I have decided to write the GMAT. But how do I study?

A good GMAT score is one of the key success factors to get a ticket to your dream B-school. But easier said than done. With an average work experience of 4-6 years considered across all schools, majority of GMAT takers are working professionals left with limited time for preparation. Without the luxury of time, one needs to get it right the first time. The best foolproof plan is a combination of a timed syllabus breakdown + regimented and directioned study + good study material.

We at Optimus Prep, understand what students need and what it takes to crack a great GMAT score. For benefit of test takers, we have designed a comprehensive 3months study plan for beginners. The plan gives you a systematic approach to tackle the GMAT preparation. For best results test takers can supplement the On Demand Course with private tutoring available at Optimus Prep.

 

Getting Started with the Optimus Prep 3 Months Study Plan:

The following study plan requires you to have

• Optimus Prep On demand Course,
• Official Guide
• Official Guide for Verbal review
• GMAT Prep Tests
• 3 hours study on the weekdays and 5- 6 hours on the weekends, on an average 20 hours of weekly effort.

Do’s

• Identify your intended schools and then a target score. Just to give you an idea, the average GMAT for the top 10 schools swings between 715 – 725, for the next 10 schools the average is around 705 – 715, and for the next 10 it is 690 – 705.
• Stick to a plan/regime for study
• Build a foundation before jumping on to solving the problems and attempting the mock CATs. Optimus Prep On-Demand course makes sure that you are aware of the underlying principles. Private tutoring option is also available, if you still find gaps in your preparation.
• Keep and Error log to record all the questions you got wrong. This Error log will be very useful in the 3^rd month of the preparation.
• Take a day off, preferably Sundays. This is completely on your discretion and how satisfied you are with your preparation.
• The GMAT is like a marathon and your preparation is all about attitude and belief.

Dont`s

• To get a good GMAT score, you need to score well on each of the sections. Make sure you do not fall under the following categories:
  • Some students are carried away by their strengths and do not look back at their weak section.
  • Some students pay so much attention to their weakness s, that they forget about their strong section and end up getting a score which is not a true reflection of their potential
• This causes an imbalance in the score and leads to a score that is lower than your target score and capabilities. Each of our session consists of both the verbal and the Quants lessons. This will ensure that you do not lag behind in one of the sections and that balanced score.
• Do not jump onto the problems without understanding the concepts first. Just solving the problems and not understanding them will not do any good to your final score.

The following is an exhaustive 3 month planner chalked out for each week syllabus coverage. At the end of each month there is a checklist (Learning Outcomes). Test takers should bear in mind that no course, no plan is effective without disciplined practice and constant evaluation and analysis of preparation.

Place holder for the attached 3 Month Study Planner

Month1:

Month 1-Week1 (10 Hours): Take this week as the opportunity to learn more about the GMAT and the various sections.

• Start of the week by going to http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/test-structure-and-overview.aspx, and read about the GMAT.
• After going through mba.com, go ahead and watch the intro lessons for deeper insights on the GMAT
• Take out the Official Guide and attempt the Diagnostic test
• Calculate your score as per the guidelines given in the OG and identify the areas you got most of your questions wrong.
• Attempt the Math and Verbal Diagnostic Test from the Optimus Prep on Demand course and analyze your mistakes and pain areas.
• The identification can be divided into the following categories.
  • Section Wise – Maths, Verbal
  • Question Type Wise- PS, DS or SC, CR, RC
  • Topic Wise – Topics wise bifurcation.

This identification will aid your preparation and help you target your weak areas. You can identify your weak point based on the number of questions you answered incorrectly in the aforementioned five areas. The same should be done after each mock CAT you attempt.

Month 1- Week 2 (20 Hours):

Follow the following steps for each session throughout Month 1 and Month 2:

1. Before starting the sessions, attempt the Pre Class assignment, identify your weak areas and the types of questions that you find complex.
2. During the session, pay special attention to the concepts that troubled you during the Pre class Assignment.
3. After going through the sessions, attempt the Practice assignments, class work assignments and the Homework assignments. Analyze the questions that you were not able to solve and if required, go through the sessions again.
4. Make it a point to note down the questions you get wrong in your Error Log.
5. Even after this, if you feel the necessity, you can enroll in our private Tutoring program for the maximum output.

 

Now that you are aware about the structure of GMAT, let us start with the sections.

Maths Topics		Learning Outcome			Verbal Topics	Learning Outcome
Number property		Basics of number theory, Properties and Operations of Integers			SC1	Introduction to Sentence Correction, Spot and Correct Subject Verb Agreement
Rational Numbers		Properties and Operations of decimals, ratios and percentages			CR1	Introduction to Critical Reasoning, Main types of Assumptions

 

Month 1- Week 3 (20 Hours):

Maths Topics	Learning Outcome		Verbal Topics	Learning Outcome
Number property	Real Numbers, Powers, and Roots		RC1	Main Idea, Purpose, and Title Questions
Rational Numbers	Descriptive Statistics		SC2	Pronouns and Modifiers

 

Month 1- Week 4 (20 Hours):

Maths Topics	Learning Outcome		Verbal Topics	Learning Outcome
Number property	Linear equations		CR2	Conclusion, Inference, Weaken, Strengthen Questions
Rational Numbers	Nonlinear Equations		RC2	Structure and Attitude Questions

 

Attempt the CAT1 from the Optimus Prep On Demand Course.

