GMAT: Build Your Own Study Schedule

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is an assessment test taken by students who are aspiring to pursue a management course at one of the business schools around the world. Almost every business school has a similar application process with students applying their candidature with an application form along with their GMAT score.

The GMAT exam is a computer adaptive test. It has 4 sections – Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Analysis (AWA).

GMAT preparation helps candidates to gain a thorough understanding of the GMAT exam syllabus. GMAT preparation requires at least two months and up to six months to finish the entire GMAT course. Diagnostic tests are essential for GMAT preparation. Candidates identify their strengths and weaknesses based on their GMAT scores. GMAT preparation tips assist aspirants in understanding the GMAT quantitative and GMAT verbal concepts prior to the exam.

Preparation for the GMAT is often compared to running a marathon as it requires exploration, deliberate practice, self-assessment from time to time, continuous growth, and regular refinement. Without a concrete plan, it is almost impossible to reach the desired target score. Furthermore, since every individual’s learning style is unique, a common plan might not be a great solution. It is critical to build your own GMAT Study Schedule, customized as per your needs & style and is instrumental in bringing the coveted change.

Before you start creating a study plan, do ponder upon the following points. It will be better to put them on a piece of paper to create an outline.

Know Your Target

If you are serious about your international MBA dreams, you would have surely done the required research on B-schools that meet your expectations and their minimum GMAT score requirements. Take a diagnostic test, preferably Manya’s GMAT mock test and determine the amount of time it will take you to reach the desired score. It should definitely be more than the minimum score requirement.

Be Practical

Yes, it is important to be practical. If you are a working professional or a regular college student, you won’t be able to spare more than 2-3 hours to the GMAT every day. Don’t create a plan which you won’t be able to adjust to your daily schedule. Draw a plan which is more feasible. Otherwise, you will lose focus and motivation at some point of time.

Prepare Yourself Physically and Mentally

Taking the GMAT is no joke. It requires a hell of a lot of patience and endurance. If you are not healthy – both physically and mentally – this 3-hour test will take a serious toll on your mind as well as body. Thus, you must start doing some physical exercises and meditations on a daily basis if you are not engaged in them already.

Know Your Strengths and Weak Areas

Use your diagnostic test to find your areas of strengths and weaknesses. You may take the help of an expert or draw it on your own. Make a note of it. In fact, it is ideal to use an Error Log to note down the details for each test. Don’t rely on your memory too much. Use your brain to store other essential learnings which you need to master while preparing for the GMAT.

Let’s learn how to make a study plan…

1. Note down the number of weeks you have before taking the actual GMAT. It’s better to have a week-wise study plan.
2. Fix up a time for your daily preparation. It is significant to study at the same time on a daily basis in order to discipline the mind. You must make time for studying both Quantitative and Verbal on an everyday basis. Some students prefer learning for one section at a time which can add a dent in your prep. Regular study for both subjects is critical.
3. Once you are done fixing the number of weeks and number of hours for everyday study, it’s time to create a plan. Devoting at least the first two weeks to learning the general techniques and the application of these techniques on the various topics is vital. For practicing basics, you need to prepare around 22 topics for the Quantitative section and some grammar rules for the Verbal section. You need to split them wisely in the time slots. Check 1-month and 3-month fixed study schedules to learn more about the topics and the system of division for the self-study.
4. Choose study material carefully. You should practice only from the authentic resource which contains standardized questions. Practicing online is essential for the GMAT prep as the GMAT is an online test. Check out The Princeton Review Portal (TPR Portal) to practice GMAT-like questions topic-wise. DrillBuider feature in the TPR Portal gives you the liberty to create drills of your own choice; you have the option of optimizing or customizing the drills. It is helpful in creating sectional tests too. Include the GMAT Official Guide in your practice, if possible.
5. You should mindfully distribute the practice tests throughout your study plan. After going through the basics, take at least 1 test per week and more tests per week when you are close to the test date. It will help condition your mind in such a way that a 3-hour long test will feel like a cakewalk after some time. Note carefully that you should not take any test a day before your actual exam. Use this day to replenish your energy and to prepare your mind and body for D-day. Don’t exhaust yourself by taking tests and several practice exercises. Nothing will change much in a day. Just revise important formulas and strategies. Go through your notes and keep yourself away from anything which can overwhelm you.
6. Don’t forget to schedule a time slot for the test analysis. This is again critical. Moving on with your preparation without stopping to know your weak areas can prove to be a folly. Keep an error log and use it after every practice test. Keep track of your progress.

Related Blog Post: How Does GMAT Scoring Work?

Check out the two study schedules to get some idea of how you should be preparing one for yourself.

