Exams are strange. On paper, they measure your skills in logic, reasoning, and stamina. In reality, they test your patience, your ego, and your ability to keep moving forward when you’re exhausted. My own journey through competitive exams was exactly that: a mix of numbers on a scorecard and lessons that had nothing to do with math or grammar.
I began with the GMAT. Like most MBA aspirants, I walked in hoping to ace it and unlock a ticket to top schools. My first attempt gave me a score in the 600–650 range. Respectable, but nowhere close to what I was aiming for. I told myself, “It’s fine, first attempt is practice. Second time, I’ll crush it.” The second attempt came, and I landed in the same range again. Walking out of the exam hall that day, it felt like déjà vu — except heavier. I had studied harder, I had sacrificed more weekends, but the result was the same.
That’s when self-doubt started whispering. Maybe I just wasn’t cut out for standardized tests. Maybe I was fooling myself about where I belonged. But deep down, I knew giving up wasn’t the answer.
So, I pivoted to the GRE. New test, new hope. I gave it everything. But the scores? Both times, I ended up in the 310–320 band. Decent enough for some programs, but not competitive for the schools at the top of my list. The frustration hit hard. Each attempt meant weeks of prep, balancing work, and then waiting for that moment of truth. And each time, the truth was bittersweet.
At that point, most people around me were moving forward with their careers or already starting their MBA journeys. I was still stuck in this endless cycle of test prep and disappointment. It was humbling.
But here’s the thing — the thought of quitting didn’t sit well with me. I wasn’t ready to let an exam decide my future. So, I started looking at alternatives. That’s when I discovered the IE GAT and the Esade test. I also planned to apply to strong German schools like HHL, FSFM, and ESMT. It felt like a fresh chapter. No more obsessing over GMAT or GRE percentiles. These tests were different, and maybe they’d give me a fairer shot.
The IE GAT turned out to be my turning point. This time, the effort paid off. The score was solid, and soon after, IE Business School opened its doors to me. The sense of relief and pride was indescribable.
Looking back, I don’t regret the “failures.” Each GMAT and GRE attempt made me tougher. Each disappointment reminded me that the journey matters just as much as the destination. If anything, my story proves that exams are just hurdles. They don’t define you. What defines you is the fact that you keep showing up until you cross them.
