Let us put it out there- there are many ways to score good, and coaching is only one way to reach your destination. Most of us end up joining coaching centre under peer pressure or feelings of inadequacy in our own efforts and abilities. However, put your worried soul to rest; anything can be achieved with a perfect mixture of diligence, hard work and good luck. The job of a coaching would be to make you regular- that can easily be achieved by self discipline. Many have done it without any need for special classroom coaching.

The crux is the syllabus, which is basic and not rocket science. If you work two jobs or leave a hectic life, coaching may not fit your bill. The syllabus is of the Class 10 level which can be easily studied from books. If you can manage to sincerely study on your own and find good guidance initially, you can crack GMAT. And not just crack it, but do great. Three quarters of any preparation involves self study and research. In addition to basic study, three Verbal Topics – Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction and Critical Reasoning will require attention over and above your regular practice.

With all content available online and in hardbound books, it becomes easier to access the necessary resources. Also, one important pointer- don’t be under the impression that studying for CAT makes you prepare for GMAT simultaneously. They differ in structure as well as course content; so for GMAT, use prescribed guides only.

If you find lack of motivation while preparing alone, then join a study group. An online platform called StudyPal helps prospective GMAT-takers find others studying for the same in their city, and connects them over internet. There are also experience teachers or ‘gurus’ if you’ll call them, who will guide you throughout the process. Savvy eh? There are other online classes like Byju’s Tablet Learning Program, which provide personal mentors to students to enable efficient grounding.

However, Test Series are essential and you should definitely subscribe to one and take all the tests sincerely. Download GMAT prep software from The Official GMAT Website. It has 2 free full length practice tests. Also, we would highly recommend Manhattan GMAT practice tests as they are the best in their group, very thorough and practical. Start taking these tests and make sure that you pay equal attention to your problem areas under the review log. Remember you need to get a stable 750 on your practice test in order to get into the 700+ range.

Remember, there are three ingredients to success at GMAT:

Practice, Practice, Practice