GMAT Study Plan 2024: Get Tips & Sample Schedules

Building your GMAT study plan is the first step toward success in the actual examination. The GMAT is often important if you wish to study abroad and apply to leading universities. However, without a proper self-study timetable or blueprint, it is hard to organize everything and track your progress. 

There are several reasons why you should create a study plan. Firstly, you will find it easier to organize your preparation with a study plan. It can contain specific timelines and objectives for each week, helping you stay on track amidst all your other commitments. Secondly, study plans help you cover all the core points of GMAT sections. Divide them into days, weeks, and months based on your needs. Tracking progress is also possible with a good study plan. You can have a baseline score target in mind while using practice exercises for developing your skills in diverse areas.

How to Make GMAT Study Plan- Vital Pointers

How to make GMAT study plans? It depends on your specific circumstances. Some of the key points to note include the following: 

• What is your level of preparation? 
• How much time can you devote each day to GMAT preparation? 
• When is your examination and how much time do you have before the same? 
• What are your strong and weak areas? 
• What is your targeted score? 

Once you get the answers to these questions, a study plan starts coming together. It will naturally have dedicated timelines for each concept/topic, in addition to reviews, practice tests, and study sequences. 

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Factors to Consider while Preparing GMAT Study Plans 

Creating a GMAT study plan is not as easy as it sounds. Here are some tips to help you with the process: 

• Desired Score Improvements- The more points you want for improvement, the more time you will need to study. It is a direct equation in this case! For instance, 50 hours are necessary for 0-50 point improvements. If you wish to enhance your score by 101-150 points, putting in at least 150 hours is a good idea. 
• Pre-Examination Time- This will directly influence the plan. If only three months remain before the GMAT examination date, you will naturally need a three-month study plan.  
• Weaknesses & Strengths- You should start by listing areas you are already comfortable with or find easy, along with difficult concepts/sections. The latter may require more hours in the study plan.

10 Important GMAT Exam Preparation Tips

Understand the Exam Structure

The first step of your GMAT study plan should be familiarizing yourself with the exam structure. The new GMAT exam structure has 3 sections – Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. You have 45 minutes to attempt each section. The quant section has 21 questions, verbal reasoning has 23 questions, and data insights have 20 questions. Therefore, in total, you have 2 hours and 15 minutes to solve 64 questions.

Prepare a Study Plan

Make sure that you create an in-depth and comprehensive study plan surrounding all sections of the GMAT. Give more time to subjects in which you are weak and follow a structured approach. Make daily, weekly, and monthly targets to calculate your pace.

Understand the GMAT Topics

Begin by familiarizing yourself with the official GMAT prep books and preparation material from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). The official GMAT prep is the one of the most accurate representations of your upcoming exams.

Practice Tests

Regularly take full-length practice tests, which provide test-taking strategies and familiarize you with the exam structure. Review your performance, and then focus on what needs to be better.

Improve Your Weak Areas

Identify your weak areas with practice tests and dedicate more time to improving your performance in these sections. To do this, practice targeted questions and review material that you can use to check your understanding of the relevant concept.

Review Fundamental Concepts

Ensure you have a strong grasp of the basic concepts, especially in math and grammar. Brushing up on high school-level algebra, geometry, and English grammar rules can be highly beneficial.

Learn Time Management

Practice managing your time efficiently during the exam. Develop strategies for each section, such as when to guess and move on, to maximize your score.

Develop Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills

The GMAT tests your ability to think critically and analytically. Engage in activities that enhance these skills, such as reading complex texts, solving puzzles, and analyzing data.

Stay Consistent and Motivated

Consistency is key to effective preparation. Keep yourself motivated by setting small milestones and rewarding yourself for achieving them.

Take Care of Your Health

 Physical and mental well-being significantly affect your performance. Ensure you get enough sleep, eat healthily, and incorporate regular physical activity into your routine.

Best Books for GMAT Exam Preparation in 2024

• The Official Guide for GMAT Review 2024: This comprehensive guide by GMAC includes real GMAT questions from past exams and covers all four sections in detail. It’s a must-have for any serious test-taker.
• Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides: A series of books that delve deeply into specific sections of the GMAT, such as Quantitative and Verbal. These guides offer detailed explanations and strategies.
• Kaplan GMAT Prep Plus 2024: Known for its high-quality practice questions and detailed answer explanations, this book also includes access to online resources and practice tests.
• Princeton Review GMAT Premium Prep 2024: Offers a balanced approach with comprehensive content review, practice questions, and strategies for tackling the exam.
• Veritas Prep Complete GMAT Course: A set of books covering all sections of the GMAT with in-depth strategies, practice questions, and explanations. Great for those looking for a thorough preparation.
• GMAT Advanced Quant by Manhattan Prep: Focuses on advanced quantitative problems, ideal for those looking to achieve a high score in the Quant section.
• GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible by PowerScore: Excellent for improving skills in the Critical Reasoning section of the Verbal part of the GMAT.
• GMAT Sentence Correction Strategy Guide by Manhattan Prep: Provides in-depth coverage of grammar and sentence correction rules tested on the GMAT.
• GMAT Reading Comprehension by Manhattan Prep: Focuses specifically on improving reading comprehension skills with strategies and practice passages.
• Magoosh GMAT Prep: Offers a combination of book and online resources, including video lessons and practice questions, ideal for self-paced learning.

How Much Time Do You Need to Prepare for GMAT

The amount of time needed to prepare for the GMAT varies depending on individual factors such as your current skill level, target score, and study habits. On average, successful test-takers spend about 2 to 3 months preparing for the GMAT, dedicating 100 to 120 total hours of study time.

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GMAT Self Study Time Table- Sample Options 

Here is a GMAT study plan sample that you can use as a reference. 

3-Month Study Plan (Week-Wise): 

There are various such GMAT study plans that you can create, depending on your specific requirements. The plan given above is only a sample. You may make 1, 3, or 6-month plans to help you learn and organize yourself ahead of the test, based on the time you have in hand. Remember that a solid study plan is half the job done. Hence, invest time and energy into the same from the outset.