So you’re ready to study for the GMAT. But where should you start? The demands of prepping for the exam can be overwhelming, but if you know how to begin, you’ll set yourself up for success.

In this article, I’ll go over everything you need to know about how to start preparing for GMAT test day, including when to start studying, how to make a prep plan, and what to focus on first.

When Should You Start Preparing for the GMAT?

Before we get into how to start studying for the GMAT, let’s establish when to start GMAT preparations. I recommend you start studying around five months before your earliest business school application deadline. This will give you about three months to study and prepare before the GMAT, and plenty of time for your official score reports to be sent out to your MBA programs of choice.

A gap between your GMAT test date and your MBA application deadlines is important, because your official score report will be sent to the business schools you’ve selected (you can choose up to five at the time of your exam) 20 days after you take the exam. Any additional score reports you order after that will take about a week to arrive at your chosen programs. To be safe, then, you should take the GMAT at least six to eight weeks before the application deadlines. An exception is if you want to leave time to retake the test if you don’t do as well as you hoped, in which case you should leave several more months for additional preparation.

Three months of regular prep is the gold standard for an ideal GMAT study timeline, as it’s long enough to allow you to hone in on your weaknesses, complete regular drills, and take several full-length practice tests.

In those three months, you should allot at least 10 hours a week to studying, over at least three days a week. It takes time to get organized, become familiar with the test, and develop the GMAT test-taking strategies that work for you. Trying to cram for the GMAT usually doesn’t result in substantial score improvements, and one or two long study sessions a week won’t do you nearly as much good as three or more shorter weekly sessions. Building a routine around GMAT prep will allow the skills you build to become second nature.

At the same time, starting to prepare too early isn’t optimal either. Spreading your studying out over more than six months may cause you to plateau, and will become tedious. Targeted, organized prep is the key to your GMAT success, and that starts with a study plan.

Making a GMAT Study Plan

The very first step in your GMAT preparation is to make a study plan. Studying methodically and effectively requires organization; starting to prepare blindly or in a disjointed way won’t maximize your score increase.

As you formulate your study plan, you should take a diagnostic test (full-length, timed, and in computerized adaptive format) through the official GMATPrep software. This will help you to know your starting point in terms of your GMAT score. Knowing where you’re starting out will also help you set a target GMAT score using the average scores of admitted students at your prospective MBA programs. With your initial score, you’ll know how far you are from your goals, which will help you know when and how to start preparing for the GMAT based on how much time you need to prep in terms of months before the exam and hours per week.

A diagnostic test will also help you learn more about your weaknesses. Which sections were hardest for you, and which question types? Did you have trouble with timing and pacing? This information will help you decide exactly how to prep and what to focus on as you tailor a study plan to your needs.

Create a detailed schedule to complete your study plan before the test date. Instead of simply allotting a certain number of hours a week, each study session should have a particular goal, i.e., “Use the GMATPrep Software to complete a 20-question reading comprehension quiz.” Keeping track of what you will practice each week will help you track your progress and make specific goals as you work to eliminate your weaknesses. It will also help you adjust your study plan if necessary to accommodate how you’re progressing in your GMAT prep.

How to Start Preparing for the GMAT: 4 Important Steps

So, once you’ve created your study schedule, what are your first steps? Let’s go over four strategies for how to start preparing for the GMAT.

#1: Learn the Format

Use your early prep time to become as familiar as possible with the format of the exam. This seems simple enough, but knowing you won’t be seeing any surprises on test day is a major factor in reducing your stress and feeling like an expert rather than overwhelmed when faced with the official GMAT.

Become familiar with the individual sections, the question types in each section, and what each question type is asking of you. This will help you as you decide on strategies for tackling each kind of question.

#2: Analyze Your Strengths and Weaknesses

When you take your first practice test, start to notice your error patterns. What was your weakest section? Within that section, what question types did you struggle most with?

To analyze your weaknesses, read the answer explanations of the questions you struggled with on your diagnostic test. Figure out where you went wrong. Organize your GMAT prep around your weakest links, and schedule accordingly. You should allot more time to drilling your weaknesses and reviewing the relevant skills than on anything else.

#3: Work On Fundamental Skills

Once you know your weaknesses, decide what fundamental skills you need to review. Have you forgotten how remainders work? Do you need to practice reading and analyzing short texts?

If you have trouble with getting through reading comprehension passages quickly enough or in gleaning the necessary details from them, for example, you might need to regularly practice reading newspaper articles or other high-level materials. The New York Times, Science, The New Yorker, and The Economist are good places to start.

Alternatively, you might need to review the fundamental math skills tested on the GMAT, such as algebraic equations or statistics and probability. Our guides to GMAT fractions and decimals, GMAT percentages, and GMAT statistics questions are helpful starting points for your math review.

Grammar basics, such as parts of speech and sentence structure, is another common area that test-takers need to review. Learning or reviewing grammar terms and rules will help you recognize sentence correction errors more quickly. Our guide to the most important GMAT grammar rules will help you learn to recognize the most common grammar errors that are tested on the exam.

Your GMAT prep plan should reflect any gaps in your knowledge or background, incorporating not just practice questions and tests but drills and outside readings (such as a grammar guide or math quizzes in the areas you find most difficult). Using practice questions and familiarizing yourself with the format of the exam is important, but building the underlying skills necessary to answer the questions is just as, if not more, significant to your performance on the GMAT. With those skills as your foundation, you can tackle any curveballs that are thrown at you on the exam.

#4: Edit Your Study Plan as Needed

Once you’ve taken your weaknesses into account, edit your initial study plan to reflect them. For example, if you find you’re having trouble with timing, set a goal to finish a certain number of questions in a given time limit, and lower the time limit as you get closer to your exam date. If you realize you’re having trouble with GMAT vocabulary words, make time to use flashcards to test yourself on words that show up frequently on the test. While sticking to the basics of your original plan, make sure to update it based on your progress as you continue.

Review: How to Start Preparing for GMAT Test Day

Remember, the keys to beginning your GMAT prep are giving yourself enough time and staying organized. Using these tips will help you get rolling on your GMAT study plan with confidence.

What’s Next?

Still not sure when to start GMAT preparations? For more information about creating a detailed study plan, our guide to the ideal GMAT study timeline will help you make a prep schedule that works for you.

Our guide to taking and using a GMAT diagnostic test as part of your study plan will help you learn how to analyze those test results and tailor your prep plan to your unique needs.

Use our comprehensive guide to GMAT preparation to help you along from registration to test day.

The post How to Start Preparing for the GMAT: 4 First Steps appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

So, you’ve decided to take the GMAT and you only have one month to prepare. You’ve certainly set a lofty challenge for yourself!

While I’d suggest spending around three solid months on GMAT prep, it is possible to prepare for the GMAT and improve your score in one month. In this article, I’ll cover the key goals and learning objectives you should have if you’re preparing for the GMAT in one month. I’ll also offer two different 1 month GMAT study plans that you can use for your prep.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to prepare for the GMAT in one month!

How Much Can I Improve my GMAT Score in 1 Month?

Before we look at some sample 1 month GMAT study plans, let’s talk about how much you can improve your GMAT score by only studying for one month.

Whenever possible, I’d recommend spending three months studying for the GMAT. Three months gives you enough time to cover all of the concepts covered on the GMAT in depth, while also ensuring that you won’t be jam-packing study hours into your schedule.

In contrast, when you only have one month to study for the GMAT, you won’t be able to cover every single topic with a lot of depth and you’ll have to cram more study hours into a shorter amount of time, meaning that you’re at higher risk for suffering from fatigue or burnout. I don’t say this to scare you – it’s important to approach your GMAT prep with realistic expectations and reasonable goals so that you’re not disappointed with your score on test day.

That being said, it’s completely possible to do your GMAT preparation in one month and improve your GMAT score. You just likely won’t improve your score as substantially as someone who’s studying for three or more months.

In this guide, I’ll be offering two sample GMAT study plans – one that packs 50 hours of prep into one month, and another that packs 100 hours of prep into one month. If you study for 50 hours, you’ll likely improve your GMAT score between 0 – 50 points. If you study for 100 hours, you’ll likely improve your GMAT score between 50 – 100 points.

Keep in mind, these hour recommendations are for first-time test-takers who haven’t done much prep. It’s easier to make score improvements when you’re just starting out, because you can make big gains when learning material that’s new to you. The more you’ve prepped, the more difficult it’s going to be to make improvements, because you’ve already seen the content and strategies before.

If you’re looking to make a substantial increase in your GMAT score (e.g., over 100 points), or don’t have 50 to 100 hours to spend on GMAT preparation in one month, I’d recommend trying to schedule your test for a different date.

The 5 Key Goals for Your 1 Month GMAT Study Plan

Because you’ve only got one month to study for the GMAT, it’s important to prioritize what you absolutely need to have mastered by the end of your 1 month GMAT study plan. Here are five things you should absolutely do by the time you take the GMAT.

#1: Learn the Format of the Exam

One of the best ways to improve your score and feel comfortable on test day is to really learn the format of the GMAT.

The GMAT is an extremely challenging standardized test, with unique and tricky question types that you won’t have seen on any other exam you’ve taken. You should spend time familiarizing yourself with the four sections of the test (verbal, quantitative, integrative reasoning, and analytical writing assessment), as well as the types of content and questions covered in each. By learning the format of the exam and the question types, you’ll be comfortable when you encounter each section on test day.

#2: Take Official Practice Tests

You should aim to take at least three full-length, official GMAT practice tests before your GMAT test day. Do your best to mimic test day conditions when you take practice tests, meaning that you take each practice test in one sitting, with minimal distractions or interruptions.

Taking official practice tests is a great way to build your endurance for test day (the GMAT is long), as well as to measure your progress as you practice. After you finish a full-length practice test, you should review your results to see that question types and content areas that are giving you the most trouble.

Official practice tests will mimic the content that you’ll encounter on test day more closely than tests designed by third-party test prep companies. Whenever possible, use official practice tests and real practice questions in your prep.

#3: Master Key Strategies for Each Question Type

While there are many different types of content covered on the GMAT, you can find several overarching strategies for tackling questions in the four GMAT tested sections. For instance, plugging in numbers is a useful strategy for the GMAT quant section and asking yourself questions while you read is a good strategy for GMAT verbal passages. Spend time reviewing and applying the top five strategies for each section. Our in-depth guides to mastering the quant and verbal sections of the GMAT are a good place to start learning these strategies.

#4: Use Real Practice Questions

Using real practice questions is another way you can really boost your GMAT preparation in one month. Real practice questions come directly from old, retired GMATs, which means they’ll be the closest approximation in style and content to what you’ll actually see on test day.

#5: Focus Your Attention

Since you’ve only got limited time to spend studying during your one month of GMAT preparation, you should focus your attention as much as possible. After doing a broad review of all of the sections and question types on the GMAT, spend time focusing on the areas that are really giving you trouble. For instance, if you struggle with geometry questions on the quant section, you’ll want to focus your energy on those question types. If you’re able to master a question type that you often get wrong, you’ll be able to make up a lot of points relatively easily.

1 Month GMAT Study Plan – 50 Hours

In this section, I’ll show you how to prepare for the GMAT in one month by studying for 50 hours. You’ll likely be able to make a modest improvement to your score with this plan.

Days 1 – 2: Knowledge Building

Total Time: 6 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Build your familiarity with the structure of the test. Visit mba.com to learn about the test, how it’s scored, and to see an overview of the types of questions you’ll be asked. Make sure you register for the site so you can download GMATPrep.
    • Time Suggested: 2 hours
  • Take an official GMAT CAT on GMATPrep. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking the diagnostic test will help you get a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses
    • Time Suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Review your results. Note which sections you did well on and which sections you struggled with. For the quant and verbal sections, identify three topics in each section that you struggled with (such as inequalities or subject-verb agreement). If you’d like, start to review some of the answer explanations for questions you got wrong.
    • Time Suggested: 30 minutes.

