Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 13:57 IST

Are you ready for a study plan which will make you work really hard, but also ensure that you get really good scores in GMAT? What it takes to commit yourself to GMAT prep is primarily time. If you don’t have a lot of time left to prepare, this article is relevant to you.

GMAT Preparation Plan for 4 weeks

Here is an effective 30 day GMAT preparation schedule. However, it requires at least 15 hours each week for a month. That means at least two hours every day for 30 days. You only need GMAT prep books, prep software, sample papers and determination.

Essential Study Material -

  1. The Official Guide for GMAT Review 2015

  2. GMATprep test software (free download from GMAT website)

  3. Manhattan GMAT Complete Strategy Guide Set, 6th Edition or Magoosh Official Guide

Optional Study Material -

  • Kaplan GMAT Premier 2015 with 6 Practice Tests

Note: You can buy the print material online or from any bookstore.

Week 1 Schedule

Take GMAT Prep Test 1: Take a test right at the beginning to understand where you stand. This will help you in assessing your strengths and weaknesses. You can then customize this study plan according to the sections you are weakest in. If you are worried about the quant section, then make your prep math-centric. This will give you something like a beginning score to measure your ultimate growth.

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Sign up for GMAT: If you haven’t already, do so now. The reason to do so is it might take two weeks to wait for a date appointment. Once you have a deadline, it is a lot easier to work towards the goal.








Checklist

  • Use Manhattan or Magoosh GMAT series for extra practice

  • Work through Kaplan Lessons

  • Keep tabs on your progress

  • Complete and review the GMAT prep test

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Week 2 Schedule

Take Two Practice/Sample Tests: This week use Manhattan GMAT. Your focus should be on reviewing your mistakes after you take a test. Be sure to keep a gap of a couple of days between tests.







Drill questions: The Official GMAT Guide is your best resource. Do drills of ten questions from all sections. For verbal, drill 15 questions, breaking them up between sections.

Checklist

  • Go through Official GMAT Guide

  • Take Manhattan Practice Test 2

  • Customize focus on specific areas

  • Review tests and Kaplan material

  • Complete half of the Manhattan books and half of Kaplan videos

 

Week 3 Schedule

Identify weak areas: Complete 500 practice questions. Figure out questions from which section gave you the hardest time. Also understand the reasoning behind the correct answer. There are a lot of online forums to ask experts and other students about the reasoning and concept behind a certain question.

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Use Manhattan or Magoosh practice sessions: Based on your weak areas, create additional drills. These questions are delivered on the computer with a timer, telling you your speed.

Checklist

  • Continue working through Official Guide

  • Take Manhattan Test 3 and 4

  • Use Magoosh practice sessions

 

Week 4 Schedule

Take last GMAT prep test: Notice how far you have come in the last three weeks. You need to continue figuring out in which area are you still struggling. Remember, return to the Manhattan and Magoosh guides whenever necessary.

Complete Manhattan guides as well as Magoosh videos: You will have to consult the Manhattan guide and Magoosh whenever necessary.

Checklist

  • Complete Official GMAT Guide

  • Complete all Magoosh videos

  • Clarify any doubts on online forums

  • Look through sample papers to understand the underlying pattern

 

The day of the exam

Here are tips to help you on the day of the exam. Remember that your first attempt at GMAT is not the end of the world; if you are unhappy with your scores you can retake GMAT after 16 days of the first attempt.

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GMAT Preparation Tips

Q:   Is the GMAT test hard?

A:

GMAT exam is actually very tough, as only a handful number of students crack the exam. Out of 200,000 students, only 6% of the students qualified the exam. SIne the competition is very high, these tests are a hard nut to crack. Students preparing for GMAT exam will have to prepare rigorously and solve question papers in order to crack the exam. GMAT is hard to crack but not impossible. With the right strategies, students can aim to crack the exam. 

Check out: Is GMAT exam tough?

Q:   What is the best GMAT Focus book?

A:

Some of the best books to prepare for GMAT Focus Edition are as follows:

  • The GMAT Focus Official Guide
  • The Critical Reasoning Bible
  • All the GMAT guides (Manhattan Prep)
  • Total GMAT Math (Jeff Sackmann)
  • GMAT Prep Plus (Kaplan)

Ideally these are some of the most important GMAT Focus books to prepare for the exam. 

