Preparing for the GMAT is a tough business. You’ll have to put in many hours of hardcore study to make sure that you pass, let alone do well on it. A GMAT study plan is a must.
This is true, in part, because the GMAT format is written to test critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills, rather than just straight data or factual information. Depending on your background, some sections of the GMAT are harder than others.
The only way to ensure that you cover all of the important materials and master all of the right skills and get enough practice is to follow a study plan.
Your GMAT study plan will probably be part of a review course. Online GMAT prep courses provide expert instruction, textbooks, practice tests, sample questions and a lot of helpful material.
Many of them are integrated with an app or web-based platform for on-the-go study opportunities. One key benefit of GMAT study programs like these is having a study schedule to keep you on track.
The study schedule you follow for test prep will provide the framework for intaking, memorizing, and reviewing all of the important concepts. Whether you opt to purchase a course or make your own way, this GMAT study guide will get you started on the right foot.
How to Study for GMAT
It probably goes without saying, but you need to approach your GMAT preparation in a thoughtful way. You should plan out the length of time you can spend and the materials you’ll need.
Because the GMAT is your entry point into an MBA program, you’ll want to understand your target score, based on where you want to apply. Depending on your desired GMAT score, you’ll approach studies with different levels of intensity.
It’s also important that you begin at the beginning. Most GMAT study programs will start with a practice test. This places you in the GMAT universe. How you do on a practice test will help you understand where you’re starting from and what areas are least intuitive or easy for you.
For example, many people buy additional GMAT Quant courses or books, because that section presents unique difficulties.
Whatever you learn from an initial practice test will inform your GMAT study plan.
GMAT Study Plan
Once you know your starting point and finish line, you organize everything in between. Your finish line is the score you are aiming for, to get into your top choice schools.
You may think of the GMAT like running hurdles. You’ll have several benchmarks throughout your study that will help you see progress, celebrate wins, and know when you’re fully prepared to pass the GMAT with the score you want.
Here’s a basic structure, and what some of those milestones may be, to help you study for the GMAT.
Pick a Lane: Self Study or GMAT Course
First and foremost, you’ll want to pick the method of preparation. Some people can pull off self study for the GMAT. This means that you pick a variety of (free or paid) materials and GMAT prep books and use them to prepare for the GMAT.
A drawback to this approach is that there can definitely be gaps in what you learn. That said, some people do it and score just fine.
More commonly, people select a GMAT course. There are several online GMAT reviews from highly reputable companies and GMAT experts that you can buy. Many come with free trials so you can get in and see how the program works and if you like it.
Here are some GMAT courses you could check out:
These are just a few. There are a lot of great GMAT prep programs to choose from. Once you’ve chosen a good fit, select a specific plan and make the investment.
Set a Schedule and Study Plan
The most important criteria to start with is how long to study for the GMAT. Some people study for the GMAT for one month and some people study for 6 months.
How long you have until your test date will impact how you study. You may need to accelerate or you may be able to take your time.
Once you know how many weeks you have, you’ll want to create a literal schedule. Many people calendar out their GMAT study sessions. This means setting aside time each day and week that you are unavailable to do anything else (including work and social activities). During those blocks of time, you are just studying for the GMAT.
Students who do this have the most success because they can give their complete focus to studying. Even if you purchase a course, blocking off time to go through the materials is essential.
Keep Track of Your Progress
As you study for the GMAT, you’ll work through all of the subject matter. Some of it, as said above, will be more inherently challenging for you. It’s important that you keep track of how you’re doing.
Because you typically schedule your GMAT in advance, it’s important to not feel pressured by that test date. If you take the test too early, you’ll lose money retaking it to get the score you want.
Knowing when you are truly ready, by taking a practice test, will only benefit you.
Prep for Test Day
Most of your GMAT preparation is about concepts and skills. But there are some other areas you need to prepare for. One of these is test-taking.
As you progress through your GMAT studies, you should encounter a lot of practice questions. This will familiarize you with the structure of GMAT questions.
It’s also important that you practice the timing of the test. You’ll have a limited amount of time to take each section and each question should be timed out. Getting hung up or confused during the test will cost you both in terms of time and final score.
In addition to the test itself, you’ll want to prepare yourself for the test-taking experience. Each GMAT test center has rules. These regulations are important to know. For instance, you can take a calculator into the Integrated Reasoning section but not Quant. All of the little details are important to know in advance so they don’t throw you off your game on test day.
Once you have your broad plan, it’s time to get into the nitty gritty of planning out your days of GMAT study.
How Many Hours Should You Spend Studying for the GMAT Exam?