Days 3 – 7: Quantitative Focus

Total Time: 8 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Build your knowledge in algebra. Research algebra topics that you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
    • Time Suggested: 2 hours
  • Build your knowledge in geometry. Research geometry topics you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
    • Time Suggested: 2 hours
  • Build your knowledge in word problems. Research word problems you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
    • Time Suggested: 2 hours
  • Build your knowledge in number properties. Research number properties topics you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
    • Time Suggested: 2 hours

Days 8 – 12: Verbal Focus

Total Time: 6 hours

• To-Dos:
• Familiarize yourself with GMAT Verbal Section. Start by visiting MBA.com and clicking around to learn about the verbal section. Learn about the three types of questions and the content covered. Supplement this reading with our guide on How to Master the GMAT Verbal (coming soon!).
  • Time Suggested: 2 hours
• Build your knowledge of sentence corrections. Practice questions and build a custom bank of sentence correction practice questions on GMATPrep.
  • Time Suggested: 2 hours
• Build your knowledge of GMAT reading. Read up on different GMAT reading strategies and find the one that works best for you. Familiarize yourself with the strategies and suggestions listed. Also, check out our guide on GMAT Tips and Strategies to learn more (coming soon!).
  • Time Suggested: 2 hours

Day 13: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 4 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Take a practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
    • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Review practice test results. Make a note of any quantitative sections you would like to continue to practice with in the coming weeks.
    • Time suggested: 30 minutes.

Days 14 – 18: Quantitative Focus

Total Time: 8 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Review and practice for data sufficiency. First, read our guide to the Data Sufficiency section, which breaks down data sufficiency questions and suggests strategies. Using the GMATPrep Software and the online question bank that comes with The GMAT Official Guide, create a data sufficiency question workout that you work on.
    • Time suggested: 3 hours
  • Review and practice for problem solving. First, read our guide to the Problem Solving section. Using the GMATPrep Software and the online question bank that comes with The GMAT Official Guide, to create a data sufficiency question workout that you work on.
    • Time suggested: 3 hours
  • Build your fluency with flashcards. During the week, use flashcards to practice and drill on different skills.
    • Time suggested: 2 hours

Days 19 – 23: Verbal Focus

Total Time: 10 hours

• To-dos:
  • Build your knowledge of reading comprehension questions. Read up on reading comprehension strategies. Practice reading comprehension questions.
    • Time Suggested: 3 hours
  • Build your knowledge of critical reasoning questions. Practice critical reasoning questions and build a custom bank of critical reasoning practice questions on GMATPrep.
    • Time Suggested: 3 hours
  • Practice GMAT verbal questions. Review the results of your prep over the last few days. What types of questions are you still struggling with? Build a practice bank that focuses more heavily on the questions you’re struggling with, while also letting you reinforce skills you feel confident about. Your ratio should be about 80% content you struggle with, 20% content you feel confident about.
    • Time Suggested: 2 hours
  • Build your grammar fluency with flashcards. Use flashcards to review grammar concepts that you’re likely to see on the sentence correction section.
    • Time Suggested: 2 hours

Day 24: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 4 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Take a practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
    • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Review practice test results. Make a note of any verbal skills you would like to continue to drill.
    • Time suggested: 30 minutes.

Day 25: Analytical Writing Assessment Focus

Total Time: 2 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Review AWA strategies.
    • Time suggested: 2 hours
  • Practice AWA prompts. You can use prompts that come with your full-length practice tests or you can purchase GMAT Write for $30, which gives you access to four auto-graded essays.
    • Time suggested: 1 hour

Day 26: Integrated Reasoning Focus

Total Time: 2 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Visit MBA.com to learn about the IR questions and overall structure of the section.
    • Time suggested: 1 hour
  • Practice real IR questions using the GMAT IR prep tool. If you’re looking for free unofficial resources, check out our guide to GMAT Integrated Reasoning practice for more information (coming soon!)
    • Time suggested: 1 hour

Days 27 – 30: Rest and Light Prep

• To-Dos
  • As you prepare to take the test, I would recommend resting as much as possible. You’ve done a lot of studying over the last 30 days and last minute cramming won’t take you much further. Use the GMATPrep software and the Official GMAT Guide question bank to go over any question types that still give you trouble but mainly, rest up and prepare to show your hard work on test day.
    • Time suggested: 5 hours, maximum.

1 Month GMAT Study Plan – 100 Hours

In this section, I’ll show you how to prepare for the GMAT in one month by studying for 100 hours. You may be able to make a larger improvement to your score (50+ points) by following this plan.

Days 1 – 2: Knowledge Building

Total Time: 9 hours

• To-Dos
  • Build your familiarity with the structure of the test. Visit mba.com to learn about the test, how it’s scored, and to see an overview of the types of questions you’ll be asked. Make sure you register for the site so you can download GMATPrep.
    • Time Suggested: 4 hours
  • Take an official GMAT CAT on GMATPrep. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking the diagnostic test will help you get a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses
    • Time Suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Review your results. Note which sections you did well on and which sections you struggled with. For the quant and verbal sections, identify three topics in each section that you struggled with (such as inequalities or subject-verb agreement). If you’d like, start to review some of the answer explanations for questions you got wrong.
    • Time Suggested: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Days 3 – 7: Quantitative Focus

Total Time: 20 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Build your knowledge in algebra. Research algebra topics that you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
    • Time Suggested: 5 hours
  • Build your knowledge in geometry. Research geometry topics you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
    • Time Suggested: 5 hours
  • Build your knowledge in word problems. Research word problems you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
    • Time Suggested: 5 hours
  • Build your knowledge in number properties. Research number properties topics you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
    • Time Suggested: 5 hours

Days 8 – 12: Verbal Focus

Total Time: 15 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Familiarize yourself with GMAT Verbal Section. Start by visiting MBA.com and clicking around to learn about the verbal section. Learn about the three types of questions and the content covered. Supplement this reading with our guide on How to Master the GMAT Verbal (coming soon!).
    • Time Suggested: 5 hours
  • Build your knowledge of sentence corrections. Practice questions and build a custom bank of sentence correction practice questions on GMATPrep.
    • Time Suggested: 5 hours
  • Build your knowledge of GMAT reading. Read up on different GMAT reading strategies and find the one that works best for you. Familiarize yourself with the strategies and suggestions listed. Also, check out our guide on GMAT Tips and Strategies to learn more (coming soon!).
    • Time Suggested: 5 hours

Day 13: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 5 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Take a practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
    • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Review practice test results. Make a note of any quantitative sections you would like to continue to practice with in the coming weeks.
    • Time suggested: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Days 14 – 18: Quantitative Focus

Total Time: 13 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Review and practice for data sufficiency. First, read our guide to the Data Sufficiency section, which breaks down data sufficiency questions and suggests strategies. Using the GMATPrep Software and the online question bank that comes with The GMAT Official Guide, create a data sufficiency question workout that you work on.
    • Time suggested: 5 hours
  • Review and practice for problem solving. First, read our guide to the Problem Solving section. Using the GMATPrep Software and the online question bank that comes with The GMAT Official Guide, to create a data sufficiency question workout that you work on.
    • Time suggested: 5 hours
  • Build your fluency with flashcards. During the week, use flashcards to practice and drill on different skills.
    • Time suggested: 3 hours

Days: 19 – 23: Verbal Focus

Total Time: 12 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Build your knowledge of reading comprehension questions. Read up on reading comprehension strategies. Practice reading comprehension questions.
    • Time Suggested: 3 hours
  • Build your knowledge of critical reasoning questions. Practice critical reasoning questions and build a custom bank of critical reasoning practice questions on GMATPrep.
    • Time Suggested: 3 hours
  • Practice GMAT verbal questions. Review the results of your prep over the last few days. What types of questions are you still struggling with? Build a practice bank that focuses more heavily on the questions you’re struggling with, while also letting you reinforce skills you feel confident about. Your ratio should be about 80% content you struggle with, 20% content you feel confident about.
    • Time Suggested: 3 hours
  • Build your grammar fluency with flashcards. Use flashcards to review grammar concepts that you’re likely to see on the sentence correction section.
    • Time Suggested: 3 hours

Day 24: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 5 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Take a practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
    • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Review practice test results. Make a note of any verbal skills you would like to continue to drill.
    • Time suggested: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Day 25: Analytical Writing Assessment Focus

Total Time: 8 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Review AWA strategies.
    • Time suggested: 4 hours
  • Practice AWA prompts. Practice writing prompts for AWA. You can use prompts that come with your full-length practice tests OR you can purchase GMAT Write for $30, which gives you access to four auto-graded essays.
    • Time suggested: 4 hours

Day 26: Integrated Reasoning Focus

Total Time: 8 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Learn about IR questions. Visit MBA.com to learn about the IR questions and overall structure of the section.
    • Time suggested: 4 hours
  • Practice real IR questions using the GMAT IR prep tool. If you’re looking for free unofficial resources, check out our guide to GMAT Integrated Reasoning practice for more information (coming soon!)
    • Time suggested: 4 hours

Day 27: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 5 hours

• To-Dos:
  • Take practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
    • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Review practice test results. Make a note of any skills you would like to continue to work on over the next few days.
    • Time suggested: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Days 28 – 30: Rest and Light Prep

• To-Dos:
  • As you prepare to take the test, I would recommend resting as much as possible. You’ve done a lot of studying over the last 30 days and last minute cramming won’t take you much further. Use the GMATPrep software and the Official GMAT Guide question bank to go over any question types that still give you trouble but mainly, rest up and prepare to show your hard work on test day.
    • Time suggested: 5 hours, maximum.

Review: Completing a 1 Month Study Plan

While learning how to prepare for the GMAT in one month is hard, it’s not impossible.

If you work really hard, you can improve your score between 0 and 100 points in one month of GMAT prep, depending on how much time you have to study and how much you’re looking to improve.

If you have the time, I’d recommend studying for three months before the GMAT. Three months is a solid amount of time to cover the content and strategies you’ll need to build a really in-depth understanding of the GMAT.

What’s Next?

Looking for other GMAT study plan options? We’ve got plenty! In our GMAT study plan guide, we outline the strategies you need to boost your prep and offer four different GMAT study plans to meet your goals.

If you’re ready to focus in on one specific GMAT section, check out our content area guides to the GMAT verbal and GMAT quant sections. Each guide offers an in-depth look at a specific GMAT section and helps you learn the content and strategies you’ll need to master the different question types.

Are you thinking about rescheduling your GMAT so that you’ve got more time to prepare? In our guide to when to schedule your GMAT exam, we go over everything you need to know about when you should take the GMAT. We’ll also review how your GMAT scores actually get to the schools you’re applying to.

The post How to Prepare for the GMAT in 1 Month: 2 Study Plans appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

Wondering how to study for the GMAT in 3 months? If you’re ready to start studying for the GMAT, you might not know how to schedule your prep. It can seem overwhelming to decide how many hours you need to study, what you should do in each study session, and how many months you should plan to prepare.

In this article, I’ll go over the reasons you might choose to take three months to study for the GMAT and the top study tips for getting ready for the exam in 90 days. You’ll also get two full sample 3 month GMAT study plans: one for 100 hours of prep and one for 200 hours.

GMAT Study Schedule: Why 3 Months?

The gold standard for a GMAT study timeline is three months; many admissions counselors, tutors, and GMAT course instructors advise applicants to study for about that long.

Why? Simply put, three months isn’t too long or too short for most students. With two months or less to cram, you won’t have enough time to address all of your weaknesses or to establish a regular study routine that will allow you to routinely gauge your progress.

On the flip side, with too much study time (say, six months or so), your progress can stall. Many students think “the more time, the better,” but it’s actually easy to lose focus and momentum if you study for too long. With too many months of study, you risk plateauing and losing motivation.

For your GMAT preparation schedule 3 months is enough time to study intensively without having to cram, to hone in on your weaknesses, and to, in most cases, reach the level of improvement in your GMAT score that you’re hoping for.

Just how many hours and how often you’ll need to study over a three-month period depends on how many points you’d like to improve. Let’s take a look at this chart of approximately how many hours you will need to study on average to improve your GMAT score by a certain number of points.

