strong (715, 715, 755), so I was feeling pretty confident heading into my first attempt. But things did not go as planned ☹.
I ended up with a 665, which was a real disappointment. What went wrong? Pure anxiety, especially during Verbal, which was my last section. I was so eager to finish and see my score that I rushed through passages, barely comprehending what I was reading. I found myself randomly selecting answers just to get through it. Not my finest moment and landed with a 67%ile on Verbal.
The 20-Day Comeback Plan
After my first attempt, I seriously questioned whether I should try again. My mentor convinced me I could do much better, so we made a plan for the next 20 days:
How I Tackled Each Section
Verbal: V84
Reading Comprehension: My big mistake was rushing. I thought finishing quickly was smart, but I was missing key details. e-GMAT's Reading Comprehension modules taught me the importance of thorough understanding versus speed. After tons of sectional practice, I learned to read more carefully without sacrificing speed. By my second attempt, I actually finished with 4-5 minutes to spare for review.
Critical Reasoning: After reading the question instead of immediately jumping to the answer choices, I'd take 10 seconds to think: "Okay, what should the answer look like?" This saved me from spending 15-20 seconds on each option while having no clue what I was looking for.
When I struggled with specific question types like Boldface and Inference, I kept track of all my mistakes in an error log. The e-GMAT cementing quizzes were incredibly helpful here because they helped me in identifying my weak spots, I'd go back to the course modules, relearn the concepts, and then create custom quizzes focusing just on those question types.
Data Insights: DI83
My biggest challenge was Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR). Those questions ate up so much time! Working in finance actually helped since I look at graphs daily, but I still needed a systematic approach.
I really liked how the course broke down each question type and provided a structured approach. The video lessons were particularly helpful for MSR questions, showing me how to approach these questions effectively.
What really helped was realizing that DI isn't testing anything new - it's using the same verbal and quant skills, just applied to data sources.
Quant: Q90
Quant was already my strong suit, but I still made silly mistakes like:
The weekly sectional tests recommended by my mentor were crucial - they helped me maintain my skills and identify any weak areas. Additionally, the platform's rich question bank gave me exposure to various question types and traps.
With practice, I got my average time per question down to 1.5-2 minutes. This gave me buffer time for the monsters - in my second attempt, I had one question that took almost 7 minutes to solve! Without that extra time, I probably wouldn't have gotten Q90.
The Section Order Debate
I initially thought I'd start with DI, then do Verbal, and finish with Quant. After experimenting in practice tests, I completely changed my approach.
My mentor suggested starting with my strongest section (Quant), then DI, and finishing with Verbal. This worked amazingly well because:
The Mentor Effect
I can't overstate how important having a mentor was, especially after bombing my first attempt. One of the best parts of my e-GMAT experience was being enrolled in their Last Mile Push program, where I was assigned a dedicated mentor.
When I was ready to give up after my 665, Abha looked at my practice scores and said, "You're absolutely capable of 700+. It was just nerves." She had more confidence in me than I had in myself at that point!
The weekly check-ins kept me accountable and motivated, which was crucial during those 20 days between my attempts. Plus, the emotional support when I was doubting myself was honestly priceless.
Test Day Take Two
On my second attempt, I walked in with a much calmer mindset. I started with Quant, nailed it (despite that one monster question that took forever), and carried that confidence into the rest of the test.
When I saw that 715 flash on the screen, I nearly screamed!
If I could go back and give myself advice at the beginning, I'd say:
All the best!
I've been working in the finance sector for the last two years and recently decided I want to pursue investment banking through a top business school. So naturally, the GMAT became my new best friend.
After doing some research and talking to friends who had scored well, I decided to go with e-GMAT for my preparation. What attracted me was their structured approach and Last Mile Push program. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I made for my GMAT journey.
First Attempt: 665
My mock scores were strong (715, 715, 755), so I was feeling pretty confident heading into my first attempt. But things did not go as planned ☹.
I ended up with a 665, which was a real disappointment. What went wrong? Pure anxiety, especially during Verbal, which was my last section. I was so eager to finish and see my score that I rushed through passages, barely comprehending what I was reading. I found myself randomly selecting answers just to get through it. Not my finest moment and landed with a 67%ile on Verbal.
