GMAT Preparation Plan for 4 weeks

Have just 4-5 weeks and not yet started your GMAT preparation? Then this article is a rescuer as it will suggest a GMAT preparation plan for 4 weeks. So are you ready for a study plan which will make you work hard, but also ensure that you get really good scores on the 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.

Cracking the GMAT exam can be challenging but, with the right approach and attitude, it is possible to get a good score on the GMAT. 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. After you have chosen your GMAT exam date and have registered for GMAT you should begin with your preparation. Check out the detailed GMAT study plan for 4 weeks now!

GMAT One Month Study Plan Essentials

To begin with GMAT preparation, there are some GMAT books and prep materials which would be essential to prepare for the exam. Check them out below:

Essential GMAT Study Material

Some of the most essential GMAT preparation resources include the following books for GMAT Focus Edition which is the latest edition of the GMAT exam:

1. The GMAT Focus Official Guide
2. The Critical Reasoning Bible
3. All the GMAT guides (Manhattan Prep)
4. Total GMAT Math (Jeff Sackmann)
5. GMAT Prep Plus (Kaplan)

Optional GMAT Study Material

1. Kaplan GMAT Premier with 6 Practice Tests

2. GMAT prep test software (free download from the GMAT website)

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

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

GMAT Preparation Plan for 4 Weeks

One month is equivalent to 4 weeks and cracking the GMAT exam will be a cakewalk if applicants are able to follow this GMAT study plan properly. Before starting with the preparation of GMAT, check out the GMAT exam syllabus, then understand the exam pattern of GMAT. After you have read about the exam, take a paper and make a schedule. Check out the week-wise GMAT preparation plan in the following sections:

GMAT Study Plan: 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.

Register for GMAT: If you haven’t already, do so now. Register for GMAT Online or for GMAT at test centre. Check the GMAT exam eligibility and register for the exam early. The reason to do so is it might take two weeks to wait for a date appointment and sometimes appropriate GMAT exam centres may also not be available. Once you have booked your GMAT exam slot and 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

GMAT Study Plan: 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 the 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 the Kaplan videos

GMAT Study Plan: Week 3 Schedule

Identify weak areas: Complete 500 practice questions on GMAT Quant by now. 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. Keep assessing your performance and by this time also check ideal GMAT scores that will be acceptable at the B-school abroad you are applying to. Meeting the GMAT cutoffs is equally important at this stage. 

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 the Official Guide

• Take Manhattan Tests 3 and 4

• Use Magoosh practice sessions

GMAT Study Plan: Week 4 Schedule

Take the 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. Keep giving GMAT mock tests and assessing your preparation. 

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

This is an ideal GMAT study plan for 4 weeks, applicants have the flexibility to tweak the schedules and format them as per their requirements. There are three sections on GMAT - Quant, Verbal and Data Insights and all of them require a lot of practice. Thus, practicing questions on all these sections is important and equal weightage must be given to the three of them. 

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. There is a GMAT retake strategy that you must follow and not panic in case you do not get your preferred scores. But to avoid retaking the GMAT and paying again paying GMAT fees upon registration it is better to ace the prep in one go and crack the exam with good scores. 

Have queries? Drop in your comments in the comments section below. We shall get back to you soonest.