•        0 – 50 point improvement: 50 hours
•        51 – 100 point improvement: 100 hours
•        101 – 150 point improvement: 150 hours

As you can see, improving your score by 100 points or more is a significant time investment, but certainly doable in three months if you carve out about 12.5 hours of dedicated study time per week.

No matter how many hours per week you study for the GMAT over the course of three months, that study time needs to be focused and well-planned. Before we get into two specific sample 3 month GMAT study timelines, let’s go over how to create an effective GMAT study plan.

How to Prepare for the GMAT in 3 Months: 5 Key Study Tips

Before we go over two sample 3 month GMAT study plans, let’s get into a few of the ways that you can make the most of the time you devote to GMAT prep.

#1: Gather Your Materials First

Before you create a GMAT study plan, you will have to gather high-quality prep materials that you can use to build your knowledge about the content covered on the GMAT.

While there are many quality GMAT resources available, I suggest starting with the following materials. You can find more GMAT prep materials in our guides to the best GMAT prep resources and GMAT prep books.

The GMAT Official Guide 2018

If you choose only one GMAT prep book to work with, make it this one. It’s written by the authors of the real GMAT, and includes a breakdown of each section of the GMAT, along with a variety of practice questions, tips and tricks on how to approach each question type, and access to additional online resources.

GMATPrep Software

This free software, produced by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), gives you access to an online practice question bank and two full-length free computerized adaptive practice tests, all of which use official GMAT questions. You should use this software to complete your first diagnostic GMAT.

A GMAT Verbal Resource

There are many different resources you can use to develop your knowledge of the GMAT verbal section. Our guides to the best GMAT books and the best free GMAT resources will help you choose a prep book that specifically teaches you about the quant section or free verbal prep materials. Our guide to the GMAT verbal section can also help.

A GMAT Quantitative Resource

As with the verbal section, there are many different resources you can use to learn about and prepare for the GMAT quant section. You can purchase a GMAT math book or use free resources, like our guides to data sufficiency and problem solving questions.

A GMAT Integrated Reasoning Resource

You should spend less time studying for the GMAT integrated reasoning section than for the verbal and quant sections, but you should devote at least some prep time to integrated reasoning questions. You should read about the integrated reasoning section in the Official Guide, and you can also add a specific integrated reasoning book to the mix. Use our guides to the GMAT integrated reasoning section and the best integrated reasoning prep books to find the best resource for you.

A GMAT Essay Resource

As with the integrated reasoning section, you should spend less time overall studying for the GMAT essay (analytical writing assessment) than for the verbal and quant sections. However, you should read about the analytical writing assessment in the Official Guide. You can also check out our guide to the AWA section for samples and assistance or purchase GMAT Write, an official GMAT essay resource from GMAC that will give you customized feedback on your writing samples.

#2: Take a Diagnostic Test

After you’ve gathered your materials, you’ll need to take a diagnostic test to see what your starting point is and how much you need to improve. Find out more about taking a diagnostic GMAT here.

A diagnostic test should be timed appropriately and in computerized adaptive format, like the real GMAT. The best diagnostic GMAT is a full-length practice test offered by the Official GMATPrep Software. You’ll use the results to set a target GMAT score (find out more about setting a target GMAT score here) and to figure out what you’ll need to spend the most time on in your GMAT prep.

#3: Analyze Your Weaknesses

As you take a look at the results of your diagnostic test, ask yourself a series of questions. As you read the answer explanations of the questions you weren’t sure about or answered incorrectly, do you notice any patterns? Which sections were hardest for you? Which question types within those sections? Can you be even more specific about what you’re getting wrong (a particular type of grammar error, for example, or misinterpreting specific kinds of charts or graphs)?

In terms of fundamental skills, what do you feel you need to brush up on? Are there basic grammar concepts you need to review? Did you struggle to complete calculations without a calculator on the quant section?

You should also ask yourself questions about the “bigger picture” of the exam and how it went for you. Were you anxious? Calm? Did you feel rushed? Did you finish every section? Would you benefit from timing or pacing drills? Were you exhausted by the end of the test? Were you able to read every passage and each answer choice in its entirety?

Use the answers to these questions to customize three-month study plan. In your plan, devote more time to the sections, question types, and foundational skills that you have trouble with, rather than giving equal time to each subject.

You should repeat this assessment regularly throughout your three months of GMAT prep, and adjust your study plan accordingly.

#4: Stick to a Routine

When you create your GMAT study plan, set goals for each study session that are as specific as possible. Rather than something general like “study for three hours,” you should have particular exercises (“complete 15-question integrated reasoning practice quiz on Official GMATPrep Software”), reading assignments (“read pages 15-45 of Grammar Basics), and drills (“answer ten sentence correction practice questions in ten minutes”) ready. This will help you stay focused and, hopefully, meet your goals more effectively and efficiently.

You should also schedule your study sessions for a particular time and stick to it as much as possible. This will help you to gauge what time of day is best for you to study and to establish a routine, which is good for the purposes of continuity and regular, sustained progress.

#5: Keep Track of Your Progress

You should reevaluate your progress regularly over the course of your three months of GMAT prep. This will be easier if you keep track of each study session in a journal or log. Jot down what you completed, what your scores were on practice tests or quizzes, and what you’re still struggling with.

If you’re noticing that you’re meeting certain goals more slowly or quickly than you anticipated, don’t be afraid to adjust your study plan as needed. Remember, you need to make your GMAT prep work for you and your particular needs.

3 Month GMAT Study Plan: 100 Hours (51-100 Point Increase)

Below, I’ve provided a comprehensive sample GMAT study plan for a student who wants to raise their GMAT score by about 51-100 points. With this plan, you’ll need to devote 100 hours to GMAT prep over three months (about 8 hours a week on average). (If you want to raise your score by more than 100 points, check out the second study plan further down in this guide.)

Week 1: GMAT Basics

Total Time: 6 Hours

1. Familiarize yourself with the GMAT content and format. LLearn about the test and how it’s scored. Get an overview of question types and sections using the Official Guide and/or free resources.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
2. Take a diagnostic test, an official GMAT computerized adaptive test, using the Official GMATPrep Software. Take the test in one sitting with no interruptions except for the two optional eight-minute breaks.
   • Time Suggested: 3 hours and 30 minutes
3. Review your results. Assess your strengths and weaknesses. Make note of which sections you did well on and which sections were more challenging for you. For the verbal and quant sections, identify the question types that you struggled with the most so that you have a targeted area for growth over the coming weeks.
   • Time Suggested: 30 minutes

Week 2: Verbal Section

Total Time: 10 Hours

1.  Familiarize yourself with the GMAT verbal section by reading about it on MBA.com and in the Official Guide. Also, check out our detailed guide to the GMAT verbal section.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
2. Build your knowledge of sentence correction questions.
   • Time Suggested: 4 hours
3. Develop your knowledge of GMAT reading comprehension passages and questions. Familiarize yourself with different GMAT reading strategies and find one that works for you that you can practice with during drills, tests, and exercises.
   • Time Suggested: 4 hours

Week 3: Quant Section

Total Time: 10 Hours

1. Familiarize yourself with the GMAT quant section by reading about it on MBA.com, as well as checking out our in-depth guide to the quant section.
   • Time Suggested: 1 hour
2. Review GMAT Math strategies, facts, definitions, and formulas.
   • Time Suggested: 3 hours
3. Develop your knowledge of foundational algebra skills and concepts. Work through several algebra drills and practice sets.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
4. Develop your knowledge of foundational geometry concepts. Work through some geometry drills and practice question sets.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
5. Develop your knowledge of word problems. Work through problem solving drills and practice question sets.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours

Week 4: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 10 Hours

1.  Take a full-length computerized adaptive practice test.
   • Time Suggested: 3 hours and 30 minutes
2. Review your practice exam results. Go over answer explanations to questions that you answered incorrectly.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours and 30 minutes
3. Practice question types that you found challenging using customized practice quizzes and drills. Build problem sets for yourself using your GMAT online prep tools.
   • Time Suggested: 4 hours

Week 5: Verbal Review

Total Time: 10 Hours

1. Build your knowledge of reading comprehension questions. Practice by building a custom question bank of reading comprehension practice questions on the Official GMATPrep software.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours and 30 minutes
2. Build your knowledge of critical reasoning questions. Practice by building a custom bank of critical reasoning practice questions on the GMATPrep software.
   • Time Suggested: 4 hours
3. Practice GMAT verbal questions. Review the practice tests and quizzes you’ve taken so far. What types of verbal questions are you finding challenging? Build a practice question bank that focuses on the questions you’re struggling with than on the ones you already feel comfortable with.
   • Time Suggested: 3 hours and 30 minutes

Week 6: Quant Review

Total Time: 10 Hours

1. Build your knowledge in number properties. Work through practice question sets and drills.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
2. Build your knowledge in sets. Work through practice question sets and drills.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
3. Practice and build your knowledge of data sufficiency questions. Familiarize yourself with the format of data sufficiency questions at MBA.com and our complete guide to Data Sufficiency. Next, create data sufficiency problem sets using your GMAT online tools. Start with small problem sets (around five practice questions) to get an idea of the question type. Review your incorrect answers to see where you went wrong.
   • Time Suggested: 3 hours
4. Practice and build your knowledge of problem solving questions. Start by learning the format of problem solving questions at MBA.com and using our guide to the GMAT quant section. Next, build practice question sets using your online GMAT tools. Start with short problem sets (about five practice questions) to get used to the question type, before moving onto larger problem sets. Review your incorrect answers to see where you went wrong.
   • Time Suggested: 3 hours

Week 7: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 8 Hours

1.  Take a full-length computerized adaptive practice test.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours and 30 minutes
2. Review your practice test results. Go over answer explanations to questions that you got wrong. Keep track of your progress.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours
3. Practice question types that you struggled with using customized quizzes.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Week 8: GMAT Essay (Analytical Writing Assessment)

Total Time: 6 Hours

1. Review strategies on how to approach the AWA section. Read the section on the Analytical Writing Assessment in the GMAT Official Guide 2018. Also, review strategies for the AWA in our guide to the GMAT essay and on MBA.com.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
2. Practice with AWA prompts. Write sample GMAT essays. You can use prompts that come with your full-length practice tests on the Official GMATPrep Software or GMAT Write.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours

Week 9: Integrated Reasoning

Total Time: 6 Hours

1. Read the GMAT Official Guide 2018’s chapter on the integrated reasoning section for tips and strategies. Use MBA.com to learn about integrated reasoning questions and the overall structure of the section. Also, check out our guide to the integrated reasoning section.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
2. Practice real integrated reasoning questions using the official GMAT IR prep tool. If you’re looking for free unofficial resources, check out our guide to GMAT Integrated Reasoning practice for more information.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours

Week 10: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 10 Hours

1. Review verbal concepts based on your performance on recent practice tests and practice question sets.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours and 30 minutes
2. Review quant concepts based on your performance on recent practice tests and practice question sets.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours and 30 minutes
3. Take a full-length computerized adaptive practice test. Taking this practice exam will help you assess your progress.
   • Time Suggested: 3 hours and 30 minutes
4. Review your practice test results. Go over answer explanations to questions that you got wrong or found difficult.
   • Time Suggested: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Week 11: Concept Review

Total Time: 10 Hours

1. Based on your performance on recent practice tests and quizzes, review verbal concepts you find challenging.
   • Time suggested: 5 hours
2. Based on your performance on recent practice tests and quizzes, review quant concepts you find challenging.
   • Time suggested: 5 hours

Week 12: Rest and Review

Total Time: 4 Hours

1. As exam day approaches, I recommend that you rest as much as you can. Cramming at this point won’t improve your score much; your best bet is to rest your brain and body in preparation for the GMAT. You can use the GMATPrep software and any other resources (such as practice question banks) to go over any question types that still give you trouble, or practice with grammar flashcards a bit, but mainly, you should rest up and get ready for test day physically and mentally.
   • Time suggested:4 hours max

3 Month GMAT Study Plan: 200 Hours (151-200 Point Increase)

Now, let’s take a look at a more intensive sample GMAT study plan. If you need to improve your GMAT score by 151-200 points, you’ll need to study for about 200 hours.

