GMAT: Study plan for the Video Course

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 GMAT: Study plan for the Video Course
Before you start with the course:

Spend 30 minutes watching these three 10-minute videos as below (even if you have watched some parts of them before). Don’t skip even a second.

1. Video No. 1: GMAT Belief Change https://youtu.be/nVfeXfh6pXM

Why is this important? This video will familiarize you with the expectations | goals | philosophy | focus of the course. By now you know that the
focus of this course is to help you get the 99th percentile score on the GMAT (760-800 range). It is absolutely compulsory for you to have the right
mindset whenever you start with anything significant. For example, if you were to run a marathon 3 months from now, you can’t be random in
your thinking / training … “Let me see / let me start and see how this pans out / Let me run a little every day / even if a few days are missed, it is
okay / if not this marathon, probably the next one / if not a full marathon, I can go for a half marathon … etc.” This won’t take you anywhere. If
you want to achieve any big target, you must have a goal that is extremely clear. And an Ivy-league or equivalent MBA is the most coveted
education in the entire world (you will be shocked to know that 473/500 Fortune-500 CEOs hold prestigious MBAs).

SMART Goal for the GMAT:

Specific: ≥760 Score … don’t say I want a good score. UGH! LAME! Learn to talk in specific numbers.

Measurable: at the end of your exam, you will be able to measure whether you got ≥760 score or not. Similarly, at the end of each day / week /
month, you can measure whether you are achieving your desired targets (in terms of hours / materials finished).

Actionable / Attainable / Achievable: after knowing the experiences of thousands of 99th percentile scorers in the past, you must believe that this
goal is undoubtedly achievable. Thousands of my students in the past have demonstrated that such scores are indeed possible.

Relevant: of course, a ≥760 score is bound to be relevant to your future career ambitions.

Time bound: you can’t say, “let me see / let me start preparing …” kind of lines. Be focused and specific about what you want to achieve. You must
prepare with a deadline in mind. To this effect, daily inputs are really important. Set a target of at least 3 hours a day, on average (weekly 21
hours overall). Depending on your current situation, you may study more than 3 hours per day as well. Hold yourself accountable on days that
you slip up. Inculcate self-discipline and self-motivation. Generally speaking, people who need someone else to discipline / motivate them don’t
go very far in life (don’t become top CEOs / top entrepreneurs). Be on a mission. Have a laser-focused precision and razor-sharp sense of purpose.
2. Video No. 2 – GMAT Topicwise https://youtu.be/_VDjLp7XOO0

Some parts in this are repeated from the previous video(s) that you may have seen.

Why is this important? Once you have set the big goal of getting a 99th percentile score (760-800 range), the next thing is to understand the
component parts: RC, SC, CR and Quant (DS and PS). Watching this video will give you the necessary confidence that even if you are extremely
weak at any area to begin with, you can really scale spectacular heights with this course. I expect the BEST EFFORT OF YOUR LIFE and not a
casual, ‘it’s ok’ ‘chalta-hai (means ‘it is okay to be lax’)’ kind of effort. You may be below average to start with; that doesn’t matter. All you need
to do is be sincere with this course.

In the past, we have had students who went from 1/30 in the Initial Student Assessment Test (SAT) to 760 within a matter of months | from 18 to
40 in Verbal | from 21 to 42 in Verbal | from 26 to 42 in Verbal | from getting 1/25 in the first DS (Data Sufficiency) Session to scoring 50 or 51
in Quant | from 0% accuracy to scoring a 99th percentile in Verbal | from 610 to 760 in 2 weeks | from 460 to 760 in a few months.

Also, remember this: someone who gets a 770 score with this course will have access to the same resources (same teacher / same videos /
same materials / same guidance) as someone who gets a 610 score. So, the difference is not in instruction / teaching / service quality. The
difference is clearly in the efforts put in by the two respective students. My efforts are the same for each student. Let your effort match my
philosophy of a 99th percentile score. I will definitely push you for a ≥760 score, but if you put in 550-level efforts, I won’t be able to help you
much.

