How to Study for the GMAT in 2 Months

With two months to prepare for the GMAT, you can think about dividing your study time into two parts. During the first month, focus on mastering the strategic approaches to each type of question on the GMAT, as well as the grammar and math content knowledge you’ll need to get questions correct. During the second month, focus on answering questions more quickly by doing timed practice. Also, challenge yourself with tougher questions.

[ ALSO: GMAT 3-Month Study Plan  •  GMAT 1-Month Study Plan ]

GMAT STUDY ESSENTIALS

Before you get started, you’ll need to identify and gather your study materials. Here are some we recommend for you:

• GMAT Handbook: The GMAT Handbook includes all essential test information, including how to register, how to prepare, what to expect on GMAT test day, etc. This is a great place to get started on your GMAT prep. 
• Full-length Practice Tests: Taking full-length practice tests is the best way to assess your readiness for the GMAT. The free GMAT Official Starter Kit includes 2 free practice tests with real exam questions and an additional 90 free practice questions.Additionally, you can take a free On Demand Practice Test with Kaplan. Manhattan Prep offers one as well.  If you’re looking to get realistic practice throughout your studying, Manhattan Prep has a full set of Online Computer Adaptive GMAT Practice Exams, all of which come with detailed Assessment Reports to help you identify which areas of the test you should focus on.
• Practice Questions: Kaplan’s Adaptive GMAT Qbank saves you time with targeted questions by adjusting to your skill level as you work. With in-depth explanations, you’ll learn from your mistakes and raise your score.
• Prep Books: Manhattan Prep’s top-rated books come in a comprehensive set that delves into each area of the exam, giving you detailed and specialized instruction beyond tips and tricks. All Manhattan Prep books are written by their top-1% scoring GMAT instructors. These comprehensive study guides are the top-selling GMAT prep books in the world. With Kaplan’s GMAT Prep Plus 2020 book you’ll get 1,200+ practice questions, a 200-question online Qbank, test-taking strategies, and online video workshops. Additionally, you’ll have access to 6 practice tests (1 in the book, 5 online) that allow you to practice using the same interface and adaptivity as you’ll see on GMAT test day.
• Online Calendar: An online calendar can be a great tool for keeping track of and accessing your personal study plan from anywhere. Plus, you can share your calendar with others so they know your schedule and can help you stay on track.
• Take a Class: If the idea of studying and making a schedule completely on your own seems daunting, consider signing up for a class—a set schedule and instruction from expert teachers can help you stay focused and keep you accountable. If you learn best in person, consider enrolling in a Manhattan Prep In Person GMAT class. All Manhattan Prep instructors scored in the top 1% of the GMAT. Class sizes are kept small to achieve the right balance of individual attention and active participation. For a bit more flexible experience, you can attend class from anywhere you have wifi in Kaplan’s Live Online GMAT course. Learn in an interactive, online class with a team of teachers who are there to engage you, keep you on track, and even answer 1-on-1 questions. If you’re looking for expert instruction that is completely on your own time, consider working with an expert tutor who can curate your study plan to fit your specific needs or enrolling in a Self-Paced course, which will allow you to prep on your own schedule, with teacher support.

Before you can know exactly what to spend the most time studying, you need to know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Then, you can target your weaknesses while also building on your strengths.

2-Month GMAT Prep Step 1: TAKE A FREE GMAT PRACTICE TEST

Take a full-length, realistic practice test to find out what your Quantitative, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning scores are now. Ideally, the test results will include not just your scores but also information about what types of questions you did well on and which ones gave you trouble. This information will help you design your study plan.

Another benefit of taking a practice test is that you will become familiar with the test’s format and timing. Then as you study, you will know exactly how you’ll use what you’re learning to ace test questions. This is highly motivating!

You will also be able to review the test, and reading the explanations of every question will reinforce what you did right and help you understand your mistakes. Research shows that being tested on material not only measures your performance but actually helps you learn.

Take the practice test under conditions as similar as possible to those you will experience on Test Day, without distractions or interruptions. Schedule 4 hours to take the test if you write the essay and 3.5 hours if you choose to skip the essay. Also plan to invest at least 1.5 hours in reviewing the test later the same day or in the next day or two.

The GMAT testmaker, the Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®), offers two free practice tests with its GMATPrep™® software at http://www.mba.com/us/store/download-free-gmatprep-software.aspx. Kaplan Test Prep offers free proctored practice tests online; sign up at https://www.kaptest.com/gmat/enroll?tab=events. Kaplan’s Smart Reports provide you with detailed breakdowns of your strengths and opportunities for improvement, as well as comprehensive answer explanations.