This is a question a lot of people want to know. The reality is, studying for the GMAT is going to cost you something on a personal and even professional level. You have to take the right amount of time.
Most experts say that’s between 100 and 120 hours total. Depending on your full timeline, this gets broken down into weekly and daily allocations.
GMAT Study Guide
That breakdown—of daily and weekly hours for GMAT study—has a couple of additional factors. One is the knowledge you come into this with. For instance, if you have a business degree for your undergraduate, you may have a lot of conceptual knowledge already. Some people with math degrees fly through those parts of the test. A practice test will provide understanding for this.
The second is how you learn. Some people quickly absorb and retain information. Other people take longer. This is another reason it’s important to choose the right GMAT study program. The one that suits your learning style will help you understand and remember information better.
Let’s break down what GMAT studies will look like if you have six months, three months, two months or one month.
GMAT Study Plan 6 Months
Considering that experts recommend 120 hours of GMAT studies, if you have six months, you’ll be able to space out your studies in a generous way. If you are a busy professional, a parent, or have a lot of other obligations, this timeline may be right for you.
It actually isn’t the most highly recommended because some test takers have found that it’s too long and they end up forgetting information. If you choose a six month GMAT plan, here’s what it will look like:
| Timeline | Study Hours |
| Monthly | 20 hours |
| Weekly | 5 hours |
| Daily | 1 hour/day (weekdays) |
Here is an overview of what you’ll need to plan for each week of study over the course of six months:
| Week | Month 1 (6 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Familiarize yourself with your GMAT study program; download/read all of the details. Take a GMAT practice exam to establish a baseline score. Calendar out your study plan. Read introductory materials for each section of the GMAT. |
| #2 | Start watching instructional videos and reading texts for Math and Verbal. Start using flashcards. Add in half an hour of additional reading a day. |
| #3 | Continue watching videos and reading texts for Math and Verbal sections. Do math flashcards and half an hour of additional reading a day. |
| #4 | Start watching Integrated Reasoning videos and reading textbooks. Add in IR flashcard questions. Take another full-length GMAT practice test and compare it to your original test. |
| Week | Month 2 (6 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Organize the next month’s schedule for learning Math, Verbal and Integrated Reasoning content. Do textbook reading, Math flashcards and additional reading. |
| #2 | Work on Math and Verbal sections. Start practicing for essay questions. Start Quant prep materials – do practice questions to determine if you need a Quant supplement. |
| #3 | Work on Math, Verbal and Quant. Watch videos and read textbooks. Rotate through related topic practice questions for areas you are having trouble with. |
| #4 | Watch Math and Video instructional videos, plus read textbooks. Do Math and Verbal practice questions. Focus on sentence correction and additional reading. Organize practice questions. |
| Week | Month 3 (6 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Watch Math and Verbal videos and read textbooks. Take a full-length GMAT practice exam and use your answers to plan this month’s studies. |
| #2 | Work on Math and Integrated Reasoning. Add in more Quant studying, either in the form of videos/textbooks or both. Review sentence correction and number properties. |
| #3 | Work on Verbal and Integrated Reasoning. Do an hour of extra reading a day. Practice essay questions and use flashcards. |
| #4 | Pick up the practice test you did at the beginning of this month. Review all missed questions. Re-organize flashcards and update your study plan for the remaining half of your time. |
| Week | Month 4 (6 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Work on Math and Analytical Writing Assessment. Watch videos and read textbook materials. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| #2 | Work on Math and Verbal, skipping quizzes if you feel confident and spending more time on individual question types. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| #3 | Start working systematically through individual question types for Math and Verbal. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| #4 | Continue working through Math and Verbal question times, adding in timed practices. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| Week | Month 5 (6 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Collect all of your GMAT diagnostic practice tests and outline your remaining two months of study. Work on Quant and Verbal this week, focusing on geometry and Reading Comprehension. |
| #2 | Work on Math and Integrated Reasoning. Review Quant with math and idiom flashcards. Incorporate daily practice for essay questions. |
| #3 | Spend even amounts of time in Math, Integrated Reasoning and Verbal content this week. Do an hour of extra reading a day. |
| #4 | Work on Math and Verbal this week, focusing on review of different question types and organized flashcards. Review Quant. Take another full-length GMAT practice test and compare it to your original test. |
| Week | Month 6 (6 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Work on Math and Analytical Writing Assessment. Add in daily “lightning round” review of all subjects with flashcards. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| #2 | Work on Verbal and Integrated Reasoning. Add in daily “lightning round” review of all subjects with flashcards. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| #3 | Spend most of your time each day reviewing Quant, with flashcards and textbooks. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Do an hour of extra reading a day. |
| #4 | Organize daily review of all topics, taking at least two days off before test day. |
GMAT Study Plan 3 Months
Three months is one of the most highly recommended timelines for GMAT studies. A three month GMAT study plan would look something like this:
| Timeline | Study Hours |
| Monthly | 40 hours |
| Weekly | 10 hours |
| Daily | 2 hours/day (weekdays) |