3. Video No. 3 – Admissions https://youtu.be/6hDfqW2iCZ8

Why is this important? You must realize that the GMAT isn’t your end goal; the goal is to join a B-school / University for MBA or MS (Masters)
or PhD program. So, if you turn a complete blind eye to the application process in this moment (“let me focus on GMAT right now. I will think
about the schools later.”), you run a huge risk of losing ONE FULL YEAR. The correct approach will be to have at least a general idea (if not specific)
about the application process, your target schools and their respective deadlines (if not anything else).

To this effect, after watching the three videos, please schedule a call with my resident B-School Admissions Expert Autrri Chakravarti for a
preliminary discussion. Talking to Autrri will give you a lot of clarity in terms of your timelines. You can get in touch with him at

autrri@gmail.com or +919741893583 (WhatsApp him first)

For best results from this course, please start with the Study Plan only after finishing the three
videos and the call with Autrri.
 Actual Study Plan
For every video session, we have set for you some Pre-Work (before watching the video) and some Post-Work (after watching the video).

PLEASE NOTE: All the extra materials (Manhattan Books, Official Guides and all other necessary resources) are provided from our side.

Video Sessions
Session No. + Name Pre-Work Video Post Work
Session 1: Introduction
Go through solutions
to the GMAT + RC 1
PDF for this session.
(Part 1) from the PDF Watch Session 1 Video.
Solve the initial 6 questions (2 questions in Quant, 2 in CR,
Make relevant notes.
2 in SC) + RC Session 1 (first 2 passages, 7 RC questions Video Session Support
Video Session Support Pause / rewind the video
overall) in untimed conditions without referring to Handouts\Introductory
Handouts\Introductory whenever needed.
solutions. Max one hour! Session\S1 Introduction
Session\S1 3 hours
+ RC 1 (part 1)
Introduction + RC 1
solutions.pdf
(part 1).pdf
Go through solutions
PDF for this session.
Session 2: Verbal Important: after the
Session 2: RC 1 first two sessions of RC,
(Remaining) + RC 2 Watch Session 2 Video. revise OCTAVE from
Solve passage No. 3-6 from RC 1 and solve all the 7
from the PDF Make relevant notes. OCTAVE PDF.
passages from RC 2 (11 RC passages and 26 RC questions
Pause / rewind the video Video Session Support
overall) in untimed conditions without referring to
Video Session Support whenever needed. Handouts\Introductory
solutions. 90-120 min
Handouts\Verbal\S2 3 hours Session\OCTAVE
RC Session 1 (Part 2) + 2020.pdf
RC Session 2.pdf Don’t do this before
finishing the videos /
reading the solutions.
Suggested extra post work after RC 1 and RC 2: Solve at least 4 passages a day from RC Latest PDF. Read each solution, even if you are
correct. Though this is strongly advised, it is not absolutely compulsory at this stage.
RC\Latest RC.pdf and RC Latest solutions_final.pdf
 Go through solutions
PDF for this session.
Session 3: Quant 1: DS
Traps …
Video Session Support
Watch Session 3 Video. Handouts\Quant\ S3 DS
Don’t revise any math
Solve each of the DS questions. Make relevant notes. traps solution.pdf
basics / formulas
Pause / rewind the video
before this session.
60 min whenever needed. Important: please don’t
3 hours be frustrated about your
Video Session Support
accuracy in DS Traps.
Handouts\Quant\S3
Almost everyone
Quant 1 DS Traps.pdf
struggles with DS traps
in the beginning.

General Instructions for all the Quant Sessions that follow:

If your math basics are decent – skip this step entirely. Just read the concepts from the session handouts, solve the session handouts,
watch the videos, and then solve Quant 700-800 and Quant Latest after all the (respective) sessions are over.

If you need brushing up on the basics: Read the relevant topics from Manhattan GMAT Quant books (before every session). Respective
book names / page numbers are given before each video session’s Pre-work.

I repeat: only if you need help from absolute basics in Quant, you may refer to the Manhattan GMAT Quant guides. If your math foundations
are decent / strong, you may skip Manhattan Guides completely.

Manhattan GMAT guides for Quant (all guides are provided by us):

Foundations of GMAT Math (FGM)

Topic wise books (Strategy Guides) – 1. Algebra, 2. Word Problems, 3. Fractions, Decimals, and Percents, 4. Number Properties, 5. Geometry

Folder name: Manhattan Guides + PDF Mocks … you may find all the guides there.
 Go through solutions
PDF for this session.

