SELF study Plan 3 months . Expert advice needed

Question

Hi guys,

I am planning to target GMAT 750 score this year . This is going to be my first attempt .

For now I haven't taken any diagnostic tests as I feel I need to spend time on both quant and verbal given the fact that it's been 12 years since my engineering (graduation).

I am looking for study plan tips for self study and targetting 3 months for the preparation.

Could you guys please help with the approach

1. ( Q/V together or parallel or alternate ) which is best ?
2. study material ( books , blog ? ) 
3. When to start Mock tests ? After foundation prep or every week 
4. 2-3 hrs day is enough or Need to push around 4-5 hrs daily 
5. 3 months self study is sufficient or you guys suggest more.

I have gone through study plans mentioned on this forum but it's bit confusing and overwhelming especially in context of study material and books.

Thanks in advance for answering and your guidance.

Posted from my mobile device

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

It probably makes sense to take an official practice test after you've been preparing for a few weeks to get a sense of where you stand.

Doing them together to some degree works best. You could do one in the morning and one in the evening, or do them on alternating days, or even work on a quant topic for a few days and then a verbal topic for a few days. Some way of doing them basically at the same time works best.

There are a variety of resources that you could use. What makes the most sense depends on how much you need to accomplish and your learning style. Self-study courses are a good option if you have a lot to accomplish.

You can use the GMAT Club reviews to get some insights into what may be best for you.

It's best to save the official practice tests for later in your prep. There are only six of them, and taking them early in your prep will mostly just tell you that you need to prepare more. You could take one earlier in your prep as a diagnostic and then take the rest later. If you want to get some test-taking experience in between, you could take a third-party test every few weeks, though beware of the fact that third-party tests may score lower or higher than the real GMAT.

About 18 to 20 hours a week - for instance 2 hours on weekdays and 5 hours on each weekend day - works well for many people. If you have more time to prepare, you could, and thus get to your goal sooner.

The answer to this question depends mostly on how much you need to accomplish. If your starting point is close to 750, then you may need less than two months to get to your score goal. If you need to increase your score by 200 points or more, three months likely won't be sufficient.

Also, you may find that the following posts help to clarify what you need to do to achieve your score goal.

The Best GMAT Practice Methods

How to Get a Perfect 800 GMAT Score

ArunRookie · Answer

Hey Marty,

Thanks for quick and clear answer.

I have couple of follow-up questions

1. If I'm working from basic foundation build up on both quant and verb... How many months normally needs good prep ? Here I am committing myself to spend 2 hrs daily weekday plus 4 hrs weekend.

2. As far as study material is concerned, I have seen in forum that OG are best for practicing GMAT kind questions but for foundation build, could you please suggest if i should refer Manhattan's Foundation of Maths OR All the Quant. I am bit confused if both are same or they are supposed to be done one after another...Similar confusion is with Verbal as well...Foundation of Verbal vs All the Verbal.

Thanks for the answers in advance

Posted from my mobile device

rn1112 · Answer

Practice timed quizzes using GC Forum Quiz. It is a wholesome resource for practice , if you have gone through the syllabus once.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Hi ArunRookie
Great to connect with you!
I am Devmitra!
Since you are planning for a 750, a Q50/51 and a V40+ is what you have to plan for.
You also need to plan for atleast 760 or 770 consistently on the official mocks from mba.com with minimum 3 weeks of fine-tuning on them.
3 months for the preparation is a good amount of time, provided you are able to study consistently for atleast 5 days every week. 4-5 hours of undistracted prep would help. So, a good study plan is a must!

Lets get to your questions now-
Q1
( Q/V together or parallel or alternate ) which is best ?
Ans: An integrated preparation is a good way to plan your prep. Neither you feel under-confident of losing touch, nor you would find it difficult to switch gears between a PS/DS question and a lengthy RC passage. Also, 3 months of time calls for an integrated prep.

Q2
study material ( books , blog ? )
Ans: You can follow concepts from a single trustworthy source. Don't use multiple sources or the sprawling bits of concepts can overwhelm you after a point. Give a boundary to your prep or you will be baffled by the infinite loop of content. Try our trial for content on https://www.crackverbal.com/ or do your own research and chose ONE source for conceptual clarity across Verbal and Quant.
For Practice, please use OFFICIAL resources only. OG, Quant and Verbal reviews, Advanced Guide will suffice. Prioritize on official material. Prioritizing on Unofficial materials will do more HARM then good. You have to practice GMAT way of thinking. No test prep company can replicate the flavour of official questions. (Trivia-There is an investment of around $2000 on creating every official question, leaving the quality unmatcheable).

Q3
When to start Mock tests ? After foundation prep or every week ?
Ans:Only after you have completed all the OG questions and concepts of GMAT, take the official mock. It uses the same algo as the real test and can give you a good assessment of your standard with a +/- 20 deviation. Again Unofficial full length tests should be used for timing practice only, not to assess your prep! Refrain from consuming all official mocks. Retain atleast 2/6. You can retake the free mocks or even the paid ones.

Q4
2-3 hrs day is enough or Need to push around 4-5 hrs daily ?
Ans:With 750 as target, 4 hours is a good time. 2 Quant and 2 Verbal.

Q5
3 months self study is sufficient or you guys suggest more.
Ans: Sufficient if you are focused, on the track, using an error log "efficiently", practicing with official questions, analyzing extensively even the easy questions, recognizing or learning to recognize traps(Quant and Verbal), thinking on at least 2 approaches for every question(on Quant) and above all if you are Consistent despite the tough and rough days that breaks the candidates as they prep!

I wish you all the very best for this thrilling and extremely fulfilling journey !

Here is a link for you to read how our candidate Shino secured a 760 with just recorded videos by making GMAT prep a part of his regular life.

Here is link for you to read and how test takers like you make it possible.

Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns!

Devmitra Sen
GMAT Mentor

Here is a link for you to read how our candidate Shino secured a 760 with just recorded videos by making GMAT prep a part of his regular life. Here is link for you to read and how test takers like you make it possible. Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns! Devmitra Sen GMAT Mentor

ArunRookie · Answer

Thanks Devmitra for these useful tips.

About Mock Tests , OG test are sufficient ? Coz as per GMATCLUB forum, additional mock tests on Manhattan or others are also recommended.

I'm wondering more the merrier with mock tests ?

Whats your point of view on this ?

Posted from my mobile device

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Hi ArunRookie You are referring to the mock tests from mba.com is what I understand? They are precise and have the algo which which is an accurate indicator of your prep. They are the best for assessment.

No test prep company can match that. Any other full length test can help you practice timing or have a feel of taking 67 questions in a regulated timed atmosphere. But thats aout it. And no, more is not merrier

More can sometimes make you feel overwhelmed and the investment of your time is not worth the ROI are my 0.02$ on this! Always chose Quality over Quantity! Ask yourself these two questions before you attempt a mock- 1. Why am I taking it? Is it to assess myself? Then have I completed all OG questions and analysis of the same? If yes, great. Let me take an official mock and see where I stand. Take a free mock. Analyse or take help to understand on timing, types of errors, detect gaps and think on how to fix them. Fine-tune on the prep with the analysis from the mock and take another official mock in 2-3 weeks to measure your progress. 2 is enough. At most 3 mock tests is more than sufficient to assess. 2. My test taking mindset needs improvement. Then take 3-4 full length unofficial mocks. Get your test taking skills on spot. Don't over analyze unofficial questions. Again, its an investment of time and effort. Be very strategic-Is the ROI worth it? Prioritize on the objective of getting your timing sorted with a decent accuracy if you are using unofficial tests. 3.Many test takers have a habit of taking unofficial mocks before taking official mocks. I think otherwise. Official mocks are a litmus test themselves of ones prep. So its then like taking a test for getting ready for a litmus test! Take the official mock, analyse,finetune, use unofficial mocks to your advantage and book the GMAT once you nail 700+ consistently on the official mocks. Book it during your peak productivity of the official mock scores. I hope this helps. These are all suggestions based on my understanding and experiences without sugar-coating anything. Pls let me know if you need any more help

Devmitra Sen GMAT Mentor

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Fair to say including the Official Guides and Official Mocks in any prep path is a solid choice.

Tips blog

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ArunRookie, I've sent you a PM with some notes and additional questions. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com

egmat · Answer

Hey ArunRookie , I understand that researching and choosing the right GMAT resources can be confusing and hectic. To help you get started with your preparation using the right approach, I’m sharing a step-by-step checklist that will make the process easier for you. What approach should you adopt to start your preparation from scratch? STEP 1: Start your journey by establishing a baseline of your current abilities. You do that by taking a mock that presents you with a complete picture of where you stand today. You can take one of the SIGma-X mocks (you will get an Enhanced Score Report along with this) in our free trial course . Here is the link for the mock - https://e-gmat.com/sigma-x/ (free of charge). It will provide you a detailed analyses of your Strengths and Weaknesses. Here are a couple of videos that explain how you can analyse and interpret your performance in the SIGma-X mock: Video 1 Video 2 STEP 2: Once you’ve identified your strengths and weaknesses , it’s critical that you build a Personalised Study Plan . This will help you cut down your prep time significantly (by around 40%). Here’s a blog that will teach you how to build a study plan step-by-step : https://e-gmat.com/blogs/gmat-study-plan/ Also, here’s a real-life example of how a Personalized Study Plan helped a student achieve his target score when nothing else seemed to be working: Prashant got stuck at a 660 in the first 3-attempts. We gave him a hyper-specific study plan which enabled him to score a massive 770 in his 4th attempt. Click here to watch his debrief. STEP 3: Learn the right methods of solving questions - GMAT is a test of ability, a lot of students make the mistake of just practicing questions randomly without building the requisite core skills tested by these questions. You must avoid that trap. We use Pre-thinking approach in CR , Reading Strategies in RC , Process Skills in Quant , Meaning-based approach in SC , etc. Our students love these methods and these methods have led to increase in the share of 700+ scores reported by e-GMATers on GMAT Club to 60% since 2021. Organize your prep into three stages, described below. The 3 Stages of GMAT Preparation: Once you have your study plan in hand, your preparation for every individual subsection should be broken down into three stages, proceeding one subsection at a time. Theses stages are: Stage 1: Learning Concepts and Methodologies This is the phase wherein we learn all the concepts in a sub-section and learn the process of solving the questions in that sub-section. Stage 2: Cementing In this phase, we cement our learnings by first solving medium-difficulty questions and then hard questions. We start with relaxed timing and then progress to standard timing. Standard timing is the speed at which you will be expected to take the actual GMAT. Stage 3: Test Readiness This is the final phase of your prep. This is where you write full-length mocks to determine whether you’re ready for the GMAT or need to work on cementing your individual skills further. Mastering one sub-section at a time entails completing the first two stages for a particular sub-section before moving to the next. STEP 4: Track your progress continuously with the right data points and by using a milestone-driven approach. STEP 5: Before your test, make sure you spend enough time on revising your notes and error logs . Make sure you review all your quizzes and mocks in detail to make sure that you got questions correct for the right reasons. For the incorrect questions or questions where you took excessive time, try to figure the gaps and bridge the gaps. Answers to Your Questions Prepare for one sub-section at a time. Start with your stronger section and then follow either of these two sequences – Arithmetic > Algebra-Geometry > Sentence Correction > Critical Reasoning > Reading Comprehension OR Sentence Correction > Critical Reasoning > Reading Comprehension > Arithmetic > Algebra-Geometry. Learn the concepts and cement your skills for one sub-section at a time. While books are great sources of practice questions, merely practicing these questions will not help you achieve a 700+ score on the GMAT. GMAT is a test of skills and in order to succeed in GMAT you need to build and hone those skills. Unlike other traditional exams merely practicing a bunch of questions without using defined methods and approaches will not help. You will need a self-paced COMPREHENSIVE course that offers you: A strong, adaptive architecture that is able to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses at a granular level. Extensive lessons and exercises to cover concepts and methodologies to help you develop the right Core Skills. A robust and adaptive testing platform with advanced Data Analytics to help you Cement your core skills in each subsection. A reliable and integrated Mock Test Series that provides you with Enhanced Score Reports. And, finally, dedicated support of Subject Matter and Strategy Experts to monitor your progress and guide you every step of the way. Taking mocks every week or after completing every section/sub-section is not required. Mocks are NOT taken in the hope of improving your score but only to test your readiness for the GMAT. You should take mocks in the last 7-15 days of your preparation to make sure that you are consistently scoring 700+ to be able to get to your target score in your GMAT attempt in a predictable manner. Committing 20 hours of time on a weekly basis is recommended to prepare effectively. You can divide these 20 hours of time by 2 hours on weekdays and 5 hours on weekends. With an effective study plan in place, you should be able to make effective use of this time and get to your target score in the shortest possible time. For most students starting from scratch, 3-4 months of time is sufficient to get a 700+ score. However, your timeline will depend on your current score (which you can establish using the SIGma-X mock, as mentioned earlier), target score, and weekly time commitment. Once you have taken the SIGma-X mock, you can also reach out to support@e-gmat.com to get a personalized study plan. Your Next Steps Take a SIGma-X mock test to establish your current scores for every individual subsection. Once you have taken the mock test, you can reach out to support@e-gmat.com to schedule a 1:1 session with one of our Strategy Experts to understand how we can help you with: Get precise estimates of your current skill level in each sub-section. Decide on the sequence of preparation (example – Quant basics -> Number Properties -> Algebra or some other sequence) Set up personalized targets and accurate time estimates to improve in each sub-section. And track the improvement every day. I have tried to be as comprehensive as possible in this post and sincerely hope you find this helpful. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you make it to 700+! Best Regards, Mansi

LokeshReddy98 · Answer

Hi,

You did not mention whether you are devoting 3 full months to prep or you are currently working/studying. So, I'll give you a generic advice. Also, before you begin, you must give a diagnostic test to see where you stand - your weak areas, your speed, whether you need more help with Quant or Verbal or both.

1. ( Q/V together or parallel or alternate ) which is best ? 
ANS - It can be more of a hit & trial for you. For some people, it works best to take them separately. Some need to take them parallelly so the prep is not overwhelming for them. You can also start with your weaker/stronger area first.

2. study material ( books , blog ? )
ANS - Not sure what blog suggests here. There are plenty of resources out there. With books you are on your own. I personally needed a mentor who could help me course correct or motivate me. Again, you might need to see what works best for you. I took an online course - best decision I made.

3. When to start Mock tests ? After foundation prep or every week
ANS - Don't rush into solving the mocks. Complete at least 80-90% of the syllabus. Practice questions on OG. Once your accuracy is at a decent level in the hard ones, then take your first mock. Analyze your performance, go back to topics where you faltered, revise, practice questions, and then take your second mock. Repeat until you reach near your target score in the mocks.

4. 2-3 hrs day is enough or Need to push around 4-5 hrs daily
ANS - 2-3 hours a day is usually enough. But consistency is key. No matter how busy you are on any given day, don't break the flow. Even if you sit and study for 30 mins, it is important that you maintain consistency.

5. 3 months self study is sufficient or you guys suggest more.
ANS - 3 months is a decent amount of time to ace the GMAT. But if your concepts are weak, you have little time to devote each day, and/or are targeting a 740+ on the GMAT, you might need additional help.

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SELF study Plan 3 months . Expert advice needed

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