Starting GMAT Prep

Question

Hi Everyone,
New here; Apologies in advance if such topic already exists but I've tried searching first.

Anyways, I finally decided to start studying for GMAT. Before I do so, I want to get an idea on how much work I need and at what level I stand without even studying so I know how much I need to work on myself for the goal score. I hear term "Diagnostic test" and is it like a regular GMAT practice test that people take to evaluate themselves? Is it available for free? 
Also, what Prep sites would you recommend (Include paid subscription based sites also).

Thank you!

Avto

BrushMyQuant · Answer

avtex  I wrote a post on the same and I keep on updating it. You can find the details here.

How to start GMAT Preparations

Good Luck!

shameekv1989 · Answer

In addition, I think these might come handy too  https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-self-prep-study-plan-245667.html  and  https://gmatclub.com/reviews/gmat_courses/?fl=menu

unraveled · Answer

First, get yourself registered on mba.com. Diagnostic test is nowhere actual GMAT like. To know your level give one official mock test(among the 2 free you get) on mba.com. Review it and analyse what went wrong, what was fluke and what came naturally - this you help know what areas you need to work upon. 
There are a lot of free material on Gmatclub - GC mathbook by Bunuel and his solution on the forum is quite helpful. People mostly need to work on verbal so prepare yourself up for that. If you get along with Verbal easily then great.

Also, if you get stuck hard and don't improve, seek help here or refer trials of various prep companies to decide which one to subscribe.

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi Avto,

Good to see that you started seeking out suggestions during your initial stages of preparation. This will save you a lot of time, money and effort. You need to understand what is actually tested on GMAT before diving into the prep. Because without knowing the destination, there's no point starting your journey. Let me elaborate it to you.

What is tested on GMAT? 
GMAT is a test of application of concepts. So, once you learn the concepts, it's important to learn the application of those concepts as well. Because most questions on GMAT are framed along the application point of view. And to reach a level of 700, it's important that you learn the right methodology to solve the questions.

The right way to prepare: 
As you have mentioned about assessing your level before starting your prep, you can take the free official mock from mba.com website. Make sure to give the test in the ideal test environment so that the score is not inflated. Once you take the mock, analyze your weaker areas and follow the below steps.
  Learn the concepts (Deal with one topic at a time) 
 Learn the methodology of that topic ( Most important ) 
 Practice a few questions to solidify your learning 
 Move to the next topic only if you get at least 80% accuracy 
 If not, revisit the concepts and make sure to understand them better 
 Once you are done with all the topics, start taking timed quizzes

As you see, I have highlighted the second step that is learning the right methodology. So, you need to make sure that you select a standard resource which helps you learn the concepts, learn the methodology and then lets you practice questions and take timed quizzes. And the  best way to learn the right methodology is to analyze the solutions . Spend considerable time on analyzing solutions even if you get the question right. Compare your approach with the right one and narrow down the gaps if any. So, all in all, look for a resource which provides you all the content on a single platform, thereby reducing your effort to shuffle among various resources.

How to make a proper study plan? 
The right way to make a proper study plan is to organize the concepts based on their difficulty level, dedicate a few hours to study every day and then make clear deadlines for every week. Having clear deadlines will help you stay motivated right till the end. Having said that, as you are a beginner, you might find it difficult to make a proper study plan. And following a  generic study plan is not advisable because you need to create a study plan based on the number of hours you can dedicate for studies . So, make sure you choose a course which provides you a study plan based on the number of hours you can dedicate for studies.

How to choose the right online course? 
Choosing the best online course from a plethora of resources can be extremely challenging. The right way to do is to  check the free trial  of the courses, evaluate them and  choose the one which suits your requirements . Because what worked for others might not work for you. So, its important that you choose the course which addresses your requirements.

You can go through this   blog   to understand a few  key factors to consider while evaluating an online course .

Having said that, if you are open to suggestions, I would recommend you to check the free trial of GMATWhiz.
  It is an application driven course which employs methodical way of teaching concepts 
 It is a personalized and adaptive course - provides you a personalized study plan and adapts itself by providing you real time improvement modules to let you work on your weaker areas

You can get your personalized study plan for free by signing up for the   free trial   of the course. Feel free to get in touch if you wish to know how to strategize your GMAT prep or if you wish to know any thing about GMAT study strategy.

Click here to schedule a call

MathRevolution · Answer

Hello Avtex,

To assist you better, we would request you to write back with the following questions:

1. What are your current score and target score? (You can mention Diagnostic test score too)
2. How do you rate yourself in Quant and Verbal?

In a generalized way, to crack GMAT, you need a disciplined study plan, command on basic concepts, exposure to agile approaches, reliable resources, updated comprehensive material and mock tests, and an expert with whom you will be connected throughout your preparations.

As a GMAT instructor, I will first recommend taking our Free diagnostic test https://www.mathrevolution.com/diagnostic/dtExamMember and receiving a comprehensive study guide by topic. This test will clearly help you understand your weak areas.

You may also see to connect with experts online for your preparation.

Your diagnostic score will clarify what plan you should adopt to beat the GMAT. An initial mock rating will help to understand your concept knowledge of both the sections.
Since we are a math expert, we will recommend you go through our post on the GMAT club, which gives a complete break-down of Math.

We recommend that you must learn the Variable Approach for solving DS questions and the IVY approach for solving PS questions in order to improve your accuracy and save time while solving the question types.

Register with MathRevolution https://www.mathrevolution.com/member/signup to get access to our 7-day full on-demand course (27 topics, 490 subtopics, and 1,500 questions) for free trial lessons.

After registering, you will have access to the practice section. Initially, try solving the DS and/or PS questions from very easy and easy category questions on the topic(s) you have learned. You may also connect with one of our experts to get one of the best tutoring supports, which will help you understand the topic(s) and solve questions and learn how to manage time and accuracy.

The most important thing for you will be learning and commanding the Variable Approach for DS questions and IVY Approach for PS questions. These approaches are the robust self-designed time-saving techniques that will help you learn efficiently, thus raising your score in the quick nick of time.

Adding to the same, mastery of the Variable Approach to solve DS questions and the IVY approach to solve PS questions would add a feather to the cap. Below is the useful link we will recommend you to visit on GMAT club to experience the power of DS and IVY approaches.

Ultimate Q51 guide: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-ultimate ... l#p1613600

Breakdown of GMAT math questions and types: https://gmatclub.com/forum/overview-of- ... l#p1641411

You can schedule a Free counseling(https://calendly.com/mathrevolution/1-on-1-session) session for 20 mins with one of our experts if you want detailed advice on your current study plans.

We appreciate your time and patience in reading this reply.

Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Success is within your reach.
Good luck!

Punit Joshi
Math Revolution Team

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Avto,

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 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 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 (or you can feel free to PM me directly) and we can discuss the results and come up with a study plan.

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

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

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