Patience, persistence, and determination make an unbeatable combination when it comes to achieving success, and Rohith exhibited all of them till he reached his target score.
A civil Engineer from IIT Guwahati, Rohith scored a GMAT 740 (Q50, V40) in his first attempt. His journey of 150-point score improvement with a 90th percentile in verbal demanded the utmost patience while unlearning and learning new skills in the e-GMAT course. A busy working professional with limited time, he trusted the course and followed the instructions down to a T.
Despite his solid academic background, he was only able to score a 590 in his first mock. This gave him a fair idea of the amount of hard work GMAT preparation would require.
While navigating through the course, from clearing the cementing benchmark score to efficiently using new methods across the sub-sections for optimal performance, Rohith left no stone unturned to prepare for his stone-carved GMAT target 740-760.
Watch the video to learn about IITian Rohith’s experiences and secrets that helped him ace the GMAT with a 97th percentile.
Rida: Congratulations on your 150-point score improvement for a GMAT 740. How are you feeling?
Rohith: Thank you for having me. Judging my performance in mocks, I knew my final score would be in the range of 740 to 760, as I’d targeted. However, there were some hurdles on the test day, which I think affected my score by 10-points. I am still happy that my final score is within the expected range.
Beginning of the GMAT journey
Rida: Tell us about your background and help our audience know who you are.
Rohith: I graduated from IIT, civil engineering department, in 2020. For the last two years, I have been working as an investment analyst with a private equity firm. I look after SAAS acquisitions for my company.
Rida: What was your reason for starting with the GMAT prep?
Rohith: I always had plans to go for higher studies. I also did a few finance internships during the second year of my undergrad. Higher studies were the obvious next step. I still have not decided where I want to do the course, but mostly it will be in finance.
Rida: What was the first step in your GMAT journey?
Rohith: I started by talking to my friend who took the test last year. He suggested I buy the OG books to familiarize myself with the GMAT test format and its sections. I started solving ten questions from each sub-section to get the hang of the test and learn about my strong and weak areas.
Rida: When did you realize that you need a structured course or some guidance in your prep to get to your target score?
Rohith: Given my background, my quant abilities were already good, and even in verbal, my accuracy was about 70%, but I was unsure about the logic behind my answers. Especially in SC and CR, I’d mark answers based on my intuition.
I was aiming for a high score. You must eliminate such vague elements from the equation when you have a high target. Even if your accuracy is good, if you’re weak with the process, the unexpected may happen during the exam. I realized I needed a better foundation in verbal and some methodologies to ensure my good performance in the GMAT. Also, I thought a structured course would be beneficial as I am a working professional and have limited time.
While searching online, I found out about the e-GMAT course, and there was a lot of information. I also spoke to one of my friends who’d taken the E-GMAT subscription last year. He sent me a guide with details about the strong areas of the e-GMAT course and how it can help in GMAT preparations. After talking to him, I took the 7-day free trial of the e-GMAT course and felt that the methodologies explained in the course could be helpful to me.
Quant preparation with PACE architecture
Rida: After the deep dive with the course, one of the first things you did was that you took the mock. How did you feel to see your first mock score of 590?
Rohith: I was surprised to see that my ability was 590. However, it was understandable as I had not studied verbal in the last 6-7 years. I realized I’d have to work hard.
Rida: That mock result helped you understand there is a long way to go, and it’s not just verbal; you needed improvement in quant as well. After that, what did you decide to start with, quant or verbal?
Rohith: I first went through the quant course. I had enough time at hand before the GMAT test and thought that starting with quant would ease up the preparations. The Personalized Study Plan also recommended quant first.
Rida: Since quant was your strong suit, you played to your strengths and tackled the weak area later. That was a sound approach, mainly because you had time on your side.
Given your engineering background and comfort with quant, how did you find the PACE-guided quant course that allowed you to optimize your quant experience?
Rohith: That’s an excellent question. In the quant section, there were a lot of modules to cover, and it would have taken me a lot of time to go through each one. But the diagnostic test at the beginning of each module was very helpful. It (PACE Architecture) allowed me to skip topics I was already strong at, and at the same time, it was not about skipping topics altogether. Even though I skipped the learning modules, I still had to do the practice test. I was saving time while ensuring my basics and concepts were clear.
