How can you have an effective prep with an Optimized Learning Pathway?

Question

Hi all! Before we start off with anything, we would want to know- How is your journey going so far on the prep track for GMAT?

Are you already at it since some time?

Have you just started it and navigating through your journey or you are here to understand if GMAT is something you would want to take in the run ahead to give a better shape to your career?

Or, we know its kind of not a very happy question but did you take a shot, not make it at the GMAT this attempt but you intend to retake it and are willing to reassess and get back on track?

If you have an answer of YES to any of these questions, we would suggest you to let us know through the comments and spend a couple of minutes to go through this post before you go back to the study! The fierce fire and passion to take the GMAT and ace it is the energy you need to go about this journey but you also need some tools to equip yourself to go for the kill! One of the most under rated but highly needed tool in this journey is of self introspection and assessment. The Optimal Learning Path for GMAT prep is based on it. If you ever doubt your abilities or think that the right way is to go hard on yourself, then let me gather my thoughts and say you are not completely wrong sometimes with this line of thinking but why don't we do it through a strategic and logical path of asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS before we make an inference about our own abilities in the prep? What would be these RIGHT QUESTIONS? I am jotting a few of them here as a "zoomed out" view to help you locate the gaps. You can further break them down and micro assess if need be, to have a "zoomed in" view of the issues!

1. Am I using ONLY the official resources to prepare?

If you are investing your time and energy on non official material, spread all around, you need to take a step back and think on this like a 700+ scorer. Your time is precious. No test prep company has a sample size of students taking the test that can match the GMAC's sample size. Official Questions have a different ring and a GMAT centric thought pattern tested through them. To believe that you get exactly the right kind of 31 test question that is tested on GMAT by any test prep company is not a practical thought. The Official tests are the most reliable indicator of your prep assessment. So, we reiterate again to use only OFFICIAL Questions for practice and Tests and invest time more judiciously! You can take a repeat Official Mock with a higher score as target if you have exhausted the Official Tests but stick to the Official Tests.

2.Have I created an effective and executable study plan and am I following that diligently?

You must have heard-If you fail to plan then you plan to fail! Planning is an intrinsic necessity in the corporate world. You cannot let go of this step. GMAT tests you on planning in two stages:- -Your planning in the prep stage before you encounter GMAT -Your planning in the test stage when you encounter GMAT Your plan must be practical. If you plan and touch 50-60 questions everyday,you need to take a step back and ask yourself-Am i able to anayze these mistakes well with a 360 degree precision? Am I able to give enough time to think through on my errors or alternate strategies on even the correctly attempted questions? Can I maintain the same pace and quality across 6 days for the next 3-4 months? Do I have to say myself-I am keeping away time for a second or third revision? Are your answers a YES to all these questions? If so ask again-Am i being honest to myself? I dont intend to be rude here but some questions are necessary for a self check. Many a times we compromise on Quality with Quantity. You should never be in that situation and that is my intent as I suggest you to ask these questions. An effective planning would include 2-3 hours of prep on Weekdays,4-5 on Weekends at a very granular level so you know what you need to do everyday at your fixed time and the plan also must include a break day where you completely cut out from GMAT prep. Shutting down our system is equally important to avoid low motivation, burnout and to keep the ball rolling! You need a thought intensive strong mindset and hence the mental space and health is a priority for the test prep.

3.Have I closed all my Concept Gaps?

Check out the GMAT syllabus from the OG and ensure that you have completed the conceptual requirements of all the topics. GMAT is finite in terms of knowledge requirements.More or less its the application of the concepts that are the real challengers. However to infer that x is odd implies x is an integer(+ or -) requires you to know on evens and odds in the GMAT way. While you diagnose errors,close the concept gaps asap or else you will find them being repeated. Use trusted material to cover the GMAT Concepts.

4.Am I using the OG the right way?

How do we do this part right? Does completing the OG guarantees a 700+? Not really!

It is essential that we invest quality time in logically analyzing the errors committed, log them in a learning tracker because on GMAT there is always a pattern. Unless we know of that pattern or the bucket that is most filled with our errors ,we cannot close them! So what kind of error buckets would show a pattern? Focus Gaps -Repeated mistakes when you are missing the context, overlooking critical data or simply "assuming" data without a logical backup. Concept Gaps- You simply miss it because you do not know it now. You shall observe a pattern on having similar errors across those topics located with concept gaps. The solution is to fix these errors asap! Application Gap- You struggle to break down the question stem and simplify it, find it difficult to use strategies like elimination, substitution,etc and get to the right answer in under 2min. For example if x is prime you are able to infer x has 2 factors 1 & itself but you are unable to focus on details like x is a positive integer >=2, x if >3 can be expressed as 6k + 1 or 6k - 1 where k is an integer, x is co-prime to all other integers ,etc.. On GMAT, there is always an error pattern when you are practicing through the official questions. You need to locate the error bucket that is heaviest, analyze it and close the gaps asap. Subsequently you move to the next error bucket and through the process close all buckets organically while you constantly build on your learning. The bottom-line, once we know the issue, you can take the steps to close them and hence maintaining an error log or learning tracker is mandatory in this journey.

