How long should you study for GMAT?
How long should you study for the GMAT is an important question which comes to the mind of every candidate. The time you should spend studying to take the GMAT test is unique to you. While we don’t know what’s ideal for you, we do know how much time others spend, on average, to study for the test and their self-reported GMAT test outcomes. We also know that successful business school applicants give themselves 3-6 months to prepare.
Those who perform well on the GMAT test tend to spend more time preparing for it. There is no cause-and-effect mechanism at work, though. Studying for 90 hours does not ensure that you will score in the 700 area. In this article, you will get to know about every detail for the preparation of the GMAT test.
Step 1: Determine how many hours you will need to devote to your studies.
Make use of the information in the preceding section to determine how many hours you will need to devote to studying for the GMAT test depending on how many points you want to enhance your overall score.
Step 2: Change the number of hours you need to study (If Necessary)
Depending on your present level of preparation and your objectives, you may or may not need to change the total number of hours you need to study.
For example, if you’ve already studied extensively but haven’t made any progress toward your target score, you may want to add another 15-20 hours to your overall study time. Traditionally, the more studying you’ve done, the more difficult it is to improve your score. The initial few hours of studying are usually the most fruitful, since you’ll make rapid progress by correcting flaws such as casual blunders or learning how to cope with a new question type.
You may also change your hours depending on your academic talents and shortcomings. Are you a quick study? If this is the case, you may choose to reduce the overall time required by 10–15 hours. If you need to view content many times before it sinks in, consider adding hours to your schedule.
Step 3: Determine how many hours each week you can devote to studying.
The next stage in developing your study strategy is determining how many hours per week you can devote to studying. It’s critical to keep this in perspective. You want to make the most of your study time. You should also make sure you’re not sacrificing your other job or duties to study. After all, your GMAT application is reliant on more than simply your GMAT test score. You may get dissatisfied and worn out if your practice routine is too full.
In general, putting in more hours is more significant than putting in more weeks. That instance, studying 120 hours over twelve weeks is preferable to studying 80 hours over fifteen weeks. However, the amount of time you can devote each week is determined by your objectives and obligations. If cramming in 30 hours of study per week would cause you to disregard other tasks, it’s best to limit yourself to 15 hours per week and focus on your other commitments.
The more hours you can study for the GMAT in a week, the fewer weeks you’ll need to prepare. However, keep in mind that your learning should be beneficial and productive. Attempting to study for 20 hours in one weekend is unlikely to provide significant results. You will get exhausted if you try to cram too much learning into a short amount of time.
In the same vein, you should maintain a strict and regular plan from week to week. If you just study for an hour once a week, you will most likely forget everything you learned the week before. Set aside a constant amount of hours each week that are challenging but not oppressive.
Step 4: Calculate the number of weeks you’ll need to study.
It’s time to work out how many weeks you need to study now that you know how many hours you can study in a week and how many hours you need to study in total. Divide the total number of hours. You’ll need to prepare for the GMAT by the number of hours you’ll be able to study each week. That’s how many weeks you’ll have to study. If you require 120 hours of study time and can only study for 10 hours each week, you’ll need to study for 12 weeks.
You should include in time for retakes while arranging your GMAT study strategy. In 12 months, you may take the GMAT up to five times, but you must wait at least 16 days between tests. If you believe you’ll need to repeat the GMAT test, budget at least four weeks for each retake so you can learn from your mistakes and improve.
Step 5: Double-check the deadlines for your applications.
Double-check your schools’ application dates. If you pick which institutions you want to submit your test results to before taking the GMAT, they will get them in fewer than 20 days. To be on the safe side, take the GMAT at least three weeks before the application deadline. Adding it all up, if you need 12 weeks to prepare for the GMAT, four weeks for retakes, and three weeks for schools to get your result, you should begin studying around 19 weeks before the test.
If you are unable to complete your studies before the deadline, you have a few choices. To begin, you may exclude a retake from your timetable and concentrate on acing the exam the first time. Second, you may strive to squeeze in additional prep time each week. You’ll need to study for fewer weeks if you study for more hours each week.
Step 6: Make a study schedule for the GMAT.
It’s time to design a study program to assist you to accomplish your score targets now that you know when to start studying, how many weeks you’ll be studying, and how many hours you’ll be studying each week. Make an effort to study at the same times and on the same days each week. This makes it easier to arrange your day and work regularly. If you need to study for fifteen hours a week, for example, you can study for three hours Monday through Friday or five hours on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Consistency in your practice schedule may be achieved by sticking to the same days and hours. Make sure to include frequent practise exams in your study schedule. Taking practice exams regularly allows you to keep track of your progress and verify that you’re on track to accomplish your goals.