Video Session Support

Handouts\Quant\ S4
Inequalities solutions
.pdf

Don’t worry about the

Optional: Foundations of GMAT Math Book (Pages 339- accuracy at this stage.
Session 4: Quant 367); Algebra Strategy Guide (Pages 89-105 and 163-173) You will improve soon.
Session 2: Watch Session 4 Video.
2 hours (it is flexible; you may take more time as well) Make relevant notes. For extra practice in
Video Session Support Pause / rewind the video inequalities (optional at
Handouts\Quant\ Compulsory: Must finish the PDF “S4 Inequalities.pdf” whenever needed. this stage): Quant 700-
Inequalities\ S4 Quant Solve each of the 30 questions. 3 hours 800, Quant Latest
2 Inequalities.pdf Collection (some
1 hour extremely important
questions from your
Session Handouts are
intentionally repeated in
these collections,
because we feel that
those questions must be
solved 2-3 times)

\Quant\Quant 700-800
 For concepts in SC:
You must finish reading

1. Maximize Your Writing Score Book (for absolute

basics in grammar – pre-GMAT level). No skipping.
(Book provided by us)
GMAT Video Course\SC\maximize ur writing
score.pdf
2. Solve the 50 one-liner questions from the pdf
called SC Concepts [refer SC Folder] and read the
solutions in detail.
GMAT Video Course\SC\Sentence Correction
Concepts Book 2020 by Sandeep Gupta.pdf Watch Session 5
Video. Make relevant
Go through solutions PDF
THIS IS THE BEST DOCUMENT ON THIS PLANET TO notes. Pause /
Session 5: Verbal Session 3: for this session.
UNDERSTAND SC CONCEPTS. MAKE SURE YOU rewind the video
SC Session 1 + CR Session 1
READ IT AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES. whenever needed.
\Video Session Support
Make ample notes,
Handouts\Verbal\S5 SC 1 +
Warning: If you are unprepared for this video especially in SC. Will
Video Session Support CR 1 solutions.pdf
session, you are really going to feel frustrated while be required for
Handouts\Verbal\S5 SC 1 +
watching it. Make sure you study the entire SC revision later.
CR 1.pdf Make ample notes,
Concepts document at leisure at least twice to get a
especially for SC.
grip on the subject. Don't hurry through the reading 3 hours (may take
of SC in any case. Take your own sweet time ... learn, longer)
savor, relish, enjoy.

Read CR concepts given in the handout SC1 + CR 1

PDF.
Video Session Support Handouts\Verbal\S5 SC 1 +
CR 1.pdf
FINALLY: solve the PDF “S5 SC 1 + CR 1.pdf”
Video Session Support Handouts\Verbal\S5 SC 1 +
CR 1.pdf

Total effort needed before watching the video: 20

hours, approx.
 There is a lot of prework before this session

Before watching this session’s SC Part, you must

finish:
1. (Revise, if need be) Maximize Your Writing Score
2. (MUST REVISE) SC Concepts
3. GMAT SC Topicwise PDF
\SC\GMAT SC TOPICWISE.pdf

Before watching this session’s CR Part, you must:

Watch Session 6
Finish the complete TOP-GMAT CR concepts book
Video. Make relevant
with all exercises.
notes. Pause /
Session 6: Verbal Session 4: rewind the video
\CR\ CR Concepts book.pdf
SC Session 2 + CR Session 2 whenever needed.
Make ample notes, Go through solutions PDF
(Refer to explanations to the exercises given in
especially in SC. Will for this session. Make ample
another PDF)
\Video Session Support be required for notes, especially for SC.
Handouts\Verbal\S6 SC 2 + revision later.
Finish 85 questions in assumptions (PDF) and check
CR 2.pdf
each solution
4 hours (bound to
take longer than 3
\CR\ Assumptions Latest Questions - total 85 Q.pdf
hours)
Refer to solutions in the solutions PDF

Finish 42 questions in evaluate and check each

solution
\CR\Evaluate.pdf

Refer to the solutions in the other PDF.

