GMAT with CJ

Since I may fail, I’ll not try. Is that the reasoning going on in your head? :) Why are you so afraid of failure? Let me share one big reason why that fear exists. It’s because when you fail, you don’t just see it as an event — you turn it into a verdict on your worth. You don’t define yourself by the courage it took to try. You define yourself by the result. But every time you fail, you have a choice: 1. To let that failure define and control you 2. Or to take pride in the fact that you showed up, that you gave effort even when success wasn’t guaranteed If you can respond to failure with dignity and self-belief — instead of self-pity and self-rejection — you’ll fear it far less. And when that fear loosens its grip? You’ll walk through life with a full stride. Unafraid. Fully alive. Giving your best. Wouldn’t that be a beautiful way to live? :)

When I asked a student to focus on the process rather than the outcome, he said, "I’ve always been outcome-focused, and it’s worked well for me. If I don’t think about the outcome, how will I motivate myself?" I said, "I see. Of course, being outcome-focused is necessary to an extent. It helps you create the plan and make adjustments while executing it. But in your case, the plan is already made. Now, during execution, you're spending a significant amount of time worrying whether you’ll achieve your desired outcome. And at this stage, being outcome-focused isn’t helping—it’s holding you back. We need a pinch of salt to make a dish palatable. You seem to be adding a fistful. I’m not asking you to remove the salt—just use it in the right proportion. Every hour you spend worrying about the outcome is an hour you’re not spending moving towards it. In a way, your worries are becoming self-fulfilling prophecies. The fear of failure is causing the failure. Stop that. Get down to work."

A girl sent me a message on LinkedIn, sharing that my posts are helping her as she prepares for her 7th GMAT attempt. Her message reminded me of something from 2008: I didn’t even show up for my IIM Indore interview. Let me explain. When I read her message, my first thought was: “Wow. Even after failing 6 times, she’s not doubting whether she deserves to be at a good MBA college.” Back in 2008, I did appear for several IIM interviews. But I struggled badly in the Group Discussions. I could barely speak — not because I didn’t have thoughts, but because I couldn’t form sentences fast enough in English. I felt embarrassed. I felt sorry for myself. By the time the IIM Indore interview came around, I told myself: “If 5 IIMs didn’t find me worthy, what’s the point of showing up for a 6th one just to feel that same shame again?” So, I didn’t go. I remember that choice very clearly — and now, as I ask my GMAT students to push through self-doubt and keep showing up, I’m reminded that I let my own self-doubt win in that moment. Looking back, I don’t think I needed to feel pity for myself. I wish I had seen that moment differently. Instead of shame, I could’ve felt pride — that I was still showing up, still preparing, still trying. I can’t rewrite that part of my life. But I can let it remind me of what I want to value: not just the skills I have or don’t have… but the effort I continue to make despite it all.

A story that almost turned out to be unfortunate A student couldn't study for more than a few minutes a day. He bought an expensive new table. For a few days, he felt more inclined to sit and study. But as the novelty of the table wore off, so did his motivation. Next came a more comfortable chair. Same story—brief enthusiasm, followed by the same struggle. Then a fancy progress-tracking app. Again, a short spike in productivity… and then, back to square one. This cycle went on. Everything around him changed, but his problem remained the same. He felt desperate and clueless. Then, someone said to him: "You've changed everything outside of you. But has it helped? Have you ever turned inward and looked at your relationship with studying? Do you see it as a burden—or as an opportunity to grow?" The student was stunned. No one had ever said such a thing. Everyone told him to fix his environment. No one had asked him to reflect on how he relates to studying. But as he took in this message, something inside shifted. For the first time, he felt hope. Hope that his problem could be solved. That he could study. That he could become the person he’d always wanted to be. Such a relief.

