GMAT Study Plan for Self-Learners

Reading Time: 14 minutes

Last Updated on November 22, 2023

So, you’d like to go to business school and have decided to start studying for the GMAT. If you are considering how to go about your GMAT studying, I don’t blame you if you feel overwhelmed by all the options available for your GMAT studying. So, although I will not cover all potential GMAT prep options, I will discuss a GMAT study plan for self-learners in this article. This study plan will cover how to begin your GMAT preparation, how to find great study resources, and of course, the steps you need to take to advance toward your GMAT score goal.

We’ll cover the following topics:

• Step #1: Take an Official Practice Exam to Get a Baseline Score
  • Take Your First Practice Exam Seriously
• Step #2: Determine Your GMAT Prep Timeline
• Step #3: Create a Study Schedule
• Step #4: Find Great GMAT Prep Materials
• Step #5: Follow a Study Plan That Allows for Topical Learning
• Step #6: Don’t Forget About Topical Practice
  • An Example of Topical Learning and Practice
• Step #7: Take Notes as You Learn New Quant and Verbal Topics
• Step #8: Use Flashcards!
• Step #9: Alternate Your Prep Between Quant and Verbal
• Step #10: Incorporate Mixed Problem Sets Into Your Study Routine
• Step #11: Save Integrated Reasoning Studying for the End of Your Prep
• Step #12: Save 4 to 6 Weeks for Practice Exams
• GMAT Study Plan for Self-Learners: In Summary
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Can I Prepare for GMAT by Myself?
  • How Do I Start Preparing for GMAT Self-Study?
  • How Long Should You Give Yourself to Study for the GMAT?
  • Is 3 Months Enough to Study for GMAT?
• What’s Next?

Let’s begin by discussing taking your first practice exam to get a baseline score.

Step #1: Take an Official Practice Exam to Get a Baseline Score

I can’t stress enough the importance of beginning your self-study by taking an official, full-length mba.com practice exam. Yes, I understand that you are just starting out with your GMAT studying. However, if you do not establish a starting point, it will be challenging to track your progress.

Keep in mind that I am not telling you to take the practice exam completely cold. Instead, spend a few days familiarizing yourself with the content and structure of the GMAT. Develop a solid understanding of the Quant section, the Verbal section, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing.

Once you have a solid foundation, you’ll be ready to take that official practice test. If you are wondering which test to take, take the first free practice exam offered by GMAC. Also, remember that this first practice test is not a diagnostic test. In other words, you will not create a study plan based on the results. Its sole purpose is to give you your baseline score.

Now, let’s discuss how to take your first practice exam.

Take Your First Practice Exam Seriously

I realize that you may not be thrilled to take your first practice test, but you must use some exam strategy and take the test seriously. Yes, you will be taking more practice tests toward the end of your preparation. However, this first practice test provides the data you need to see how far you are from your target score, and thus how long you may need to prepare for test day.

So, when you’re taking the practice test, try to replicate test-day conditions. For example, take your practice test in a library if you intend to take the GMAT at a test center. If you intend to take the GMAT Online, do so in the location where you’ll take that test, and use the same computer you’ll use for your real online exam.

Once the exam is complete, you’ll be able to compare the practice exam score to your target score and determine how much preparation time you need.

Step #2: Determine Your GMAT Prep Timeline

The good news is that, at this point, you have taken a full-length practice GMAT exam. You should also have a target score in mind. So, to get an idea of your GMAT preparation timeline, carefully look at how far you are from your target GMAT score.

For example, let’s say you have a score goal of 740 but score 480 on your first practice exam. In that case, if you can put in 18+ study hours per week, you can achieve your target score in around 6 to 8 months of self-preparation. Alternatively, suppose you have the same score goal of 740 but score 680 on your first practice exam. All else equal, you may hit your target score in closer to 3 to 4 months.

These are just a couple of scenarios, but in general, the farther you are from your target score, the longer you will need to prep.

Step #3: Create a Study Schedule

Once you have your timeline in place, you’ll need to take active steps to reach the top of the GMAT mountain! Thus, you must create a study schedule. After all, if you are going to partake in self-guided learning, you need to ensure that you have a GMAT study schedule to keep you accountable. So, grab a cup of coffee, get out your calendar, and create a weekly study schedule.

When creating this schedule, look at everything you have going on, both personally and professionally. Then, find where you have the time to fit in 18+ hours per week. Can you get up and study before your workday starts, or are evening study sessions best for you? Also, can you study for 8+ hours each weekend? These are all the things you should consider when making your schedule.

Create a study schedule that works for you, and then stick with it!

Step #4: Find Great GMAT Prep Materials

You now have your GMAT preparation timeline in place along with your study schedule. However, before jumping into your study plan, you must find some great self-study materials. Your first instinct might be to pick up the latest GMAT Official Guide. However, you likely will need something more robust for your quant and verbal preparation.

If you’re wondering what is available, you can check out sites such as GMAT Club and Beat the GMAT. Both of those websites have reviews of self-study courses from past GMAT test-takers. Once you find a few courses that could be right for you, sign up for free or low-cost trials.

