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First-Timer - one month timeline

by wheels » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:24 pm
Hey everyone,

I've been looking through the posts and it seems there's a great deal of knowledge at these forums. With your experience, I was hoping to get some advice in regards to tackling the GMAT.

I'm basically in the process of doing a diagnostic test (bought the three official GMAT books). So far, it looks like I'm plain old average and quickly realizing how much I don't know (scored within the average range for every category so far).

I plan to write the exam in the week of Jan. 20 and so I've got around 1 month. What game plan do you guys recommend? Also, are there any crash courses offered that you'd suggest? I've been browsing the courses offered in Toronto, and most of them last for longer than a month unfortunately...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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by VP_Jim » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:52 pm
We (Veritas) have a weekend course in Toronto. The next one isn't until after your test date (weekends of 1/24 and 1/25 and 1/31 and 2/1), but it might not be a bad idea to put off the test for a couple weeks in order to take a class and buy yourself a bit more study time. You could also look into tutoring, which obviously runs more on your schedule. Here's a link to our Toronto schedules:

https://www.veritasprep.com/gmat/Toronto/

As for studying, there's usually no value in studying more than two hours per day. The GMAT requires a great deal of mental flexibility and creativity, both of which generally fade considerably after a couple hours of intense study. My ideal study plan is two hours per day plus a practice exam (computerized) once per week. With a month until your test, that gives you about 50 hours of study plus four practice CATs, which is a pretty solid amount of time.

Good luck!
Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep
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by Bara » Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:14 pm
First, let us know your actual score and subject breakdown in the diagnostic you took. Then we'll be able to get more into the nitty gritty of what might be helpful for you, personally.

A month is not JUST a month - - it's about 720 hours...which is a LOT of time to organize and make huge strides!

WE tend to take a more Mishnaic approach to teaching - - nurturing our students, making sure they understand their strengths and fortify their weaknesses. Most quality one-on-one tutoring is like this, and it's hands-down, the most effective and efficient mode of study and not suprisingly, has the highest ROI.

Depending on your overall schedule, you can study MANY hours a day if you also maintain a balanced lifestyle while you're studying. If you are eating right, getting outside and breathing fresh air, spending some of the time doing things you love and feel nourished by (be it sports, hanging with friends, seeing a movie or two), and getting enough sleep and exercise, it will offer you the best conditions for studying.

Our students who have a month or less for study, make a schedule for themselves - - daily and for over the 4 weeks. Time management is king.

While you may know what your threshold is for study, know that this can shift. Give yourself adequate breaks while you're studying. For each 45 minutes of study, give yourself 10 - 15 minute breaks. Much of the brain/learning research I've come across supports this kind of pattern.

If you have a job right now, find ways of integrating in study into your day. Listen to audio programs, answer questions/drills/study - - or even 'classify' questions, but don't take the time to answer them -- if you take public transportation.

The GMAT does require mental tenacity, flexibility and creativity, which at their 'peak' sometimes take a while to brew. The more skills you develop, the easier it will be to get into the 'flow,' which is where you need to be, to achieve the best results.

For a real kick ass discussion of flow, see psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book on "optimal experience," FLOW. Here, Csikszentmihalyi's investigations reveal how a state of consciousness called flow is genuinely satisfying. In this state, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life -- or in your case, the GMAT's math and verbal sections.

Flow is known by other names, too: the "zone," being Zen, being present, etc.. Optimal performance on the GMAT is similar to an athletic or artistic performance. After you practice and hone your skills, you don't have to 'concentrate' to go through the steps, rather, you can enter into the 'zone' or 'flow' which really is the most beneficial - - and will produce the best results on the test, and yes, in life.

Another great book (and quick study), is The Inner Game of Tennis.

Once you build skills during your abbreviated schedule, I would recommend ways to build in timing yourself by the second week. Take the GMAC tests over the next 4 weeks, and also take GMAC paper test sections as 'drills' and get a hold of really difficult questions.

Good luck!
Bara Sapir, MA, CHt, CNLP
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