I never thought I’d ask a student about their mental health on our very first call. Mental health has always felt like a private matter. And honestly, what does a GMAT tutor have to do with it? That’s what I used to think. Not anymore. Yesterday, during an introductory call with a new student, I asked her about her mental health—not out of curiosity, but out of experience. Over the years, I’ve seen just how much a person’s emotional and psychological state can affect their preparation. If you’re doing something relatively easy or only mildly challenging, your mental health might not seem like a major factor. But the GMAT isn’t like that. It demands months of consistent effort, self-discipline, and resilience. And in that kind of journey, your mental health isn’t just a factor—it can be the deciding factor. If you’re struggling, please don’t sweep it under the carpet. Talk to someone—family, friends, a professional. Seeking help doesn’t make you weak. It may just be the most important step in your GMAT preparation.

What’s the similarity between GMAT preparation and learning to dance? In both, you must first get things consistently right before trying to get them right fast. In other words: perfection comes before speed. Think about learning to dance. You have to get the steps right every time before you even think about picking up the pace. If you're getting the steps right only 70% of the time and start working on speed, well… you’re probably not going to be very fun to watch. What’s worse—you might end up mastering the wrong steps. So before you can learn the correct moves, you’ll first have to unlearn the bad habits. And all the time you spent building speed? That just made the wrong steps more automatic. Which means you’ll take even longer to learn it right. GMAT prep is no different. If you focus on speed too early—before you’ve built high accuracy—you’re not shortening your prep time. You’re stretching it. First, clarity. Then, speed. Prepare sensibly.

Imagine opening Google Maps for a 700-km journey. It says: “Estimated travel time — 12 hours.” Now technically, is it possible to cover that distance in 2 hours? Maybe — if you're in a jet, flying nonstop, with perfect weather, and everything goes your way. But we don’t plan travel based on such possibilities. We plan based on what’s expected. Oddly enough, this basic logic often goes missing when it comes to the GMAT. A student recently reached out, hoping to go from a GMAT 455 to 705 in just 2 months. I understand the urgency — maybe deadlines are near, maybe there’s a dream school in sight. And I also understand the hope — after all, we’ve all heard stories of people who’ve made massive jumps in short spans. But those are outliers. They’re not the norm you plan around. In my experience, someone starting at 455 will typically need 12 months or more to reach 705. Yes, some may take less. Some may take longer. But when you're planning your journey, it’s wise to base it on what’s expected, not just what’s possible. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t aim high. It just means you’ll give yourself the time and space needed to get there. Because even when the road is long, it's much easier to stay the course when your expectations are aligned with reality.

I received this truly beautiful message from a student today: "I asked myself, what do I truly want – the answer was – 'happy learning' and growth. The 'happy' before that learning would probably not have arisen, had you not been patient and shown me directly/indirectly through your videos/our lessons." It means so much to me that I’ve played even a small role in helping someone prioritize happiness over everything else. Yes, we all want to learn, grow, achieve. But is it really worth it if it costs us our happiness? What we need is not just learning, but happy learning. Not just growth, but happy growth. Not just success, but joyful success. Happiness need not be the reward only at the end of the road. It could be our companion on our journey.

I scored 780 on the GMAT with almost no prep. And the reason was ..... luck. Let me explain. The reason I didn’t need much preparation is that I already had the skills the GMAT tests—comprehension, critical reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. Why did I already have those skills? Around the 10th grade, I fell into a virtuous cycle. I studied with deep engagement, which allowed me to truly understand the material. Because I understood it, I could appreciate its elegance—how it all made sense. That appreciation sparked genuine enjoyment. And that enjoyment fueled even deeper engagement. Engagement → Understanding → Enjoyment → Repeat. This cycle naturally built the very skills the GMAT tests. But the crucial question is, why did that cycle start for me when for so many others, it didn't? No idea. Pure luck. Over time, I’ve come to see that the biggest reason for my success is just that—luck. Something beyond my control. And this realization has brought two changes in me: 1. I no longer feel any sense of superiority. If my so-called talent or success is rooted in luck, then on what grounds can I feel superior to anyone else? And strangely, this absence of superiority feels liberating. 2. I feel immense gratitude—to the Creator, to the universe, to life itself—for giving me these gifts. And this gratitude feels far more fulfilling than any sense of deservingness ever could. When I see people celebrating what they believe they deserve, I wish they could experience how much deeper the joy is when you see your gifts as unearned—as a blessing, not an entitlement.