How much time should you spend studying for the GMAT?
As a general rule, three to six months is roughly the optimum length of time to maintain the level of preparation required for the GMAT. Putting off your preparation will not inevitably result in a higher score. After a certain point in the process, there are generally diminishing returns.
The GMAT, unlike other examinations, assesses your talents rather than your information. Preparing for the GMAT may be compared to marathon training. You’re gradually improving your ability to perform at your best on each given day. Practice is essential for gaining a substantial portion of the GMAT expertise. A great deal of practice is required.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), people who get a score of 700 or above report preparing for the exam for more than 90 hours. However, GMAC is quick to point out that there is no such thing as a cause-and-effect process at work. Spending more time studying does not ensure a good score, but keeping a ballpark number of over a hundred hours of preparation for your practice is important. Your innate skills might influence your score. You will not attain your top score without sufficient preparation, regardless of your innate ability.
How can you successfully prepare?
Building GMAT knowledge is like working out at the gym. You must keep going and accomplish something every day. Avoid losing momentum by stopping and starting your study. You must also maintain you’re practice across all of the areas assessed to avoid losing your gains. You’ll notice that if you ignore a component of the exam for a time to concentrate on other sections of the test, your skill in that section will suffer.
It’s important to conceive of your preparation as three steps, regardless of your timeframe. You’ll spend the first stage learning about ideas and tactics. The time aspect will be introduced in the second phase. In the third, you’ll practice fake exams (along with your time approach) to improve your mental stamina for the real thing.
What is the most effective way to utilize mocks to get an accurate baseline score?
To get the best results, follow the steps outlined below to estimate your current GMAT scores:
- Attempt the OG Diagnostic test
- Review attempt to determine weak areas
- Review concepts related to weak areas
- Attempt the mock exam
The most accurate evaluation of your present level of GMAT preparation could only be obtained in this manner.
Takers of Retaining Retaining Retaining Ret
How can you use the Enhanced Score Report (ESR) to measure GMAT preparation?
If you’ve taken the GMAT before, your past score may be used to determine your current level of GMAT preparation. You have 5 years from the date of your exam to obtain and view your GMAT Enhanced Score Report. However, there are a few things to keep in mind while you examine your GMAT ESR. The accuracy of your present estimate will have a big impact on how long it takes you to prepare for the GMAT. As a result, based on the resources accessible to you, make sure you use an efficient and dependable strategy.
Which resources are you planning on using in your preparation?
The amount of time necessary for GMAT preparation may vary depending on whether you are utilizing books, video tutorials, or instructor-led classroom tutoring. Students who approach their GMAT preparation with seriousness, are consistent, utilize a data-driven online course, and put in around 7 hours of study each 10-point improvement (on a scale of 800) in their overall GMAT score are 90 per cent more likely to succeed. If, on the other hand, you are preparing for the GMAT using books, you would need around 12 hours every 10-point increase (on a scale of 800).
The values in the table above were derived based on the following assumptions about your preparation:
- Because of other obligations, you study continuously without taking extended intervals between your preparations, i.e., you don’t give up preparation for more than a week at a time.
- You only use one resource for your research.
- The study plan is not changed often; for example, you do not follow a strategy to study Sentence Correction for 3 days and then move to study Critical Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning without finishing Sentence Correction.
- Beyond the time necessary for studying the subjects assessed on the GMAT, you must also factor in the time required for taking practice tests to train your brain and fine-tune your preparation plan before the exam.
- As a result, selecting the most appropriate materials for GMAT preparation will shorten the amount of time required to study for the GMAT.
FAQs
- Can you study for GMAT on your own?
Ans. Many GMAT test-takers choose self-study, which takes a great level of devotion, discipline, and concentration. You may be properly prepared for the GMAT with the tools and resources.
2. Can I crack the GMAT without coaching?
Ans. If you want to get a perfect score on the GMAT, however, all portions are equally crucial. So, while you’re practising on your own, without coaching, be sure that you don’t spend too much time on one portion while ignoring the others in an attempt to develop in that aspect.
3. Can the average student crack the GMAT?
Ans. Yes, any student may get a good GMAT score with enough to practise, perseverance, and experienced supervision from Leverage Edu’s faculty.