Q:   What is the highest GMAT score?

A:

The highest possible GMAT score is 800. It seems impossible to get a perfect score of 800 on the GMAT, but it can be achieved with sheer hard work, dedication, and the right study plan. Even the top B-schools require candidates to score 720 or more than 720, so, candidates need not score a perfect 800 to get into a top Business program. If you get a decent score then also you are eligible to apply to a top business program.

Q:   Which month is best for GMAT exam?

A:

As such there is no particular preference for choosing the best month to appear for GMAT exam. It is up to the applicants to choose a relevant GMAT exam date based on their admission intakes abroad and regster accordingly. Those who wish to submit GMAT scores for Fall intake should register for July-August months. While those applying for Spring intakes can appear for the exam in September-December months. It is completely up to the students because they need time to prepare and select an apt GMAT exam date. 

Q:   Is 650 a good GMAT score?

A:

650 - 690 is a good score, however, if you score above 700 then it is great and it also enhances your chances of securing admission to a top B-school. However, a good GMAT score is not the only criterion for securing admission to a top MBA college. Students need to build a holistic profile that should have a decent balance of work experience, academic excellence, extracurricular activities, etc. Nonetheless, a good GMAT score will definitely help you in improving your candidature. Make sure to cover every aspect of the GMAT syllabus with the correct resources.

Q:   Is the GMAT exam tough?

A:

GMAT exam assesses different skill sets of candidates like the ability to think critically, ability to analyse data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills. According to an estimate, only very few of the candidates are able to score more than 720+. So, one needs to develop these skills to get a decent score in order to get admission to their dream B-school. However, GMAT does not require you to study management concepts. It tests your basic mathematical and verbal skills only. Hence, it is not a tough exam; however, it does require focused and dedicated preparation. Here are a few points that will help you prepare well for the GMAT exam 2023:

  • Familiarize yourself with the GMAT exam syllabus and pattern.
  • Complete the official GMAT study material (cover-to-cover) at least twice.
  • Appear for the GMAT mocks every week and analyse your performance in each of them.

Q:   How do I cover the GMAT 2024 syllabus in 3 months?

A:

To cover the GMAT 2023 syllabus in 3 months, you can follow a structured study plan and make efficient use of your time. Here's a suggested approach:

  • Understand the GMAT syllabus: Learn the topics covered by the GMAT's syllabus, including Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. You can prioritise your study topics with this assistance.
  • Create a study schedule: Divide your 3-month study period into weekly and daily goals. Allocate specific time slots for each section of the GMAT syllabus. Ensure that your schedule is realistic and allows for regular practice and revision.
  • Gather study materials: Gather pertinent study materials that span the whole GMAT course, both online and off. Textbooks, question banks, GMAT prep books, and online materials may all be included in this.
  • Focus on weak areas: Identify your weak areas and allocate more time to study and practice those topics.
  • Practice regularly: Set aside dedicated time for GMAT practice questions and mock tests.
  • Seek guidance and support: Consider enrolling in a GMAT prep course or working with a tutor who can guide you through the syllabus and provide feedback on your progress.
  • Review and revise: Regularly review the topics you have covered and revise key concepts. Make use of flashcards, summaries, and mnemonic techniques to reinforce your learning.
  • Take mock exams: As you approach the end of your 3-month study period, take full-length mock exams to simulate the actual GMAT test conditions. Analyze your performance, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your study plan accordingly.

Keep in mind that perseverance and commitment are essential for success. Stick to your study schedule, stay inspired, and keep a good outlook throughout the GMAT prep process. Good fortune!

Q:   Is it hard to score 600+ on GMAT?

A:

To get a 600+ score on the GMAT one needs to do a lot of hard work and made consistent efforts to get this score. Start with the GMAT syllabus and pattern. You can then move on to the GMAT official guide and other official study material. Make this as the base of your preparation. Once you are thorough with this, you can read other authentic sources such as the Manhattan guides, Princeton Review study material, etc. Make a study plan and follow it strictly and try to cover one topic at a time. Also, note down your weakness and try to work on them to increase your score.

About the Author
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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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