Note that this plan will require a significant time commitment, as it will require you to devote about 16-17 hours to GMAT prep every week for three months. Below, you’ll see how to prepare for the GMAT in 3 months.

Recap: How to Study for the GMAT in 3 Months

Now you know how to study for the GMAT in 3 months. For your GMAT preparation schedule 3 months is often agreed upon as the ideal amount of time in which to study. When you’re setting up your own three month GMAT study plan, set specific goals, use the above samples as templates, and don’t be afraid to be flexible as your progress shifts and changes. Good luck!

What’s Next?

For some alternate GMAT study options, check out our guides to free GMAT prep, GMAT practice tests, and the best GMAT study materials.

Want an in-depth look at specific GMAT prep books? Check out our reviews of the Manhattan GMAT books and the Official GMAT Review Guide.

The GMAT is a scary test, but how hard is it, really? Check out this guide to learn just how difficult the GMAT is and how you can tackle the challenge.

The post How to Study for the GMAT in 3 Months: 5 Key Prep Tips appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

How are you planning to prepare for the GMAT? The answer might seem obvious (study!), but there are actually several different ways you can get ready to take the exam.

When you’re trying to decide on what the best GMAT prep method is for you, you’ll need to take your unique strengths, weaknesses, and study style into account, as well as your budget and time limits. In this article, I’ll help you decide how you can best prepare for the GMAT in the way that works for you. I’ll also go over what you should look for when you’re considering different GMAT prep methods.

How Can You Choose the Best GMAT Prep Method For You?

The best GMAT test prep method is the one that works for you and your particular needs. Which one is best for you depends on several factors, all of which you should consider as you create your GMAT study plan. Let’s go over each of them.

#1: Score Goal

How in-depth and comprehensive do you need your chosen GMAT prep method to be? How much time do you need to devote to GMAT prep, and how intensively do you need to prepare? Part of that depends, of course, on how much you need or want your GMAT score to improve.

If you’re looking to bump up your score by a few points (say, 30 or so), you might be able to target a few of your major weaknesses through self-paced study or a GMAT prep book.

If you’re hoping to improve your score by 100 points or more, you’ll likely need more in-depth GMAT prep, more hours of study, possibly one-on-one instruction, and/or more customized feedback. After you’ve decided on a target GMAT score (see our article on finding yours), select the best way to prep for GMAT accordingly.

#2: Learning Style

Do you learn best with one-on-one instruction, alone, or in a group? Are you an audio or visual learner? Do you do better when you have lots of uninterrupted time to devote to studying, or when you study in short spurts? Do you learn a lot from reading in-depth explanations of skills, or do short drills and exercises do the trick when you’re trying to fix your mistakes?

As you choose a GMAT prep method, these are questions you should be considering. A GMAT prep method that works perfectly well for another applicant won’t give you the same results if it’s not a good match for how you process information.

Think about how you’ve learned best in the past. In particular, how have you successfully approached the things you found most difficult? Use what you know about your own learning style to help you decide between the four main methods of GMAT prep.

#3: Time

How much time do you have to devote to your GMAT prep? It’s important to be realistic about what you can accomplish in the time you have available for studying, and to choose your form of GMAT prep accordingly.

If you plan on studying for six months or more, it’s a good idea to choose a GMAT prep option that will give you structure and a routine. If you’re studying for a long time, you can sometimes start to lose momentum or focus, which a prep class, online program, or tutor could provide for you. With this much time, you’ll also have time to switch it up if you like, and try out more than one GMAT prep class or shop around for a tutor that works for you.

If you have three months—the standard time to spend on GMAT prep, as it gives you enough time to set up a regular study schedule, but isn’t overly long and doesn’t put you at risk of losing focus—you’ll want to be efficient and targeted in terms of your study sessions. You should plan for about ten hours of study time a week. Any of the four main kinds of GMAT prep could work well in a three to four month span.

Are you trying to do some last-minute one-month prep? Then a class or tutoring likely isn’t the best idea, or even feasible. If you’re looking to target a few weaknesses in a short time, you’d probably be better off with targeted GMAT self-study through prep books and online resources. However, note that cramming isn’t likely to get you the best results in terms of score improvement: check out our article here [link] on why it’s important not to rush when it comes to GMAT prep.

#4: Price

Of course, your GMAT prep budget makes a difference in what method you end up choosing. If you’re low on cash, a private tutor likely won’t be your best option, as experienced GMAT tutors tend to be expensive. Prep classes and online programs are less expensive than most private tutors, but more expensive than a program of self-study (using prep books and online resources).

You should think not only about price, but also about what you’re getting for your money. Self-study is obviously likely to be the cheapest option, for example, but if you’re restricting yourself to only free or inexpensive resources, you might miss out on guidance or reviews of particular skills that you need to improve your score. Think about your budget, but also about your overall investment in your GMAT score.

4 GMAT Prep Options

There are four main GMAT prep options: taking a GMAT prep class, completing an online GMAT prep program, private tutoring, or self-study.

Let’s go through each one, including its pros and cons and why you might choose it or avoid it as your primary prep method.

Method 1: GMAT Prep Class

A live or online GMAT prep class usually involves instruction from an expert in the format of the GMAT. The best GMAT prep course will usually include several practice tests, as well as weekly lessons, quizzes, and drills. You will normally be asked to complete homework in between classes, so that you are prepping both in and outside of class.

Pros: If you learn well in groups and enjoy teamwork, you will likely benefit from an in-person or online GMAT prep class. Instruction in real time, including diagrams, plenty of opportunities to ask questions, and in-person or timed online practice tests, also appeals to many students who might feel more disconnected trying to find the answers to their questions themselves online.

Cons: You don’t get as much one-on-one attention in a GMAT prep class as you would from private tutoring.

Your schedule also won’t be that flexible, as you’ll have to stick to the structure of the course and show up in person or at a particular time online, and new classes might not be consistently offered at times that work for you. If you miss classes, you may or may not be able to make them up later, so you could miss valuable aspects of GMAT prep.

Examples:

#1: Manhattan Prep Live and Online GMAT Prep Courses

• Very comprehensive with 27 hours of instruction and six practice tests.
• Accelerated classes last a month, regular classes last two months.
• In-person and live online Manhattan Prep GMAT courses are $1299. Two-week intensive boot camps are $2650.

#2: Veritas Prep In-Person and Live-Online GMAT Courses

• 36 hours of live instruction,12 full-length computerized adaptive tests, and about 1,500 GMAT practice questions.
• Veritas Prep GMAT courses usually meet twice a week for five weeks. Each class is three hours.
• Live online classes normally cost $1,650 and in-person classes cost $1,850.

#3: Kaplan In-Person and Live Online GMAT Test Prep

• Each course includes six three-hour classroom (or interactive online) sessions.
• Costs
  • In-person basic package: $1449
  • In-person GMAT Prep PLUS: $1889
  • Online basic package: $1249
  • Online GMAT Prep PLUS: $1649
• You can take a practice test at a Pearson VUE testing center, where you will take the actual exam. This can be especially helpful for students with testing anxiety or who have trouble performing well under pressure.

Method 2: Online Programs

Online GMAT prep programs, which can either follow a set schedule or allow you to set the pace, normally begin with a diagnostic test that will assess your strengths and weaknesses. They usually include practice questions of all types and difficulties, regular assessments of your progress, and full-length computerized adaptive practice tests. They may or may not include lessons about the GMAT content and format.

Pros: Online GMAT prep programs are structured and motivating, much like prep courses. The best GMAT prep courses are also flexible and customizable, adapting to your progress as you go along. They can also pinpoint your unique weaknesses quickly and specifically, so you won’t spend as much time on general information about the GMAT (like you might in a prep course or even possibly with a tutor).

With the best online GMAT prep programs, you also bypass the problem of human error. Unlike a tutor or prep course instructor, an online program is less likely to make a mistake or spend too much time on something that doesn’t directly benefit you.

Online programs also tend to be less expensive on average than GMAT tutors and prep classes.

Cons: Online GMAT prep programs are, obviously, missing some degree of a “human” component. Because they are often automated, if you’re someone who enjoys and benefits from connections with teachers and fellow students, you might struggle to stay motivated in an online GMAT prep program.

Examples:

#1: PrepScholar

• PrepScholar’s online GMAT program is a customized prep tool that monitors your progress closely and creates a study plan specifically for you.
• Coming in the summer of 2017!

#2: Princeton Review GMAT Prep

• Self-paced online program for $499.
• The program includes 10 computerized adaptive practice GMATs, customized feedback on one GMAT essay, and 4,000 practice questions, including video answer explanations.
• Princeton Review GMAT practice questions are well-written and realistic, but they tend to be on the easier side. So if you’re already a very high scorer, this program is probably not the best way to prep for GMAT questions.

Method 3: Tutoring

With an online or in-person private tutor, you can create a customized study plan based on your target GMAT score, your prospective business schools, and your strengths and weaknesses.

Pros: A highly qualified GMAT tutor will know all the ins and outs of the exam and will be able to assess what fundamental skills you need to review and what drills you need to complete to get over your particular hurdles. The one-on-one attention offered by a private tutor is obviously the biggest plus.

Tutoring is flexible. It can be highly intensive or short-term, depending on your needs. You can ask a tutor to delve solely into the quant section with you, to work extensively with you on the GMAT essay, to focus primarily on your pacing, or to give you a comprehensive overview of the exam. Because it’s just you and the tutor, you can reach a level of customizability that isn’t possible with other prep methods.

Cons: A private GMAT tutor’s time can be expensive, though prices vary depending on your location, the tutor’s level of experience and expertise, and how many hours of instruction you need.

There’s also a degree of subjectivity in selecting a GMAT tutor that can prove risky. You could always fail to click with a tutor or end up having to find a more reliable one, both of which are problems you’re less likely to encounter with, say, an online program.

Examples

You can find a private tutor through larger test prep companies like Kaplan and Princeton Review, through GMAT consulting firms, or through online sources like The Economist. You can also check at local business schools or on local message boards like Craigslist, especially if you need a cost-effective option.

Method 4: Self-Study

GMAT self-study means just that: you make the rules. You can include GMAT prep books, reviews of foundational skills, online resources, and whatever else you need in your self-study.

Pros: Self-study is likely to be the cheapest GMAT prep method by far, so if you’re on a budget, this may be the best way to prep for GMAT questions, particularly if you’re highly self-motivated.

Self-study is also a good idea if you need a great deal of flexibility in your schedule, or if you only have a short time to prepare. Because you are customizing your own study plan (see our article [link] on crafting an effective GMAT study plan), you can adapt it whenever you need to, add to or subtract from it, and make it work for you and your everyday life. You can spend as much or as little time on any given subject or section as you feel you need.

Cons: The biggest downside of self-study as a form of GMAT prep is that it’s often hard to stay on track and gauge your progress if you’re going it alone. If you struggle at all with time management or self-motivation, or if you feel at all lost without structure or routine, self-study is not the best option for you.

Also, you might miss out on reviewing essential areas of GMAT content if you’re trying to do everything yourself and, unlike a GMAT expert instructor, haven’t learned all the nuances of the exam. You could wind up with gaps in your knowledge or preparation.

Examples

Self-study is, by definition, tailored to whatever you need to review. You should start your self-study for the GMAT with a computerized adaptive diagnostic test (find out more about GMAT diagnostic tests here) and create a specific study plan and timeline to keep yourself on track.

Next, gather your GMAT prep resources, including online tools and/or prep books. Check out our suggestions for the best GMAT prep resources for an idea of where to start.

Reviews of fundamental skills in verbal and quant should also be integrated into your self-study. Find out more about the math concepts you should review and the verbal skills you should brush up on.

Make sure to track your progress as you work. Keep a log of the practice quizzes and tests you take, and adjust your GMAT study plan accordingly.

What to Look For in a GMAT Prep Method

When you’re choosing a GMAT prep method, you need to make sure it fits your particular needs, works for your schedule and budget, and will get you the score increase you want.

There are a few things to look for when selecting a GMAT prep method. Let’s go through the top five.

