Most experts recommend that you study for the GMAT for at least 100 hours, and more if you are looking for a high score. This should take a minimum of two months, depending on how much time you can study each week. Setting a weekly study goal will ensure you spend enough time learning and practicing to be prepared.
Your other commitments, like work and family, will determine how long it takes to study for the GMAT. Unless you can dedicate yourself full-time to studying, your long-term GMAT study plan should account for those realities.
While you can cram for the GMAT, it’s an important test that merits your full attention. It will take some time to develop the right knowledge and skills to master each of the four sections of the GMAT.
Read on to get insight into how to create a GMAT study timeline that works for you.
How Long Does it Take to Prepare for the GMAT?
Operating under the recommendation of 100 study hours, most people’s GMAT preparation takes 2-3 months. There are a few factors that impact a GMAT study timeline, including your academic background and current knowledge.
Some people bring some prior knowledge into the GMAT, which helps a little with prep. However, even the best mathematical mind in the world shouldn’t walk into the GMAT without studying.
Unlike any other test you’ve probably taken, the GMAT addresses skills, not just concepts. This means that sheer memorization won’t suffice. You’ll have to spend time developing critical reasoning, mathematical reasoning, analytical reasoning and other ways of thinking and applying knowledge.
There are several different ways to create a GMAT study timeline that works for you. Read on to see illustrations of how to prepare for the GMAT in a one, two or three month timeline.
GMAT Study Timeline
When you’re creating a GMAT study timeline, you’ll immediately need to figure out how much time you actually have to work with on a daily and weekly basis. Consider your other obligations, including work and family. Studying for the GMAT can’t be done on a whim or in between other activities. It requires your full focus.
Your GMAT studies should be scheduled and stuck to as firmly as any other professional or personal obligation.
Here’s how to break it up if you have any of these three time frames:
1 Month GMAT Prep
If you only have four weeks to prepare for the GMAT, you’re going to have to study for 25 hours a week. Studying on weekdays, that would require a full five hours of study per day.
Best for: Very ambitious people without significant obligations. If you only work part time, don’t have children, and are highly dedicated to working hard, you may be able to study for the GMAT in as little as a month.
Keep in mind that five hours is the absolute minimum you would need to study each day, not including prep time and review, in a 1 month GMAT study plan.
2 Month GMAT Prep
If you have eight weeks to prepare for the GMAT, you’re going to have to study for 12.5 hours a week. Studying on weekdays, that would require two and a half hours of study per day.
Best for: People who have some obligations, but are able to carve out time every day to study for the GMAT. This would still be a very ambitious goal for someone who works full time or has a lot of personal scheduling to set aside.
Two or three hours a day may not feel like much, but it must be absolutely committed to, without slacking or skipping a day. It’s still a sizable commitment over the course of several weeks. You may want extra time for GMAT practice tests to help you get the best possible score.
3 Month GMAT Prep
If you have twelve weeks to prepare for the GMAT, you’re going to have to study for a little over eight hours a week. Studying on weekdays, that would require a little over an hour and a half of study per day.
Best for: Professionals and people who need to study for the GMAT while working, in school, or attending to other commitments. This timeline is most realistic for people who work full time, are parents, or who already have a full plate. Even so, it’s vital to maintain consistency, even without the toll of several hours a day of study.
Three months is long enough to settle into some great habits and some bad ones, so you’ll need accountability to stay on track. A prep course like Magoosh GMAT will give you access to study resources for a full year, so you’ll have the time to pace yourself.
Keep in mind, 100 hours is the basic recommendation for GMAT studying. If you have loftier goals of getting into a top MBA program, you’ll want to aim for a higher GMAT score.
People who achieve a GMAT score of 700 or higher usually commit to at least 120 hours of study. They may also invest in additional GMAT resources, like a GMAT tutor or supplemental textbooks or coaching. Some courses, like The Princeton Review GMAT offer a course designed specifically for this ambitious goal.
Your goals should be factored into your GMAT study schedule, and the prep course you choose. Some courses are geared towards high score guarantees, some offer short-term bootcamps, and some offer built-in accountability with in-person classes.
Check out our GMAT prep course comparison to find the best fit for your goals.
How to Know When You’re Ready For the GMAT
Most GMAT studies begin with a diagnostic practice test — a key piece of your GMAT study materials, which is included with most prep courses. This should be a full-length, timed GMAT practice test, to give you a realistic experience of the official test. Starting your studies this way establishes a baseline.
The score you get on this diagnostic will tell you what you would score on the GMAT if you took it today. It’s an important piece of information that will guide all of your studies.
Just as important is ongoing GMAT practice tests that will assess your progress and measure test readiness. Even if you have an established timeline to study for the GMAT, taking the test before you know you’re ready is a mistake.
The best way to know you’re ready for the GMAT is to take another, timed practice test. If you are nowhere near your target score, you are simply not ready. If you are close, you may be ready but may need to assess if it’s possible to delay your GMAT test date. It’s not worth taking the GMAT and getting a lower score than needed to get into the MBA program you want.
If you’ve created a shortlist of MBA programs, you should also know what GMAT score is acceptable for entrance. This will provide an understanding of the GMAT score you need to achieve to get where you need to know. Then, a practice test score will determine whether or not you are skilled enough to meet your goals.
If you’ve made a solid plan and followed through on your study goals, you’ll be prepared. And if you need to take another run at it to improve your GMAT score, you’re not alone. Some prep courses offer score improvement guarantees and tutoring for second-timers.
Get the support you need and try again!