How to Study for GMAT Effectively?
What does an optimal GMAT study plan look like? Have you ever pondered “how to study for GMAT effectively” or “how can I get a 760 on the GMAT?” Many students come to us for GMAT study plans. We feel that general study plans are ineffective because each student is unique, hence we advocate for Personalized Study Plans. The amount of effort required varies depending on whether you want to move from a 500 to a 760 or a 650 to a 760. Aside from the amount of effort necessary, you must remember that a GMAT score of 760 equates to a 99 percentile.
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| Plan 1 – Leveraging Verbal as Strength | Plan 2 – Leveraging Quant as Strength |
| Starting scores:
Total – 600 (56 percentile) Verbal – V34 (71 percentile) Quant – Q38 (33 percentile) |
Starting scores:
Total – 600 (56 percentile) Verbal – V28 (51 percentile) Quant – Q46 (58 percentile) |
| Target scores:
Total – 760 Verbal – V46 (99 percentile) Quant – Q48 (67 percentile) |
Target scores:
Total – 760 Verbal – V41 (93 percentile) Quant – Q51 (96 percentile) |
| Working Professional with 2 hours on weekdays and 4 hours dedicated time to study over the weekends | Working Professional with 2 hours on weekdays and 4 hours dedicated time to study over the weekends |
GMAT study plan – When and How to study effectively?
Here’s a 5 step approach to create your GMAT study plan:
1 – Determine your desired Quantitative and Verbal Scores.
2 – Calculate the amount of time required.
3 – Create a study sequence.
4 – To achieve your desired score, study in a systematic manner.
5 – Take mock tests & review your preparation.
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1. Determine your desired Quantitative and Verbal Scores.
You may be questioning why we are asking you to choose target scores when it is evident that both of these scores must be quite high. The answer is both yes and no. Yes, because you would need to perform exceptionally well in both portions, but no because you would still have the opportunity to capitalize on your strengths.
If you are taking the GMAT for the first time, a Diagnostic Test will determine your relative strength. A decent diagnostic test will provide you with your percentile results for each component. Your relative strength is the portion in which you have a higher percentile score and feel more confident. If you are a retaker, you do not need to look any farther than your official test ESR/scores.
Once you’ve determined your relative strength, you must choose a target score that capitalizes on it. What I mean is that if Verbal is your strength, you should prepare a high score in Verbal and then obtain the minimum required number in Quant, and vice versa if Quant is your strength, you should plan a high score in Quant and get the minimum required number in Verbal.
Here are some examples of how two students can use their various abilities to achieve the same result:
| Total Score – 760 | Quant | Verbal |
| Leverage Quant (Strength) | Q51 | V41 |
| Leverage Verbal (Strength) | Q48 | V46 |
2. Calculate the amount of time required
Why do you need to estimate the amount of time if the plan is for three months? Because each person’s daily commitment will change depending on their initial skill. Going from a 500-something score to 760 will take significantly longer than going from a 650+ score to 760. The number of months would remain the same, but your daily commitment would change.
If your estimate is 150 hours, you must plan this 150 hours throughout the first two months, i.e. at least 75 hours per month. These hours can be scheduled on weekdays or weekends, depending on your job schedule. One hour of study per weekday and six hours on weekends equals 70 hours of study per month. If the estimate is 200 hours, which equates to 100 hours per month, you would need to devote two hours on weekdays and seven hours on weekends to complete your studies in two months.
3. Create a study sequence
Once you’ve planned your study hours, you must block them off on your calendar so that you don’t arrange other activities during that time and can stick to your schedule. Now that you have allotted the necessary time, you must make good use of it. We recommend beginning with the section where you have the most experience. The rationale for this is that it will make it easier for you to improve and will create a nice tone for the rest of your preparation.
You must begin with (Sentence Correction) SC for Verbal. Only once you have reached your SC target score must you proceed to (Critical Reasoning) CR and then (Reading Comprehension) RC. The reason for this arrangement is that RC necessitates the development of abilities learned in SC and CR. Preparing these areas will automatically raise your RC skills to a certain level.
In Quant, you can begin with Number Properties and work your way through Word Problems, Algebra, Geometry, and Advanced Topics.
Calculate your GMAT score using GMAT Score Calculator.
4. How to Plan your Preparation for GMAT 760?
The GMAT assesses higher-order cognitive abilities rather than language or arithmetic capabilities. To ace the GMAT, you must first master the fundamental skills that underpin your reasoning process. REAL Learning necessitates the application of a systematic strategy (Reliable, Effective, Analytics-Driven, Logical).
You must begin with one section and not on to the next until you have achieved your target score in that segment. While studying a part, you must ensure that you understand the application method as well as the concept that simply knowing topics is insufficient for the GMAT.
5. Take mock tests & review your preparation
Only when you have finished studying both topics should you take practice examinations. That is why we have retained it until the last month of planning. Taking mock tests is only useful if you review them and make the most of each test that you solve.
Otherwise, you can take as many mocks as you like and yet not notice a substantial change. To get the most of each mock test that you solve, follow the instructions below:
- Take the mock test at the same time as your actual test; for example, if your actual test is in the morning, make sure you take the mock test in the morning as well. This will assist your body and mind adjust to the need to be attentive at that time.
- Take one mock test per week and spend the rest of the week studying from it.
- After you’ve completed the mock, go over all of the questions again. Make sure you answered correctly for the right reasons for the questions you answered correctly. Try to see if there is a trend, such as specific topics, for the questions you got wrong. Determine whether the concept or the application process needs to be improved.
- Return to your course and work on improving your deficiencies by revisiting the concept, application method, and answering questions on that area.
- This should ensure that you don’t make the same faults or errors in the same topics in the following fake. This process should be repeated every week until the test.
We hope you found this article to be informative. You may also read the article Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting GMAT Scores (including Placements, Fees, and GMAT Cut-Offs).
If you are starting your GMAT preparation from scratch, you should definitely check out the GMATPOINT