GMAT Study Plan for 3 Months

If you are a student or professional with only three months to prepare for the GMAT, here is a study plan tailored to your needs. We have curated a month-wise GMAT study plan for 3 months. This study plan includes everything that you need to begin with your GMAT exam preparation, so check it out now! 

Struggling to curate a perfect GMAT study plan for 3 months? Don’t worry; here is a detailed GMAT preparation plan for you for three months. Cracking GMAT exam in three months will be easy only if you follow the given plan with complete dedication. We have divided the GMAT study plan into monthly sections for ease of access. Check it out, keep a printout and begin your preparation right away!

Understanding GMAT Exam Pattern & Structure

Before starting the GMAT study plan for 3 months, it is essential to understand the GMAT exam pattern and how the exam is designed to test. 

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the GMAT syllabus and keep a printout for future reference. Additionally, understanding the exam’s pattern is equally essential before beginning preparation. 

Key Features of GMAT Exam

Some of the key features of the GMAT exam are as follows:

• The GMAT is a 2-hour 15-minute (135-minute) computer-based exam.
• The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test; thus, the difficulty adjusts based on your answers to the questions. 
• There are two ways to take the GMAT - GMAT at a test centre or GMAT Online (at home).
• Additionally, the GMAT provides you with the flexibility to attempt each section according to your preference. Thus, you can customise the order of the sections on GMAT.
• You can bookmark and return to questions (limited revisions per section).
• Applicants can take GMAT on any day, at any time. GMAT exam dates are available throughout the year.
• No Integrated Reasoning (Merged into Data Insights); also, the AWA section has been scrapped.

After you have a complete understanding of the GMAT Focus exam, you can create a schedule and begin your preparation. 

GMAT Study Plan for Three Months

If you have only three months to prepare for your GMAT, you can refer to this 3-month GMAT study plan. This is curated to cover all topics across the three sections of the GMAT, for both students and professionals.  

GMAT Study Plan for Month 1

Based on the four weeks, we have included what you must target as part of your GMAT study plan for the first month. Before getting to the GMAT study plan, here are some instructions that you must adhere to. Check out the considerations for GMAT study plan for Month 1:

Per Day Time Recommendations for Weeks 1-4:

To cover a crucial part of the GMAT  

• 2 hrs Quant Section
• 1.5 hrs Verbal Section
• 1 hr DI Section
• 15 mins review

The first month’s GMAT study plan requires you to understand fundamentals and question types, and build timing sense. Now check out the study plan:

GMAT 1st Month Week Wise Tasks:

1. Week 1: Take a diagnostic test. Set up an error log and plan your study schedule accordingly.
2. Week 2: 1 Quant + 1 Verbal sectional test. Use a flashcard deck to understand key concepts.
3. Week 3: Review Week 1–2 mistakes. Drill practice (timed sets: at least 10 to 15 questions/day).
4. Week 4:  Take 1 full-length mock test. Analyse your performance thoroughly and revise. Understand your GMAT scores and devise plans to improve.

Confident about your prepartion so far? If yes, move on to the next month for your GMAT study plan. 

GMAT Study Plan for Month 2

The next four weeks, that is, weeks 4 to 8, include what applicants must target in their GMAT preparation for the second month. Review the required time per section per day for each GMAT section, followed by the targeted content in this study plan.

Per Day Time Recommendation for Week 4-8: 

• 1.5 hrs for QR Section
• 1.5 hrs for the VR Section 
• 1 to 1.5 hrs for the DI section 
• Minimum 30 minutes for reviewing 

The GMAT study plan for the second month primarily focuses on strengthening problem areas, improving the accuracy of correct answers, and developing a good pace to attempt the exam. Here is what the study plan for GMAT exam looks like for the second month: 

When getting into the second month of GMAT preparation, you must do this each week:

1. Week 5: Attempt a full GMAT mock test. The mock test must be timed according to the practice blocks.
2. Week 6: Create ‘Mistake Map’. Develop a timing strategy to overcome these challenges and practice accordingly.  
3. Week 7: Take another mock test and review your performance in depth. Fine-tune the pacing strategy at this point. 
4. Week 8: Build the final review sheet (formulas, vocabulary, grammar rules). Over the weekend, review all the GMAT sections and revisit problem areas.

Once you have completed this and are confident about your preparation, you can proceed to the next month for your GMAT prep. 

GMAT Study Plan for Month 3

The GMAT study plan for three months concludes with this last month before appearing for the registered GMAT exam date. This month is all about taking full-length GMAT sample papers or mock tests, timing oneself and pacing one’s speed on each section. This month, you should ideally spend time as per your requirement on GMAT section. 

Per Day Time Recommendation for Weeks 9-12: 

• 1-1.5 hours for QR section
• 1-1.5 hours for VR section
• 1-1.5 hours for DI section

Applicants can adjust the number of hours based on their preparation per section. This month, you must aim to master your time management, answer accuracy and have reduced anxiety through simulated test conditions. Check out 

In the third month of GMAT study plan, you must consider these additional tasks every week:

• Week 9: Take one full-length GMAT mock test. Analyse your performance on the exam and adjust your test-taking strategy.
• Week 10: By the end of this week, take a full GMAT mock test, review your performance on each section and try to focus more on time management.
• Week 11: In this week, also attempt a full mock test that is simulated. Do not refer to any new material now.
• Week 12: This week focuses on taking mock tests and reviewing areas of weakness. In the last two days of the week, you must rest and review the material you have learnt to date from your notes or mnemonics.

The above-mentioned GMAT study plan for 3 months is a template; edit it to suit your progress and areas that require more concentration.

Essential Considerations for New Students Preparing for GMAT

Now that you are into preparing for your GMAT exam, here are a few key considerations which you must follow at all times to avoid getting overwhelmed:

• Stay as consistent as possible with your schedule. Even short and steady Do-It-Yourself (DIY) sessions carry more weight than irregular long ones.
• Answering fewer questions but with depth is essential. There is a big difference between memorising or doing hundreds of problems and understanding concepts and reasoning.
• Official materials should be the top priority, as GMAC practice questions and full-length tests are the most closely aligned with the actual examination.
• Maintain a meticulous error log. It is the best tool for in-depth analysis and focusing on weaknesses.
• Don't accept anything at face value; always read through explanations to understand why a particular answer is correct and why the others are not.
• Right from the start, time yourself. The GMAT Focus Edition is a timed exam, so pacing and time management are important skills.
• Never neglect good sleep habits, a balanced diet, and regular exercise. A fresh mind is willing to learn and perform.
• If you have trouble with a subject over a very long period, do not hesitate to ask for help in online forums (such as GMAT Club), from tutors, or study partners.

Thus, if you are preparing for GMAT, ensure that you are adept with all official materials, have enough resources and information to start your exam prep. Set a target score and practice regularly to monitor your progress. Finally, take enough practice so that you are confident about your preparation and are ready to ace the GMAT exam with your targetted scores.