How long is the average time to study for the GMAT in order to get a 700+ score? I've heard studying for about 2 hrs a day for 2 months is good.
Also, if I haven't taken any math since 4 years ago and i've serverly forgotten alot of the basic principles in algebra etc. Do the prep courses cover all those concepts from scratch? or should I take a basic math course first before i enroll in the GMAT prep course (like those Kaplan courses)
Required GMAT Study Time
Many users echoed that 2 months of one to two hours a day is an effective way to study for the exam.
I think if you're capable of getting 700+ plus and you use that time correctly, then 2hr/day for 2 months should be fine. I was 4 years out of college when I started studying for it, and probably averaged 2rs/day for just over a month and got 700+. I was probably doing about an hour a night on weeknights, occasionally skipping nights but doing maybe 8hrs on the weekends.I just self studied using books and the official software. I used a couple of Kaplan books and the official GMAT book.
The math is really no harder than school level, so as long as you had the ability at some point, you'll have no trouble picking it up again pretty quickly.
Get familiar with the material about 2 months before the test, cram the last month, and take lots of practice tests along the way. Just remember that everyone is different so anyone that responds to your post is simply giving an opinion...
I studied for 1.5 months, 2 to 4 week nights, plus all weekends, and 2 to 4 hrs per day. End result was 720.
How Much is the GMAT?
As of January 2018, the GMAT costs $250 to take.
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I think if you're capable of getting 700+ plus and you use that time correctly, then 2hr/day for 2 months should be fine. I was 4 years out of college when I started studying for it, and probably averaged 2rs/day for just over a month and got 700+. I was probably doing about an hour a night on weeknights, occcasionally skipping nights but doing maybe 8hrs on the weekends.
I just self studied using books and the official software. I used a couple of Kaplan books and the official GMAT book.
The maths is really no harder than school level, so as long as you had the ability at some point, you'll have no trouble picking it up again pretty quickly.
Final tip: book a test date before you start studying.
Good luck, Rody
I used the free software you can download from the GMAC site when you register, finished it in a month (though I didn't have a regular study schedule) and took the test. Ended up with a 760. I wouldn't sweat the test too much; there's a reason Mensa accepts it as a proxy for IQ tests, study materials don't make a whole lot of difference after you familiarize yourself with the basic mechanics and content of the test.
+1. The test is an IQ test. Once you know all the math and english concepts, it is all about applying them to solve complex problems. Too many times people think that memorizing math formula's and doing thousands of practice problems will get them amazing scores. Though practice certainly can help you to a point, everyone has to remember that the test is all about problem solving and that it is something that for many can not be taught.
But do you guys come from a "mathmatical" background, such as engineering? I'm a Finance major but Finance math is alot different imo.
Also, do the study materials like the Kaplan books teach you all the basics again -- like even simple stuff way back in highschool like the distribution principle and pythagoram's theory. Thats the stuff that I have completely forgotten. Thanks again.
all basics are taught again..but maybe not the same way like SAT test prep books..also, the test is more about getting used to computerized testing i found than actually relearning old concepts
Didn't take one myself, but if you need a course/tutor to motivate you, be honest with yourself and recognize you've got a hill to climb. From friends that took courses both for LSAT and GMAT, they suggested double-digit hours/week for two months (perhaps 3 for LSAT? Can't remember).
Okay, my undergrad degree is in maths - but that was 5 years ago. I'm sure if you did finance you (at some point) knew far more maths than you will ever need for the GMAT. Most of it is just fractions, percentages, simple algebra and some geomtery, all held together with a bit of common sense.
One of the Kaplan books I had ("Premier Program" I think) had a section in the back covering all the maths concepts. I'd suggest you just pick up one of these books and work through a few questions. I'm sure it will all come back pretty quick.
Cheers, Rody
I'll be using the Kaplan premiere and studying hourly each night with more emphasis on the weekends, also having the official GMAT books. I plan on 2 months. Should be able to swing around a 700
Thanks, I'm glad to hear that everything is re-taught. I know lots of "Finance" math formulas but hardly ever use the old concepts like Pythagorams theorm and circumferance stuff [all algebra stuff], which is why i was so worried. Thanks again, you've all been great help!
I studied for an hour every day for around 2 months, and I pulled off a 730. I hadn't done much algebra since high school.
I have an hour commute into Manhattan each day. I used this time for some basic reading and then took some practice exams on the weekends online. I got a 700 and think that a few months of practice questions and any one can do it.
Get familiar with the material about 2 months before the test, cram the last month, and take lots of practice tests along the way. Just remember that everyone is different so anyone that responds to your post is simply giving an opinion...
I studied for 1.5 months, 2 to 4 week nights, plus all weekends, and 2 to 4 hrs per day. End result was 720. Good luck.