Total effort needed before watching the video: 20

hours, approx.

Session 7: Quant Session 3:
Absolute Values (Mods) +
Statistics
\Video Session Support
Handouts\Quant\ S7 Quant 3
Mods + Stats.pdf
Session 8: Quant Session 4:
Number Properties + General
Algebra
\Video Session Support
Handouts\Quant\S8 Quant 4
Numbers + General
Algebra.pdf
Go through solutions PDF
for this session.
Optional (Manhattan): Word Problems Strategy
For extra practice in Mods
Guide (pages 51-69) Watch Session 7
+ Stats (optional at this
Video. Make relevant
stage): Quant 700-800,
1 hour (may take longer – absolutely no problem) notes. Pause /
Quant Latest Collection
rewind the video
(some extremely important
Compulsory: Must finish the “S7 Quant 3 Mods + whenever needed.
questions from your Session
Stats.pdf” document
Handouts are intentionally
3 hours
repeated in these
2 hours
collections, because we feel
that those questions must
be solved 2-3 times)
Go through solutions PDF
for this session.
Optional (Manhattan): Foundations of GMAT Math
Book (59-255); (255-339; 367-419), Fractions, For extra practice in
Decimals, and Percents full Strategy Guide; Numbers Watch Session 8 Numbers + General
Properties full Strategy Guide Video. Make relevant Algebra (optional at this
notes. Pause / stage): Quant 700-800,
4 hours (may take longer) rewind the video Quant Latest Collection
whenever needed. (some extremely important
Compulsory: Finish the “S8 Quant 4 Numbers + questions from your Session
General Algebra.pdf”. 3 hours Handouts are intentionally
repeated in these
2 hours (may take longer) collections, because we feel
that those questions must
be solved 2-3 times)

Session 9: Verbal Session 5:
RC 3 + SC 3
\Video Session Support
Handouts\Verbal\S9 RC 3 +
SC 3.pdf
Session 10: Verbal Session 6:
CR Session 3 + RC Session 4
\Video Session Support
Handouts\Verbal\S6 CR 3 +
RC 4.pdf
Session 11: Quant Session 5:
Geometry + Coordinate
Geometry
\Video Session Support
Handouts\Quant\S11 Quant 5 Compulsory: Finish S11 Quant 5 Geometry.pdf
Geometry + Coordinate
geometry.pdf 3-4 hours (may take longer)
Watch Session 9
Video. Make relevant
notes. Pause /
Compulsory: Solve at least 20 new passages from RC rewind the video
Latest Handout (preferably all 20 in one long sitting); whenever needed.
Go through solutions PDF
read each solution, even if you are correct. This session is really
for this session. Make notes,
good for OCTAVE
especially for OCTAVE and
Compulsory: solve the S9 RC3 + SC3.pdf revision. Make ample
SC.
notes, especially in
5 hours for both parts SC. Will be required
for revision later.
3 hours
(Optional) Read CR concepts book again. Watch Session 10
Video. Make relevant
Compulsory: Must solve at least 25 more passages notes. Pause /
from RC Latest, preferably all in one long sitting. rewind the video
Read every solution, even if your answers are whenever needed. Go through solutions PDF
correct. This session is really for this session.
good for revising the
Compulsory: finish the S10 CR 3 + RC 4.pdf AVE part of OCTAVE.
4 hours (for the compulsory part) 3 hours
Go through solutions PDF
for this session.
Optional (Manhattan): Foundations of GMAT Math For extra practice in
Watch Session 11
Book (419-507); Geometry full book Geometry + Coordinate
Video. Make relevant
Geometry (optional at this
notes. Pause /
4 hours (may take longer) stage): Quant 700-800, Quant
rewind the video
Latest Collection (some
whenever needed.
extremely important questions
3 hours (might take from your Session Handouts
longer) are intentionally repeated in
these collections, because
those questions must be solved
2-3 times)
 Optional (Manhattan): Number Properties book
(45-69; 113-127) Go through solutions PDF
for this session.
3 hours (might take longer)
For this topic, particularly …
Compulsory: Prework PnC Prob Quant Session PDF revise it 2-3 times before
Session 12: Quant session 6: Watch Session 12 the exam.
Combinatorics (P&C and \Video Session Support Handouts\Quant\Prework Video. Make relevant
Probability) PnC Prob Quant Session.pdf notes. Pause / For extra practice in PnC,
rewind the video Prob (optional at this stage):
\Video Session Support Compulsory: S12 Quant 6 PnC Prob.pdf whenever needed. Quant 700-800, Quant Latest
Handouts\Quant\S12 Quant 6 Collection (some extremely
PnC Prob.pdf Most students find this topic very challenging. Please 3 hours important questions from
make sure you try to solve every question yourself, your Session Handouts are
no matter how difficult it seems. Watching the intentionally repeated in
solutions too soon will be detrimental to your these collections, because
understanding / mastery of this topic. we feel that those questions
must be solved 2-3 times)
5-6 hours for the compulsory part