When evaluating courses, try to find a prep course with a detailed study plan, so you have a road map from beginning to end of your GMAT studying.

Next, let’s discuss some details of your GMAT study plan.

Step #5: Follow a Study Plan That Allows for Topical Learning

If you have read our other articles or checked out the Target Test Prep GMAT self-study course, you likely know our take on topical learning and practice. Topical learning is a must when studying GMAT quant and GMAT verbal.

For example, when you’re first learning the GMAT, would it be beneficial to jump from a Critical Reasoning question to a Reading Comprehension question in the verbal section and from quadratic questions to rate questions in the quant section? The answer is an emphatic NO!

If you don’t spend enough time on any one topic, you’ll never fully learn it, and this process will continuously hold you back as you move through all of GMAT quant and verbal. So, instead of jumping around, learn all you can about a single topic, and then once you’ve mastered it, move to the next quant or verbal topic in your study plan.

While topical learning is key, topical practice is equally important.

Step #6: Don’t Forget About Topical Practice

Hopefully, you see the importance of topical learning. However, unless that learning is followed up with topical practice, you may find yourself in the age-old cycle of “two steps forward and one step back.”

In other words, what you learn very likely won’t stick. Thus, by the time you get to the end of your GMAT studying, you may realize that you have not learned all that much!

Let’s take a closer look at how topical learning and practice should look.

An Example of Topical Learning and Practice

Let’s consider an example to get an idea of how to engage in topical learning and practice. Say you are learning about Number Properties. Your first task is to learn all you can just about Number Properties. Learn about even and odd numbers, positive and negative numbers, divisibility, remainders, units digit patterns, LCM, GCF, etc. Once you have a good understanding of all things Number Properties, move on to your topical practice.

Since Number Properties is one of the most significant GMAT math topics, you’ll want to complete around 100+ practice questions on that topic. However, clearly you won’t practice all 100 questions at one time. Rather, divide them into sets of around 15 questions each. After each problem set, spend time reviewing your wrong answers, so you can get a handle on your strengths and weaknesses. Fill in any knowledge gaps before going on to the next problem set.

Once you have completed and reviewed all the Number Properties questions, move to the next quant or verbal topic in your study plan.

Next, let’s discuss the importance of taking notes as you study.

Step #7: Take Notes as You Learn New Quant and Verbal Topics

We have discussed the importance of topical learning but have yet to address HOW you should be learning. Anyone can sit down and read about a GMAT topic or watch a GMAT video. However, if you are not an active participant in your learning, you will find it quite difficult to absorb what you are reading or watching.

So, how do you become an active learner? Become an active note-taker! The process of putting a concept into your own words forces you to learn it better.

Moreover, your notes serve as tools for review. Remember, as you move through your study plan, keeping everything at the top of your mind will be impossible. Thus, you’ll need an easy way to review previously learned concepts; your notes are a great option.

Furthermore, you can convert those notes to flashcards, which are another great study tool.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the importance of flashcards.

Step #8: Use Flashcards!

As I’ve mentioned, you can make flashcards from your study notes. Making and reviewing flashcards highlighting key topics is a great way to increase the effectiveness of your GMAT preparation and improve your test-taking skills.

In addition, flashcards play an important part in your prep because they can be used “on the go.” For example, you can review your flashcards while riding public transportation to and from work. Or, if you’re standing in line at the grocery store, pull out your flashcards and get in a quick study session. Whenever you have a few minutes to spare, pull out your flashcards. Remember, all those extra minutes of studying add up!

You may be wondering what type of flashcards to use. Some students prefer to go old school and create their flashcards by hand, while others prefer digital flashcards. In the TTP self-study course, we actually have a custom flashcard study tool with which students can build their own flashcards.

Whichever medium you choose, create many flashcards spanning both GMAT quant and verbal. Your flashcards can consist of common formulas and rules or even be crafted based on questions you incorrectly answered. Whatever you put in your flashcards should help you improve each and every time you review them.

Step #9: Alternate Your Prep Between Quant and Verbal

One mistake that I constantly catch students making is attempting to learn just one side of the two main sections at a time. For example, they will study quant for months, master it, and then switch to verbal. While using this method may seem like a good idea, trust me when I tell you it’s not! Just think about all you’d forget if you stopped studying quant for 2 to 3 months.

Remember, it’s not like you use most of these newfound skills daily. You use them only when you are studying for the GMAT. So, if large amounts of time elapse between seeing the difference of squares or dangling participles, do you think you’ll be able to easily recall those topics on test day?

A more effective way to study for the GMAT is to alternate between GMAT quant and verbal topics. For example, a student in the TTP course may spend up to 10 days working through the Number Properties chapter in quant, and next would work on subject-verb agreement in Sentence Correction.

Moving to a verbal topic right after quant gives the quant topic time to settle before the student moves back to the next quant topic, but doesn’t leave so much time between studying quant topics that the student forgets concepts.

