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Samarth’s Journey at a glance
In the realm of competitive exams like the GMAT, a leap from a good score to an exceptional one is often a blend of strategy, guidance, and relentless effort. Samarth's GMAT journey epitomizes this transformation. Starting at a 645, Samarth managed to surge to a commendable 705 on the GMAT Focus edition, achieving impressive percentiles across the board—98th in Verbal, and 94th in both Quant and Data Insights.
But what make Samarth's success story particularly striking are three critical aspects of Samarth's GMAT success:
But what make Samarth's success story particularly striking are three critical aspects of Samarth's GMAT success:
- The strategies and efforts that led to a dramatic transformation of his Verbal skills from a weakness to a strength.
- How he effectively leaged tools like Process Skills, PACE, and Scholaranium to fine-tune his Quant skills.
- The significant impact of e-GMAT’s mentorship in guiding him towards his high score.
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Verbal Excellence: 98th Percentile
Samarth's journey to a stellar V86 in the Verbal section of the GMAT was driven by a phenomenal improvement in Reading Comprehension (RC) and Critical Reasoning (CR).
Samarth's percentile in RC catapulted from the 19th to the 93rd. This dramatic change was largely due to adopting e-GMAT's targeted reading strategies, which helped him navigate the complexity of the passages more effectively. Samarth shared how altering his approach to reading passages made a significant difference.
Samarth's percentile in RC catapulted from the 19th to the 93rd. This dramatic change was largely due to adopting e-GMAT's targeted reading strategies, which helped him navigate the complexity of the passages more effectively. Samarth shared how altering his approach to reading passages made a significant difference.
"I think the focus e-GMAT puts on reading the passages is really important. I mean, that elementary approach that you first read the question, then go to the passage and try to find where the answer is... doesn't really work in the GMAT exam, because the questions are not direct, they need some kind of thinking on your part.”
– Samarth Gudwala
Figure 1: Samarth’s steady improvement in RC as reflected by his Cementing Journey
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In Critical Reasoning, Samarth excelled, reaching the 97th percentile. His success in CR was greatly enhanced by mastering e-GMAT's pre-thinking skills, which involve anticipating answers before diving into the options, a strategy that helped streamline his thought process and improve accuracy.
"e-GMAT taught me how to pre-think, which was to understand the passage, have some idea before going into the options, and then eliminate the wrong options. Elimination becomes easy as it is easy to spot something out of scope, irrelevant.”
– Samarth Gudwala
This methodical approach to CR allowed him to effectively eliminate incorrect choices, thus honing his precision and decision-making during the exam.
Figure 2: Samarth’s steady improvement in CR as reflected by his Cementing Journey
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Quant Mastery: 94th Percentile
Samarth was already comfortable with the basics of quant due to his strong background in mathematics. However, Samarth quickly realized that the GMAT quant section was less about complex calculations and more about logic and about deciphering the tricks and traps hidden within the questions. His preparation focused on recognizing and navigating the right approach effectively by following the right processes.
"The GMAT is more about tricks. They give you a condition which you are bound to miss and just take up the wrong answer.”
– Samarth Gudwala
e-GMAT’s PACE architecture played a crucial role in helping him focus on the most relevant parts of the course, enhancing his study efficiency.
Figure 3: P.A.C.E. savings: Chapters skipped in the Percentage Change Module
PACE allowed him to skip the parts he already knew, thus saving time and enabling him to concentrate on areas that needed more attention.
Figure 4: Samarth’s Scholaranium Statistics: Impressive improvement in Number Properties
Scholaranium offered another layer of personalized practice that further refined his quant abilities. It provided him with a vast array of questions that mimicked the GMAT format, helping him to adapt to the exam's pacing and question styles. This tool was instrumental in identifying his weaknesses and transforming them into strengths by allowing him to practice intensively on targeted areas.
Figure 5: Samarth’s Scholaranium Statistics: Impressive improvement in Advanced Topics
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The Scholaranium Advantage
Samarth's journey to an impressive GMAT score was significantly bolstered by the strategic use of Scholaranium, e-GMAT’s practice tool, which he credited with giving him the precise type of practice required to excel, particularly in the Data Insights (DI) and Quantitative Reasoning.