Session 13: Verbal Session 7:
SC 4 + CR 4
\Video Session Support
Handouts\Verbal\S13 SC 4 +
CR 4.pdf
Go through solutions PDF
for this session.
Important: after finishing
all the four CR Sessions, go
through the PDF: CR
Watch Session 13 Inference questions for help
Video. Make relevant in RC
notes. Pause /
Optional: SC and CR concepts revision rewind the video \CR\CR Inference Questions
whenever needed. for help in RC.pdf
Compulsory: SC4 + CR 4.pdf Make ample notes,
especially in SC. Will Read the detailed solutions,
2.5 hours for the compulsory part be required for especially for the wrong
revision later. ones. Inference questions
in both CR and RC happen
3 hours to be supremely
challenging for many
students. To this effect, you
MUST practice this
document at least twice
(with a gap of a few weeks
in between).

Session 14: Quant Session 7:
Arithmetic + Miscellaneous
Word Problems
\Video Session Support
Handouts\Quant\S14 Quant 7 \Video Session Support Handouts\Quant\Prework -
Arithmetic + Word Arithmetic + Miscellaneous Word Problems.pdf
Problems.pdf
Compulsory: Solve S14 Quant 7 Arithmetic + Word
Problems.pdf fully
Session 15: IR [Integrated
Reasoning]
\Video Session Support
Handouts\IR\IR Class
Session.pdf
Session 16: AWA [Analytical
Writing Assessment]
|Video Session Support
Handouts\AWA\AWA -
GMAT.pdf
After watching the video:
Optional: (Manhattan) Foundations of GMAT Math
Please go through the
Book (11-59);
Arithmetic + Miscellaneous
Word Problems Solutions
Manhattan Word Problems full book
PDF thoroughly.
7-8 hours (might take longer) Watch Session 14
For extra practice in
Video. Make relevant
Arithmetic and Word
Compulsory: Prework - Arithmetic + Miscellaneous notes. Pause /
Problems (optional at this
Word Problems rewind the video
stage): Quant 700-800,
whenever needed.
Quant Latest Collection
(some extremely important
3 hours
questions from your Session
Handouts are intentionally
repeated in these
collections, because we feel
that those questions must
3 hours for the compulsory parts
be solved 2-3 times)
Watch Session 15
Solve IR class session PDF video.
---
3 hours 3 hours
After the video, please refer
to the Model answers to
AWA questions (just read
five sample topics and
Read the AWA answers a day prior to the
session handout and test). You will ensure a
--- watch the AWA video grade of 5-6.
Please don’t bother much
1 hour about IR and AWA … b-
schools / universities
don’t care much about
your grades in these 2
sections.
 Study Plan after the Video Sessions are over
90-120 hours overall (depending on your progress and performance in Mock 1)

The most important step in going from 680 to 760+

NOTE: This is going to help only those students who have finished watching ALL the video sessions and have done all the pre- and post- works.

Write a mock test (GMAT-Prep 1 - download from www.mba.com) ... write the entire test. Don’t skip any section. Do the entire test in one sitting.

After identifying your weak areas, follow the entire study plan (as given below). Ideally this should take 30 days (4 hrs/day) or 40 days (3 hrs/day).

To customize your plan: you may get in touch with our admissions director Autrri Chakravarti (who is also a GMAT expert) (autrri@gmail.com) to chart
out a customized plan for you depending on your performance in the first mock test).

