GMAT Strategy

mayonnai5e wrote:So I recently began private tutoring for the GMAT, but my tutor's strategic plan is different from my own. My original plan was to attack my weakest areas; in particular, my timing as well as certain areas of Q (geometry/number properties) and V (SC and RC). The reason why I wanted private tutoring was to help focus on those goals; however, my tutor has suggested a plan that boils down to doing every problem in each of the 3 OG books and reading every single solution provided. In addition, I would do one CAT a week. She has suggested no strategic plans/ideas for addressing my timing problems (timing comes naturally after doing so many problems and so many CATs according to her) and instead of focusing on specific categories of problems I should just do every problem of every type.

This seems counter to most study plans I've read about on this forum, but she's the tutor and she has a lot more experience than I do with the GMAT. What do you guys/girls think? Should I follow her advice or should I push back and try to change the study plan?

Thanks.

As you know, effective study strategies depend on the individual--one person's study strategy could look remarkably different than another's but both could produce results.

That being said, if you feel uncomfortable with what your tutor is suggesting, then ask her why she is creating this particular strategy for you and also question her on what she thinks about your original strategy. Since you're investing good money into a private tutor, really take the time to drill her on her methodology.

Best of luck!

Agree with the above posts - you need to feel comfortable with whatever plan you and your tutor come up with. On the one hand, please be open to other ideas from your tutor, though your tutor should also be able to explain why s/he thinks you should approach things in the way s/he does. On the other hand, ultimately, if you are not comfortable with your tutor, for whatever reason, you may want to find another tutor. It will negatively affect your ability to learn if you find yourself doubting or resenting your tutor.

My 2 cents below.

I have certain things that I do with any tutoring student, no matter the starting level or individual strengths and weaknesses, but I definitely do not have a "one size fits alL" approach. I need to see a student's initial test results and also work through problems with him or her for a couple of hours before I can actually figure out a comprehensive plan. And, even then, I know the plan is going to change over time, because the student will make faster progress in some areas and slower progress in others, and I will have to adjust the program as necessary. (Note: one thing I noticed from your initial post is that you mostly wanted to work on your weaknesses. It's often easier to improve in your stronger areas, so find a good balance there - lift both.)

Also, this is personal preference and different tutors can obviously do things differently and still be successful, but I strongly do not approve of taking a CAT every week, nor do I approve of doing every single problem in OG. (That's 1,400 problems between the three books! Quantity is not a substitute for quality of study.)

Also, in my experience (13 years and counting...), timing does not come naturally for most people simply as a result of doing many problems - most people can get better, certainly, by simply doing lots of problems, but few people will maximize their scores simply by doing this. (Really, only people who are already naturally good at standardized tests typically fall into this category - and we aren't the ones who need tutoring.)