Samarth highlighted the confidence boost that Scholaranium provided, noting that his repeated practice led to perfect accuracy on numerous occasions. This confidence was crucial on the day of the exam, where familiarity with the types of questions asked allowed him to perform under pressure.
Samarth highlighted the confidence boost that Scholaranium provided, noting that his repeated practice led to perfect accuracy on numerous occasions. This confidence was crucial on the day of the exam, where familiarity with the types of questions asked allowed him to perform under pressure.
"I had 100% accuracy as well quite often. The e-GMAT course can get you a Q90 as well. But your final score depends on your exam day as well. Having hit a 100% before gives you the confidence that you can do it again. ”
– Samarth Gudwala
For the DI section specifically, Scholaranium proved invaluable by providing targeted practice that mimicked the actual GMAT challenges.
Figure 6: Samarth’s Data Sufficiency Cementing Journey
"Scholaranium comes in handy giving you the right kind of practice in the right amount.”
– Samarth Gudwala
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e-GMAT Mentorship
A significant component of Samarth's success was the dedicated mentorship he received from e-GMAT, particularly from his mentor, Abha. Her role transcended typical instructional duties, providing emotional and strategic support that kept Samarth motivated and focused, especially during times of doubt or struggle.
"There were some points where I was like Abha is not going to tolerate it; she's not going to come back to me; she'll be like, let him do whatever he wants to. But still you (Abha) came back to me and said ‘even though you're not doing as I asked you to, it’s okay, I'll revamp the plan for you.’ That really helped because I still know that however bad I do, there is someone who will fix things for me."
– Samarth Gudwala
This kind of unconditional support reassured Samarth that he was not alone in his journey and that he had a reliable guide who was invested in his success.
Customization of the Study Plan –
Recognizing that one size does not fit all, Abha customized Samarth's study plan to accommodate his unique circumstances and learning pace. Even when Samarth fell short of meeting the prescribed study benchmarks, Abha adjusted the strategy rather than pushing a rigid regimen. This flexibility was crucial in maintaining Samarth's progress without overwhelming him, showcasing e-GMAT's commitment to adaptability and student-centered learning.
Figure 7: Samarth’s Study Plan created by his Mentor as part of the Last Mile Push Program
Strategic Time Management Tips
Time management is crucial in the GMAT, and Abha provided specific tips that helped Samarth maximize his efficiency during the exam. Her advice on how to approach each question and manage the sectional timing effectively was invaluable.
Samarth shared one of her tips:
Samarth shared one of her tips:
"Abha pointed out that it is not necessary that every question be solved in under two minutes…sometimes harder questions require more time, which can be covered up in easier questions later on.”
– Samarth Gudwala
Such mock insights helped him balance speed and accuracy, enabling him to allocate his time more effectively across the challenging sections of the GMAT.
Samarth’s Key Recommendation
Samarth firmly believes in the
- Importance of trusting the structured preparation process
Samarth firmly believes in the importance of trusting the structured preparation process laid out by e-GMAT’s experienced mentors. He acknowledged that sometimes the journey might seem tedious or indirect, but each step is designed to build competencies that are crucial for test day.
"At times, it's like, ‘e-GMAT is asking me to do Word Problems, and it takes three days out of my workflow, but I'm confident about WP. I don't need to do it’. So, there is that kind of feeling that the mentor probably does not know where I'm coming from, does not know my strengths. But you need to have faith in your mentor."
– Samarth Gudwala
- Keep an open mind and consider the strategic benefits
Sometimes the guidance provided by mentors or preparation courses may conflict with a student’s preconceived notions or self-assessed needs. Samarth advises keeping an open mind and consider the strategic benefits of the guidance provided, even if it initially seems counterintuitive.
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Conclusion
GMAT 705, in first attempt
Samarth’s remarkable GMAT journey, culminating in a score of 705, exemplifies the potent combination of disciplined preparation, strategic learning, and dedicated mentorship. His experience underscores the transformation possible when one embraces a well-structured approach, trusts in the nuanced guidance of mentors like e-GMAT's Abha and leverages specialized tools such as Scholaranium for targeted practice. From his phenomenal leap in verbal skills to his near-perfect quant score, Samarth’s story is a testament to the power of staying the course even when it challenges one's preconceptions. His insights and strategies provide a valuable blueprint for future test-takers aiming to turn their own GMAT preparation into a success story.
