GMAT Classic 640 -> Focus 645 -> Focus 675 | Gamifying GMAT Prep

My GMAT journey has been long, but I'm thrilled to share that I've reached my target score of 675 .

When I began in July 2020, I was confident my engineering background would help me ace the test quickly. Early on, I scored 710 and 720 on mock tests, but my actual GMAT score was a disappointing 640. This setback was demoralizing, and I almost gave up.

Last year, I decided to give it another shot, aiming for a 740. I discovered e-GMAT, which taught me to eliminate incorrect answers rather than just picking what seemed right. This change was crucial, especially for my verbal performance.

Gamifying My Preparation:

The real game-changer in my preparation was discovering how to make studying engaging and enjoyable, turning it into a competitive and strategic challenge.

1. eGMAT's Scholaranium: My Second Guru:

• Initially skeptical, I soon found the AI-powered tools in Scholaranium invaluable. They provided insights into my pacing and highlighted trap answers, showing me where I spent too much or too little time.
• Scholaranium allowed me to compare my time spent on each question to the median time, helping me understand my pacing relative to other test-takers. This was incredibly helpful for managing my time efficiently.
• The platform also showed me the percentage of people who answered each question correctly, revealing which questions were commonly missed and why. This insight helped me avoid common traps and focus on areas needing improvement.
• The "rush factor" metric was particularly useful. If I answered a question too quickly, I'd take a moment to double-check, catching potential errors. This habit helped me correct mistakes during both practice and the actual exam.

2. Pre-thinking Technique:

• Pre-thinking turned Critical Reasoning into a mental game. I learned to anticipate the author's direction and think ahead, making the process engaging rather than just a test of memory.
• This proactive approach meant I was no longer just reacting to questions but predicting what the author might ask next. It felt like a strategic game where I needed to outthink the question setter.
• My accuracy in CR improved dramatically, from consistently picking the wrong option in the final two choices to understanding the nuances that differentiated the correct answer from the distractors.

3. Reading as a Debate:

• I started treating each reading passage as a debate with the author, questioning their motives and arguments. This active engagement turned Reading Comprehension into an intellectual challenge.
• By summarizing passages and predicting the authors next move, I made reading a dynamic and interactive process. This approach helped me understand the passage more deeply and answer questions more accurately.
• Engaging with the text in this way also improved my ability to remember details and the overall structure of the passage, reducing the need to constantly refer back to the text.

4. Strategic Practice:

• I diversified my reading materials, tackling challenging and boring articles to build resilience. This not only improved my comprehension skills but also kept the preparation interesting.
• Setting specific time targets for each type of question added a competitive edge, pushing me to beat my own scores and times. For example, I aimed to complete a 3-question RC set in 5.5 minutes and a 4-question set in 6.5 minutes.
• This disciplined approach to timing helped me manage even the toughest RC sections on exam day, ensuring I could complete all questions within the allotted time.

Test Day Surprise :
Despite my thorough preparation, I encountered an unexpected challenge with my Quant performance. Consistently scoring well in practice, I ended up with a Q84 on the actual GMAT due to a single mistake caused by spending too much time on one difficult question and rushing through an "easy" one. This experience highlighted the importance of balanced pacing and treating every question with equal care.

Key Takeaways:

1. Gamify Your Prep: Turn your study sessions into a strategic and competitive game.
2. Use Advanced Tools: Platforms like Scholaranium provide valuable data-driven insights that enhance your preparation.
3. Active Engagement: Treat reading and reasoning as active, dynamic processes to deepen understanding.
4. Consistency and Resilience: Practice with a variety of materials, including challenging ones, to build resilience and maintain engagement.
5. Quality Over Quantity: Focus on thorough analysis and understanding rather than sheer volume of questions.
6. Balanced Pacing: Manage your time efficiently on test day, giving each question the attention it deserves.