GMAT 690 - 740

I gave my GMAT in July 2019 and scored a 740 (Q49, V41). However, my GMAT journey began much before that. I knew that I was weak in the verbal section (especially SC), and hence when I started my prep, I used a number of book-based resources. As I went through these resources, my confidence that I could tackle the SC questions went up. I absorbed all the concept related information across different SC topics from the modules. After 3-4 months of studies, as I started with my mock exams, my performance was not that great. I would score a 49/50 in quant. However, when it came to verbal, my score was consistently in the 27-35 range. I continued to blindly solve more and more questions thinking that practice would help me achieve my target score, but my verbal score didn’t improve. I had my GMAT scheduled for Jan 2019. I went ahead and gave the GMAT and scored a 690. I immediately cancelled the score.
After this failed attempt, I was not sure how to proceed. I decide to study for a few more months and take the exam again. I continued to use the same materials for studies, until, one of my friends told me about e-GMAT. I had not heard of the company and hence wasn't sure whether it would be helpful. However, after reading a number of reviews on the GMAT Club, and talking to the friend, who was already using it, I decided to go ahead and register for the verbal live course. From the point of view of GMAT preparation, this was one of the best decisions.
As I started the course, I was introduced to the meaning-based approach for SC. When I prepared for the exam earlier, I used to concentrate on the grammatical rules that one would need to know to solve SC questions and thought that meaning was secondary. I do not disagree that grammatical rules are important. But what e-GMAT's meaning based approach made me realize was that meaning is the primary aspect one would need to focus on in order to solve SC questions. e-GMAT brought this meaning aspect, which I had considered secondary, to the forefront. Post that, I slowly started realizing that SC was less about grammar and more about logic. I realized solving a GMAT SC question meant identifying an option that conveys the correct meaning in a most logical and concise manner. Grammar was just a tool to be used to achieve this objective. I continued to diligently follow the meaning-based approach as taught in the modules and actually started enjoying the process of solving SC questions.
After I finished the concept modules with SC, I moved on to CR. Here I was introduced to the process of pre-thinking. Again, this was something new that I had never heard from the book-based resources. As I went through the course modules, I slowly started realizing the importance on incorporating pre-thinking while solving CR question. Initially it would take some extra time to solve questions as I would have to consciously make an effort to pre-think. But slowly, the idea got ingrained into my process. Pre-thinking actually helped me solve CR question more effectively with greater level of confidence. When I look back and think about it, the idea is very simple but, at the same time, very effective.
Once I was done with learning the concepts, I moved on to Scholaranium. This is e-GMAT’s practice platform where they have put together hundreds of GMAT like questions. The platform offers many capabilities such as custom quizzes, sectional quizzes, ability quizzes. I made extensive use of ability quizzes (which simulate the verbal section) as they helped me understand my standing (in terms of percentile) in the verbal section. It also provided tons of analytics that helped me identify my weak areas so that I could work on them. Additionally, I made extensive use of the forum discussion where e-GMAT experts clarified doubts for almost all the questions that are there on the platform. Scholaranium was the perfect platform for me to put my conceptual learning into practice and improve my verbal ability.
I saw a dramatic improvement in my verbal ability in my mock exams. I gave my GMAT exam again in July 2019 and scored a 740 (Q49, V41). Whenever my colleagues or friends have asked me for recommendation for a GMAT prep course, I have always recommended e-GMAT without thinking twice.
e-GMAT also has a very stealth like program that helps students like me build hyper specific plans to create milestone drive study plans. I am working with DJ right now and let us hope I can improve my score to a 750 now! *Fingers crossed* As a student this is all I can ask for and more.

I hope this review is helpful if someone is not sure which prep provider to use.