The 20-Day Comeback Plan
After my first attempt, I seriously questioned whether I should try again. My mentor convinced me I could do much better, so we made a plan for the next 20 days:
- I identified specific weak spots - like simple interest problems in Quant that had tripped me up
- Practiced staying calm during mock tests (easier said than done!)
- Drilled the types of Data Sufficiency questions that had thrown me off
How I Tackled Each Section
Verbal: V84
Reading Comprehension: My big mistake was rushing. I thought finishing quickly was smart, but I was missing key details. e-GMAT's Reading Comprehension modules taught me the importance of thorough understanding versus speed. After tons of sectional practice, I learned to read more carefully without sacrificing speed. By my second attempt, I actually finished with 4-5 minutes to spare for review.
Critical Reasoning: After reading the question instead of immediately jumping to the answer choices, I'd take 10 seconds to think: "Okay, what should the answer look like?" This saved me from spending 15-20 seconds on each option while having no clue what I was looking for.
When I struggled with specific question types like Boldface and Inference, I kept track of all my mistakes in an error log. The e-GMAT cementing quizzes were incredibly helpful here because they helped me in identifying my weak spots, I'd go back to the course modules, relearn the concepts, and then create custom quizzes focusing just on those question types.
Data Insights: DI83
My biggest challenge was Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR). Those questions ate up so much time! Working in finance actually helped since I look at graphs daily, but I still needed a systematic approach.
I really liked how the course broke down each question type and provided a structured approach. The video lessons were particularly helpful for MSR questions, showing me how to approach these questions effectively.
What really helped was realizing that DI isn't testing anything new - it's using the same verbal and quant skills, just applied to data sources.
Quant: Q90
Quant was already my strong suit, but I still made silly mistakes like:
- Missing one crucial word in the question (which completely changes the problem)
- Finding the right value but answering the wrong question
- Falling for classic GMAT traps
The weekly sectional tests recommended by my mentor were crucial - they helped me maintain my skills and identify any weak areas. Additionally, the platform's rich question bank gave me exposure to various question types and traps.
With practice, I got my average time per question down to 1.5-2 minutes. This gave me buffer time for the monsters - in my second attempt, I had one question that took almost 7 minutes to solve! Without that extra time, I probably wouldn't have gotten Q90.
The Section Order Debate
I initially thought I'd start with DI, then do Verbal, and finish with Quant. After experimenting in practice tests, I completely changed my approach.
My mentor suggested starting with my strongest section (Quant), then DI, and finishing with Verbal. This worked amazingly well because:
- Starting with my best section-built confidence
- Doing well early positively affected the algorithm
- I had momentum by the time I got to Verbal
The Mentor Effect
I can't overstate how important having a mentor was, especially after bombing my first attempt. One of the best parts of my e-GMAT experience was being enrolled in their Last Mile Push program, where I was assigned a dedicated mentor.
When I was ready to give up after my 665, Abha looked at my practice scores and said, "You're absolutely capable of 700+. It was just nerves." She had more confidence in me than I had in myself at that point!
The weekly check-ins kept me accountable and motivated, which was crucial during those 20 days between my attempts. Plus, the emotional support when I was doubting myself was honestly priceless.
Test Day Take Two
On my second attempt, I walked in with a much calmer mindset. I started with Quant, nailed it (despite that one monster question that took forever), and carried that confidence into the rest of the test.
When I saw that 715 flash on the screen, I nearly screamed!
If I could go back and give myself advice at the beginning, I'd say:
- Keep an error log religiously - Without tracking my mistakes, I would have kept making the same errors over and over. The e-GMAT platform made this easier with its detailed analytics, but I also maintained my own log for deeper patterns.
- Find your optimal section order - This made a huge psychological difference for me.
- Follow a structured process - Learn the theory first, practice with targeted questions, then test your skills with sectional quizzes. No shortcuts!
All the best!
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20 May 2025, 21:37
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What an amazing achievement! Your perseverance after that first attempt really paid off. From 665 to 715 in just 20 days shows incredible dedication and resilience.
Wishing you all the best with your business school applications!
Wishing you all the best with your business school applications!
