Advice for a total beginner? (where to study/on what to focus/strategies)?

Question

Mansih K · Accepted Answer

If you&rsquo;re just getting started, the best thing to do is take a full-length practice test. It shows you what sections are tough for you&mdash;Quant, Verbal, or Data Insights. Mentr-Me has a good free mock you can use right away. No need to study first&mdash;just take it to understand where you stand.
Then spend the first 2&ndash;3 weeks learning the basics. Don&rsquo;t rush into speed or timing yet. For Quant, focus on number properties, percentages, and word problems. For Verbal, understand how Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension questions work.
Also, track your mistakes in a simple notebook or sheet. Write down why you got it wrong&mdash;not just the answer. Reviewing those regularly helps you improve faster than solving more and more questions blindly.
Retake a full mock every 2&ndash;3 weeks to track your progress and adjust your study plan as needed.  You&rsquo;ve got this&mdash;just take it one step at a time.

Ranjan J · Answer

When starting from zero, don&rsquo;t overload yourself with too many books. Use something like the GMAT Official Guide and one platform like Mentr-Me to keep it simple. They break things down step-by-step, which is perfect for beginners.
Focus first on understanding the basic concepts. Once you&rsquo;re a bit comfortable, start doing short, timed sets&mdash;even if it&rsquo;s just 15&ndash;20 minutes. Many people wait too long to think about timing, and then panic during mocks. Even early on, try to notice how long you're spending per question&mdash;you&rsquo;ll thank yourself later.
And don&rsquo;t skip Data Insights. It looks easy at first, but schools are paying more attention to it now. Just practice a few DI sets each week so it doesn&rsquo;t become a last-minute scramble.
Try taking a full-length mock every 2&ndash;3 weeks to measure improvement and see if your weak spots are getting better.
For more details, you can read this blog on  "GMAT Study Plan: Ace Your Exam with Expert Strategies."