Based on the Reddit thread I’ve put together this GMAT Self Prep guide to help you prepare effectively for the GMAT Focus Edition exam. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, these strategies should help you maximise your study time.
Understanding Where You Stand
The first step in any effective GMAT prep journey is understanding your current level. The original poster (OP) self-assessed their skills as:
- Verbal and RC: “Top tier” (later confirmed with a 99th percentile practice score)
- Quant: Variable (650-750 range, later scoring at 76th percentile)
- Data Insights: Limited practice initially (later scoring at 98th percentile)
This kind of honest assessment is crucial for targeted preparation. If you haven’t taken a diagnostic test yet, that should be your first step.
Effective Use of Official GMAT Focus Materials
Several experienced tutors in the thread offered excellent advice on how to structure your preparation using official materials:
Progressive Difficulty Approach
- Start with Easy Questions
- Use these to familiarize yourself with question formats
- Particularly helpful for sections where you have less experience (like DI for the OP)
- Move to Medium-Level Questions
- Focus on one subsection at a time (e.g., Critical Reasoning or Technical Problem Analysis)
- What experts call “Medium cementing” – solidifying your foundational skills
- Tackle Hard Questions
- Again, focus on single subsections initially
- Use these for “Hard cementing” – mastering advanced concepts
- Create Section-Specific Practice
- Combine Medium and Hard questions within a section for mock section tests
Creating Targeted Practice Sets
The online question bank allows you to:
- Create timed practice sets
- Track your progress automatically
- Build mini-mocks to simulate test conditions
Several respondents emphasized the importance of timed practice to develop the pacing skills needed for the actual exam.
Addressing Specific Weaknesses
The thread highlights an important point: official materials might not be sufficient for all sections. For Quant particularly:
- Supplement with Additional Resources
- The OP was advised that harder Quant questions from GMAT Club would be beneficial
- Consider using section-specific guides for areas of weakness
- Take Practice Tests Regularly
- Use them to identify knowledge gaps
- The OP’s progress from 630 to 695 shows the value of consistent practice and assessment
- Focus on Conceptual Understanding
- For subjects like Quant, understand the underlying principles rather than memorizing question types
Available Resources
The thread mentions several official GMAT Focus resources:
- GMAT Focus Edition Official Guide
- GMAT Quantitative Review
- GMAT Verbal Review
- GMAT DI Review
- GMAT Quantitative Practice Questions
- GMAT Verbal Practice Questions
- GMAT DI Practice Questions
- Diagnostic CATs (Computer Adaptive Tests)
For specific sections, additional recommended resources included Manhattan Prep’s 6th Edition for Critical Reasoning.
Creating Your Study Timeline
With an April exam date in mind (similar to the OP), consider structuring your time as follows:
- Initial Assessment Phase (1-2 weeks)
- Take a diagnostic test
- Review all easy questions to familiarize yourself with formats
- Identify specific weak areas
- Focused Learning Phase (4-6 weeks)
- Study medium-difficulty questions by subsection
- Supplement with additional resources for weak areas
- Take a practice test mid-way to gauge progress
- Advanced Practice Phase (2-3 weeks)
- Work through hard questions by subsection
- Begin timed section practice
- Continue taking full practice tests
- Final Review Phase (1-2 weeks)
- Review mistakes from practice tests
- Focus on test-taking strategies and time management
- Light review of key concepts
Final Thoughts
Remember that GMAT preparation is highly individual. The 695 score achieved by the OP shows significant improvement through targeted practice. Their experience demonstrates that focusing on your weakest areas (Quant in their case) while maintaining strengths in other sections is an effective approach.
Stay consistent with your practice, regularly assess your progress, and adjust your strategy as needed. With deliberate practice and the right resources, you can achieve your target GMAT score through self prep as well.
Good luck with your preparation!