No matter how sharp or smart you are, you cannot succeed without a well-thought-out GMAT study plan. A personalized GMAT study schedule is mandatory for a 740+ score. Making a dedicated study plan for GMAT is no easy feat but we are here to break down what you need to know about designing your own GMAT study plan:
Importance Of A GMAT Study Plan
Nature of the GMAT: The GMAT exam is not an IQ test; it takes simple concepts and tests them in ways that force the test-taker to think logically. Thus, no matter what your background is, or how smart you may be, you have to prepare for the exam strategically and for that, a study plan is the first step.
Structured approach: One of the biggest mistakes that GMAT students make is having an unstructured approach to their preparation. GMAT success is rooted in careful planning and a structured learning approach in form of a study schedule.
Clarity in thought: Crafting a study plan based on your work schedule, time availability, goals, and personal bandwidth offers clarity in thought and helps in channelizing your efforts in the right direction.
Factors To Keep In Mind Before Making A Study Plan
- How long does it take to prepare for the GMAT?
Determining when to begin preparing for the exam is one of the most important decisions. While some students needlessly extend the process and solve hundreds of practice exams without understanding the concepts, others are overconfident and keep aside a couple of weeks only. Spoiler alert: neither of the two will fetch any results. Keep aside at least 2 months for dedicated GMAT study at least 6 months before your application deadline to your desired business schools. If you want to fast forward your preparation, check out our flagship crash course
2. Your learning speed
We all vary in our learning speed. It is vital for you to know how long it takes for you to grasp new concepts and understand their applications – both for quant and verbal sections. To accommodate different learning speeds and time availability, Enzo Prep has designed different courses for everyone. See them here
3. Availability of your time
Do you barely have time on weekdays due to your demanding job or can you accommodate 2 hours of study daily? Will you have the time to follow a 6-hour study timetable on the weekends? Do you have the time to follow a live instruction model for preparation or prefer a self-paced routine? These factors need to be taken into consideration for determining your study schedule. While assessing your GMAT study schedule, keep in mind the number of hours you may need for training under an expert GMAT faculty, mocks, and doubt solving.
4. Your starting point
Are you starting from scratch and gearing for your first attempt, or have you already written the exam before and scored 400-500? The effort, time, and approach needed to hike 300 points are different from the strategy required to take 710 to 760. If you are a first-timer, take a diagnostic test to assess your strengths and weaknesses in different sections and understand your starting point. If you have taken it before, understand the concepts you need clarity on and analyze your mistakes. This brings us to the last determinant –
5. Your target score
While everyone hopes for a 740+, you need to set a realistic score target for yourself dependent on the exam date, time constraints, and other factors.
Making A GMAT Study Plan
The first thing to note is that, unlike the exams you gave in school and college, the GMAT is not an exam where you have any chance of success after just a week or day’s study. Cramming all the topics in a short time will never help. It needs to be spread over a time period where you can maintain consistency. GMAT does not test language or math skills but critical thinking and analytical skills. The logical thinking that is integral for the exam needs to be built gradually.
Step 1: Create a study sequence
- Treat the time you have allotted for GMAT study as sacrosanct. Start with the section in which you believe you are stronger. This will ensure that you make progress faster and feel motivated, and your momentum is built to tackle the topics that are tougher for you.
- For the verbal section, it is recommended that you start with sentence correction and reach your target score in this section before proceeding to critical reasoning. This is because practicing sentence correction helps in improving CR too. Lastly, complete reading comprehension.
- If you begin with quant, initiate your preparation with number properties, followed by word problems, algebra, geometry, and finally advanced topics.
Step 2: Give mock tests
Once you have completed both sections, proceed to the next step of practicing and giving reliable mock tests which help you assess your preparation.
Instead of giving mocks back to back, give one mock at a time and spend a few days learning from your mistakes to ensure they are not repeated again. Examine if there is a pattern to your mistakes – does it have to do with conceptual clarity, careless mistakes, or pacing strategy.
Why Is A Personalized Study Plan Important?
By now you may have surmised that there is no one size fits all study plan and designing your schedule will require significant thought and effort by you. Having understood this, remember to not fall for the generic study plans available on multiple websites that claim to drive you to victory. They do not know you and your needs; you need a personalised study plan. Why is it that students who avail of a personalized study plan from a GMAT expert are much more likely to achieve their target scores?
- It delves into the sub-sectional score needed to hit your overall target score
- It gives a realistic and reliable timeline based on multiple variables
- It has well-defined checkpoints based on your pace, strengths, and weaknesses.
- It lays down a study schedule that is most likely to take you to your target score within the stipulated time.
For many, designing their own study plan can seem daunting. If you are one of them, do not be disheartened. Sign up at Enzo’s website to get a customized GMAT study plan for free today!
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