Rida: With PACE, you could optimize your preparations. You were saving time with your strong areas, yet gaining the required practice so that you wouldn’t move forward in blind faith.
Rohith: Of course, it was necessary. Entirely skipping modules would have saved time and made me happy at the moment, but I would still be left with doubts if I were truly strong enough to solve challenging questions on those topics. I think diagnostic quizzes are accurate enough. For the modules, it recommends skipping the learning modules; even if you do practice quizzes, you’ll be strong enough to achieve 90% accuracy.
I think diagnostic quizzes are accurate enough. For the modules, it recommends skipping the learning modules; even if you do practice quizzes, you’ll be strong enough to achieve 90% accuracy.
Also, while practicing questions, you’ll recall formulae if you have forgotten any, which helps improve your accuracy.
Rida: As I can also see your quant journey,. You’d move to the cementing stage as soon as you finished any module’s sub-sections. How did that cementing process, especially doing it right after finishing the module, help you gain that mastery?
Rohith: Modules are just the learning part; ultimately, you must learn to answer the GMAT questions correctly. Once you clear the cementing GMAT level questions, you know you’ve learned it right. The benchmark for medium 70% and hard-level questions 55% are excellent; if you cross that, you can be sure that you are good to move forward. If needed, the remaining 10-20% improvement can be achieved during the revision and mocks.
Rohith’s verbal prep experience
Rida: e-GMAT’s verbal section starts with Master Comprehension. How did the Master Comprehension course help you ace the GMAT verbal?
Rohith: I did not know anything about this course earlier. I went through it as I was asked to do so. Master Comprehension helped me understand how to read the sentences and solve questions from all the other sub-sections. Going through Master Comprehension helped fill the fundamental gaps a non-native speaker like myself would have. You understand the language and intention behind the writing better, once you learn the basic concepts this course covers.
Going through Master Comprehension helped fill the fundamental gaps a non-native speaker like myself would have. You better understand the language and intention behind the writing once you learn the basic concepts this course covers.
Rida: Absolutely, the intent is an essential part of comprehending the GMAT; understanding that you need to pay attention to the intent behind any statement or question is crucial for success in the exam.
After completing Master Comprehension, you moved to SC. How was your experience with the SC sub-section, which overwhelms most people because of the rules, methods, and processes?
Rohith: It was definitely overwhelming. It’s a big module with many grammar concepts, which many people would not be very strong at.
As you go through the SC module, you eventually realize that the intent and meaning of the sentence are the only underlying thing, and everything else is there to support it. Once you understand this and keep it in mind while solving all the sub-sections, you’ll find it much easier to solve SC questions with higher accuracy.
I’d recommend that anyone taking the GMAT test should remember this as the primary element while going through the module.
Rida: You learned a new process of pre-thinking as you moved to CR from SC. How did you find that approach?
Rohith: My CR journey was interesting as it’s my favorite topic. If I’ve to solve only one sub-section in the GMAT exam, ill choose CR.
To me, CR comes in very intuitively, but I needed some structure. Since childhood, we critically analyze and try to find flaws in anything we read. e-GMAT’s pre-thinking helped me formulate my intuitive approach to CR. I really enjoyed applying the process while solving questions.
Rida: I am really glad to know that. In CR, you’ve to be very deliberate while solving questions, which could be difficult for many. But the fact that you could have fun while applying the process makes it all the easier. It’s also indicative of your logical mind that CR and SC fell into place for you.
A bit of structure with the two core skills, logic, and comprehension, creates the basis for success in the GMAT.
Rohith: Yes, GMAT tests your logic in Maths or in verbal SC, CR, and even RC in different ways, such as finding the meaning or flaws in the passages.
Rida: How was your experience doing RC as the last sub-section, especially after completing SC and CR?
Rohith: After going through everything in SC and CR, definitely your understanding of the language and author’s intended meaning improves, and that is what RC is. The foundation you’ve built will also help in RC. It’s nothing different; you’ll experience that the questions are somewhat different, but the process is the same.
After going through everything in SC and CR, definitely your understanding of the language and author’s intended meaning improves, and that is what RC is. The foundation you’ve built will also help in RC. It’s nothing different; you’ll experience that the questions are somewhat different, but the process is the same.
Strategy support and mentorship
Rida: As you finished cementing RC, you were also done with the verbal course. What did you do then?