#1: Realistic Practice

Whichever GMAT prep method you choose should include realistic practice questions and tests, so that you’ll be prepared for anything on exam day. The practice tests you take should be in computerized adaptive format and should be the same length as what you’ll encounter when you take the real GMAT.

The GMAT practice questions you encounter in drills, quizzes, and full-length exams should be as similar in content, tone, difficulty, length, and format to what you’ll see on exam day as possible. You should practice with every question type and, ideally, also get used to the visuals you’ll see on the actual GMAT.

#2: Customization and Responsiveness

One of the most important aspects of preparing for the GMAT is recognizing, assessing, and addressing your personal strengths and weaknesses. Thus, you’ll have to ensure that the prep method you select is customizable to your particular needs and responsive to how those needs change over time.

Private tutors and online programs are usually the strongest prep methods in this regard. A good private tutor will help you adapt your study plan and schedule as you progress in your GMAT prep so that you cover all the bases, devoting more time to things you’re still struggling with and less to topics you’ve mastered.

Likewise, a strong online GMAT prep program will regularly update you on your progress and on where you need to continue to brush up your skills.

#3: Regular Motivation

Many students have trouble keeping up their focus and momentum over the course of their GMAT prep. Particularly if you struggle to stay on track, choose a prep method that will provide you with regular motivation.

Motivation can come in the form of a structured routine that doesn’t allow you to stray too far from your study plan, a scheduled course or study time, and/or regular updates on your progress so that you know where you’re at every step along the way and have a reason to keep moving in a forward direction.

If you’re good at incentivizing yourself and are used to self-directed study, this tip might not be as important for you. But in assessing your GMAT prep needs, be honest with yourself. If you need guidance and structure, don’t be afraid to seek it out.

#4: Similar to the Real GMAT

To prepare for the GMAT, you don’t just need to prepare yourself for the content tested on the exam. You’ll also need to be familiar with the format and logistics of the GMAT.

For example, you’ll have access to a simple onscreen calculator for the integrated reasoning section, but not for the quantitative section. Also, you’ll be given a double-sided, laminated scratch pad with a thin marker to take notes on if you choose during the exam. You should get accustomed to these conditions as much as possible by practicing with a legal pad similar to what you’ll get on exam day and by practicing quant questions without a calculator.

The GMAT prep method you select should also help you focus on timing. Pacing can be as much as a problem for students as the actual content of the GMAT. A good GMAT prep method will help you build stamina for the three-and-a-half-hour tests, administer timed practice tests, and let you take only the two optional eight-minute breaks that will be available to you on exam day.

If you have a lot of testing anxiety and tend to get thrown off during exams by distractions or the unfamiliar, an in-person class or private tutor who can administer a live practice test might be a good idea, as they can help you get accustomed to the realities of taking the GMAT.

#5: Up-to-Date

The GMAT doesn’t change often, but you want to make sure that whatever prep method you use is as up-to-date as possible.

Prep books written before 2012, for example—the year the integrated reasoning (IR) section was added to the exam—might not include advice or drills for the IR section. Make sure that any prep resources you use include the integrated reasoning section and that any tutor you select to work with you has a great deal of experience in helping students with IR questions (especially, of course, if this section is a trouble spot for you).

Be sure at least one of your GMAT study materials is current to make sure you’re getting the most accurate information about the exam.

Summary: The Best GMAT Test Prep Method

So, what’s the best GMAT prep? That depends on you! The best GMAT test prep is one that takes your strengths and weaknesses into account in order to help you achieve your GMAT score goals in the most efficient way possible.

There are many ways to study for the GMAT, including in-person classes, online programs, tutors, and self-study. The best GMAT prep courses, the best online GMAT prep, and the best GMAT tutors and self-study resources will each have strong benefits to using them. Before you make a decision, be sure to do your research so you know the investment required for each method and what you’ll get about it. Think honestly about which method will work best for you to ensure you have the best test day possible.

What’s Next?

A prep book can be your most useful study tool for the GMAT. Check out our reviews of the best GMAT books to get started.

If you’re worried about the Quant section, check out our complete guide to how to prepare for GMAT Math.

Concerned about your grasp of sophisticated vocabulary? Our guide to GMAT vocabulary can help you prepare for the Verbal section.

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If you’ve reached this guide, you’re probably getting ready to commit to a study plan for the GMAT. If so, congratulations! Committing to a study plan for the GMAT is an important endeavor and can often require a significant investment of time, mental energy, and money. For many people just starting out, creating a GMAT study plan can also seem confusing or overwhelming.

In this guide, I’ll help ease your confusion by explaining how to use GMAT study plans to structure your test prep. First, I’ll talk about why creating a study plan is important. Next, I’ll talk about the top factors to consider when you’re creating your GMAT study schedule. Then, I’ll give four sample plans that are designed to fit different amounts of score improvement and lengths of time. Finally, I’ll talk about how you can create your own study plan if you’d rather create your own schedule.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have everything you need to craft a solid GMAT study plan.

Why Do You Need a Study Plan For the GMAT?

Studying for the GMAT requires a lot of time and effort. Why should you do it? Here are a few reasons why having and following a GMAT study schedule is important for your GMAT prep.

#1: A Study Plan Helps Keep You Organized

Studying for the GMAT takes a lot of time. As you’re preparing for the GMAT, you’re probably busy balancing a lot of other different things: work, school, completing applications, spending time with family and friends. Having a concrete study plan will help you know what you need to do and when. You’ll have specific goals and times for each day so that you can keep yourself on track and organized.

#2: A Study Plan Helps Make Sure You’re Covering All Needed Concepts

As I mentioned before, studying for the GMAT requires a lot of time and effort. Why? Well, the GMAT is a long and difficult test. It has four unique sections that test different skills and takes over three hours to complete. In order to do well on the GMAT, you’ll need to do well on all four of the sections on the test. How can you make sure you’re covering all the content you need to? Well, a study plan helps you think about all of the content you need to master and ensures that you’re devoting time to each section or concept so that you don’t reach test day and realize you’ve never looked at reading comprehension questions.

#3: A Study Plan Helps Track Your Progress Effectively

If you’re studying for the GMAT, you’re likely trying to achieve a certain goal score. Having a concrete study plan will help you track your progress effectively. You’ll start by developing a baseline score, and then continue by working targeted drills that’ll build your skills in needed areas. You’ll also use practice tests and question sets to see how you’re improving from week to week. Tracking your progress will give you a good idea of how likely you are to meet your goal score on test day.

What to Consider in a Study Plan for GMAT Prep

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing or creating your own GMAT study plan. In this section, I’ll break down three of the most important factors to help you pick the study plan that’s right for you.

#1: How Much Do You Need to Improve Your Score?

The first factor to consider for your GMAT study plan is how much you want to improve your score: the more points you want to improve, the more time you’ll need to spend. Take a look at this chart that estimates how many hours you’ll need to study to improve a certain number of points:

• 0 – 50 point improvement: 50 hours
• 51 – 100 point improvement: 100 hours
• 101 – 150 point improvement: 150 hours

These hour recommendations are a general guideline for first-time test-takers who haven’t done much prep.

It’s easier to make improvements when you’re just starting out, because you’re covering material that’s new to you, so you can quickly make a lot of gains simply by learning concepts like test-taking strategies.

Generally, the more you’ve prepped, the more difficult it is to make improvements. If you’ve already studied for 50 hours, and are still looking to improve by over 100 points, you’ll need to put in more than 150 more hours or adjust your goals. It’s simply more difficult to improve by a lot of points the longer you’ve studied. On the other hand, test-takers who are able to quickly grasp new concepts or who just need general brush-ups on a few content areas may need fewer hours to improve their scores. A lot depends on your strengths and weaknesses as student.

#2: How Long Do You Have Before You Take the Test?

The next most important factor to consider is how long you have before you take the test. If you’re taking the test next month, you’ll obviously only want to use a one month study plan. If you don’t have a set test date, you may want to use a longer studying plan to improve more points.

You’ll also want to consider how many hours you have each week to dedicate to GMAT prep. You want to make sure that you’re optimizing your GMAT study schedule to fit your other commitments. Spending a few quality hours of study time free from distractions a couple times a week is better than trying to fit in two hours every night when you’re stressed and over-scheduled.

#3: What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses as a Student?

Finally, you’ll want to consider your own strengths and weaknesses as a student. Do you need to spend more time with a concept and see it several different times to grasp it? If so, you’ll probably want a more detailed plan that spends more hours on each topic. If you can master something after seeing it one or two times, you might get away with using a shorter plan.

How to Use a Study Plan for GMAT

Below, I’ve included four sample plans that you can use to build your own GMAT study plan. Each is designed to cover a different length of time and boost your score a different number of points. All of these plans pre-suppose that you have access to a web-enabled device (I’d suggest using a computer if possible).

Before you start to study, follow these steps to make sure you have everything you need to begin.

Step 1: Gather Materials

Regardless of your exact GMAT study schedule, you’ll need to pull together a variety of resources that you can use to build your knowledge about each of the concepts covered on the GMAT. There are hundreds of different GMAT resources out there, both free and paid. What you purchase depends on your needs and budget. I suggest using the following resources:

1. The GMAT Official Guide 2017
   • This guide comes with hundreds of official GMAT practice questions, as well as basic overviews of each of the sections of the test and the content covered on each. You’ll also get access to official practice tests. Using official practice questions is an extremely important part of your prep, because official practice questions are as close as you can get to the actual content you’ll see on test day. If you’re going to purchase any one resource, I’d suggest purchasing this one.
2. GMATPrep Software
   • This free software gives you access to an online question bank and free practice tests, all of which use official, retired GMAT questions.
3. A GMAT verbal resource
   • There are a number of different resources you can use to learn about the GMAT verbal section. You can purchase a book that deals with the verbal section or you can use free resources, like our guide to the GMAT Verbal section. For more information, check out our guides to the best GMAT books and the best free GMAT resources.
4. A GMAT quantitative resource
   • Like with the verbal section, there are a number of different resources you can use to learn about the GMAT quant section. You can purchase a GMAT math book or you can use free resources, like our guides to data sufficiency and problem solving questions.
5. A GMAT integrated reasoning and analytical writing assessment resource
   • You can either purchase a book that deals specifically with each section, or you can find free resources online to build your IR and AWA knowledge.
6. Flashcards
   • There are numerous free GMAT flashcard resources out there, or you can make your own. Check out our guide to the best GMAT flashcards for more information.

Step 2: Make a Schedule

Once you’ve gathered your needed materials, used the suggested plans below to make your own personalized study schedule. Make sure you block off specific time periods each day for studying. When you schedule study sessions, you’re more likely to actually commit the time to do the work.

1-Month Study Plan for GMAT

This GMAT study plan is designed to cram a lot of prep into one month. You’ll pack 60 hours of prep into one month. While studying for at least three months is recommended to boost your score, this one month study plan will help you cover the basics if you’re taking a last-minute test.

Days 1 – 2: Knowledge Building

Total Time: 5 hours

1. Build your familiarity with the structure of the test. Learn about the test, how it’s scored, and to see an overview of the types of questions you’ll be asked. Make sure you register for MBA.com so you can download GMATPrep.
   • Time Suggested: 1 hour
2. Take an official GMAT CAT on GMATPrep. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking the diagnostic test will help you get a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses
   • Time Suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
3. Review your results. Note which sections you did well on and which sections you struggled with. For the quant and verbal sections, identify three topics in each section that you struggled with (such as inequalities or subject-verb agreement). If you’d like, start to review some of the answer explanations for questions you got wrong.
   • Time Suggested: 30 minutes.