Thanks again! I believe my math capability is there. I'm scoring 3.7 on all my Financial Quantitative Courses. I guess the sample GMAT questions that i saw really scared me as i didn't remember any algebric and geometry basics. But yea I think i will be fine with 2-3 months of studying.
Cheers
The GMAT doesn't seem so hard after taking some practice tests...
Does anyone know roughly which are the best books to buy though?
Has anyone used this? Is it useful?
When do analysts have time to study for the GMAT? Or do they simply wait till after their analyst program is over and they have moved on into PE, etc...?
I want to take the GMAT soon. Havn't studied for it yet. But took a mock test and done really well on the maths but very poor on verbal. How can i improve this. i was told to get the kaplan and official GMAT book. Which i now have. Any other suitable techniques. I was considering a course but they charge way too much. I want to get 700+ as am looking to applt for Harvard, Columbia and other top schools. As see no point in doing an MBA unless is from a reputable school
Perhaps a tutor may help? Also i think the best time would be the study right after University since you have no Job Obligations and the score is valid for 5 years.
I studied for about a week prior to the exam and scored above 700. I downloaded their prep software and all of their practice materials and went through it all very diligently. But my experience is probably not typical, as I have a knack for taking standardized tests. If you did well on the SATs, I think you should be pretty good with the GMAT. Guage your study time on your past standardized testing history. Are you a good test taker?
I also took the GRE a few weeks prior to the GMAT so that probably helped, as there is some overlap in the material.
Like sea_ennui, I also did well on the SAT (for which my "study" was comparable). In both cases, taking several real sample tests, then going over wrong answers to understand why I'd made these mistakes, proved very valuable.
Is freshman year in college to early to start studying for the GMAT?
this isn't the MCAT or anything. depending on how fresh you are with the material, somewhere between 20-60 hours of studying should cover you. there's no reason to begin so early in college, as you don't want to take it until years later--it's only good for 5 years
Does an 800 have a distint advantage over a 730?
getting an 800 vs a 730 will be positive, but once you clear 700 the returns to getting higher scores diminish quickly. i.e. 720 vs 700 is a smaller difference than 700 vs 680
So how the hell do IB analysts study for the GMAT if they're working like 100 hours/week? Where do they find the time to sleep?
im going into ib (analyst) next year after undergrad should i take the gmat before i start?
so I will bd starting as an analyst this coming summer an EB and was wondering how this panned out for you? i.e. did you take it before you graduated? thanks.
so I will bd starting as an analyst this coming summer an EB and was wondering how this panned out for you? i.e. did you take it before you graduated? thanks.
Probably yeah, in the interests of your sanity...note that I'm not in IBD yet.
after studying for 2 days prior to the exam (no more than 3 hours/day)
Take your SAT score and divide it by 2 if you are a native English speaker. The only thing you should really have to study are the data sufficiency questions.
This thread was from 7 years ago
how hard is the GMAT? what is the typical amount of time one needs to put in to studying? (Originally Posted: 12/02/2007)
How hard is the GMAT on average? or for the "average" person? (I understand this may be a vague/tough to answer question)
To give color on a more specific situation: -3.8 undergrad student (Finance & Acct major) @ top 40 undergrad school(non-target) -1350 SATs (was much less motivated for SAT in HS than for GMAT now) -MM IBD analyst start in summer 08 -highly motivated/very strong desire to go to B-school (much more so than the desire was to do well on SATs and go to top undergrad school)
This may still not be enough background, but would you expect GMATs to be difficult for a student with these types of achievements? Why or why not?
Is GMAT actually "difficult" or just about doing enough practice tests that you become comfortable with the test and a good "test taker" ? Is it possible to never study and pull 750 or study like a mad man for 6 months and pull a 600?
Starting from the very beginning (the first time you sit down with the first practice book) How much studying is "on average" required to pull a 700+ ? 2 months? 20 hrs a week for 10 weeks? Any sort of time frame here?
I am finishing up undergrad degree next semester and considering taking GMAT before I start analyst program-various sources told me it is easier to take GMAT while still @ undergrad when one is used to the "study" mode life style of college and before getting crushed with 80-100 hr weeks at work & not used to the "study" mode of sitting with a text book in a library....I am basicly curious if I can do all my GMAT studying over spring semester and be ready to knock off a ~720 come end of spring/graduation. Thx for all the advice.
Oh and is a formal prep course recomended? Do they add value? If so, in what way? What course?
I believe anybody can do well, but I believe that people who do do well generally are one of two types:
1.) Naturally good test takers 2.) People who put in a ton of effort into the test
If you are a type 1 person, you can probably pull off a good score w/o much study. It is certainly possible to never study and get a 750. Most of Manhattan GMAT instructors are these types of people... they probably take 1 or 2 GMATPrep tests to get a feel for the test, then take it and get 750+. One Manhattan guy with whom I spoke both did just this: took a practice test, got an 800, took the real test, got an 800.
