A 6 min read

Introduction: Raunak’s Journey at a Glance

Achieving a top GMAT score is a significant milestone, and Raunak Dutta’s journey is a testament to perseverance and strategic preparation. Scoring an impressive 715 on the GMAT Exam, placing him in the 99th percentile, and achieving a stellar V87 in Verbal, Raunak’s story is one of overcoming self-doubt and managing a demanding job to eventually secure GMAT Exam Success.

• How did he balance work and studies to achieve such remarkable results?
• What strategies led to his significant improvement in Verbal to a V87?
• How did he achieve a perfect Q90 in Quant?
• What role did e-GMAT’s resources and mentorship play in his success?

In this article, we delve into Raunak’s journey from initial struggles to achieving top percentile rankings and how it encapsulates a narrative of resilience, smart preparation, and the right mentorship dynamics that many aspire to.

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Initial Challenges and Overcoming Self-Doubt

Raunak Dutta’s GMAT journey was marked by significant hurdles, the most daunting of which were self-doubt and balancing a demanding work schedule. His initial attempts yielded scores of 700 and 730, and despite his rigorous efforts, self-doubt began to creep in.

“When you’re attempting the GMAT for the third time, you can’t help but wonder if you’ve already peaked,” Raunak reflects.

Working full-time in a demanding role added another layer of complexity. Raunak, a Chartered Accountant with four years of experience in investment banking, had to juggle long working hours and weekend commitments while preparing for the GMAT. He admits, “Managing both work and studies together felt like a big challenge.” Despite these challenges, Raunak decided to push forward. He took a strategic break after his 730 score to reassess his approach, which proved to be a pivotal decision. Post this period, Raunak restarted his prep with e-GMAT, with a restructured preparation plan that helped him rebuild his study schedule and focus on his weaknesses to eventually secure GMAT Exam Success.

Verbal Triumph: From Struggles to a 99th Percentile Score

One of Raunak’s major breakthroughs was in the Verbal section, where he achieved an impressive V87, placing him in the 99th percentile. Initially, managing time in the Verbal section was a significant challenge, as he often found himself rushing through questions.

Critical Reasoning Mastery

Raunak focused on improving his Critical Reasoning (CR) and Reading Comprehension (RC) skills, two areas where he initially struggled. He credits e-GMAT’s pre-thinking approach for his substantial improvement in CR. This method helped him streamline his thought process, reduce the time spent on each question, and increase his accuracy.

“Once I internalized the pre-thinking process, solving CR questions became much easier,” Raunak explained.

Impressive Gains in Reading Comprehension

In Reading Comprehension, Raunak employed strategies taught in e-GMAT’s Master Comprehension course, which significantly boosted his performance. His RC accuracy improved from 60th to 75th percentile, and he reduced his time per question to under two minutes. The data-backed improvement in his accuracy and timing was pivotal in achieving his high Verbal score.

Fig 1: Raunak’s Verbal Hard Accuracy was 81% translating to a 98th percentile in actual GMAT

Fig 2: Raunak’s RC Hard Accuracy was 80% translating to a 98th percentile in actual GMAT

Fig 3: Raunak’s RC Accuracy increased and Time taken to solve questions decreased

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Mastery in Quantitative Reasoning: Elevating to the 99th Percentile

Raunak’s quant preparation was another area where e-GMAT’s resources made a significant impact. Initially, Raunak faced challenges with advanced topics like probability and permutation-combination, which affected his overall quant performance.

Raunak focused on honing his accuracy and speed in high-yield topics. Using e-GMAT’s PACE architecture and Scholaranium platform, he systematically addressed his weaknesses. The data clearly reflected his progress: Raunak’s accuracy in advanced algebra and geometry improved from 60% to 90%. He consistently practiced with hard-level questions until he achieved an 80-90% accuracy rate within the recommended time limits.

“I practiced under timed conditions, which helped me complete the quant section with a perfect Q90 score, often finishing the exam several minutes early,” Raunak recalls.

Fig 4: Raunak’s Quant Scholaranium stats showing 73rd %ile ability which translates to a GMAT 90^th %ile score

Excelling in Data Insights: A Strategic Approach

Challenges and Initial Setbacks

Raunak initially found the DI section to be daunting, particularly due to the dense data presentations and the extensive calculations required. The initial mock tests revealed timing issues, where he was unable to complete sections within the allotted time, often leading to rushed and incorrect responses. Raunak leveraged e-GMAT’s DI course, which offered a wide range of practice questions and strategic frameworks.

Utilizing Scholaranium for Targeted Practice

The course covered various question types in all the sub-sections which were crucial in helping Raunak develop a systematic approach to solving DI problems. As a result, his DI accuracy improved significantly, and he was able to reduce his time per question. The data highlights Raunak’s success as his DI accuracy improved to the 80th percentile, translating to a 98th percentile score on the actual GMAT. e-GMAT’s Scholaranium platform allowed him to track his progress meticulously, ensuring that he was consistently improving. By focusing on high-impact areas and using approximation techniques for complex calculations, Raunak was able to manage his time effectively and improve his overall performance in the DI section to finally secure his GMAT Exam Success.

Fig 5: GI-TA journey view shows diligence of Raunak’s DI prep with straight  ‘A’ grades

Fig 6: Raunak’s DI Scholaranium stats showing 76^th %ile ability which translates to a GMAT 90^th %ile score

e-GMAT Mentorship

Mentorship played a crucial role in Raunak’s GMAT journey. Working closely with e-GMAT mentors, he identified weaknesses and developed targeted strategies to address them. A key benefit of the mentorship was the personalized study plan from the Last Mile Push (LMP) Program, tailored to Raunak’s needs. This plan allowed him to focus on critical areas, ensuring efficient study time. For instance, Raunak initially struggled with Data Sufficiency (DS), making careless errors. His mentor provided targeted practice, improving his DS accuracy from 72nd to 90th percentile and boosting his overall efficiency.

Additionally, mentorship provided Raunak with motivational support, helping him stay focused and positive. Rida (his mentor) also guided him on test-taking strategies, such as the optimal order for tackling exam sections. This strategic approach was instrumental in managing his time effectively and ensuring a balanced performance across all sections to eventually secure his GMAT Exam Success.

Mock Tests and ESR Review

Raunak’s approach to mock tests was methodical and data-driven. He took several mock tests and followed each with a detailed review to identify and address weak areas. Using e-GMAT’s Scholaranium platform, he focused on specific sections such as Verbal and Data Insights. His CR accuracy, for example, improved from 64% to 85% through targeted practice.

This data-driven strategy also helped Raunak refine his test-taking techniques, enhancing his time management. e-GMAT’s detailed performance analytics provided valuable insights, enabling Raunak to make informed adjustments to his study plan. This iterative process of testing and review played a crucial role in his journey, contributing to his impressive 715 score.

Key Takeaways for Future Test Takers

Raunak’s GMAT journey offers valuable lessons for GMAT Exam Success for future aspirants:

• Start with a Diagnostic Test: Identify your weaknesses early.
• Use Structured Preparation: e-GMAT’s resources significantly boosted Raunak’s Verbal and Quant scores.
• Practice with Purpose: Targeted practice on e-GMAT’s Scholaranium improved his CR accuracy from 64% to 85%.
• Leverage Mentorship: e-GMAT’s guidance helped him raise his DS accuracy from 72nd to 90th percentile.
• Data-Driven Review: Regularly analyze performance and adjust your study plan. Raunak’s methodical approach to mock tests was key to his success.