From what to start

Question

Hello everyone,

A year ago I planned to take the GMAT test, and was taking a preparation by myself using Manhattan books. I read the theory, but had issues with practice part. So I just gave up on it.

This year I want to start my preparation in a more effective way and finally take the GMAT test. I have questions which I would like you to help me with if it doesn’t bother you.

1. Should I start from selecting business schools to which I want to apply for in order to set a desired score, or can I just study and try my best to score just as high as I can?

2. Should I start from a general review of basics using books, or is it more effective to start a course at TTP, E-GMAT, or any other service provider which you can suggest me right away?

I didn’t take a mock test to know my start point.

Posted from my mobile device

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

With sufficient preparation, you can achieve a score high enough for any school. So, it's best to get a sense of the GMAT scores that make sense for the schools you want to attend and then set a target score based on what you have found through your research.

If, once you begin to prepare, you find that the target you have set is either higher than you feel you can score with a reasonable amount of preparation or lower than makes sense given how your preparation is going, you can adjust your target lower or higher at that point.

A good course will cover the basics in addition to more advanced concepts. So, you could start with a course rather than seek to learn basics before you use a course.

Also, most self-study courses offer trials. So, before subscribing to a course, you could sign up for a trial to confirm that a course covers the basics you want to cover.

rn1112 · Answer

Use GC Forum Quiz to gain topic-wise practice. It's an ideal Question Bank, with useful explanations posted by the Experts.

cat2010 · Answer

lanana  It is always best option to know what is destination and what is starting point .So,it will be best to collect data of your dream college and there average GMAT score.Next thing would be to give mock from offcial mba dot com without study to know about your starting point .

After these steps ,go for manhattan prep and go through concepts and solve questions from OG ,Give this step almost 1 month .After manhattan prep completion give another free mock from various websites to know your progress .

If you require help in any section then you can definetily opt for tutors or coaching classes .

kntombat · Answer

lanana , You can check out GMAT Ninja's study plan: https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-ninja-s ... s#p3105981 I think this will definitely help you lot.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Having an idea of the GMAT stats of your intended schools can be helpful. Worth keeping in mind though that the GMAT is one component of an overall application. A high score does not necessarily guarantee admission and a low score doesn't necessarily rule a person out.

What are the GMAT scores of top MBA Schools?

May want to check the websites of schools you are interested in for their most current GMAT stats.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi lanana,

Since it sounds like you're now re-starting your studies, then it would be a good idea to take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can access 2 for free at www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). If you want to do a little studying first, so that you can re-familiarize yourself with the basic content and question types, then that's okay - but you shouldn't wait too long to take that initial CAT. That score will give us a good sense of your natural strengths and weaknesses and will help provide a basis for comparison as you continue to study. A FULL CAT takes about 3.5 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have that Score, you should report back here and we can come up with a study plan.

From what you describe, it does not sound as though you are facing any immediate application deadlines, but if you plan to apply sometime relatively soon (re: within the next year), then it would be a good idea to do some research - so that you can define the Schools/Programs that best match-up with your career goals. In that same way, you can learn more about application requirements (including Average GMAT Scores for the Programs that interest you) and consult with an Admissions Expert about how you might start strengthening your OVERALL Profile at this point (including the type of GMAT Score that you might 'need' to be considered a competitive Applicant). If you're not planning to apply for several years, then focusing on the GMAT now - with the Goal of scoring at a reasonably high level - would make sense.

1) Assuming at least 3 months of consistent study going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?
2) Do you have any particular Schools in mind at this point? When you were studying last year, were you interested in any specific Programs?

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi lanana,

Great questions!

1. For sure, I would do your research on some desired schools! Having a goal score in mind will help keep you motivated through your prep. Also, I advise taking a practice exam early in your prep, so you can see how far off you are from your goal.

2. If you are considering TTP, we teach GMAT from the "ground up," so you can start using our course from day 1 of your prep.

Feel free to reach out with any other questions.

Good luck!

Sainath123 · Answer

Hi lanana,
 If you are starting from scratch I would strongly recommend the Target Test Prep platform for your preparation. Some of the most required takeaways in going with TTP 
1. Every topic is covered from basic .so u don't have to check other platforms or mediums to brush up on your basic.
2. As u have mentioned mock test -TTP study calender starts with a diagnostic test and you are well placed to start your preparation accordingly.
3. The TTP platform allows you to feed in certain data like your target score and the no of hours you can devote in a day or a week. based on the inputs, a study schedule is auto-generated .this helps in knowing how long you would take to achieve that target score and about the no of months required to complete your preparation. 
4. so the above point will give you a rough idea of even selecting the desired admission calender based on your timeline.
5. Coming to the course content as I have already mentioned every topic is covered from basic and there are chapter tests.
6. Chapter tests are split into difficulty levels:Easy, Medium, and Hard.

I would strongly suggest you to better check for yourself before making an informed decision .

TTP has a $1 trail and also as we speak there is also a Holiday Sale happening .please check out .

--Cheers--
Sainath

Posted from my mobile device

selberenova · Answer

It's great that you are planning to take the GMAT and are looking for ways to effectively prepare for the test. Here are my suggestions for your questions:

It can be helpful to have a goal score in mind when preparing for the GMAT, as it can help you stay motivated and focused. However, it's important to keep in mind that the GMAT is just one factor that business schools consider when evaluating applicants. Other factors such as your undergraduate GPA, work experience, and essays are also important. With that in mind, you may want to start by researching the business schools you are interested in applying to and finding out their average GMAT scores for admitted students. This can give you a rough idea of what score you should aim for. However, it's still important to study and do your best, regardless of your desired score.

It can be effective to start with a general review of the basics using books, as this can help you get a good foundation of the material that will be covered on the GMAT. However, if you struggled with the practice portion of your previous preparation, it may also be helpful to consider taking a course from a service provider such as TTP or E-GMAT. These courses can provide structured guidance and offer additional practice opportunities that can help you build your skills and confidence. It might also be helpful to take a mock test to see where you are starting from and identify areas that you need to focus on.

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi  lanana

You can go through this article to understand the right way to prepare for GMAT.

How to Start Preparing for GMAT?

As GMAT is an adaptive test, I suggest you to go with an online course as it helps you take adaptive quizzes and provides you all the content on a single platform. The best way to choose an online course is to check out the free trials of the courses out there and then choose the one which suits you the most. But make sure to choose the course which can help you with not only the concepts but also the application of concepts. And it would be even better if the course can help you with the study plan as it will help you be clear of what to study on any given day. You can check out the free trial of GMATWhiz and take a decision. It is a personalized course that comes with an integrated study plan and adapts the content in real-time on basis of your performance.

And I can definitely help you with the study strategy. GMAT is a test which focuses on application of concepts. So, you need to make sure that you learn not only the concepts but also their application. Feel free to reach out on DM if you need any help with your prep!

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