5.Am I practicing with a timer and am I able to smash the Easy and Intermediate question in under 60 sec and 1min 30 sec respectively?

I am not suggesting to use a timer right away here. You have to learn to crawl before you know how to run. Build up on the concepts and slowly introduce yourself to a "timed atmosphere" of practice. Time is inversely proportional to your "skills". So focus more on building those skills to smash the Easy and Intermediate rather than worrying on the ticking clock. To have a good score of 700+, it is important that you not only get the Easy & Intermediate questions correct in both Verbal and Quant but you also must get them correct like a Marvel Superhero

- Meaning with absolute accuracy, jet speed and with complete confidence. You have to up your skills to smash them in under 1min 30 sec(Intermediate) and 60 seconds(Easy).So focus on accuracy and time on these questions. Your Verbal and Quant score reflects Conceptual Gaps that need to be located and closed immediately to breach the Q46 and V30 level. Once that is achieved, you can work on the application gaps and build on the score.

6.Have I been watching the solutions of incorrect attempts immediately instead of spending quality time with the question?

If the answer is YES, then its one of the biggest gaps you need to close immediately. Thought algorithm takes some time to develop but if we get dependent on the solutions the minute we make a mistake, believe us, this practice will make you feel STUCK when you encounter a different question from the same topic. You will find your thinking blocked while you look at the screen and the whiteboard! Practice and when you know you are wrong-PAUSE- and spend time with the question. Ask yourself how do i get to the right answer? What am I missing? Which options can i eliminate? How do i simplify the question stem or how do i breakdown this passage? When you go to a gym, you are going to have sore arms the next day because the body is not accustomed to it. In the same exact manner, your brain functionality is affected when you push it to the uncomfortable zone of "thinking through the errors". But you have to keep going and not be perturbed by the feeling of "I cant do it"or "this is not working and let me watch the solution". Your mind wants to go back to the comfort zone of not doing the tough bit- of "thinking through". So slow and steady be at it and keep questioning and learning. Start from scratch and hit on the question several times with multiple thought processes either till you get it right or till you exhaust all think threads.

7.Have I utilized the Official Advanced Document?

Now once you have completed the OG in the right way,time for you to up the level and upgrade your problem solving and reasoning skills. The Official Advanced Document is the next step. It has 150 challenging Quant and 150 challenging Verbal Questions with solutions to help you think through from a Q46V30 to a Q48-50V35-40 scorer(Available on Amazon). The process remains the same. Think, think and think through. Analyze, close your thought & learning gaps and build on them like an alpha leader in the making!

8.Am I always doing what it takes to maintain FOCUS in the questions?

You have to be in it to WIN it ! You have to stay in the moment,focus intensively on the question stub,on the data,on the options,on the rooms of all logical perspectives and remember, on the GMAT,most of the time its not about actually solving it but recognizing the RIGHT answer choice. Poor focus can heavily drop down our scores and leave us disappointed with ourselves because you know you could have avoided that mistake. Focus like many other things in life is a "habit" we have to build up.Everyday every hour of our prep and with every single question. Are you doing it right?

9.Am I fearless when I am planning on TAKING the Official Mock Test?

More than often we are afraid to see our mock scores and hence find it easy to push it till GMAT is around the corner. Think like a 700+ . Would he or she procrastinate on it? Answer-NO Now think like a biz leader-Would you procrastinate your product or team assessment for the fear of a failure or you would want to take it as an assessment tool to take the corrective actions (if needed) to reach your goal? The answer is the later. Freeze your Mock Test date on your study plan and DO NOT DEVIATE.Assess your prep and take necessary actions. The sooner you do it before your booked date, the better you are placed with respect to time to take the needed actions. Be committed to your purpose and don't be flexible around that. So lets sum it up now-