Student (currently at 60th percentile): So, what should be our target score for my GMAT scheduled at the end of this month? Me: You can keep the target as the 99th percentile. Or 75th percentile. Whatever you like. Student (taken aback): What do you mean? Me: I mean that your score at the end of the month depends on what you do during the month. Your target has ZERO relevance to your achievement. The only way your target can impact your achievement is by influencing what you 'do' during the month. In many cases, people's targets don’t influence their actions at all. In many other cases, targets actually have a negative influence — they create anxiety and waste useful time. So, either don’t keep a target. Or choose one that helps you act better. But know this: Only what you DO during the month affects your achievement. Your target? It does not.

The story of one of my students. Got GMAT 665 after 18 months of effort! Applied to 8 b-schools. Got rejected by all without any interview. Thought that a lack of international experience might be the reason. Applied to 9 jobs outside India. Got rejected by all without any interview. Applied to the 10th job outside India. Got the interview invite. Converted the interview. Joined the London office of a reputed international firm. I asked him, "All these rejections happened in the last 6-7 months. How did you summon the hope to apply to the 10th job?" "Sir, this is one of the benefits of my GMAT prep. I'm used to failing. I know success is possible even after a lot of failures." Me: "Wow. This is post-worthy." :)

“Wo tumse zyada smart hai kya?” (Is he smarter than you?) Asked the parents of a college-going girl when she shared that she scored 615 on the GMAT. Her best friend had scored 705 some time back. Perhaps, they were trying to make sense of what had happened. However, they were, unconsciously, reaffirming the beliefs that smartness is a fixed trait and that GMAT is a test of one’s smartness. I do not agree with any of these beliefs. GMAT tests a small portion of what constitutes smartness; an individual can be extremely smart overall while not having a great GMAT score. In addition, even the portion of intelligence that is tested on the GMAT is not fixed; one can dramatically improve with effort and right direction. In light of this, a more helpful question is, “Effort me kami thi ya direction me?” (Were your efforts lacking? Or did you not have the right direction?)

Two of my private tutoring students once shared news within a span of two days — one got into Wharton, the other into Kellogg. Both had taken sessions with me more than two years before their success. And both had to navigate difficult, unpredictable journeys to get there. The one who made it to Wharton had started with a GMAT score below 400. Over the next 18 months, he worked consistently and reached 655. But even after that, he faced multiple rejections over the next two years. Still, he kept going — and finally converted Wharton. The one who made it to Kellogg had done most of his Verbal prep with me. Just as he was about to move into mocks, his work became intense. Then came his wedding. A full year passed with no studying. Eventually, when his wife began prepping for the GRE, he joined her. With very little preparation, he scored 329, and later improved it to 331. They both applied to Kellogg. They both got in. These stories are from the past, but I keep coming back to them. The first one persevered against all odds. The second one didn’t let a long unexpected break deter him from pursuing his dream. As I write their stories, I wonder what we can achieve if we continue to give our best. The failures and the hiccups in the journey can be converted into grand successes if we let ourselves do the magic - the magic of waking up every day to give our best. With a smile on our faces. With hope in our hearts. With energy in our thoughts. With trust in sincere hard work.

Do you feel guilty while doing anything other than GMAT prep? A student recently shared over email, "𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴!" (sic) Let's take a moment to understand what this feeling is. The dictionary definition of 'guilt' is: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲. You feel guilt when you believe you have committed a crime. For many preparing for the GMAT, spending time on anything non-GMAT voluntarily is a crime. People allow themselves to feel the guilt because they believe that guilt will force them to study more and thus get done with the GMAT asap. However, they don't realize that guilt drains them. Rather than coming back energized to study after spending out with their friends, they come back drained because they were not enjoying themselves with their friends; they were consumed with guilt for not studying for the GMAT. Thus, I suggest: 1. Strike a balance between studies and other things that energize you. 2. Be aware of the guilt creeping in. When it does, refuse to judge yourself negatively. You're striking a balance, not committing a crime. 3. At the time of planning your prep, be realistic. Don't expect yourself to study every second of your free time. 4. Understand that it's perfectly okay to have fun.

