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