I just Beat The GMAT!

Hello everyone! I’m Faazil and I am excited to share my experience of achieving a 750(Q49,V42) with just over one month of prep.

Whether you desire to elevate your score or just want to know what it takes to achieve a 750+, I hope this debrief will provide valuable guidance. Before I start, please keep in mind that the GMAT is just a small part of your uni application, so don’t give it more importance/stress than necessary.

Background:
So because my undergrad GPA was horrible, I knew that I needed a great GMAT score to even things out and help me get an admit to the schools I was targeting. When I started my prep, I felt that committing several months to study was impractical due to my full-time hectic marketing job. This would mean I spend all my day for months on end either working or studying, which isn’t something I wanted to do. I wanted a more focused approach and negotiated a month-long leave of absence from work to devote myself entirely to GMAT preparation. This was perfect for me as I would finish the entire prep in one month, as opposed to spending 6 months+ if I was prepping part-time.

Study Plan:
Developing an efficient and optimised study plan was crucial. I aimed to minimise daily decision-making as to what to study on that day and channel all my mental energy into focused preparation.

This is where Target Test Prep came into the picture.

They have all resources you’d need all in one place. This includes study material, videos, practice questions, and error logs. Moreover, the questions have three different levels (easy, medium, and hard), so you can start off with the easy ones, and then progress to more difficult questions. The platform in itself is highly comprehensive. It divides the entire course into various topics. You're expected to study each individual topic and attempt tests on that particular topic. It also creates a study plan for you, considering your timelines and personalises the course for you. As you go through this process for each topic, you automatically get better and more confident in these topics.

Quantitative Section:
I dedicated the initial ten days to the quantitative section. I thoroughly read through the study material for each topic, followed by immediate practice with related questions. Starting with easier questions, I progressed to medium and finally the hard ones. Rather than focusing on attempting a specific number of questions, I prioritized practising until I felt that I had a deep understanding of the core concepts. If you have access to resources such as Target Test Prep (TTP), I highly recommend utilizing their comprehensive tests and practice problems. GMATClub's practice questions were also extremely valuable during my prep.

Verbal Section:
Following quant, I turned my attention to the verbal section. Though I’m somewhat of a native speaker, I found verbal to be particularly challenging. However, I realised that the GMAT does not primarily test English proficiency but rather tests logical reasoning abilities. That’s the entire point of the test. To do well in the verbal section, I adopted a logic-based approach. Consistently applying logical thinking throughout my verbal practice proved beneficial. Target Test Prep + GMATClub were optimal.

Integrated Reasoning (IR) and Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA):
For the integrated reasoning section, I focused on understanding the various question formats and solving a select number of practice problems. Extensive preparation was not necessary, I just spent a couple of days on IR. As for the analytical writing assessment, I discovered a helpful format shared by a user on GMATClub. This format outlined the structure and key points to include in my essay. By following this format without excessive essay practice, I was able to achieve a score of 6/6.

Practice Tests:
Having devoted 21 days to intensive study, I reserved the final eight days for practice tests. I strongly recommend investing in the official practice exams. I went overboard and attempted one exam per day for five consecutive days. These practice tests are invaluable for developing time management skills and refining test-taking strategies. I made sure I approached each practice exam seriously, avoiding overconfidence. I aimed for my scores in the last two exams to align with my target score. I scored a 730 and a 740 in my last 2 practice tests.

Day Before Test and Test Day:
On the day before the test, I stopped studying. I felt that it was essential to take a break and allow my mind to relax. On test day, I tried to remain composed, tackle one question at a time, and manage my time effectively. This is where the practice tests helped as they gave me invaluable experience with managing exam pressure and managing my time.

Mindset:
Throughout this journey, maintaining a positive mindset was crucial. While studying full-time, it was important for me to strike a balance and avoid excessive study hours. I also made sure that I engaged in activities such as physical exercise, sports, and meditation. This made sure that I was in the right headspace to ingrain whatever I was studying. Mindset is often overlooked but is probably one of the most important things to achieve a good score. Stay positive and resilient.

I hope that my debrief has provided some value. All the best for your prep!