Study alone, find a study group and/or take a class?

Question

I have been studying alone for the GMAT for the past few months. 
Do folks who do well on the test study alone, find a study group or take a Prep class?
Please let me know how you studied to get a good score.

Currently I am scoring anywhere from 620-670 on CATs. If I take a regular prep class, won't it just cover the basics (stuff that I already covered)? Would I need to take an advanced class or hire a private tutor since I have already studied by myself for a few months?

Vercules · Answer

Hi gmatprep1982,

I have tried both the ways (with/ without a GMAT prep class) and found studying alone a better option and having a study group is an even better option. GMAT is an exam which tests your level of aptitude/ reasoning in Verbal and Quant. So, it varies from person to person. The best thing about an in person class is that you get a study group with whom you can discuss. But these days, you can do the same at GMAT Club or other online forums. The best thing would be to find out your comfort level. If you are someone who can motivate yourself and stay focused then there is no need to take up a prep class. There is a very high probability that if you have been studying for a couple of months then the prep class may waste a lot of your time covering the basic stuff. In GMAT the awareness of your strengths and weaknesses will drive you to a higher score. To be aware is important, how you do it depends on your preference on one way over another. You have to find it yourself, which way you will be most comfortable. All the best !!

Hope this helps,

Vercules

arun@crackverbal · Answer

Prep Course: It is a good idea if you are starting out and want to be on the straight and narrow. It also serves to discipline your routine since you end up going to the class (thanks to the $$ you paid). However not so great idea if you have already covered the basics and the particular course caters to those who start from the very basic. Study Alone: It is a good idea if you want flexibility and are the type of person who like to study by yourself. Ofcourse you should take help of forums such as GMATClub

Not so good idea if you tend to be low on motivation, will-power - a few days of slack can easily snowball. Study Group: It is a good idea if you are sharing experiences, getting better by explaining topics to each other, exchanging study material etc. Not so good idea if you are dependent on others for your plan, or it takes up too much of your time during weekends. Its upto you to take a pick

Arun

mtt240 · Answer

I have only done the study alone preparation, but I thought it was useful for targeting my strengths. I think after a certain point you really have to focus and hone in on your weaknesses and improve on those. This is where studying with someone else may help, because they can figure out these weaknesses that you cannot see yourself. It may also be difficult to self study if you are unable to keep a real structured study schedule, but I do agree that a combination of self study and the forums should be enough to get you to the score you want.

GMATPill · Answer

Whichever method you choose - the general idea is the same: to get new perspective on how to think about a question.

You can see how other students look at a question through study groups, classes, or tutoring. All methods work. Some may have more logistical headaches in terms of fitting them into your busy schedule (i.e. group classes - actually showing up to class might involve traffic, waking up early, etc..)

Online courses effectively do the same thing. Some people prefer in-person interaction, but if you prefer to move at your own pace, don't dismiss what's out there.

In the end, you want to see GMAT questions in the way someone else does. This helps shape your perspective and usually makes you more confident in other questions going forward.

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