By: Apex GMAT
Contributor: Arin Agich
Date: 22nd April 2021
If you aim to apply for your dream MBA program or you want to reach the next level in your career, attending business school is a step that you should be considering. If so, you will need to take the GMAT exam. Before starting to prepare for your GMAT journey you have to decide which learning style suits you best. This depends on the amount of available time you have, your score goal, and your budget. In this article we are going to look at the two most common methods to prepare for the GMAT: One on one GMAT prep and Group prep.
What are the differences between one-on-one and group-based GMAT preparation?
Before deciding which one of these methods will work best for you it is important to review the main differences between them.
Do you study best alone or with peers?
One of the biggest differences between these two learning styles is the presence or absence of others. Being surrounded with others going through the same journey might be encouraging, knowing that the others are sharing similar challenges on their GMAT journey will help you see that you are not alone. Whereas, being on your own can lead to higher success rates since you can move forward with your own pace without waiting for your peers.
Time Management
A bulk of your GMAT preparation will include a vast majority of practice problems so you will need to manage your time successfully and make sure that you are using this time productively to avoid preparing for the test for extended periods of time. Apex tutors suggest spending between 3-4 months studying for the exam. Managing your preparation schedule and discipline is all up to you if you decide to prepare for the exam on your own. On the other hand, being under a one-on-one prep program will give you plenty of flexibility, but make sure that you keep up to your self-built schedule!
Individual Workload vs Group Projects/Home-works
Irrespective of any type of GMAT preparation method you will need to spend numerous hours doing homework or self prep at home to get comfortable using the skills that you have learnt. If you are part of a group-based prep program you will be able to ask for help and advice from your classmates and even work in groups. For some this sounds time-consuming, whereas for others it is a great socializing opportunity during GMAT prep time. However, as an individual student, your home works can be personalized and built according to your needs. This will help you to focus more on your weaknesses and move forward faster with the topics that you have already developed.
Efficiency
Regardless of which method you decide to go for, in the end it comes to efficiency. Keeping in mind that you have a limited period of time until the big GMAT test day, being efficient throughout your preparatory period is the key. To be able to answer this it is important to know the benefits of each method. In the following section we wrote down some of the benefits both for one on one and group based GMAT prep.
Benefits of One-on-one GMAT Preparation
Personalized Sessions: Curriculum Flexibility
One of the biggest benefits of one-on-one GMAT preparation is that the sessions are personalized according to your needs. After your first session with your tutor, where you can openly talk about your challenges that you want to work on and strengths you want to build on, you will be given a personalized curriculum that will help you tackle all your problems.
Student-Tutor Bond
Preparing for your GMAT test can be overwhelming. This is where the student-tutor bond comes into play. Knowing that you have your tutor’s full attention and support will help you get over your anxiety and reduce your stress. Getting support during such long journeys is crucial. This will help you to refocus when required, rest when needed, and move forward faster when you are ready.
Alex who scored 730 on his GMAT test after working with Apex said this about his one on one GMAT prep experience:
“I felt like Apex was in my camp and in my corner, really making sure that I was putting my best foot forward and that I was going to get the best possible score that I could. The support system that was in place was great and the experience was seamless”.
Two-way Feedback
For anyone going through GMAT preparation, having feedback on your work is highly important. This helps you to check in with how far you have come. However, it is also important to give feedback to your tutor, too. This will help her/him to understand your needs better. If you are part of a one-on-one tutoring program the feedback can go both ways, at any given time. Feedback can take different forms, some of the examples are: test taking strategies and advice, specific questions type strategies, habits for success, stress reducing advice, etc.
Progress at your own pace
Preparing with one-on-one tutoring for your GMAT means that you will have a personalized curriculum by your tutor. This means that, following this curriculum, you can also progress at your own pace. Working more on questions that you have a hard time with or going forward much faster with the ones that you have mastered, without having to wait for your peers.
Benefits of group-based GMAT Preparation
Sharing the Same GMAT Journey
Being part of a group-based GMAT prep program will give you the sense of belonging with fellow future GMAT takers. This will help you to share your struggles and anxieties, and also celebrate your success with your peers. Having a social group throughout GMAT’s many hours of practice questions and tests is supportive. Being surrounded with like minded people with similar goals will keep you motivated.
Besides sharing your GMAT process during your preparation period, the weekly meetings during mutual classes will give you the opportunity to engage with your peers. Sharing tips, advice, and notes or simply: making new friends!
Study Dates
Next to your individual tasks and homework, within your GMAT group you can also find study buddies and work on your questions together. This will help you to partner up with one of your peers who might have similar challenges and try to tackle the questions together or this person will be able to help you with the topics you have trouble going forward with.
Structured Schedule
Group-based GMAT preparation courses are highly structured programs. If you are a person who functions easier and is more productive under a ready made structured schedule, working in a group is for you. It will have a routine that you can always count on.
Developing additional skills
Next to developing your GMAT skills, being part of a group will help you develop additional skills, such as: social and communication skills which are highly acquired skills in MBA programs. Next to developing your personal and social skills, being part of a group will also give you the chance to be part of a team work. This will help you develop your leadership skills and the importance of cooperation with the others.
Which GMAT prep strategy is the best for you?
Finding the most efficient way for reaching a high score on your GMAT test is important. After reviewing the benefits and differences of the two learning methods you can prioritize your needs, consult with previous GMAT takers and tutors and decide which method would work best for you!