Rohith: At the beginning of the course, I had written an email to ask for help with some queries. At that time, I also asked if I could connect with my mentor then, and I got a reply that the ideal time for that is once I am done with my course unless I need any help before that. So, as I finished my verbal course, I got in touch with you.
Rida: Test readiness was the first thing we did when we started working together. How do you think that step tested all the skills you’d learned individually?
Rohith: GMAT preparation is a long process. Test readiness checks if you can recall all the learnings and apply the skills as structured as required. It answers the question whether you’re ready for the exam or not.
Rida: Right after test readiness, we moved to mocks and you took 4 SIGma-X mocks. How did that phase go for you?
Rohith: In my first mock, after completing the course, I scored 770, which was a huge positive. I did not know if it truly reflected my abilities, but I was sure I had my fundamentals right. It boosted my confidence that I knew things and needed to apply them carefully during the GMAT test.
Rida: It was in between the mocks that I mentored you the most. What was your biggest takeaway from those conversations?
Rohith: After every mock, you’d analyze my performance for each sub-section. There were a lot of matrices I’d not know otherwise, or I’d take a lot of time to understand and do that kind of analysis.
You’d also have a plan moving forward post analysis, such as where I should focus next or identifying the areas where I could be confident. It was constructive to have that kind of guidance at the last stage of preparations.
The primary purpose of taking mocks is to make this kind of analysis and improve, which with your help, made a lot of sense.
After every mock, you’d analyze my performance for each sub-section. There were a lot of matrices I’d not know otherwise. You’d also have a plan moving forward post analysis, such as where I should focus next or identifying the areas where I could be confident. It was constructive to have that kind of guidance at the last stage of preparations.
Learning with SIGma-X mocks
Rida: In the four mocks you took, your scores were 770, 740, 750, and 730 in that order. After that, you were ready to take the GMAT test. What was that test experience?
Rohith: I went to the physical test center. I first did quant and then verbal. In the 8 minutes break after quant, when I came back thinking I’d still have a couple of minutes left from the break time, I realized I was two and a half minutes late. I panicked for at least 4-5 questions in the beginning, but eventually, I settled and could complete the section in time. I am not sure if that had any impact on the final score.
Rida: Despite losing two and a half minutes, the fact that you completed in time, that too the verbal section, is genuinely commendable. Many don’t manage to do that in the given 65 minutes.
Rohith: Even I did not think I’ll be able to. I used to struggle with time even in my mocks; in most of my mocks, I was one question behind.
I did not think much about the lost time, nor did I put additional effort into managing the time. That’s because the questions don’t let you think about anything other than solving the given question at that moment.
Rida: That’s very well put. During the exam as you have no control over what’s coming next, it is meaningless to waste time, energy, or worry about anything other than the question at that moment. I am happy you were able to do that.
Rohith: I’d still recommend that anyone taking the test at the center be watchful of the time and return as soon as you can. Some processes like biometrics and other security steps consume time that you may not have accounted for.
Rida: Despite this hiccup, you scored a V40 and a Q50. When you saw the score, how did you feel?
Rohith: I was expecting 740-750 and a Q51. But towards the end, I missed out on a probability question I was not entirely sure of. Thankfully those experiences did not affect my score. From the start of the preparation, I was targeting 740-760, and I am glad I could achieve that.
Tips for GMAT aspirants
Rida: You’ve had a complete and thorough experience with e-GMAT. What advice would you give to anyone who’s preparing for the GMAT?
Rohith: For those who are starting with their preparations, the first thing I suggest is to trust the course and follow as told. Many test takers would be working professionals and won’t have enough time to evaluate and find the best study method. I definitely trust e-GMAT and ask anyone to do so. Because it’s been there for a long time, and knows what to teach. It has a very structured approach, and many experts help design the course. Trust the course, and do not waste your time in structuring the preparation because that’s already been done for you.
You’ll also have to unlearn a lot of things, and you’ll require a lot of patience. Sometimes you’ll have to learn something you already know, but if you did not do well in the diagnostic test and you’re forced to relearn it, it’s better than skipping.
So, follow the course, have patience and have fun.
Also, after the break during your exam, ensure that you get back to your chair well in time.
Rida: I am glad to be part of your journey and the fact that you were able to achieve your target score. Patience and enjoying the process are tricky yet essential tips to ace the GMAT test.
All the best, Rohith.
