Breaking the 700 Barrier: Ashish Kulkarni’s GMAT 715 Preparation Timeline
Why Breaking 700 Feels So Tough
If you’re aiming for a top Indian or global MBA program, you know a 700+ GMAT score isn’t just a number. It’s a real barrier. It decides your shot at IIMs, ISB, or even that Ivy League dream.
Ashish Kulkarni faced the same wall. He started with scores in the mid-600s, felt stuck, and wondered if he would ever get past 700. Sound familiar?
Let’s walk through his preparation, week by week, and see how he moved from feeling blocked to scoring 715.
Ashish’s Starting Point: The Plateau
Ashish was like many of you—an early-career professional in an urban city, with a packed work schedule. He found it hard to juggle office work and GMAT prep. His first few mocks hovered around 640–660.
He felt tired. He worried about falling behind. Sometimes, he wondered if his approach was wrong.
The big problems:
- No clear plan for improvement
- Mock test anxiety and score swings
- Losing track of weak areas
Does this sound like your prep right now?
Building the Plan: Milestones and Progress
Ashish decided to stop winging it. He built a prep timeline with clear milestones.
- He set weekly and monthly targets, not just a final goal.
- He used error logs to track mistakes and find patterns.
- He picked milestones that made sense for him:
- First break 650
- Then 680
- Then cross 700
He didn’t try to jump from 650 to 700 in a week. Progress was steady, not sudden.
Tip: Break your goal into smaller steps. Celebrate every milestone.
Study Strategies at Every Stage
Early Weeks: Laying the Foundation
Ashish started by shoring up basics.
- He reviewed core quant and verbal concepts.
- He picked a few trusted resources—no endless book-hopping.
- He joined a small group for regular check-ins and support.
He didn’t try to learn everything at once. He focused on what he didn’t know.
Midway: Tackling Weak Spots and Building Stamina
This is where things got tough.
- Ashish dug into his weakest topics, one at a time.
- He took regular mock tests but focused on reviewing them more than just taking them.
- He set aside 90 minutes daily, even on busy workdays, and protected that time.
He learned to balance work and study, using small, focused sessions instead of long, scattered hours.
Final Lap: Polishing and Stress Management
The last few weeks were about sharpening, not cramming.
- Ashish practiced timing on every section.
- He simulated real exam conditions—full-length mocks at the same time as his real test.
- He paid attention to sleep, short breaks, and keeping anxiety low.
He stopped chasing new material. He focused on accuracy and confidence.
Overcoming Roadblocks
Ashish hit plenty of snags.
- He struggled with time management, especially on workdays.
- His scores bounced up and down, which made him anxious.
- He felt tired after a full work week, so he built in rest days.
When he got stuck, he reached out to mentors at MBA Wizards. They helped him spot patterns in his mistakes and adjust his plan.
Milestone Moments
Ashish remembers the first time he broke 700 on a mock.
He didn’t celebrate with a party. He took a closer look at what had changed:
- He had started reviewing every error, not just skimming them.
- He spent less time on endless practice and more on focused review.
- He used the feedback from MBA Wizards mentors to fix gaps quickly.
These habits, more than any new book or trick, pushed him over the 700 mark.
Exam Day: What Worked
On test day, Ashish kept things simple.
- He reached his center early and followed a set routine.
- He picked a section order that played to his strengths.
- When tough questions came up, he guessed and moved on.
He didn’t let a few tough questions break his rhythm. Seeing 715 on the screen felt like proof that steady progress and smart strategy work.
Ashish’s Advice for Breaking 700
If you’re stuck in the 600s, here are Ashish’s top tips:
- Break your target into clear, small milestones.
- Spend more time reviewing errors than taking new tests.
- Stick to a routine—even short, focused sessions add up.
- Don’t add new material in the last month. Sharpen what you know.
- Use mentorship and feedback to fix your weak spots.
How MBA Wizards Can Help
Ashish didn’t do it alone. MBA Wizards gave him:
- Personalized coaching and regular feedback
- AI-powered analytics for tracking progress
- Small batch sizes for real attention
- Flexible sessions that fit his work schedule
- A proven, step-by-step approach that worked for his style
You don’t have to struggle solo. With the right support, you can break the 700 barrier, too.
Ready to Start Your Own Timeline?
If you’re serious about a 700+ GMAT score, build your own timeline. Set real milestones. Get expert feedback. Stick to your plan.
Want to see how MBA Wizards can support your journey? Book a free planning session today.
FAQs
How did Ashish find time to study with a full-time job?
Ashish blocked out 60–90 minutes each day just for GMAT prep. He used early mornings or late evenings when he knew he could focus. On busy days, he squeezed in shorter sessions but made sure to stay consistent. You don’t need marathon study hours—steady effort works better.
What resources did Ashish use to improve from the 600s to 715?
He stuck to a few trusted materials. He relied on the official GMAT guides, selected online question banks, and feedback from MBA Wizards mentors. He avoided jumping between too many books or YouTube videos. Having a clear, focused set of resources saved him time and confusion.
How did Ashish handle topics he kept getting wrong?
He kept an error log. Every time he missed a question, he wrote down what went wrong. Then, he reviewed those mistakes regularly. If he didn’t get a concept, he reached out to a mentor or joined a small study group for help. You can fix weak areas faster by facing them head-on.
What did Ashish do when his mock test scores went up and down?
He didn’t panic. He looked for patterns in his mistakes and focused on improving those areas. If his score dropped, he used it as a signal to review, not as a reason to quit. Mock scores are tools to guide your prep, not a verdict on your abilities.
Did Ashish study new topics in the last month before the exam?
No. He stopped chasing new content in the last month. He focused on reviewing what he had already learned, practicing under timed conditions, and building exam stamina. The last few weeks are for polishing, not cramming.
How can MBA Wizards help someone break the 700 barrier?
MBA Wizards offers personalized coaching, small batches, and regular feedback. You get access to mentors who track your progress and help you fix weak areas. Their “Ability-Based Model” means your plan is built for your strengths and gaps. You don’t have to figure it out alone—support is always there .