Achieving a high GMAT score is no easy feat—it takes dedication, smart planning, and the right resources. Akshat’s journey to an impressive 705 in the GMAT exam showcases this commitment. With a stellar DI 88, placing him in the 99th percentile, and significant improvement across sections, his success story at Jamboree is both motivating and insightful.
In this article, we will explore:
- Why Akshat Chose Jamboree for GMAT prep
- What was his plan of action during Jamboree Coaching
- How he managed his time during GMAT Preparation
- Useful Jamboree Resources
- Specialized Skills in GMAT Quant and GMAT Verbal
- 99th percentile in GMAT Data Insights
- Importance of GMAT Mock Tests
- Essential Tips and Checklist for GMAT Aspirants
- How to manage Stress during the test day
- Why should a student join Jamboree GMAT Coaching?
Interviewer: Hi Akshat! Tell the readers a bit about yourself.
Akshat: Hi! I’m a fourth-year IT student at NSUT. I wanted to take the GMAT before placements because, while I study IT, I’m not interested in a purely coding-based role. Instead, I see myself in product management, where I can work at the intersection of technology and business. I’m aiming for top global universities to gain diverse perspectives and greater exposure to the latest advancements in tech.
Interviewer: How did you end up choosing Jamboree for your GMAT prep?
Akshat: I was sure from the start that I needed offline, in-person classes. So, I took trial classes at almost all the major test-prep institutes in Delhi. But I quickly realized that none of them had pure GMAT expertise. Most places were just forcing CAT logic into GMAT, with quant and verbal being taught by CAT experts. But I knew that cracking the GMAT required a completely different strategy. Some institutes also focused too much on marketing a single person rather than providing structured learning. That’s where Jamboree was different. They had complete and exclusive expertise in GMAT, and I knew I’d be learning GMAT-specific strategies here.
Interviewer: What was your plan of action when you joined Jamboree for GMAT coaching?
Akshat: I completely trusted my trainers and followed their guidance. Mayank Sir (GMAT Quant trainer) structured the classes topic-wise, with clear pre- and post-class questions, followed by advanced problems on the same topic. This approach helped me build confidence with every session. Priyanka Ma’am (Verbal trainer) assigned homework after each class and even provided extra study material, which was really helpful.
Interviewer: How did you manage your time during GMAT preparation?
Akshat: I never set a fixed number of study hours on a daily or weekly basis. Instead, I focused on completing both quant and verbal homework before the next class each week. This kept me on track and ensured I never had a backlog.
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Interviewer: Which Jamboree resources or materials did you find most useful?
Akshat: Jamboree’s student portal was incredibly comprehensive. It had over 2,000 advanced practice questions, neatly organized into small timed tests. I used these to sharpen my topic-wise skills. Before attempting full-length tests, I focused on sectional tests to improve my timing for each section. After taking around 10 sectional tests for both quant and verbal, I felt fully prepared to take on the Jamboree full-length tests. The scores from these tests gave me a clear picture of my progress and improvement. Moreover, the Jamboree portal’s UI (user interface) closely matched the GMAT interface, providing a realistic and effective way to prepare.
Interviewer: What special skills did you develop while practicing with Jamboree material?
Akshat: Let me break it down into two parts—Quant and Verbal.
Quant: Volume is key. The more questions I practiced, the more I realized that GMAT is predictable. The classes exposed me to different solving techniques, helping me choose the most efficient approach. Over time, I learned that balancing speed and accuracy is crucial.
Verbal: I enjoyed Critical Reasoning, so understanding logic came naturally to me. GMAT follows consistent patterns in creating good and bad answer choices, which I learned to spot in Jamboree classes. However, Reading Comprehension was a challenge for a long time. Attending doubt sessions and applying strategies to official passages helped me see that reading style makes all the difference. When I struggled with a sentence, I learned to break it into smaller parts for better understanding. The process of elimination strategy took care of the rest. Here are some techniques to ace the GMAT reading comprehension section.
Interviewer: You scored in the 99th percentile in the Data Insights (DI) section. Any special advice for GMAT aspirants?
Akshat: To ace DI, strong data interpretation skills are a must. Reading and analyzing large volumes of data is key. I didn’t want to leave anything to chance, so I completed the entire Official Guide, all of Jamboree’s material, and even explored additional resources online. I made sure to expose myself to every possible DI question type. After that, Jamboree’s sectional tests helped refine my approach.
Some students might need to make a tough call—sacrificing a few questions, especially in Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR), to manage time and boost overall accuracy. The best way to decide this is by taking multiple sectional tests and analyzing your performance.
Interviewer: What role did Jamboree mock tests play in your success?
Akshat: Jamboree’s mock tests had an “Analysis and Solutions” section that provided a detailed performance report. I could see how many easy, medium, and hard questions I got wrong. All incorrect answers were marked in red, allowing me to quickly review solutions and identify traps. In many cases, the tests also showed shorter, more efficient ways to solve problems. Another helpful feature was the percentile comparison, which showed how other students performed on the same questions.
Key Takeaway: I focused on applying my learnings in the next test and avoiding past mistakes. This helped me reduce silly errors with every attempt. Surprisingly, my mock test scores ranged between 675 and 685, and I never scored 705 or higher in any of them. Maybe the scoring was tougher!
Interviewer: What essential tips or a checklist would you recommend to GMAT aspirants for effective GMAT preparation?
Akshat:
- Start studying on-screen as early as possible to avoid the transition shock from books to the exam interface.
- Complete the assigned homework after each class and before the next one. This improves both class experience and overall understanding.
- Maintain an error log to track mistakes. Reviewing it before mocks and on test day helps avoid repeating errors.
- Connect with other high scorers to learn from their challenges and strategies.
- Don’t get discouraged if your score plateaus. Analyze incorrect questions, identify patterns, and focus on not repeating the same mistakes.
Interviewer: How did you manage stress on test day?
Akshat: I prepared for every possible scenario. From a test perspective, I experimented with different SSO (Select Section Order) patterns during mocks and decided on the best one for me. I also visited the test center a week in advance, and the staff was kind enough to let me do a quick “recce.” I wanted to avoid any surprises on test day, so I arrived about an hour early on the test day.
During the exam, I stayed mindful of the on-screen clock and made sure to change markers and scratch sheets when needed
Key Takeaway: Make sure your passport is valid for at least six more months before test day
Interviewer: Why would you recommend Jamboree coaching to other GMAT aspirants?
Akshat: If you’re serious about GMAT, structured coaching makes a huge difference. It gives you a clear study plan with daily and weekly targets, ensuring you stay on track. Studying with other aspirants helps build a strong test-taking mindset and keeps you motivated.
One of the biggest advantages was the interaction with trainers and classmates. I could clear my doubts instantly and engage in discussions that deepened my understanding. The healthy competition in class tests pushed me to perform better, and the trainers ensured we were always up to date with the latest GMAT trends.
If you want focused GMAT preparation, expert guidance, and a motivating environment, coaching at Jamboree is definitely worth it. Checkout more such GMAT success stories here:
Kartik’s GMAT Exam Success Story | Score 715
Apurva’s GMAT Exam Score 715 Scored 90 in Verbal Section
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