What is the Optimal Learning Path? It involves the following steps :- >Create an effective plan and stick to it >Complete the GMAT centric concepts >Complete the OG the right way >Use the Official Advanced Document to think on a higher level >Take the Official Mock Test, assess yourself and take corrective actions to close any gaps as located. >Take the GMAT fearlessly with a positive mindset. Remember its just another exam and you have come so far by giving lot many exams earlier. Its also essential that if you have an option then you can make use of it. An "option" here is about somebody who could help you in this journey and guide to "optimize" your GMAT prep. I would want to point out as to how we can help you out here. Crackverbal Online course is curated and designed to help students learn at their own pace in the most optimized and effective way. With the launch of our new product, all you have to do is login, declare your GMAT dead line and follow the study plan that's created based on your time line.! Invest your precious time in "thinking through" the problems and not "planning the entire process" is what we believe in. We provide three specific products each for a certain kind of student requirement. 1. On-Demand : This particular product is for students who want to learn at their own pace through pre recorded content. However, there are a lot more addons to the On Demand Course and not just the pre-recorded videos. (a)You are provided with a study plan(based on your deadline) and Course videos cover the concepts according to the study plan. (b)You also have OG Tests(the complete OG broken down into section tests and that too with levels of difficulty). Not only that,we also provide you the video solutions of these OG Test Questions. Our brain functions quite differently under the stress of a timer and when it knows that the performance would provide a metric of measuring progress and GMAT readiness. So keeping that in mind, we have added the OG questions as tests for YOU. (c)If you have exhausted the OG, you would want additional practice and we have a set of 600+ questions for you to practice additionally(with solutions). These tests are divided sectionally for both Verbal & Quant and with varying levels of difficulty. (d)You also get to experience Prepathon-a 60 min session with questions that challenge you and assess your prep every week.Its a point of live interaction with the faculty and all like minded students who are preparing it.The session is designed to keep you going even when you dont feel like preparing some days(happens to the best of the best

) (e) You can also connect with the faculties one to one by booking a meet through calendly at a time thats convenient to you!We do not believe in isolated practice. So even when you opt for an OnDemand course we would provide you with the additional sessions for live interaction with the faculty and the rest of the people like you! (f) Since we perform best in an undistracted atmosphere we would push you to attend the Deep work sessions and have an immersive experience of working with us as you develop your cognitive abilities.We push you to build a "habit" of prepping in an undistracted atmosphere through these sessions consistently. (g) AMA sessions where you can pitch in your study issues,prep issues and infact ask anything to the faculty is designed to keep your prep doubt free and smooth. These sessions are beyond just the GMAT prep. We want to provide you the direction for post MBA careers and give you a zoomed out idea of life and career with GMAT through these sessions. 2. Live@Home: The Weekend sessions are direct points of contact where you learn the course, acquire GMAT essential concept and Application understanding on the weekends with the faculty and other students. They are high Octane sessions of learning on real time with the faculty and asking doubts then and there.The sessions are curated to transmit the GMAT centric knowledge in a simple and effective manner to help you walk through the Optimized Learning Pathway(OLP). You get to access the session recordings after the session for a 7 day period. Alongside,you also get to experience all other facilities listed for the On Demand Course. 3. ScoreUp: The third and the most premium product is the ScoreUp where you sign up for a one to one guided assistance with the mentor. It is designed to handhold you at your pace. You would also receive the session recordings,pre recorded videos and the Practice Tests as a part of the Product. The faculty would guide you one to one, close your concept gaps,close on the strategic application gaps and all along answer your doubts as you experience them. The CrackVerbal GMAT online course is created based on our experience of teaching more than thousands of classroom students and it's designed to help the busy working professionals crack the GMAT in their first attempt. The CrackVerbal GMAT online course combines technology with high human interaction to maximize your results. CrackVerbal GMAT online course is the only course that provides you with a Personal GMAT counselor to track your progress & guide you from the time you start your GMAT preparation till the time you take your GMAT test. Also, we provide you the counselling and help in your Essay & Application process for the final lap. Coming down to results, please scroll down and our numbers would give you a fair idea of our performance. Our priority at Crackverbal is great Customer Experience and students breaching the targeted 700+ score! We would recommend you to sign up for our free GMAT online trial course and see if you like how the concepts are being explained in the course. I would also add these links for you to go through some of our posts and understand on the GMAT centric learning from questions of both Quant and Verbal answered by us:- Verbal https://gmatclub.com/forum/last-year-al ... l#p2864516 https://gmatclub.com/forum/recent-femin ... l#p2963021 https://gmatclub.com/forum/meteorologis ... l#p2966704 https://gmatclub.com/forum/yeasts-capab ... l#p2959706 Quant https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-m-and-n-a ... l#p2951067 https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-the-figur ... l#p2964538 https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-photograph ... l#p2967448 https://gmatclub.com/forum/inequality-w ... l#p2962537 Now all this said, we hope you will not deviate and close the gaps after you locate them precisely. If there is even one someone who has done a certain difficult task to completion then YOU can also do it and in GMAT over 25k people secure over 700 every year. Why cant it be YOU if there are people already doing the same?? GMAT is a game of practicing Focus, learning with an approach of problem solver, strategizing and bringing time on your side by upgrading your skills and fearlessly attacking one question at a time. Go for the kill and we want to see you on the other side of the green!

Devmitra Sen GMAT Quant SME

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