Days 3 – 7: Quantitative Focus

Total Time: 10 hours

1. Familiarize yourself with the GMAT quant section. Start by visiting MBA.com and clicking around to learn about the quant section. Pay special attention to the types of math tested, as well as the length and structure of the section. For more information, read our in-depth GMAT Quant guide.
   • Time Suggested: 1 hour
2. Review GMAT quant strategies, facts, and definitions. Check out our guide to the formulas you’ll need for the GMAT quant section.
   • Time Suggested: 1 hour
3. Build your knowledge in algebra. Research algebra topics that you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
4. Build your knowledge in geometry. Research geometry topics you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
5. Build your knowledge in word problems. Research word problems you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
6. Build your knowledge in number properties. Research number properties topics you’ll see on the GMAT. Pick the three topics that you need the most work on, based on the results of your GMAT practice test. Work through the explanation, drills, and practice for each section.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours

Days 8 – 12: Verbal Focus

Total Time: 8 hours

1. Familiarize yourself with GMAT Verbal Section. Start by visiting MBA.com and clicking around to learn about the verbal section. Learn about the three types of questions and the content covered. Supplement this reading with our guide on mastering the GMAT verbal section.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
2. Build your knowledge of sentence corrections. Practice questions and build a custom bank of sentence correction practice questions on GMATPrep.
   • Time Suggested: 4 hours
3. Build your knowledge of GMAT reading. Read up on different GMAT reading strategies and find the one that works best for you. Familiarize yourself with the strategies and suggestions listed. Also, check out our guide on GMAT Tips and Strategies to learn more.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours

Day 13: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 4 hours

1. Take practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
2. Review practice test results. Make a note of any quantitative sections you would like to continue to practice with in the coming weeks.
   • Time suggested: 30 minutes.

Days 14 – 18: Quantitative Focus

Total Time: 10 hours

1. Review and practice for data sufficiency. First, read our guide to the Data Sufficiency section, which breaks down data sufficiency questions and suggests strategies. Using the GMATPrep Software and any other question banks you have access to to create a data sufficiency question workout that you work on.
   • Time suggested: 4 hours
2. Review and practice for problem solving. First, read our guide to the Problem Solving section. Using the GMATPrep Software and the online question bank that comes with The GMAT Official Guide, to create a data sufficiency question workout that you work on.
   • Time suggested: 4 hours
3. Build your fluency with flashcards. During the week, use flashcards to practice and drill on different skills.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours

Days: 19 – 23: Verbal Focus

Total Time: 12 hours

1. Build your knowledge of reading comprehension questions. Read up on reading comprehension strategies. Practice reading comprehension questions.
   • Time Suggested: 4 hours
2. Build your knowledge of critical reasoning questions. Practice critical reasoning questions and build a custom bank of critical reasoning practice questions on GMATPrep.
   • Time Suggested: 4 hours
3. Practice GMAT verbal questions. Review the results of your prep over the last few days. What types of questions are you still struggling with? Build a practice bank that focuses more heavily on the questions you’re struggling with, while also letting you reinforce skills you feel confident about. Your ratio should be about 80% content you struggle with, 20% content you feel confident about.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours
4. Build your grammar fluency with flashcards. Use flashcards to review grammar concepts that you’re likely to see on the sentence correction section.
   • Time Suggested: 2 hours

Day 24: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 4 hours

1. Take a practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
2. Review practice test results. Make a note of any verbal skills you would like to continue to drill.
   • Time suggested: 30 minutes.

Day 25: Analytical Writing Assessment Focus

Total Time: 3 hours

1. Review AWA strategies. Read the section on the Analytical Writing Assessment in the Official GMAT Guide 2017, as well as any supplemental resources you’ve found or purchased. Also, review strategies for the AWA on Beat the GMAT, GMAT Club, and MBA.com.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours
2. Practice AWA prompts. Practice writing prompts for AWA. You can use prompts that come with your full-length practice tests OR you can purchase GMAT Write for $30, which gives you access to four auto-graded essays.
   • Time suggested: 1 hour

Day 26: Integrated Reasoning Focus

Total Time: 3 hours

1. Learn about the Integrated Reasoning section. Read the GMAT Official Guide 2017’s chapter on the integrated reasoning section for tips and strategies. Visit MBA.com to learn about the IR questions and overall structure of the section.
   • Time suggested: 1 hour
2. Practice real IR questions using the GMAT IR prep tool. If you’re looking for free unofficial resources, check out our guide to GMAT Integrated Reasoning practice for more information.

Day 27: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 4 hours

1. Take practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
2. Review practice test results. Make a note of any skills you would like to continue to work on over the next few days.
   • Time suggested: 30 minutes.

Days 28 – 30: Rest and Light Prep

Total Time: 5 hours

1. As you prepare to take the test, I would recommend resting as much as possible. You’ve done a lot of studying over the last 30 days and last minute cramming won’t take you much further. Use the GMATPrep software and the Official GMAT Guide question bank to go over any question types that still give you trouble but mainly, rest up and prepare to show your hard work on test day.
   • Time suggested: 5 hours, maximum.

3-Month GMAT Study Plan to Raise Your Score 100 Points

This GMAT study plan is designed for those of you looking to boost your score around 100 points. This 120 hour plan will give you a balanced way to make improvements towards your goal score while still maintaining other commitments.

Week 1: Build Your GMAT Foundation

Total Time: 6 hours

1. Familiarize yourself with the GMAT. Learn about the test, how it’s scored, and get an overview of question types.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours
2. Take an official GMAT CAT on GMATPrep. Take the test in one sitting with no interruptions.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes
3. Review your results. Note which sections you did well on and which sections you struggled with. For the quant and verbal sections, identify question types that you struggled with so that you have a targeted area for growth over the next weeks.
   • Time suggested: 30 minutes

Week 2: Quantitative Focus

Total Time: 15 hours

1. Familiarize yourself with the GMAT quant section by reading about it on MBA.com, as well as checking out our in-depth guide to the quant section.
   • Time suggested: 1 hour
2. Review GMAT Math strategies, facts, definitions, and needed formulas.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
3. Build your knowledge in algebra. Work through several algebra drills and practice sets.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
4. Build your knowledge in geometry. Work through several geometry drills and practice sets.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
5. Build your knowledge in word problems. Work through several word problems drills and practice sets.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
6. Build your fluency by using a flash card set.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours

Week 3: Verbal Focus

Total Time: 15 hours

1. Familiarize yourself with the GMAT verbal section by reading about it on MBA.com, as well as checking out our in-depth guide to the verbal section.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
2. Build your knowledge on sentence corrections.
   • Time suggested: 5 hours
3. Build your knowledge of GMAT reading. Familiarize yourself with different GMAT reading strategies and find one that works for you.
   • Time suggested: 5 hours
4. Practice your grammar fluency with flashcards.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours

Week 4: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 8 hours

1. Take practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
2. Review practice test results. Go over explanations to questions that you got wrong.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours
3. Practice question types that you struggled with. Build problem sets using your GMAT online prep tools.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Week 5:  Quantitative Review

Total Time: 15 hours

1. Build your knowledge in number properties. Work through practice and drills.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
2. Build your knowledge in sets. Work through practice and drills.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
3. Practice data sufficiency questions. Start by learning the format of data sufficiency questions by checking out MBA.com and reading our complete guide to Data Sufficiency to learn the unique format of this question type. Then, build problem sets using your GMAT online tools. Start with small problem sets (think 5 questions) to get a feel for the question type, before moving onto larger problem sets. Review all of your incorrect answers to see where you went wrong.
   • Time suggested: 4 hours
4. Practice problem solving questions. Start by learning the format of problem solving questions by checking out MBA.com and reading our complete guide to mastering the GMAT quant section. Then, build problem sets using your GMAT online tools. Start with small problem sets (think 5 questions) to get a feel for the question type, before moving onto larger problem sets. Review all of your incorrect answers to see where you went wrong.
   • Time suggested: 4 hours
5. Build your fluency by using a flash card set.
   • Time suggested: 1 hour

Week 6: Verbal Review

Total Time: 15 hours

1. Build your knowledge of reading comprehension questions. Practice by building a custom bank of reading comprehension practice questions on GMATPrep.
   • Time Suggested: 5 hours
2. Build your knowledge of critical reasoning questions. Practice by building a custom bank of critical reasoning practice questions on GMATPrep.
   • Time Suggested: 5 hours
3. Practice GMAT verbal questions. Review the results of your prep over the last few days. What types of questions are you still struggling with? Build a practice bank that focuses more heavily on the questions you’re struggling with, while also letting you reinforce skills you feel confident about. Your ratio should be about 80% content you struggle with, 20% content you feel confident about.
   • Time Suggested: 5 hours

Week 7: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 8 hours

1. Take practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
2. Review practice test results. Go over explanations to questions that you got wrong.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours
3. Practice question types that you struggled with.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Week 8: Build Your AWA and IR Foundation

Total Time: 10 hours

1. Review AWA strategies. Read the section on the Analytical Writing Assessment in the Official GMAT Guide 2017. Also, review strategies for the AWA on Beat the GMAT, GMAT Club, and MBA.com.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours
2. Practice AWA prompts. Practice writing prompts for AWA. You can use prompts that come with your full-length practice tests OR you can purchase GMAT Write for $30, which gives you access to four auto-graded essays.
   • Time suggested: 3 hour
3. Read the GMAT Official Guide 2017’s chapter on the integrated reasoning section for tips and strategies. Visit MBA.com to learn about the IR questions and overall structure of the section.
   • Time suggested: 1 hour
4. Practice real IR questions using the GMAT IR prep tool. If you’re looking for free unofficial resources, check out our guide to GMAT Integrated Reasoning practice for more information.
   • Time suggested: 4 hours

Week 9: Review Quant and Verbal

Total Time: 10 hours

1. Review needed verbal concepts based on your performance on recent practice tests and practice question sets.
   • Time suggested: 5 hours
2. Review needed quant concepts based on your performance on recent practice tests and practice question sets.
   • Time suggested: 5 hours

Week 10: Check Your Progress

Total Time: 8 hours

1. Take practice test. Take the test in one sitting, with no interruptions. Taking this test will help you get a better understanding of where you are improving.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
2. Review practice test results. Go over explanations to questions that you got wrong.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours
3. Practice verbal question types that you struggled with.
   • Time suggested: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Week 11: Review Concepts As Needed

Total Time: 6 hours

1. Review verbal concepts you’ve struggled with based on your performance on recent practice tests and practice question sets.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours
2. Review quant concepts you’ve struggled with based on your performance on recent practice tests and practice question sets.
   • Time suggested: 3 hours

Week 12: Rest and Light Review

Total Time: 4 hours

1. As you prepare to take the test, I would recommend resting as much as possible. You’ve done a lot of studying over the last 30 days and last minute cramming won’t take you much further. Use the GMATPrep software and the Official GMAT Guide question bank to go over any question types that still give you trouble but mainly, rest up and prepare to show your hard work on test day.
   • Time suggested: 5 hours, maximum.

3-Month GMAT Study Plan to Raise Your Score 150 Points

This GMAT study plan is designed for those of you looking to boost your score around 150 points. This 170 hour plan will give you a balanced way to make improvements towards your goal score while still maintaining other commitments. By adding 50 hours of studying from the 120 hour study, you’ll dive into greater depth with each topic so that you have a deeper understanding of each content area and question type. This deep dive is designed to raise your score 150 points and requires a serious commitment, as you’ll be putting in 20 hours of studying most week.

6-Month GMAT Study Plan to Raise Your Score 150 Points or More

This GMAT study plan is designed for those of you looking to boost your score around 150 points. This 200 hour plan will give you plenty of time to raise your score while still leaving you with enough time to manage your work, school, and personal obligations. This plan works well for test-takers who are looking to make a serious improvement in their score and have a lot of time to study. Because you’ll be studying over a six month period of time, you’ll have a lighter study schedule each week.

How to Create Your Own Study Plan for the GMAT

If you’d like to create your own study plan for the GMAT rather than following one of ours, make sure you follow these steps as you put together your plan.

Step 1: Set Your GMAT Goal Score

First, put together a list of all the business school programs that you’d like to attend. When you’re putting together your list, think about why you would like to attend each of these programs.

Next, research the average GMAT scores of the business schools that you want to apply to. You can find this information in a number of places. Most schools share this information on the program’s admissions page. You can also try calling the admissions department if you can’t find the info there. Other third party sources, like US News, also list the average GMAT scores of many schools.

Add the average GMAT scores for each school to your list of business school programs that you’re interested in. Find the highest average GMAT score of all the programs.

