How I improved from GMAT 640 to 760? | GMAT Prep Strategy
Table of Contents
Preparing for the GMAT with a full-time job is challenging for many working professionals. Shreyash had similar thoughts. Seeking global exposure, Shreyash wanted to get an MBA from a top business school. But since he was working in a demanding job, he believed that reaching his target score of 700+ on GMAT is going to be tough for him, and needed a GMAT prep strategy to ace the gmat.
When he saw a 760 flashing on the screen, he was ecstatic, mainly because after scoring a 640 in his first attempt he wasn’t sure if he would be able to reach a 700+ on gmat. Now, with a GMAT 760, Shreyash looks forward to applying to top schools in the USA. His story of GMAT success is sure to inspire many others like him who are planning to take up GMAT prep alongside a hectic job. Let’s see what we’re covering here –
The difference in 1st and 2nd attempt
Why did he choose GMATWhiz?
Preparing with a hectic job
Strategy for GMAT Verbal
Strategy for GMAT Quant
Timing strategy to score 700+ on GMAT
Last week before the test
Last day before the test
Importance of GMAT mocks
You can watch Shreyash’s full video interview with Piyush Beriwala, Co-Founder, GMATWhiz, below –
—
GMAT Prep Strategy to score 700+ on GMAT in 2nd Attempt
Piyush – You scored a 760 on GMAT. How are you feeling?
Shreyash – I was ecstatic to see my score. I was expecting it to be in the 730-740 range but 760 was quite surprising for me.
Piyush – You scored a 640 on your first GMAT attempt. What do you think you did differently in the second attempt that led you to score a 760? What changed in your gmat prep strategy and your thought process the second time?
Shreyash – My first attempt was a hurried one. I prepared for only 3 weeks before taking the test and I only focused on the Verbal part. I was confident about my Quant skills and since I was getting a decent 700-710 on my gmat mocks, I thought I could easily push my score to 730 on the actual test. In retrospect, getting a 640 was an eye-opener for me because if it weren’t for this score I would have not pushed harder the second time – especially on my Quant skills.
— My approach in Verbal was also fundamentally flawed. I needed the right approach to solve questions confidently and in less time. I did not pay much attention to CR and RC and in SC I realized that learning the rules alone was not enough.
The difference in strategies to approach both GMAT attempts
Piyush – Which resources did you refer to in your 1st attempt? How did you benefit from GMATWhiz?
Shreyash – In my first attempt, I only referred to some books for Verbal that were popularly recommended on GMAT Club. Apart from that, I practiced a few questions and just did the mocks. After the 1st attempt, I realized I needed a different approach – a well-curated gmat prep strategy.
I used to think that learning rules and practicing questions were enough to get a 700+ on GMAT.
But unless you are able to diagnose what went wrong and what needs improvement, your scores won’t magically improve. So, after getting a 640, I tried to self-diagnose why I was taking so much time on solving RC and CR questions. Improving time was my biggest issue and my accuracy on RC was also low.
I happened to come across one of the GMATWhiz videos on How to improve from V30s to V40+. The systematic way of solving questions taught by the GMATWhiz mentor in that video was exactly what I needed. The approach I had been following was wrong altogether. I tried solving a few questions with the approach I learned in the video and automatically felt confident.
— After watching the GMATWhiz webinar video,I scheduled a consultation call and got several insights into my ESR. I signed up for GMATWhiz Verbal & towards the end, I also signed up for the Quant module.
Scoring a 700+ on GMAT with a Full-time Job | GMAT 760
Piyush – How was your experience preparing along with a demanding job? You were working 12 hours a day. So how did you find time out of your hectic schedule to devote to prep each day?
Shreyash – My go-to strategy was to not rush through prep. I had already done it once and I knew it doesn’t work. So, my aim was to set realistic weekly milestones and try to achieve them slowly each day. For me, preparing in the morning worked best because it is the only time of the day when my mind is completely fresh.
You will need to do some trial and error before you finally get into a daily routine.
— Focus on Quality over Quantity. It does not matter how many hours you devote. Set realistic weekly milestones for yourself. Try to achieve them in a week. It will help you pace your study better and you’ll be more in control of your prep, ensuring the efficacy of your prep as well.