GMAT: 1-Month Study Schedule (4 weeks; 4 hours per day)

Week 1 (Plan, Learn, and Practice)

Monday

• Learn about the GMAT structure
• Take a Diagnostic Test
• Don’t worry about the scores

Tuesday

• Quick Review of the Math Basics from the GMAT Quantitative Review Book
• Quick Review of the Grammar Rules from the Verbal Review Book

Wednesday

• Quick Review of the Math Basics from the GMAT Quantitative Review Book
• Quick Review of the Grammar Rules from the Verbal Review Book

Thursday

• Learn General Strategies & Techniques for the GMAT Quant
• Practice the Strategies learned using the Student Portal

Friday

• Learn & Practice the basic approach to solve GMAT SC Questions.
• Practice the Strategies learned using the Student Portal

Saturday

• Take a Practice Test
• Focus on Pacing

Sunday

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and right questions but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Create an Error Log

Week 2 (Learn and Practice)

Monday 

• Learn and Practice the basic approach to solve GMAT CR Questions.
• Learn the strategies for solving Algebra Questions involving inequalities, absolute values, quadratic equations, roots & exponents, and functions

Tuesday 

• Practice the basic approach of CR on the Student Portal
• Learn the Strategies for solving Arithmetic Questions involving rates, ratios, and averages

Wednesday 

• Learn and Practice the basic approach to solve GMAT RC Questions
• Practice the Strategies learned using the Student Portal

Thursday 

• Practice the basic approach of RC on the Student Portal
• Learn the Strategies for solving Geometry and coordinate Geometry Questions

Friday 

• Practice IR
• Learn and Practice the Strategies for solving questions on Probability and Counting

Saturday

• Take a Practice Test
• Focus on Pacing

Sunday 

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the right questions but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the Error Log

Week 3 (Learn, and Practice)

Monday   

• Solve questions from the GMAT Official Guide

Tuesday  

• Practice IR and AWA
• Solve Official Guide Questions

Wednesday 

• Take a Practice Test
• Focus on pacing

Thursday 

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the error log

Friday 

• Solve questions from the GMAT Official Guide

Saturday 

• GMAT Official Practice Exam 1
• Focus on Pacing

Sunday 

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the Error Log

Week 4 (Practice)

Monday 

• Take a Practice Test
• Focus on Pacing

Tuesday 

• Review the test
• Update the Error Log
• Check Pacing
• Practice remaining questions from the GMAT Official Guide, if time allows

Wednesday 

• Take a Practice Test
• Focus on Pacing

Thursday 

• Review the Tst
• Update the Error log
• Check Pacing
• Practice remaining questions from the GMAT Official Guide, if time allows

Friday  

• GMAT Official Practice Exam 2
• Focus on Pacing

Saturday 

• Review the Test
• Revise Formulas
• Go through the basic approaches and your notes
• Take ample rest

Sunday  

Actual GMAT
(D-DAY)

Related Blog Post: GMAT: Time-Management Tips for the Quant Section

Note – Give more time to the preparation on the weekends if you are a working professional and cannot give 4 hours for the daily practice. A minimum of 2 hours each weekday is a must.

GMAT 2-Month Study Schedule (8 weeks; 3 hours per day)

Week 1 (Plan, Review, and Learn)

Monday  

• Learn about the GMAT structure
• Take a Diagnostic Test

Tuesday  

• Review the test
• Don’t worry about the scores
• Use Error Log to note down your mistakes and weak areas

Wednesday 

• Quick Review of the Math Basics from the GMAT Quantitative Review Book
• Quick Review of the grammar rules from the Verbal Review Book

Thursday 

• Quick Review of the Math Basics from the GMAT Quantitative Review Book
• Quick Review of the grammar rules from the Verbal Review Book

Friday  

• Quick Review of the Math Basics from the GMAT Quantitative Review Book
• Quick Review of the grammar rules from the Verbal Review Book

Saturday  

• Learn General Strategies and techniques for the GMAT Quant
• Practice the Strategies learned from the Manual and the Student Portal

Sunday 

• Learn the basic approach to solve GMAT SC questions
• Practice SC questions — Subject-Verb agreement, Verb tense, and Pronouns

Week 2 (Learn, Practice, and Review)

Monday  

• Learn the strategies for solving Algebra questions involving inequalities, absolute values, quadratic equations, roots & exponents, and Functions & Sequences
• Practice SC questions on the Student Portal – Misplaced modifiers and Parallel construction

Tuesday  

• Practice questions on inequalities, absolute values, quadratic equations, roots & exponents, and functions on the Student Portal
• Practice SC questions on the Student Portal — Comparisons

Wednesday  

• Learn the strategies for solving Arithmetic questions involving Rates and Averages
• Practice SC questions on the Student Portal — Idioms

Thursday  

• Practice questions on Rates and Averages on the Student Portal
• Learn the basic approach to solve GMAT CR questions