You want to set a score goal that’s about ten points higher than the highest average GMAT score. This helps make sure you’ll be above the acceptable score range for all of your programs.

Step 2: Take a Diagnostic Test

Your next step is to take a GMAT practice test if you haven’t already done so. This helps you get an idea of where you’re currently scoring.

The best way to assess your progress is to download the free GMATPrep software so you can take an official practice test.

Try to replicate the exam day as closely as possible. So, make sure you’re taking the test timed, in one sitting, and in a quiet place with few interruptions. This helps ensure you get the most accurate practice score.

You’ll automatically receive your GMAT total score from the practice test. For more information about how this score is calculated, check out our guide to GMAT total scores.

Step 3: Figure Out How Many Hours You’ll Need to Study

Now that you’ve figured out your baseline score, compare that to your goal score and figure out how many points you are away from meeting your goal score.

I’ve included estimates of approximately how many hours you need to study in order to increase your score by a certain number of points. Note: these hour recommendations are guidelines only. Every test-taker is different. If you find that you master new concepts quickly, you may need less time than I’ve suggested here. If you find that you often need to see a topic more than once for it to fully sink in, you may need additional time.

• 0 – 50 points: 50 hours
• 51 – 100 points: 100 hours
• 101 – 150 points: 150 hours

Step 4: Analyze Your Weaknesses

Before making a plan for what you need to study, take the time to understand your weaknesses and determine what you need to focus on in your GMAT prep plan.

Use your practice test scores to get a better picture of your strengths and weaknesses as a GMAT test taker. Try to identify patterns: did you miss every sentence correction question? Are you better at the Verbal section than the Quant section? Did you miss every single Integrated Reasoning question? Asking and answering these questions will help you focus your prep by highlighting the sections you need to spend the most time on.

Step 5: Draft Your GMAT Study Schedule

The most important step of creating your GMAT study plan is to actually sit down and schedule your study sessions over the length of time you plan to be studying.

To do this, you’ll need to develop a study plan (either building your own from scratch or working off of one of the four I’ve provided above) and fit the GMAT prep tasks into your weekly schedule. For instance, you can block off four hours of studying every Monday or build in five hours of time to take a practice test and review your results every other Sunday.

Drafting your GMAT study plan and putting it on paper is extremely important. It’s really hard to stick to a study plan if you don’t have it written down. Putting your plan on paper will help you commit to it and remember to prioritize your study sessions.

Step 6: Learn the Format, Then the Content, Then the Strategies

Being organized about your prep is extremely important because it helps makes sure you cover all the topics you need to do to do well on the GMAT. Start by learning the format of the exam. You’ll want to know what the sections are, how long they are, and what content they cover.

Next, you’ll want to dig deeper into the content of the exam. Focus on the content covered on each section individually. Master the fundamentals of each section (such as the formulas you’ll need for the quant section or the grammar rules for sentence corrections).

Finally, move on to learning strategies for the exam. Each section has specific strategies, such as eliminating or memorizing certain kinds of answers, that will save you time and help you achieve your goal score.

Step 7: Track Your Progress

Taking regular practice GMATs is an important way to monitor your progress.

Compare your scores to your original test. What sections did you improve on? Did you do worse on any section? What section is slipping through the cracks of your study plan?

Adjust your goals as needed based on your progress on practice tests. Maybe you were doing great on sentence corrections one week, but started to struggle the next. You could add a goal to your study plan that’ll remind to focus on that topic.

What’s Next

An important part of getting ready for the GMAT is making sure you have all of the right materials to support your prep. There are a number of great choices out there and our guides will help you choose the resources that are right for you. Check out our reviews of the best GMAT books to get started.

Wanting to develop a better understanding of the verbal and quantitative sections of the GMAT? Each section contains unique question types that test different strengths and weaknesses. Using our guides to mastering the GMAT quantitative section and mastering the GMAT verbal section, you’ll be able to build a solid foundation of understanding as you go about your prep.

Wondering how to set a solid goal score? Setting a goal score is an extremely important part of your GMAT prep. By having a reasonable goal score, you’ll be able to track your progress and work towards an attainable target. For more information about setting a goal score, check out our guide to good GMAT scores.

The post How to Make a GMAT Study Plan: 4 Sample Schedules appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

You’re applying to business school and you know you need to take the GMAT. But deciding to take the exam is just the beginning. When do you start studying? What should you be doing at each step along the way?

In this article, I’ll walk you through the ideal GMAT prep timeline, step by step, from registering for the test to taking the exam. I’ll also cover the  reasons why you might want to adjust your GMAT study timeline, so you can be confident that you have a solid plan leading up to test day.

6-Month GMAT Prep Timeline

Many students wonder when they should start studying for the GMAT in order to prepare effectively. You need enough time to take practice tests, assess your strengths and weaknesses, drill your skills with sets of practice questions, cover any gaps in your knowledge, and take a final diagnostic test. However, you also don’t want to start too early, as taking too long with your prep can cause your progress to plateau.

I recommend about three months of study time, with at least 10 hours devoted to GMAT prep each week. This schedule allows you to develop a regular routine of several weekly study sessions. Some students, however, will need more time. If you’re a non-native English speaker, particularly struggle with a certain GMAT section, haven’t taken any standardized tests in a while, or simply need more time to boost your score, you might consider extending your GMAT study timeline to include four or five months of prep.

Before you start your GMAT studying, though, you’ll need to research your MBA programs of choice and register for the GMAT. Let’s start there and go through the ideal GMAT study timeline step by step.

6 Months Before The Test: Research Business Schools and Register for the Exam

Before you even start studying for the GMAT, you need to research the MBA programs you plan to apply to in depth. Make a list of the ones that best fit your interests, life circumstances, and past work experience (for example, you might consider an accelerated executive MBA program if you already have an extensive resume, or a part-time or online MBA program if you’re working or raising a family).

Once you have a list of your chosen schools, you can figure out your target GMAT score. Your target score will allow you to set goals for yourself and assess your progress as you continue to prep. You can find more specific guidelines on setting a goal score here.

Before you can prep for the test, you need to know when the application deadlines for your prospective business schools are. Your scores will take at least 20 business days to go out to your schools of choice, and you’ll want at least a little wiggle room with that, so plan to take the GMAT at least a month before your earliest application deadline.

Next, register for an exam date and time with an account at mba.com. Once you’ve registered, you can begin to compile prep resources, take an initial diagnostic test, and begin to create a GMAT preparation timeline.

3 Months Before the Test: Take a Diagnostic GMAT and Review the Basics

Three months of studying before the test, with about ten hours of study time per week (broken up into several weekly sessions) is ideal for most students. It’s neither too short or too long, and gives you plenty of time to set up a regular study routine and hone in on your weaknesses.

You might need more time to study (say, four or five months) if it’s been a long time since you’ve taken a standardized test, if you have limited time to study each week because of work or other commitments, or if you are a non-native English speaker and will need outside tutoring or additional resources to help you in that area.

The first step in your GMAT study timeline is to take a diagnostic, computerized adaptive GMAT to see where you initially stand in terms of your score. I recommend starting with one of the two full-length GMATs offered on the free Official GMATPrep Software. All the practice questions on the software are written by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), the authors of the real GMAT, and the practice tests are in the same format as the actual exam.

You should also review the basics of the GMAT format to give yourself a well-rounded, comprehensive idea of what skills you’ll need to build for the exam and what will be expected of you. Our in-depth guide to each section of the GMAT is a good starting point, as is the GMAT Official Guide 2018. The more information you have about the format and content of the GMAT, the more prepared you’ll be to set up a study plan for yourself and prepare effectively.

After you take your first diagnostic test and learn about the format, assess your weaknesses and consider the best ways to address them. Which sections were hardest for you? Easiest? What about question types? Were you confused by the format or by what the questions were asking you to do? Did you struggle with timing? Take notes on all of the areas you need to improve, and read each of the answer explanations for the questions you missed or had to guess on. Once you know where you’re missing things, you’ll know exactly what you need to work on over the course of your study process.

1 to 3 Months Before the Test: Drill Your Skills, Assess Your Progress, and Adjust If Necessary

Now that you’ve identified your weaknesses, it’s time to drill your skills. Using practice questions from the Official GMATPrep Software or other prep resources, create sets of GMAT practice questions for yourself and complete them several times a week. Of course, you should devote more time to question types that you struggle with than the ones that come more easily to you.

You can also build your practice quizzes around your current scoring level: if you’re already scoring at a 700 level or above, practice with a higher number of hard questions than easy or medium-difficulty ones. You can customize your practice sets by difficulty level using the GMATPrep Software and most other prep resources. Check here for a more comprehensive list of sources of high-quality practice questions.

Beyond completing sets of practice questions, you will also need to spend time each week building your test-taking skills. If you have trouble with timing, for example, set up drills for yourself to work on your pacing. Each sentence correction question in the verbal section should take you about a minute to a minute and a half to complete. Try to complete a practice set of ten sentence correction questions in twenty minutes in one study session; in the next one, try to beat the clock at fifteen minutes, then ten.

Assess your progress as you prep. Take at least two additional full-length practice tests (outside of the first diagnostic test and the last one you take before the test, so four total) during the course of your study sessions. You should take note not only of how your score is improving, but if there are still areas you’re especially weak in.

Based on your assessment of how you’re progressing, don’t be afraid to change your study plan if necessary. If you find you’re not getting enough done in three study sessions a week, consider adding another. If you’re still having trouble with, say, quant questions, consider adding more sets of quant practice questions each week, getting a tutor, or reviewing your fundamental math skills in more detail. While you don’t want to radically deviate from your initial study plan, be as flexible as you can to accommodate your own progress and needs.

2 Weeks Before the Test: Take a Final Diagnostic Test

One to two weeks before your exam date, take a final official (GMAC-authored) diagnostic test. Try to mimic the test conditions as much as possible so you’re fully prepared: Take the optional eight-minute breaks, don’t use a calculator on the quant section, and use a thin marker rather than a pencil or pen to take notes as you read.

The results of this diagnostic test should give you a good idea of where you stand in terms of your likely score going into the actual GMAT. If it’s much lower than you want, it’s up to you whether to reschedule your exam date or go for it and retake the exam later. While every situation is different, if you feel you’ve prepared sufficiently, you should generally take the GMAT if you’ve already scheduled it. You can always use it as a learning experience and work on your mistakes before your next attempt.

Exam Day: Take the GMAT

Now you’re here: the fateful test day! To make sure it all goes smoothly, stay organized. Get all of your required identifying documents and personal items together the night before your test date, and plan your route to the testing location so you’re not scrambling the day of the exam.

The night before the GMAT, don’t study at all. Give yourself the night off to give your brain a much-needed rest. At the exam itself, make sure to take your two optional eight-minute breaks: they’ll definitely come in handy during the nearly four-hour testing process.

You’ll get your unofficial scores for all GMAT sections except the essay immediately following the test, and your official scores will be sent out to your chosen schools approximately 20 days after the exam.

After the GMAT

If you get your scores back and aren’t satisfied, remember that it’s perfectly fine to take the exam again. However, make sure that 1) you leave yourself plenty of time to study again before taking it, as if you don’t you’re likely to simply repeat the same mistakes and 2) you leave enough time between your second exam date and application deadlines at your prospective schools to get your new scores in on time.

Some business schools have several application deadlines per year or rolling admissions policies, so there will be plenty of chances for you to apply again without waiting another full year.

Reasons to Shift Your GMAT Prep Timeline

Generally speaking, you shouldn’t alter your study plan too much if you can help it. It can throw you off and cause the process to get chaotic and disorganized. However, there are a few significant reasons why you might need or want to shift your exam date or your GMAT prep timeline. Let’s go through four reasons why you might need to adjust your schedule.

#1: Applying Sooner to MBA Programs

If you decide to move up your application date for any reason—for example, if you decide to apply to a program with an earlier application deadline than the others you chose—you might need to reschedule your exam for an earlier test date. You can do this using your account at mba.com (here’s an in-depth guide to rescheduling the GMAT).

