Creating a new study plan for re-taking the gmat

Question

Hello,

I am looking for some advise on re-starting my gmat journey. So far I have taken the gmat two times but have not yet been able to get the score I am working towards. I have taken a break from studying since my last test ( about 9 months while I switched jobs and moved). Now I am looking to get back into studying but I am not sure where to start. I'm not sure if I could keep working on the same "buckets" of gmat issue areas I analyzed before my last official gmat.

I recently completed a practice Kaplan test but have not been able to come up with a good study plan based off the test. The questions were so varied I did not see a pattern in my mistakes.

Is there a good resource to use for starting back on the gmat journey?

AjiteshArun · Answer

If it has been nine months since you last studied you might as well consider starting from scratch. But a few details would help, like your earlier scores (and the score splits), your target score, and the material you already have access to.

priyanjolie · Answer

Hi,
Start from scratch. Your earlier prep shall help you grasp concepts faster and you will also get a better understanding of the concepts. Especially SC and Quant areas.

sq01 · Answer

Yes it has been more than 9 months since my last test.

So it sounds like starting from scratch is the best way forward. So on that note, what is a good way to get started? Last time I studied for the test I took a GMAT class which helped to structure my study plan.

Any good resources available to help guide?

Thanks!

JenniferAtKaplan · Answer

Hi sq01,

I see that you were not sure how to make a study plan off of your Kaplan practice test, and I'd love to try to help you with some next steps. The practice test does present questions on a variety of topics, just like the GMAT. Have you accessed your results to review all of the explanations? You can see how long you spent on each question and what percent of students picked each answer choice. While it may be difficult to see at a glance which areas gave you the most trouble, one tip I give students is to review the test one question at a time, making a list of what tripped you up on the questions that you missed. You can find some great guidance on these forums on creating an error log. When you have finished taking notes on your questions, review the list and see if you can spot some trends when they are listed in one place so that you can get some guidance on what to study. I hope this helps get you started!

Best,
Jennifer

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sq01,

If your prior attempts at studying for the GMAT were not enough to get you to your score goal, then some adjustments will have to be made. Since it's been so long since you were in 'study mode', you're essentially going to start from scratch (although you do have some content knowledge that you can draw on, so certain aspects of the study plan will likely be easier to work through).

Before I can offer more specific advice, I'd like to know a bit more about your prior GMAT attempts and your timeline/goals:

1) How did you score on each of your prior GMATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT again?
3) What is your score goal?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) Do you know which Schools you plan to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Hi sq01, 9 months is a good enough time to forget the things that you had learnt. The best way would to start from the scratch. Also, I would recommend you to change you mode of study i.e. if you have been following a book heavy approach, try an online course and vice versa. You have three ways to prepare: 1. Online courses. Most of the companies including ours offer you a trial period. You can avail that and see if the course fits your needs. 2. Studying from books. 3. Private tutoring. Also, you would need a study plan to go further. You can find a plan that suits your needs here: https://optimus-prep.com/free-gmat-section I had some questions about your previous attempts: 1. What were your scaled scores? 2. Did you solve the full official guides? 3. Did you take mock CATs (full length) during your preparation?

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Creating a new study plan for re-taking the gmat

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