Piyush – Let’s take up Verbal. What was your strategy to approach SC, CR, and RC that helped you score 700+ on GMAT?
Shreyash – After my first attempt, I realized I was weak in SC so I prepared for SC from scratch. For CR and RC, my main focus was on learning the right approach and then practicing questions to fine-tune my learning.
Approach for SC
For SC, instead of thinking about the rules, I focused on what the sentence meant. I broke the sentences into chunks, understood their individual meanings, and then tried to understand what the entire sentence means. After a while, I could easily point out the mistakes in a sentence just by reading it.
But this was possible because I first focused on building a strong foundation. In my second attempt, as a result, I was answering questions more confidently.
Piyush – How did you develop this approach? Can you tell us about the method you used to follow this learning?
Shreyash – I used the GMATWhiz platform quite extensively to learn this approach. They have broken down Sentence Correction into various sub-sections and even before you get into the sub-topics, you learn how to read the sentence correctly – how to break down a sentence, how to connect one part of the sentence to the next, etc. The GMATWhiz modules and videos helped greatly.
In contrast to the popular books that students use, the gaps in learning the rules and solving the questions in the environment of the exam are what GMATWhiz filled for me. Learning with GMATWhiz happened in 3 steps –
Learning basics from the meaning perspective – With GMATWhiz, I realized that if you have mastered the right approach, you can approach the question logically. Even if you do not remember the rules by heart
Practicing questions to improve timing
Building confidence and turning weaknesses into strength
Approach for CR & RC
Piyush – What was your approach for GMAT CR?
Shreyash – For both CR and RC, my accuracy was nearly average. My major pain point was spending too much time on these questions. Retaining the information after reading the entire passage was tough. Referring to the passage again and again to get a hang of the overall message of the author was time-consuming. It cost me a lot of time even though my accuracy was decent.
I used the GMATWhiz platform to learn that you need to break the passage into chunks and try to follow the meaning of the sentences as you read through.
After a fair sense of practice, I was able to understand the meaning of the passage as I read through it, and it only took me about 30 seconds to answer all the questions.
Quant Preparation Strategy that Helped Him Score 700+ on GMAT
Piyush – Let’s talk about your Quant preparation. You scored a Q42 on your first attempt which was lower than what you were expecting. So, how did you improve to a Q50? Also, share your observations of mocks vs the actual test?
Shreyash – In my first attempt, I was scoring Q50 or Q51 on mocks. But on the exam day, I got a Q42. Before the final attempt, I again took a few attempts and got Q49 instead of Q50. I observed that –
In the Official GMAT Quiz, the Quant section is easier than the actual test. So, if you are able to reach Q50 or Q51 on the mock, I would practice harder questions.
I took my mock scores for granted and ended up with a poor score on my first attempt
On my 2nd attempt, I made 2 mistakes on Quant and ended up with Q50 on GMAT. The point where you make a mistake deeply impacts your final score. So, do not ignore any part of the exam
Do not skip any topic. Everything on GMAT is interrelated. A topic you skipped can come at a higher difficulty level and easily break your score
Timing strategy to score 760 on GMAT
Piyush – Shreyash, what do you have to say about your timing strategy? How did it change in your second attempt?
Shreyash – In my first attempt, I did not have a strategy in mind. In my final attempt, my timing strategy was more nuanced. Also, I had different timing strategies for Quant and Verbal.
In Quant, I was trying to ensure accuracy in the first 25 questions or so. In the last 8-10 questions, I could still take my time and get as many of them right as I could.
Earlier, I would attempt as many questions as I could and in the end I was guessing most questions. But in the last attempt, instead of spending less time on the questions, I was carefully choosing questions that I would spend less time solving and spending more time on the ones that I knew I could get right if I spend more time on solving them.
Shreyash – Throughout your GMAT prep, you have learned the concepts, the right approach to solve questions, and practiced questions. In the week before your GMAT exam, your focus should be on ensuring that the approaches are solidified in your mind and fine-tuning your timing strategy.
24 hours before the GMAT
Piyush – How was your last day before the GMAT?
Shreyash – In the 1-2 days leading up to the test, I decided not to over work myself. I just solved 10-15 questions daily so I didn’t lose touch, but did not overwhelm myself.