 

Where do you stand after Month 1:

Percentage Completion of the Course:50%

You should have covered the class work and the homework assignments of the topics covered.

Plan to take the mock on a Saturday/Sunday and take aside at least 2-3 hours for analyzing the mock CAT. At this point, you can skip the AWA and the IR sections while attempting the mock. You might face difficulty in solving some of the questions as the topics are not yet covered. Yet solving a mock CAT is a quintessential way to prepare yourself for the actual GMAT. Hence the more tests you attempt, the better it is.

At the end of the month, you should be comfortable with the topics covered and should be able to attempt these questions on the CAT without any difficulty.

Month 2:

Since you have a basic idea of the sections, Month 2 Onwards, you should start solving the problems from the OG.

230 PS, 174 DS, 124 CR, 140 SC, 28 RC

Solve 10 PS, 5DS, 5 SC, 5 CR questions and 2 RC passages each day. This will help you get a hang of the official questions and will bring you preparation closer to the types of questions you might see on the test.

Month 2- Week 1 (20 Hours):

Maths Topics	Learning Outcome		Verbal Topics	Learning Outcome
Number property	Inequalities. Functions. Sequences		SC3	Diction and Idioms
Rational Numbers	Word Problems 1		CR3	Strategy, Paradox, and Flaw Questions

 

Month 2- Week 2 (20 Hours):

Maths Topics	Learning Outcome		Verbal Topics	Learning Outcome
Number property	Word Problems 2		RC3	Specific Questions: Detail, Inference, and Argument Questions
Rational Numbers	Geometry 1. Lines, Angles, Triangles		SC4	Verb Tense and Form

 

Month 2- Week 3 (20 Hours):

Maths Topics	Learning Outcome		Verbal Topics	Learning Outcome
Number property	Geometry 2. Quadrilaterals, Circles, Polygons. 3-D Figures		CR4	Evaluate the Argument, Parallel Reasoning, and Structure Questions
Rational Numbers	Coordinate Geometry		SC5	Grammatical Sentence Construction and Efficiency

 

Month 2- Week 4(20 Hours):

Maths Topics	Learning Outcome		Verbal Topics	Learning Outcome
Number property	Combinatorics and Probability
Rational Numbers

 

Attempt the CAT2 from the Optimus Prep On Demand Course.

Where do you stand after Month 2:

Percentage Completion of the Course: 100%

You should have covered the class work and the homework assignments of the topics covered.

Plan to take the mock on a Saturday/Sunday and take aside at least 2-3 hours for analyzing the mock CAT. You should attempt the full length test along with AWA and the IR sections.

At the end of the month, you should be comfortable with the topics covered and should be able to attempt these questions on the CAT without any difficulty.

By the end of the month, you should have solved all the PS problems, 120 DS problems, 120 SC problems, 120 Cr problems and all the RC Passages from the OG.

Make sure that you note down all the mistakes in your error log and then revise the content related to those mistakes by going through the videos.

Month 3:

Congratulations on making it so far. This last leg of your preparation will focus heavily on the following things:

1. Attempting the full length CAT under the test center like circumstances
2. Revisiting your error log and making sure you do not make the same mistakes again during your CATs.
3. AWA
4. Integrated reasoning

Continue solving 10 PS, 5DS, 5 SC, 5 CR and 3 RC passages daily. If you have finished the Official Guide, you can switch over to Official Guide for Verbal for additional questions.

Month 3- Week 1 (20 Hours):

• Go through the Integrated Reasoning Session 1 and 2 and solve the related problems.
• For the AWA, refer http://gmatclub.com/forum/how-to-get-6-0-awa-my-guide-64327.html
• Attempt the GMAT Prep Mock CAT1 along with AWA and IR.
• Analyze the mock CAT taken thoroughly and find out the pain areas.
• Go through the error log every alternate day, so that you do not make the same mistakes again.
• You can schedule your GMAT if you are comfortable with your preparation at this stage. If not, you can opt for our Private Tutoring for the expert guidance.

Month 3- Week 2 (20 Hours):

• Attempt the Optimus Prep Mock CAT 3
• Analyze the mock CAT taken thoroughly and find out the pain areas.
• Go through the error log every alternate day, so that you do not make the same mistakes again.

Month 3- Week 3 (20 Hours):

• Attempt the Optimus Prep Mock CAT 4
• Analyze the mock CAT taken thoroughly and find out the pain areas.
• Go through the error log every alternate day, so that you do not make the same mistakes again.

Month 3- Week 4 (20 Hours):

• Attempt the GMAT Prep Mock CAT2
• Analyze the mock CAT taken thoroughly and find out the pain areas.
• Go through the error log every alternate day, so that you do not make the same mistakes again.

Where do you stand after Month 3:

READY TO ROCK THE TEST!!!