[RELATED: GMAT Score Chart]

2-Month GMAT Study Plan Step 2: SET YOUR GMAT STUDY SCHEDULE

When Test Day is 2 months away, there is a danger of procrastinating. After all, you probably have a lot of things that need to get done today, so it can be hard to carve out the time and energy to study for the GMAT. However, the days and weeks will slip by faster than seems possible, and before you know it, the test will be a week away—and then tomorrow! Don’t let Test Day take you by surprise.

Studying most days of the week will improve your score more than studying one or two days a week. Many students find that studying for 5 days a week in three 30-minute segments, for an hour and a half each day, helps them make significant progress. In addition, if math content or grammar is an area you have targeted for improvement, plan to carry a quick reference of some kind, such as flashcards or a phone app, and work on commonly tested formulas and rules throughout the day.

Block out time to take four more full-length practice tests. Take a practice test a month before your GMAT and then each week after that, taking the last practice test 1 week before Test Day. Take practice tests to measure your progress, become more familiar with the test’s timing and format, and build your mental endurance. After each test, invest at least 1.5 hours in reviewing the answer explanations.

Schedule your study time and practice tests on your calendar and then keep those appointments with yourself. The same way you show up for class or work on time, you are going to “show up” for GMAT studying on time.

2-Month GMAT Study Plan Step 3: DEVELOP YOUR GMAT STUDY PLAN

How should you study? An effective approach is to first use a resource such as a GMAT book or class to learn some strategies or content and then follow up by practicing what you just learned with test-like questions. Applying what you learn right away to the types of questions you’ll see on Test Day will help you solidify your knowledge so it sticks with you. Kaplan’s GMAT Prep Plus book includes a 200-question Quiz Bank, and the full Quiz Bank contains over 1,000 test-like questions for GMAT practice. You can use it to target specific content areas and question types at the right difficulty level for you.

What should you study? That depends on the results of your practice test! Focus mostly on material that is (a) difficult for you and (b) most often tested. On the Quantitative section, for example, many questions require you to solve for the value of a variable or to know what information you would need to solve for a variable, so if you are uncomfortable manipulating equations and inequalities to isolate a variable, you will have trouble throughout the section. Questions dealing with probability may be tough for you, too, but probability does not appear on the test nearly as often as algebraic manipulation, so you should focus on the content with the higher payoff.

During the last week before your test, emphasize your strengths. For example, if you get most Reading Comprehension questions correct, then practice Reading Comprehension several times this week to boost your confidence and ensure that you can count on this skill.

Here are two sample study plans:

FUTURE MBA	CHRISTOPHER	ASHLEY
Goals	Plans to earn an MBA while working full-time as a product manager and wants to attend the best-ranked program in his city. His target score is a 600.	Will take leave from her engineering job to earn an MBA from a school with a top national ranking. Her target score is a 720.
Diagnostic Score	540	610
Week 1	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study 4 days x 1.5 hours/day (6 Hours)	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Class 2 days x 3 hours (6 hours), Study 2 days x 1.5 hours/day (3 Hours)
Week 2	5 days x 1.5 hours/day (7.5 Hours)	Class 2 days x 3 hours (6 hours), Study 3 days x 1.5 hours/day (4.5 Hours)
Week 3	5 days x 1.5 hours/day (7.5 Hours)	Class 2 days x 3 hours (6 hours), Study 3 days x 1.5 hours/day (4.5 Hours)
Week 4	(In-laws visiting from out-of town!), 2 days x 1.0 hour/day (2 hours)	Class 2 days x 3 hours (6 hours), Study 3 days x 1.5 hours/day (4.5 Hours)
Week 5	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study 4 days x 1.5 hours/day (6 Hours)	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), (Very busy at work!)
Week 6	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study 4 days x 1.5 hours/day (6 Hours)	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study 4 days x 1.5 hours/day (6 Hours)
Week 7	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study 4 days x 1.5 hours/day (6 Hours)	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study 4 days x 1.5 hours/day (6 Hours)
Week 8	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study 4 days x 1.5 hours/day (6 Hours)	Practice Test + Review (6.5 Hours), Study 4 days x 1.5 hours/day (6 Hours)
Day Before the Test	Nothing! Rest!	Nothing! Rest!
Total Prep Hours	79.5 Hours	94.0 Hours

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2-Month GMAT Study Plan Step 4: DEVELOP YOUR GMAT STUDY PLAN

Feel nervous? Just remind yourself that thanks to all the hard work you’ve put in, you are ready for the GMAT.