Preparing for the 3 Month Magoosh Study Plan

Hello, Rachel. There are conflicting views on the utility of establishing a baseline score by taking one of the official practice tests. The "yay" group will contend that it is important to know where you stand to structure your preparation. Also, you can reset the first two practice tests as many times as you want, and since the question pool is quite deep, it is possible to retake one of these mocks without seeing repeat questions. The "nay" group, on the other hand, will say that jumping into an unfamiliar environment (e.g., question types, mathematical concepts) runs the risk of burning off a perfectly good resource prematurely. If you are not in a rush, I would recommend familiarizing yourself with the basics of the exam and then establishing a baseline score. You do not want to treat these first two exams as though they can only be utilized once you have mastered the material.

Two-hour-a-day preparation can be sufficient, as long as you stress quality over quantity. That is, you should not go in thinking that you have to complete X questions a day or you have failed. Sometimes my best lessons have come from breaking down a single question. If I can take what I learn from that one question and apply that knowledge to similar questions down the road (to answer correctly), then I feel I have really achieved something.

Finally, make the most of your Magoosh subscription. I know there are several study plans outlined on the site. (You could start here for ideas. There may even be multiple three-month plans on the site.) I like to say that there is no silver bullet to preparation. However, all successful preparation methods require discipline. Go in with an open mind, take notes, and, if the going gets tough, circle back to GMAT Club to lean on the community once again for guidance.

Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew