Should I study GMAT on my own or join classes?

Question

Hello everyone!!

I am from Nepal and I am new here. Can you please suggest me if I will be able to get 700+ by studying on my own or should I join an institute (class). I am an average student. Does anyone know where to give mock GMAT exam here in Kathmandu? Also what are the books and other resources that I need to purchase to study on my own? Are there any free useful materials for beginners?

Any suggestion will be appreciated

Thanks!!!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi sreeste,

If you are motivated to get a great GMAT score and prefer the flexibility to create your own study schedule, you may consider taking an online self-study course.

First, a self-study course provides greater flexibility than a class. Rather than adhering to a preset class schedule, you can build a study schedule customized to fit your needs. When learning about topics, you can speed up and slow down as necessary. If you understand a particular topic, you can breeze through it; however, if you do not grasp a concept, you can drill that concept as long as you need, before moving to the next one.
 
Additionally, self-study courses typically provide detailed study plans and have granular analytics, so you can easily track your progress as you move through the course. By being able to track your progress, you will remain more engaged, and you’ll be able to more accurately forecast when you are ready to take your real GMAT.

Have you taken any practice tests to get a score breakdown? If not, you should take one of the  free mba.com exam .

If you do not know which GMAT study resource to use, you can check out the course reviews on GMAT Club, which has thousands of verified reviews of different GMAT prep resources. Most courses also offer a free or low-cost trial, so you may consider trying a few out before making a decision.

Lastly, to help diagnose your GMAT quant strengths and weaknesses, I welcome you to take my free  37-question quant diagnostic . After completing the diagnostic, you’ll be provided with a detailed analysis of your proficiency level on all GMAT quant topics as well as an opportunity to discuss your diagnostic results with me or another TTP instructor/coach.

Feel free to reach out with any further questions.

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Hi serrate,

The beauty of internet can allow you to study by sitting at your home.
You can take the mock tests in your home too, provided you can take out 4 hours and not be disturbed.

You need to build the concepts/fundamentals before you jump in solving the problems. You can do so by choosing one of the following ways:

1. In person classes/private tutoring
2. Online classes
3. Self paced online preparatory course
4. Book heavy approach

Whatever you choose, make sure that you choose one. Because GMAT tests you on some concepts and fundamentals that you can learn from a course. Most of the preparatory companies including ours offer a free trial of our course. You can take the trial and see if the course suits your needs.

In addition to the preparatory material, buy the Official Guides(both the Official Guide and the Verbal Review), Question Pack 1 and the 4 official mock CATs. They should be an indispensable part of your preparation.

You need close to 3 months to prepare well for the GMAT.

1. Understand the concepts and fundamentals before jumping into problem solving
2. Solve full length CATs including AWA and IR. You can get two free GMAT Prep mock CATs and can purchase two more from mba.com
3. Make sure you solve the official questions from the Official Guide

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sreeste,

If you consider yourself to be an 'average' student, then it's worth noting that a 700+ score is NOT average (it's about the 90th percentile, meaning that 90% of Test Takers either can't or won't do what it takes to score at that level). This is all meant to say that you would likely find a GMAT Course (either Guided Self-Study or instructor-led) to be quite helpful.

Since it sounds like you're just beginning your studies, then it would be a good idea to take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can download 2 for free from www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). If you want to do a little studying first, so that you can 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 4 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have those scores, you should report back here and we can come up with a study plan.

I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and goals:
1) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

sreeste · Answer

Hello, thank you for the suggestions.
I have not yet decided when to take the GMAT test because I will be travelling and I want to apply to Business School in the spring session. Also, can anyone tell me if I can take GMAT test abroad?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sreeste,

If you're not planning to apply to Business School until next Spring, then you have plenty of time to study for the GMAT, which is good. Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so when you choose to begin your studies, you need to commit to the study process. As long as you have the necessary identification, then you should be able to schedule and take the GMAT abroad.

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

sreeste · Answer

Hello, thank you for getting back at me. I have already started my studies from yesterday right now I am using gmatfree. I am starting from the basics because I do not have much ideas about GMAT. Can you tell me your opinion regarding this website? Also, is it the same for TOFEL exam as well ( taking exam abroad) ? Thank you in advance

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi sreeste,

You might want to post your questions about the TOEFL here:

toefl-143/

If you're planning to take BOTH the GMAT and the TOEFL, then you would likely find it beneficial to focus on one Exam at a time (in this case, starting with the TOEFL would likely be better for you overall - the improvements that you make in your English by studying would then benefit you on the GMAT later on).

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

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