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Last Updated on July 5, 2024
Picking the right study materials is a crucial aspect of test preparation, particularly for test-takers targeting high GMAT scores. But with so many GMAT courses out there, it can be hard to know what to look for. And with a new version of the GMAT on the horizon, many test-takers are wondering, which is the best online GMAT Focus Edition prep course?
The truth is, different students are going to have different opinions about what the “best” GMAT test prep is. After all, students have different learning styles, study schedules, and so on. So, people will have their personal preferences.
Nevertheless, there are certain features, tools, and methods that consistently prove effective for studying for GMAT exams, across a wide range of students and skill levels. In other words, there are baseline features of great GMAT Focus prep courses that you’ll want the course you use to have, regardless of your learning style or other preferences.
So, in this article, I’ll give you tips for finding the best GMAT Focus Edition prep courses online and discuss the top 5 features to look for in online GMAT prep courses — plus some red flags to look out for.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Where to Look for Online GMAT Prep Courses
- What to Look for in a GMAT Focus Course
- Key Takeaways
- What’s Next?
Before we dive into the course features to look for, let’s discuss where to look for test prep courses.
Where to Look for Online GMAT Prep Courses
There are a TON of GMAT study materials out there — multiple study apps and study guides, random question banks and mock tests, course after course. It’s tempting to try them all in an effort to “find the best.” But if you’re like most GMAT students, you probably don’t have much time on your hands.
So, take advantage of the collective wisdom of those who’ve come before you! Thousands of test-takers have already gone through the GMAT study process. To see what worked for them, check out websites such as GMAT Club and Beat the GMAT. Those sites feature verified GMAT course reviews from test-takers.
Aside from having reviews, GMAT forums and MBA-focused sites are just a good way to learn what resources exist for GMAT Focus test preparation. And some sites, such as MBA Insights and Poets & Quants, periodically publish rankings of the best GMAT prep courses available. Often, they also provide details about features that courses have and other services that course-makers offer, such as private tutoring.
So, such websites can really help you narrow down your search for the best GMAT Focus Edition prep courses online.
Furthermore, once you find a couple of courses that are highly recommended and have the features we’ll discuss in this article, you’ll likely be able to sign up for free or low-cost trials. So, you can try before you buy and make sure you choose the course that’s best for you.
TTP PRO TIP:
To help narrow your search for the best GMAT Focus prep courses, check out rankings and verified reviews on GMAT forums and sites geared toward MBA applicants.
Now that we know where to look, let’s discuss what to look for in a great GMAT Focus course.
What to Look for in a GMAT Focus Course
There are 5 features that I consider “non-negotiable” when looking for the best GMAT Focus Edition prep courses online:
- a study plan
- performance and error tracking
- study of Quant and Verbal before Data Insights
- study of Data Sufficiency alongside Quant
- specific strategies for each Verbal question type
Let’s discuss each of these features in further detail.
Feature #1: A Study Plan
Any GMAT Focus course worth its salt provides a detailed study plan taking you from day 1 to test day. This road map for your GMAT Focus prep should lay out all of the tasks you need to complete in order to reach your score goal, in the order in which you need to complete them.
For example, the TTP GMAT Focus Course provides personalized, day-by-day study plans guiding students through each step of their preparation. So, our students know exactly what to do and when to do it, every time they sit down to study. Furthermore, they can be sure that they’re following a study plan that is tailored to their specific score goals, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach that may not get them the results they need.
The upshot is that our students don’t waste valuable study hours trying to figure out what they need to learn next or using study methods that are either ineffective or inappropriate for their goals. Having that personal road map is one of the reasons that TTP students consistently reach or exceed their score goals.
TTP PRO TIP:
Find a Focus prep course that provides a step-by-step study plan, so you have a road map from beginning to end of your GMAT prep.
Feature #2: Performance and Error Tracking
Part of the convenience of using an online prep course is that it automates some of the test preparation process. And trust me, automatic and comprehensive performance and error tracking are conveniences you definitely want to have.
Any student would need far too much time to replicate the detailed analytics that a robust online course can provide. For example, the TTP GMAT Focus course tracks a student’s accuracy by GMAT topic and by question type. The course also shows average time spent solving each question type. Additionally, students see “macro” data such as strongest and weakest topics, course completion percentage, time studying per week, and more.
The course also includes a built-in error tracker that helps students identify non-content-related errors, such as misreading or rushing through questions, or falling for trap choices. Additionally, students can see how often they make each kind of error and which types of errors they make on different question types.
With all this data at their fingertips, our students can easily identify their strengths and weaknesses. Thus, they can strategically focus their prep and fill in knowledge gaps. They can also easily uncover any bad habits in their handling of practice questions. So, they can correct those behaviors before they become ingrained. Furthermore, they always see in concrete terms whether they’re being consistent in studying and staying on track to their goals.
As you can imagine, tracking this amount and variety of data yourself — and organizing it so it’s usable — is impractical. Then again, not having such detailed data could put you at a serious disadvantage in your study efforts.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use an online prep course that automatically tracks performance and errors down to a granular level and provides a macro view of your progress as you go.