We have not listed down the hour-wise or day-wise plan because each student has different practice styles. But if you want us to design a daily /
weekly plan for you, we may help you (though it is strongly advised that you manage your own time during this process).

Quant:

Take an estimate of the number of questions you have to solve. Always solve at least 30 questions at a stretch in one hour (2 minutes per question).

1. (Optional) Manhattan Advanced GMAT Quant book (214-360) - Drills 1-15.

2. (Optional) Quant latest collection
3. (Compulsory) Quant 700-800 Collection
4. (Optional) Recent DS (218 + 218) questions collection

CR:

Take an estimate of the number of questions you have to solve. Always solve at least 30 questions at a stretch in roughly 50 minutes (ideally 100
seconds per question).

1. (Compulsory) OG and OG VR
2. (Compulsory) CR Latest (most important) + Add on … some questions are repeated intentionally in this collection because we feel you need to relook
at the logic involved in them once again.
RC:

Take an estimate of the number of passages / questions you have to solve. Always solve at least 4 passages at a time: passage with 3 questions (5
min overall – reading the passage and answering the questions) / passage with 4 questions (6.5 min overall – reading the passage and answering the
questions)

Concepts: OCTAVE has been discussed in detail in the videos (revise from OCTAVE PDF)
Practice: OG, OG VR
RC Latest Questions

SC

Take an estimate of the number of questions you have to solve. Always solve at least 30 questions at a stretch in 30 minutes (ideally one minute
per question).

1. OG, OG VR
2. SC Latest Questions (most crucial) - this is a set of about 700 questions in SC ... if you can get 90% accuracy on this, your exam won't be a problem at
all

MOST CRUCIAL STEP IN SC: IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THIS STEP, YOU WILL NOT IMPROVE beyond 70% accuracy.

For all the questions in SC Latest, you must write your brief solution and check from Manhattan-GMAT forums (only expert replies). You must
make sure that you use only grammar (rules), meaning, and idiom to eliminate. Don't use intuition at all. This contains about 700 official SC
questions.

AWA (optional, you may skip this altogether):

After the video (you will need the session handout), please refer to the Model answers to AWA questions (just read five sample topics and answers a
day prior to the test). You will ensure a grade of 5-6. A grade of 4 is absolutely acceptable.
IR (optional, you may skip this altogether):

After watching the video and solving the relevant PDF, please follow the following steps for IR:

1. Solve "IR questions - real GMAT.PDF" fully (39 questions) and check all solutions ... some of the questions in this document are common with the
session handout but there are a lot of new questions.

2. Solve "OG online supplement - IR 50 questions.PDF" (50 questions) fully and refer to each solution.

3. Solve "TOP-GMAT's Integrated Reasoning Content.PDF" (72 questions) fully and refer to each solution. This is tougher level practice.

YOU CAN ENSURE a grade of 7-8 by doing all the above steps. BUT don’t sweat this topic much. Isn’t all that important.

The most critical step in your preparation:

We have seen that almost all students face a problem of lack of concentration, lack of stamina, fatigue, bad pacing, and improper execution as bigger
problems on the test than the subject content.

To fix this issue, the following is recommended:

You must make ten to twenty 140-min sittings with LSAT RC and CR sections alternately under strict time conditions – 35 minutes per section (complete
4 sections in one sitting). These sittings must be nonstop 140 minutes.
Mock Tests to take before the real test:

I recommend the following tests: GMAT Prep 1 to 6 – download from www.mba.com

Please understand that taking any other mock test will not help you at all.

Book your exam date when you feel that your worst day performance can't be lower than 730.

All the best for your GMAT 99th percentile dream and admit to the business school of your choice:

Cheers
Sandeep Gupta
Founder, Top-One-Percent GMAT and GRE | GMAT 800/800 [Earlier scores: 800/800, 770/800, 770/800]
GRE 340/340 [Earlier scores: 1600/1600 - old format, 2400/2400 - old format] | A Hattrick of Harvard Admits
GMAT and GRE coach since 1996 |
www.top-one-percent.com
Just a message / phonecall away for any help you need