Step #10: Incorporate Mixed Problem Sets Into Your Study Routine

We have seen the importance of topical learning and practice. However, as you know, the questions you see on the GMAT will not be from just one topic but from a random array of topics. So, to prepare for the “mixed sets” you’ll see on test day, you’ll need to add mixed problem sets to your study routine.

In addition to getting you ready for test day, mixed problem sets serve as a great review vehicle and allow you to start working on time-management. For example, say it has been a few months since you last studied rates, work, and ratios. Wouldn’t it be a good time to complete a problem set based on those topics, to see whether any concepts have slipped through the cracks? Doing weekly mixed sets will keep you on your toes and ensure that previously learned topics do not fall by the wayside.

Step #11: Save Integrated Reasoning Studying for the End of Your Prep

A question I constantly answer is how to integrate (no pun intended) Integrated Reasoning into a student’s study plan. Well, I have some good news! Although Integrated Reasoning may feel like it’s its own subject, the building blocks of IR stem from everything you learned in GMAT quant and verbal.

For example, you can be tested on probability or statistics in a Graphics Interpretation question or work questions in a Two-Part Analysis question. In Multi-Source Reasoning questions, you can be tested on Critical Reasoning topics such as weakening or strengthening an argument. And if you’ve been studying properly, by the time you get to IR, you’ll know these topics cold!

So, save your dedicated IR study and practice for the end of your GMAT prep.

Step #12: Save 4 to 6 Weeks for Practice Exams

If you have followed my study tips up to this point, then you likely have been successfully learning GMAT quant and verbal. And that means you are getting close to test day. However, that is still one final hill to climb. The last step in your preparation is to take the remaining 5 mba.com practice exams. These practice exams are critical because they will give you a clear picture of where you stand and will be the best tool to prepare you for the rigors of test day.

It’s important not to rush through your practice exams. It takes a lot of energy to get through each one. So, ensure that you take them when you’re refreshed and relaxed. For example, if you take a practice exam after a long day of work, chances are you won’t perform well. Thus, you’ll waste a great opportunity to get a true sense of your GMAT score, and the questions you get wrong likely won’t truly reflect your weak areas.

Remember, the data you glean from your practice exams is essential in helping you make last-minute tweaks. For example, getting an average rate question wrong indicates that you need to review average rates. Likewise, if you get a misplaced modifier question wrong, you likely need to review misplaced modifiers.

So, make sure you take your practice exams when you’re fresh, and give yourself enough time to review your weak topics. By the time you get through your last practice test, you should be hitting your goal score and ready to go for test day!

GMAT Study Plan for Self-Learners: In Summary

Prepping for the GMAT as a self-learner is an admirable undertaking, and you’ll need all the tips you can find. In this article, we’ve presented you with 12 useful and actionable tips to help you plan your GMAT study.

1. Take an Official Practice Exam to Get a Baseline Score
2. Determine Your GMAT Prep Timeline
3. Create a Study Schedule
4. Find Great GMAT Prep Materials
5. Follow a Study Plan That Allows for Topical Learning
6. Don’t Forget About Topical Practice
7. Take Notes as You Learn New Quant and Verbal Topics
8. Use Flashcards!
9. Alternate Your Prep Between Quant and Verbal
10. Incorporate Mixed Problem Sets Into Your Study Routine
11. Save Integrated Reasoning Studying for the End of Your Prep
12. Save 4 to 6 Weeks for Practice Exams

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I Prepare for GMAT by Myself?

Studying for the GMAT requires extensive preparation, whether with a tutor, an in-person class, a self-paced online course, or a study manual. If you choose self-study, the support that an online course provides will be invaluable. You’ll have access to an individualized study plan, practice tests, background material, analytics, and other useful and time-saving tools.

How Do I Start Preparing for GMAT Self-Study?

Look for recommendations from others who have done self-study. Check out sites such as Beat the GMAT and GMAT Club. Both of those websites will show you options and provide student reviews, so you can see what courses have worked well for past GMAT students.

How Long Should You Give Yourself to Study for the GMAT?

The length of time you will need depends on two major factors. The first is how much time you can commit each week to your studying. A common recommendation is 18 hours per week. The second factor is how far you are from your target score, which you can determine by taking an official practice test from GMAC.

Is 3 Months Enough to Study for GMAT?

For many students, 3 months is enough time to prepare for the GMAT only if they are less than 100 points from their target score and they can commit at least 18 hours per week to their preparation.

But because every student is different, it is wise to give yourself more time than you think you need. The extra time cushion can only serve to help you. You may end up being able to take the exam earlier than planned anyway.

Read our article to get more insight on how long you might need to study for.

What’s Next?

If you’re committed to preparing for the GMAT on your own, you’re already demonstrating both self-discipline and a commitment to excellence. There’s no doubt you want to earn as high a score as possible, so check out our article about scoring 700+ on the GMAT. That article provides tips that will help you study more effectively and keep you motivated, so that you can earn the score you want!

Good luck!