Feature #3: Study of Quant and Verbal Before Data Insights
So far, we’ve covered some more functional aspects of online GMAT Focus courses that you want to look for. However, it’s also important to consider whether a course organizes your studies in the most logical and efficient way possible.
One of the hallmarks of a logical and efficient study structure when it comes to the GMAT Focus is mastering Quant and Verbal before studying Data Insights (DI). Why? Because, in addition to testing data analysis skills, Data Insights questions require using the math and verbal concepts you learn for the Quant and Verbal sections.
For example, some Multi-Source Reasoning questions require making inferences, as you would in Critical Reasoning in Verbal. Or, to answer Two-Part Analysis questions, you may need to apply concepts from Rates in Quant. Thus, it makes the most sense to study the GMAT questions you’ll see in the Data Insights section after you’ve mastered the Quant and Verbal concepts they involve.
With the foundational math and verbal knowledge already in place, you’ll be able to focus on learning the exam strategies you’ll need to efficiently solve these multi-layered questions.
So, find a GMAT course that teaches Quant and Verbal first and incorporates Data Insights study later in your prep.
Now, there is one exception to the rule about saving Data Insights study for the later stages of your prep. That exception is Data Sufficiency.
TTP PRO TIP:
Find a GMAT Focus course that teaches you Quant and Verbal before Data Insights questions other than Data Sufficiency.
Feature #4: Study of Data Sufficiency Alongside Quant
As you may know, Data Sufficiency (DS) questions appear in the Quantitative section on the standard GMAT exam. On the GMAT Focus Edition, however, Data Sufficiency is part of the Data Insights section.
The thing is, for the GMAT Focus, it still makes sense to prepare for DS as you prepare for Quant. Since DS questions involve topics that Quant questions do, it’s most efficient to learn how to answer DS questions that involve each Quant topic alongside Quant questions that involve that topic.
Sure, DS questions are different from traditional multiple-choice math questions in that you don’t have to calculate “to the bitter end” to get a numerical answer. However, whether you’re faced with a Quant question on, for example, averages or percentages, or a DS question on averages or percentages, you need to know the same concepts. So, answering DS questions along with Quant questions involving each Quant topic will only strengthen your learning of Quant topics.
So, a course that teaches DS as you learn Quant makes your studying far more efficient than other courses do.
TTP PRO TIP:
To make your studying most efficient, find a GMAT Focus course that teaches you Data Sufficiency as you’re learning Quant.
Feature #5: Specific Strategies for Each Verbal Question Type
There is a misguided notion in the GMAT world about studying for the Verbal section. People often think that, unlike Sentence Correction (SC) on the standard GMAT, which requires memorizing specific grammar rules, Critical Reasoning (CR) and Reading Comprehension (RC) can’t really be taught. Rather, you master them by answering lots of CR and RC practice questions and doing supplemental things such as reading high-quality newspapers and magazines. Or, you’re just naturally a “good reader.”
The truth, however, is that there are specific, concrete strategies that students can learn to efficiently answer each CR and RC question type. Those strategies aren’t learned by osmosis just because someone has answered a bunch of practice questions or started reading the newspaper every day. Think about it: you can’t prepare for the GMAT Focus simply by taking practice tests. So, why would it be effective to prepare for the Verbal section just by answering practice questions?
So, make sure that the course you use provides more than just general tips and question banks for learning Verbal. Instead, the course should include comprehensive lessons that teach you specific strategies for analyzing passages and arguments and solving each CR and RC question type.
Here’s a telltale sign that a GMAT Focus course is not going to give you the Verbal preparation you need. If the majority of the Verbal “teaching” comes in the answer explanations of practice questions, then you’re probably not going to gain all the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to earn a high Verbal score.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use a GMAT Focus course that gives you specific strategies for analyzing Verbal passages and arguments and solving each CR and RC question type.
Let’s wrap up with some key takeaways from our discussion.
Key Takeaways
Here are 5 must-haves to look for when selecting a GMAT Focus Edition online prep course:
- a study plan
- performance and error tracking
- study of Quant and Verbal before Data Insights (non-DS)
- study of Data Sufficiency alongside Quant
- specific strategies for each Verbal question type
If you can find a course that offers those 5 features, you’ll be starting your GMAT Focus prep in the best possible position.
And hey, if you’re ready to start studying now, why not try the TTP GMAT Focus Course? It gives you all the great features we’ve discussed in this article, plus many others to take the guesswork out of your GMAT Focus prep. See for yourself with a 5-day, full-access trial of the course for just $1!
What’s Next?
Wondering how different GMAT Focus preparation and standard GMAT preparation are? This article breaks down what’s different about preparing for the GMAT Focus Edition.
Interested in other score improvement programs to supplement an online GMAT course? Check out our guide to online coaching options for GMAT test-takers. You also may be interested in our article on whether GMAT tutoring services are worth the cost.