Importance of GMAT Mocks
Piyush – How important are mocks in GMAT prep according to you?
Shreyash – Mocks help you try your timing strategy and see how it works. If it works well, you can solidify it. If not, you can still figure out what works best and make changes accordingly. Mocks are not just about looking at your score. Your goal should be to get into that test-takers mindset. I would also like to point here that mocks will not improve your score directly but will actually prepare you for the test day.
Aiming a 700+ on GMAT? Just like Shreyash, you can also reach your target score with the right GMAT prep strategy and guided-learning offered by our top mentors at GMATWhiz. Take a free trial of the GMATWhiz learning platform powered by AI and see how we do all the planning for you and leave only one thing on your shoulders i.e. Studying – Sign Up Now
Table of Contents
Preparing for the GMAT with a full-time job is challenging for many working professionals. Shreyash had similar thoughts. Seeking global exposure, Shreyash wanted to get an MBA from a top business school. But since he was working in a demanding job, he believed that reaching his target score of 700+ on GMAT is going to be tough for him, and needed a GMAT prep strategy to ace the gmat.
When he saw a 760 flashing on the screen, he was ecstatic, mainly because after scoring a 640 in his first attempt he wasn’t sure if he would be able to reach a 700+ on gmat. Now, with a GMAT 760, Shreyash looks forward to applying to top schools in the USA. His story of GMAT success is sure to inspire many others like him who are planning to take up GMAT prep alongside a hectic job. Let’s see what we’re covering here –
You can watch Shreyash’s full video interview with Piyush Beriwala, Co-Founder, GMATWhiz, below –
—
GMAT Prep Strategy to score 700+ on GMAT in 2nd Attempt
Piyush – You scored a 760 on GMAT. How are you feeling?
Shreyash – I was ecstatic to see my score. I was expecting it to be in the 730-740 range but 760 was quite surprising for me.
Piyush – You scored a 640 on your first GMAT attempt. What do you think you did differently in the second attempt that led you to score a 760? What changed in your gmat prep strategy and your thought process the second time?
Shreyash – My first attempt was a hurried one. I prepared for only 3 weeks before taking the test and I only focused on the Verbal part. I was confident about my Quant skills and since I was getting a decent 700-710 on my gmat mocks, I thought I could easily push my score to 730 on the actual test. In retrospect, getting a 640 was an eye-opener for me because if it weren’t for this score I would have not pushed harder the second time – especially on my Quant skills.
The difference in strategies to approach both GMAT attempts
Piyush – Which resources did you refer to in your 1st attempt? How did you benefit from GMATWhiz?
Shreyash – In my first attempt, I only referred to some books for Verbal that were popularly recommended on GMAT Club. Apart from that, I practiced a few questions and just did the mocks. After the 1st attempt, I realized I needed a different approach – a well-curated gmat prep strategy.
I used to think that learning rules and practicing questions were enough to get a 700+ on GMAT.
But unless you are able to diagnose what went wrong and what needs improvement, your scores won’t magically improve. So, after getting a 640, I tried to self-diagnose why I was taking so much time on solving RC and CR questions. Improving time was my biggest issue and my accuracy on RC was also low.
I happened to come across one of the GMATWhiz videos on How to improve from V30s to V40+. The systematic way of solving questions taught by the GMATWhiz mentor in that video was exactly what I needed. The approach I had been following was wrong altogether. I tried solving a few questions with the approach I learned in the video and automatically felt confident.
Scoring a 700+ on GMAT with a Full-time Job | GMAT 760
Piyush – How was your experience preparing along with a demanding job? You were working 12 hours a day. So how did you find time out of your hectic schedule to devote to prep each day?
Shreyash – My go-to strategy was to not rush through prep. I had already done it once and I knew it doesn’t work. So, my aim was to set realistic weekly milestones and try to achieve them slowly each day. For me, preparing in the morning worked best because it is the only time of the day when my mind is completely fresh.
You will need to do some trial and error before you finally get into a daily routine.
Want to build a study plan like Shreyash? Build one for free here
Verbal Prep Strategy to Score a 700+ on GMAT
Piyush – Let’s take up Verbal. What was your strategy to approach SC, CR, and RC that helped you score 700+ on GMAT?