A student shared that his foundations in quants were weak and asked whether he can take the GMAT in 3 months. My first reaction was, "It's a long-term project. Going from weak foundations to a great score in quant may take 1-2 years." Then, I changed my statement and said, “You are expected to take 1-2 years. From the perspective of life span, it’s a short-term engagement. You make efforts for 1-2 years and reap the rewards for the next 40-50 years of your life.”

For those deep in GMAT preparation, you know some Reading Comprehension passages are notoriously difficult. The one discussing the 1908 Supreme Court case, Winters v. United States, is a prime example. To help aspirants not just solve this passage but use this passage to build a deep way of reading any text, I've developed an exhaustive, sentence-by-sentence analysis of the entire passage. I'm incredibly proud of this detailed breakdown, as it's designed to do more than just provide answers—it illuminates how I make sense of any text. For the greatest benefit, I recommend tackling the passage on your own first. Then, use my explanation to see precisely where your comprehension may have been challenged and learn how to overcome it. I believe this deep dive can be tremendously beneficial for your RC score. You can access the full explanation here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-winters-v-united-states-1908-the-supreme-court-held-that-the-67133-40.html#p3586201

Student: You’re asking me to sacrifice one year to get my target score? Me: I see it as a choice, not a sacrifice. I see that you have 1. an option to get your target score by preparing for 1 year 2. and an option to waste 3 months by preparing haphazardly. Given where you stand, you don’t have an option of getting your target score in 3 months. Now what? Will you spend your time bemoaning why you don’t have this option? Let’s consider a situation: Person A’s best fetches him a low-end car; Person B’s best fetches him a luxury car. Now, what should person A do? Bemoan how unfair life is and settle for nothing? Or give his best and get the car. Eventually, life is not about which car we get but about whether we continue to give our best. That’s what determines the quality of our experience of life. No?

We want a 20-floor building (a GMAT score of 705), not a 5-floor building (a GMAT score of 555). However, we have just 3 months. The problem is that it takes a year to make a 20-floor building. Now, what do we do? We build a shabby foundation and then hurriedly try to construct the floors. What do we get in 3 months? A pile of debris. Because the building is going to collapse. Now, we are 13 months away from the building, including a month to clear the rubble. We could have built a strong foundation in those 3 months. In that case, we will be 9 months away from the 20-floor building. We may understand all of this. However, the hard part comes when the rubber hits the road. The hard part is spending time analyzing the questions day-in-day-out even as we realize that it’ll take much more time than we estimated. It’s hard to accept that we cannot achieve our goals per our timelines, but accepting it is the only sane thing. It’s hard to accept that we can control only our efforts but not the outcomes, but refusing to do so makes us engage in unproductive worrying. Accept the reality. And then work with it to achieve your goals.

Is GMAT a test of your innate intelligence? No. It's a test of skills that can be built with the right direction and effort. And these skills comprise a small proportion of what we call intelligence. Someone lacking these skills might be, overall, highly intelligent.

"These GMAT question makers are scoundrels!" a student remarked during my recent private tutoring session. He had, once again, become thoroughly confused with an incorrect option. Frustrated about being trapped repeatedly by the incorrect options, he made the above remark. I had a hearty laugh. I laughed, especially because I could relate it to what I have been learning in character-building. He faltered in the questions, not because of the scoundrel-ness of the question makers but because of his lack of clarity. If he had clarity, he would not struggle with the questions; he would sail through. However, since he struggled with the questions, he attributed his struggle/suffering to the ones who created the questions. Similarly, we suffer in life because of our lack of clarity or the way we respond to situations. However, we attribute our suffering to the ones who create the situations. Till the time we take responsibility for our struggle/our suffering, we'll not work on building our clarity/our character. And till that happens, we'll continue suffering, just that the situations and the creators of those situations will change. As I shared these thoughts with him, I said, "I know you made your remark in jest, but I could relate it to what I have been learning these days." He considered my words carefully and then, without missing a beat, said, "I hear you, but no. They are definitely scoundrels." I cracked up. He was, of course, humorously venting. And it's a brilliant point. Personal responsibility is key, but so is acknowledging the frustration of the process.