Friday

• Learn the Strategies for solving Arithmetic questions involving Ratios and Percentages
• Practice CR questions on the Student Portal — Assumptions

Saturday  

• Take a Practice Test
• Focus on Pacing

Sunday  

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the Error Log

Week 3 (Learn, Practice, and Review)

Monday 

• Practice questions on Ratios and Percentages on the Student Portal
• Practice CR questions on the Student Portal — Negation Test

Tuesday 

• Learn the strategies for solving Geometry and coordinate geometry questions
• Practice CR questions on the Student Portal — Inference questions

Wednesday 

• Practice questions on Geometry
• Practice CR questions on the Student Portal — Common Argument Patterns

Thursday  

• Practice questions on Coordinate Geometry
• Practice CR questions on the Student Portal — Identify the Reasoning

Friday  

• Revise all the basic strategies and approaches learned so far (both Quant and Verbal)

Saturday  

• Take a Practice Test
• Focus on Pacing

Sunday  

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the error log

Week 4 (Learn, Practice, and Review)

Monday 

• Practice Geometry and Coordinate Geometry questions using DrillBuilder on the Student Portal
• Practice CR questions on the Student Portal — Resolve/Explain questions and Minor Question Types

Tuesday  

• Learn the strategies for solving Simultaneous equations, Sets, Groups, and Venn Diagrams
• Learn the basic approach to solve GMAT RC questions; Finding the Main Idea (General questions)

Wednesday  

• Practice questions on Simultaneous equations on the Student Portal
• Practice RC questions on the Student Portal – Finding the main idea

Thursday 

• Practice questions on Sets, Groups, and Venn Diagrams on the Student Portal
• Practice RC questions on the Student Portal — Specific questions & POE

Friday  

• Revise all the basic strategies and approaches learned so far (both Quant and Verbal)

Saturday 

• Take a practice test
• Focus on pacing

Sunday 

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the error log

Week 5 (Learn, Practice, and Review)

Monday 

• Learn the strategies for solving Probability and Counting (P&C) questions
• Learn the strategies for solving SC questions on Redundancy, Clauses & Connectors, Grammar & Meaning

Tuesday  

• Practice questions on Probability on the Student Portal
• Practice SC questions on the Student Portal — Redundancy

Wednesday 

• Practice questions on Counting (P&C) on the Student Portal
• Practice SC questions on the Student Portal — Clauses & Connectors

Thursday  

• Practice Mixed bag questions on Probability and Counting using DrillBuilder on the Student Portal
• Practice SC questions on the Student Portal — Grammar & Meaning

Friday  

• Revise all the basic strategies and approaches learned so far (both Quant and Verbal)

Saturday  

• Take a practice test
• Focus on pacing

Sunday  

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the error log

Week 6 (Learn, Practice, and Review)

Monday 

• Learn strategies for solving Mixtures and weighted Average questions and practice questions on the Student Portal
• Learn the basic approach for attempting AWA

Tuesday

• Practice SI and CI
• Solve questions from the GMAT Official Guide (Verbal)

Wednesday 

• Solve questions from the GMAT Official Guide
(Both Quant and Verbal)

Thursday 

• Solve questions from the GMAT Official Guide (Both Quant and Verbal)

Friday  

• Revise all the basic strategies and approaches learned so far (both Quant and Verbal)

Saturday 

• Take a practice test
• Focus on pacing

Sunday  

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the error log

Week 7 (Practice and Review)

Monday  

• Solve questions from the GMAT Official Guide
(Both Quant and Verbal)

Tuesday

• Learn the basic approach for solving IR questions and practice the same from the Student Portal
(Both Quant and Verbal)

Wednesday  

• Take a practice test
• Focus on pacing

Thursday  

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the error log

Friday 

• Revise all the basic strategies and approaches learned so far (both Quant and Verbal)

Saturday  

• GMAT Official Practice Exam 1
• Focus on pacing

Sunday 

• Review the test – both the wrong questions and the questions which you got right but took more than 3-minutes or found challenging.
• Update the error log

Week 8 (Practice and Review)

Monday 

• Take a practice test
• Focus on pacing

Tuesday 

• Review the test
• Update the error log
• Check Pacing
• Practice remaining questions from the GMAT Official Guide, if time allows

Wednesday 

• Take a practice test
• Focus on pacing

Thursday 

• Review the test
• Update the error log
• Check Pacing
• Practice remaining questions from the GMAT Official Guide, if time allows

Friday 

• GMAT Official Practice Exam 2
• Focus on pacing

Saturday 

• Review the test
• Revise formulas
• Go through the basic approaches and your notes
• Take ample rest

Sunday 

Actual GMAT
(D-DAY)

Note – Give more time to the preparation on the weekends if you are a working professional and cannot give 3 hours for the daily practice. A minimum of 2 hours each weekday is a must.

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