| Week | Month 1 (3 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Familiarize yourself with your GMAT study program; download/read all of the details. Take a GMAT practice exam to establish a baseline score. Calendar out your study plan. Read introductory materials for each section of the GMAT. |
| #2 | Work on Quant (foundational math) and Verbal (focus on sentence correction). Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Start digital flashcards. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. |
| #3 | Work on Integrated Reasoning. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Use digital flashcards. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| #4 | Work on Verbal and Math. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Work on a GMAT practice question bank, covering all areas of the test. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. |
| Week | Month 2 (3 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Work on Math and Quant. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Use digital flashcards. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| #2 | Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. |
| #3 | Work on Math and Quant. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Use digital flashcards. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. |
| #4 | Work on Integrated Reasoning. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Use digital flashcards. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. |
| Week | Month 3 (3 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Work on Verbal and Math. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Work on a GMAT practice question bank, covering all areas of the test. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. |
| #2 | Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. |
| #3 | Work on Quant, adding in videos, textbooks and flashcards. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. Do a set of timed practice questions every day. |
| #4 | Review Verbal, Math and Integrated Reasoning. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. Do a set of timed practice questions every day. Organize daily review of all topics, taking at least two days off before test day. |
2 Month GMAT Study Plan
A two month GMAT study plan is the second most highly recommended course, but it takes some hustle. It could be tight if you’re coming in without a lot of business background.
With the right amount of work, you can pull it off. Your studies would look something like this:
| Timeline | Study Hours |
| Monthly | 60 hours |
| Weekly | 15 hours |
| Daily | 3 hours/day (weekdays) |
| Week | Month 1 (2 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Familiarize yourself with your GMAT study program; download/read all of the details. Take a GMAT practice exam to establish a baseline score. Calendar out your study plan. Read introductory materials for each section of the GMAT. Designate one review day a week. |
| #2 | Start on Quant and Verbal. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Start digital flashcards. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. Designate one review day a week. |
| #3 | Start on Integrated Reasoning and continue working on Quant. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Use digital flashcards. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. Designate one review day a week. |
| #4 | Work on Verbal and Math. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Use digital flashcards. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. Take another full-length GMAT practice test. |
| Week | Month 2 (2 Month GMAT Plan) |
|---|---|
| #1 | Work on Verbal and Math. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Practice sentence correction. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. Designate one review day a week. |
| #2 | Work on Integrated Reasoning and Quant. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Use digital flashcards. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Designate one review day a week. Do a set of timed practice questions every day. |
| #3 | Work on Verbal and Integrated Reasoning. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Use digital flashcards. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. Designate one review day a week. Do a set of timed practice questions every day. |
| #4 | Work on Verbal and Math. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Do a set of timed practice questions every day. Practice essay questions. Organize daily review of all topics, taking at least two days off before test day. |
GMAT Study Plan 1 Month
A one month GMAT study plan is a bit of a risk. It’s a very short period of time to learn a lot. You’ll have to dedicate yourself fully and give up a lot during these four weeks.
Here’s what a 1-month GMAT study plan breaks down to:
| Timeline | Study Hours |
| Monthly | 120 hours |
| Weekly | 30 hours |
| Daily | 6 hours/day (weekdays) |
| Week | 1 Month GMAT Plan |
|---|---|
| #1 | Familiarize yourself with your GMAT study program; download/read all of the details. Take a GMAT practice exam to establish a baseline score. Calendar out your study plan. Read introductory materials for each section of the GMAT. Start digital flashcards. Start Quant. |
| #2 | Work on Integrated Reasoning and Quant. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Use digital flashcards. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. Do a set of timed practice questions every day. |
| #3 | Work on Verbal and Math. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Do one Reading Comprehension passage this week. Use digital flashcards. Read for an extra 30 minutes a day. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. Do a set of timed practice questions every day. Take another full-length GMAT practice test. |
| #4 | Work on Verbal and Math. Watch instructor-led videos and read textbook materials. Continue drilling Quant. Practice for the Analytical Writing Assessment. Do a set of timed practice questions every day. Organize daily review of all topics, taking at least two days off before test day. |
However you choose to study for the GMAT, it’s important to use every moment you have as wisely as possible. Studying for the GMAT is a short season with a big payoff. If you get a good score and get into the right MBA program, you’re making an enormous investment in your future.