Shreyash – After my first attempt, I realized I was weak in SC so I prepared for SC from scratch. For CR and RC, my main focus was on learning the right approach and then practicing questions to fine-tune my learning.
Approach for SC
For SC, instead of thinking about the rules, I focused on what the sentence meant. I broke the sentences into chunks, understood their individual meanings, and then tried to understand what the entire sentence means. After a while, I could easily point out the mistakes in a sentence just by reading it.
But this was possible because I first focused on building a strong foundation. In my second attempt, as a result, I was answering questions more confidently.
Piyush – How did you develop this approach? Can you tell us about the method you used to follow this learning?
Shreyash – I used the GMATWhiz platform quite extensively to learn this approach. They have broken down Sentence Correction into various sub-sections and even before you get into the sub-topics, you learn how to read the sentence correctly – how to break down a sentence, how to connect one part of the sentence to the next, etc. The GMATWhiz modules and videos helped greatly.
In contrast to the popular books that students use, the gaps in learning the rules and solving the questions in the environment of the exam are what GMATWhiz filled for me. Learning with GMATWhiz happened in 3 steps –
Approach for CR & RC
Piyush – What was your approach for GMAT CR?
Shreyash – For both CR and RC, my accuracy was nearly average. My major pain point was spending too much time on these questions. Retaining the information after reading the entire passage was tough. Referring to the passage again and again to get a hang of the overall message of the author was time-consuming. It cost me a lot of time even though my accuracy was decent.
After a fair sense of practice, I was able to understand the meaning of the passage as I read through it, and it only took me about 30 seconds to answer all the questions.
Quant Preparation Strategy that Helped Him Score 700+ on GMAT
Piyush – Let’s talk about your Quant preparation. You scored a Q42 on your first attempt which was lower than what you were expecting. So, how did you improve to a Q50? Also, share your observations of mocks vs the actual test?
Shreyash – In my first attempt, I was scoring Q50 or Q51 on mocks. But on the exam day, I got a Q42. Before the final attempt, I again took a few attempts and got Q49 instead of Q50. I observed that –
Timing strategy to score 760 on GMAT
Piyush – Shreyash, what do you have to say about your timing strategy? How did it change in your second attempt?
Shreyash – In my first attempt, I did not have a strategy in mind. In my final attempt, my timing strategy was more nuanced. Also, I had different timing strategies for Quant and Verbal.
In Quant, I was trying to ensure accuracy in the first 25 questions or so. In the last 8-10 questions, I could still take my time and get as many of them right as I could.
Earlier, I would attempt as many questions as I could and in the end I was guessing most questions. But in the last attempt, instead of spending less time on the questions, I was carefully choosing questions that I would spend less time solving and spending more time on the ones that I knew I could get right if I spend more time on solving them.
Our Expert’s Recommendation – Here’s How to Effectively Plan Studies to Score 700+ on GMAT
GMAT Strategy One Week Before the Test
Piyush – How was your last week before the test?
Shreyash – Throughout your GMAT prep, you have learned the concepts, the right approach to solve questions, and practiced questions. In the week before your GMAT exam, your focus should be on ensuring that the approaches are solidified in your mind and fine-tuning your timing strategy.
24 hours before the GMAT
Piyush – How was your last day before the GMAT?
Shreyash – In the 1-2 days leading up to the test, I decided not to over work myself. I just solved 10-15 questions daily so I didn’t lose touch, but did not overwhelm myself.
Importance of GMAT Mocks
Piyush – How important are mocks in GMAT prep according to you?
Shreyash – Mocks help you try your timing strategy and see how it works. If it works well, you can solidify it. If not, you can still figure out what works best and make changes accordingly. Mocks are not just about looking at your score. Your goal should be to get into that test-takers mindset. I would also like to point here that mocks will not improve your score directly but will actually prepare you for the test day.
Aiming a 700+ on GMAT? Just like Shreyash, you can also reach your target score with the right GMAT prep strategy and guided-learning offered by our top mentors at GMATWhiz. Take a free trial of the GMATWhiz learning platform powered by AI and see how we do all the planning for you and leave only one thing on your shoulders i.e. Studying – Sign Up Now
Related posts:
Share this:
Like this:
GMATWhiz