If you reschedule, at minimum, make sure you have at least two months to study before the exam. If you have two months instead of three to prep, up your game by increasing the number of study sessions you have per week. Also, make sure to take at least two full-length practice tests over the course of your prep to assess your progress. Our article on studying for the GMAT last-minute will also give you some helpful tips.

#2: Needing More Study Time

If you discover that you aren’t progressing as much as you’d like, you might want to extend your GMAT preparation timeline. For example, if you’re taking practice tests and your score isn’t improving much, if one section is significantly weaker than the others, or if you’re still having a lot of trouble with timing, you might benefit from more time to work on those areas.

You can work more study time into your GMAT prep plan by increasing the number of hours and/or the number of times you study each week. You can always, obviously, also reschedule the exam for a later date if you feel you need significantly more time to prepare.

#3: Illness or Emergency

You should also consider rescheduling your GMAT date if you’re sick or have a personal emergency, either during a significant portion of your prep time (say, if you miss a month or more of studying) or around the time of the exam itself. You’ll do yourself a disservice if you’re at anything but your absolute mental best on the day of your exam. You can reschedule your exam up to seven days before the exam date for a $50 fee, and from seven days to 24 hours before your test date for $250.

#4: Taking the Exam More Than Once

You might start out your study process already planning to take the GMAT more than once, perhaps in order to give yourself a safety net, to give yourself more shots at a good score before your application deadlines, or to feel less anxious about each one. If that’s the case, you might want to plan ahead to take the second exam sooner than you otherwise would (i.e., without giving yourself a full three additional months of study time before your second exam date).

Keep in mind that you can take the GMAT once every 16 calendar days, no more than five times in a 12-month period, and no more than eight times total, so plan for these restrictions. However, you can register for more than one exam date at a time, so you don’t have to wait until you’ve taken the test once to sign up for a retake.

What’s Next?

Once you’ve created your GMAT preparation timeline, it’s time to start studying. Get started with four expert tips on the best way to begin your prep for the exam.

To kick off your GMAT prep timeline, here’s our guide to the best GMAT practice questions.

To get more in-depth information about the GMAT format, start with our guide to what to expect on the test.

The post GMAT Prep Timeline: From Registration to Exam Day appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

So you’re ready to start studying for the GMAT! Great…but how do you start? The best way to kick off your exam prep is with a GMAT diagnostic test, which will help you see where your score is starting off, how much you need to improve, what kinds of prep resources you’ll need, and how to craft the perfect study plan for yourself.

In this article, I’ll go over where to find the best free GMAT diagnostic test, how to analyze your test results, and tips for customizing an effective study plan just for you.

What Is a GMAT Diagnostic Test? Why Does It Matter?

A GMAT diagnostic test is a practice test you take at the beginning of your prep, usually about three months before your exam date. You can use the results of your diagnostic test to figure out what your weaknesses are and how to address them in your study sessions. You can also use it to get a good idea of your starting point score-wise and to set a realistic target score.

By far the best and most effective GMAT diagnostic test is available on the Official GMATPrep Software, which you can access for free with an account at mba.com. There are two full-length computerized adaptive practice tests on the software that match the visuals, format, and content of the real exam.

The GMATPrep software questions are official, meaning they’re all authored by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC). They’ll look and feel just like the questions you’ll see on the GMAT, so you can be sure that the results you get on this practice test are reliable in terms of gauging your progress and assessing where you stand as you begin your GMAT prep.

When you take your diagnostic test, mimic the setting and conditions of the real GMAT as closely as possible. Take the optional eight-minute breaks. Don’t use a calculator on practice quant sections, and try to complete the sections straight through, without taking breaks during the sections themselves to use the bathroom, check your phone, or look things up. This will help make your GMAT diagnostic test score as useful as possible in terms of analyzing your starting point. 

How to Analyze Your GMAT Diagnostic Test Results: Big Picture

Once you’ve taken your initial GMAT diagnostic test, you’ll need to break down your test results in order to understand exactly what you need to work on. Here are three questions to ask yourself to get you started.

#1: Which Sections Were Your Best? Your Worst?

Ask yourself which sections felt the hardest. Often, test-takers find either the verbal or quant section significantly more difficult. You need to address your own anxieties in order to prepare as much as you can for the exam, and that means focusing your prep time primarily on the sections and question types that worry you the most.

You should also, of course, note if there’s a large gap in your GMAT diagnostic test scores on the two main sections, which will give you a good idea of where to focus your energies during your prep. Generally speaking, MBA admissions committees frown upon large disparities in scores between the verbal and quant GMAT sections.

The integrated reasoning section is confusing and difficult for many test-takers, especially because of its multi-part questions. For more help with integrated reasoning, you can check out our tips on acing the IR section, as well as GMAC’s GMAT IR Prep Tool.

Though you won’t get a score on your practice essay in your initial free GMAT diagnostic test, it’s helpful to note if you found it especially difficult or if you weren’t sure what to write. You can get more assistance with the analytical writing assessment in our GMAT essay guide. If you want your practice essays to be scored to see how you might do on the exam, you can purchase the GMAT Write tool from mba.com.

#2: What Question Types Did You Miss?

When reviewing your answer explanations after your GMAT diagnostic test, you’ll be able to note not only which sections were your stronger or weaker ones, but also which question types you struggled with the most. For example, in the verbal section, there are reading comprehension questions, sentence correction questions, and critical reasoning questions. Was there a disparity in how you performed on each type? Keep track of how many of each question type you got wrong so you’ll know how to customize your drills as you study.

#3: Did You Have Enough Time?

Running out of time before you complete all the questions in a section on your diagnostic test can be a helpful indicator of what you need to work on. As you review the sections on which you ran out of time, ask yourself why you took too long. Were you taking too long reading or contemplating each question? Did you not understand what certain questions were asking? Were you simply struggling with the questions’ content? Is there a language barrier, or are you taking too long completing calculations on quant sections? The answers to these questions will help you use your GMAT diagnostic test to move forward with an effective study plan.

How to Analyze Your GMAT Diagnostic Test Results: The Nitty-Gritty

Once you know what you got wrong on your diagnostic test, you’ll need to understand why in order to tailor your study plan to your unique needs. Everyone has a different set of error patterns, and it’s important to figure out yours in order to target them effectively. Let’s go through the most common reasons that test-takers get certain questions wrong.

#1: Are There Gaps in Your Content Knowledge?

If you have particular trouble with either the quant or verbal section, you might need a brush-up on fundamental math or grammar skills. As you read the answer explanations for the questions you got wrong, take notes on how each one is labeled and where you tend to go wrong. For example, sentence correction questions might be labeled as an “idiom” or “verb tense” question. If you tend to make mistakes on a particular error type, brush up on your skills in that area so you learn how to recognize those errors more quickly.

Also, you won’t have a calculator on the quant section. If you struggle with doing arithmetic or rounding in your head, or if calculations wasted a lot of your time during your diagnostic test, that’s a skill you’ll definitely need to practice. You can do this during your regular study sessions, of course, but you can also practice estimating calculations in your head in your everyday life, such as when you calculate change at a store or tips at restaurants, until it becomes second nature.

#2: Did You Panic?

Sometimes anxiety can cause you to rush through a question and make careless mistakes or forget the point of what it’s asking you.

The best way to ease your anxiety about the test is, of course, to practice and familiarize yourself with the content and format enough that you know exactly what to expect. Another way to address this common problem is to take notes as you read a question. This will help stop you from forgetting important details, which many students tend to do if they’re prone to testing anxiety.

#3: Did You Fully Read and Understand Every Question?

It might seem obvious, but it’s a common issue: you need to read every passage, question, and answer choice fully. You might feel like you’re saving time, for example, by not reading through reading comprehension passages fully, but the saved time won’t make a difference if you’re missing important details that will help you quickly eliminate incorrect answer choices.

#4: Making Faulty Assumptions

Sometimes, you might be answering GMAT questions incorrectly because you’re making unfounded assumptions about either the question or the answer choices. Don’t assume that figures in the quant and integrated reasoning sections are drawn to scale, for example, unless you’re directly told.

This problem is especially common in critical reasoning questions, particularly when you’re being asked to make inferences (come to conclusions based on reasoning and evidence) based on the arguments provided. Remember that you aren’t being asked to speculate: any evidence you need to come to a particular conclusion will be provided in the exam passage.

6 Tips for Making an Effective GMAT Study Plan

Based on your GMAT diagnostic test score, what are you struggling with? Once you know, craft a GMAT study plan that’s tailored to your unique needs. Let’s go through six of the best ways to create an effective study plan for yourself.

#1: Set a Target GMAT Score

Once you have your score from your first GMAT diagnostic test, it’s time to set a target GMAT score for yourself. It’s important to set a target score because it will allow you to plan your GMAT prep and give you more information about how much and how quickly you’ll need to improve.

To set a target score, first, make a list of business schools to which you plan to apply. Next, find the average GMAT scores of the most recent incoming classes of your prospective business schools (usually available in each school’s class profile). Find the highest GMAT score in the list. How far off is your initial score from your diagnostic GMAT? How much do you need to improve? How long will you need to study to reach your target score, and what benchmarks can you set along the way? Answering these questions for yourself will help you prepare more effectively for the GMAT and to tailor your prep as you study for the exam.

You can find a more detailed step-by-step guide to setting a target GMAT score here.

#2: Focus on Your Weaknesses

You don’t, of course, want to waste time during your GMAT prep. That means you’ll need to focus your efforts primarily on the sections and question types you struggle with, rather than distributing your time equally across the board.

By focusing your energy on your weaknesses, you’ll get the most out of every minute of study time. When you customize practice quizzes, for example, focus more on the question types you tend to get wrong than on the ones you already feel comfortable with.

#3: Work on Your Pacing

Many students struggle with timing on the GMAT. To work on your timing, complete pacing drills during your study sessions. For example, each sentence correction question should take about a minute to complete. In one drill, try to answer ten sentence correction questions in twenty minutes. In the next session, try to beat your last time until you reach your timing goal of ten questions (answered correctly, of course) in ten minutes.

#4: Analyze Real Questions

If you tend to get confused about what GMAT questions are asking you to do, take the time to analyze questions that you didn’t understand during each practice session. Take as much time as you need to slowly read through the question and answer explanation, figuring out exactly where you got lost when you initially read it. Do this with at least a few questions that confused you after each drill or practice test until you get the hang of how the GMAT sets up its questions.

If you tend to get lost while answering questions, it’s also a good idea to take notes as you go. Experiment with different kinds of note-taking: does jotting down details you think might be important as you read a reading comprehension passage, for example, help you when you get to the questions? As you read critical reasoning questions, take a few quick notes on the primary weaknesses or gaps in logic that you see in an argument, and see if it helps you answer them more accurately.

#5: Drill Gaps in Your Skill Set

Once you know what skill sets you’re lacking, you should focus on bridging those gaps in your GMAT prep. If you’re struggling with reading comprehension questions, for example, read articles in publications like The New York Times and The Economist and practice summarizing and analyzing them for yourself. If you’re having trouble with quant questions, try to figure out what specific math skills you need to focus on (geometry or trigonometry, for example) and focus on brushing up in those areas, using our guide to GMAT math skills (coming soon).

#6: Track Your Errors

It can be easy to get lost in practice questions and lose track of what you’re getting wrong and why. To avoid this, keep a notebook of your study sessions. Record what drills you completed, what questions you answered, what you got wrong, and why (for example, label each incorrect answer with “pacing,” “didn’t read question,” “calculation error,” etc.). This may seem time-consuming at first, but tracking your error patterns is an efficient, effective way to get to the root of your GMAT mistakes and avoid them in the future. Remember, you don’t just have to know the test inside and out: you also need to know yourself and your own testing tendencies inside and out.

What’s Next?

To kick off your GMAT prep, check out our guide to the most important first steps to take as you begin to study for the exam.

Unsure of how to most effectively schedule your GMAT prep? Our expert tips on creating a GMAT study timeline will help lead the way.

Ready to start studying, but need to find high-quality practice questions? Find the best GMAT prep resources here.

The post The Best GMAT Diagnostic Test + 13 Tips to Plan Your Prep appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.