If you are a type 2 person, you will find the test extremely difficult, and will probably need a few months of preparation to get a 750+. Manhattan GMAT would be an excellent course to take (if your skill level is naturally in the 600s and you're trying to get 750+).
To give you reference, I prepared for less than a week and ended up with a 750 (a bit disappointed with my score). I got a 1460 on the SATs, but, like you, I really didn't care about those tests at all back in HS and would probably do a lot better now.
The GMAT only tests you on things a native English speaker from a decent undergraduate institution should already know. Because of this, I don't recommend any prep beyond the electronic GMAT prep you can download off the GMAT website for free. Use it to familiarize yourself with the mechanics of the test, give some reminders of topics you haven't studied in a while (that was geometry for me), and get a feel for how to budget your time.
If you already know math up to the trig level and below, you already know enough math. If you read more than serial romance novels, you've picked up all the "GMAT words" you're likely to pick up. A GMAT prep course won't teach you the trig you should've learned in high school, nor the vocabulary that develops over a lifetime of reading. After you leave college, a lot of math and vocabulary that isn't industry-specific jargon will start leaving you because of its newfound inapplicability to your life. Because of this, I highly recommend taking the GMAT in college.
I devoted my spare time for three weeks to the free software prep package and pulled a 760. I wouldn't go back and study any harder; the test was so general knowledge-centric I don't think it would help.
If B-Schools ever start caring about your AWA score, you might want to prep for that. Writing a succinct and logical argument is a skill that many students unfortunately leave college without. That skill, unlike a broad vocabulary, can be learned fairly quickly.
What are you talking about? There is no trig on the GMAT and all of the knowledge encapsulated on the GMAT is from HS not undergrad. Also, just because you are a native English speak does not mean you are familiar with archane English grammar rules.
True. No trig is tested and the English grammar rules tested in some cases do seem archane. I recommend taking some practice questions and reviewing the Official Guide's English section to see how the actual GMAT test makers describe the rules. Some of them seem to be based upon their own opinion, and not necessarily with what is generally acceptable or is considered everyday, normal English.
Everyone is different, so who knows how much you'll need to prep for the test in order to score well. Like any test, there are some people who are very sharp and are great test takers, so they'll ace it with little effort. Personally, I am not one of those people (though I thought I was and failed miserably the first time I took the GMAT).
If you're like the majority of us it will take at least some effort (weeks or a couple of months). The test is based on mostly high school math and only goes up to algebra. The English section doesn't test advanced principles, but most the basics. The trick is, the GMAT takes normal math/English, twists it, and really tests you on your ability to apply very core principles. They also are looking to see how observant and analytical you are.
The test is very learnable, in my opinion.
As for when it's best for you personally to take it, I'd submit that studying for it while you still have some spare time would be much easier than when you're working 80+ hours a week. If you have a couple of hours per day to spare now and it wouldn't be a burden on your other studies by all means go for it.
The best and most important pieces for studying are the materials that are put out by the GMAC (makers of the GMAT). At GMAT.com you can download some free prep material (alluded to already in a previous post in this thread). This is important because it comes with 2 free computer-adaptive tests that are real versions (100% authentic) of the GMAT. They will score you and test you exactly how the GMAT would at a testing center. I would take one of them as a measuring stick to see where you stand and the second as a gauge near the conclusion of your studies.
You can also take a professional course through Manhattan, Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc. These can cost anywhere from a few hundred bucks to over a thousand. Some people prefer this method because it forces them to study; some prefer to do it on their own and save some cash.
Each company also puts out prep books with their own take on how to conquer the GMAT. I've heard that Princeton Review is good for English review and that Kaplan's 800 book is excellent for test takers trying to score 700+ (shouldn't everyone be aiming for that) and that Manhattan has great math review. Most companies put out a few practice tests on a CD with their book. Which is good because you need to practice as much as possible.
Personally, I downloaded the free GMAT material and tests from GMAT.com, bought the Princeton Review test (which has been OK), the Official GMAT Review book from GMAT.com as well as the supplementary Official Review books on the quantitative and English sections (they have hundreds of real practice questions from previous GMAT tests). I also checked the Kaplan 800 book out from the library and have been cramming it the past few days. It's got some really tough questions.
In the end it's really up to you. My advice is to give yourself a window of a few months or more to take it (if possible). In other words, if you schedule will become ultra-hectic in the coming summer, make sure you don't start the test prep right before then--give yourself a window in case you hit some obstacles.
I would also review the format of the test (computer-adaptive) and basic principles tested and go over some practice questions. Then, after some review take the first, real GMAT you downloaded from GMAT.com. Then, judging by your score, base your study and test date upon how much time you think you'll need to achieve your target score. Just don't go blindly into the test or assume that you'll be able to ace it with little to no prep. Be smart and gauge yourself first, THEN jump head first in and ace it.
As a comparison, I got a 720.
I am the first type of person as B described (and I agree with his comment) 1360 SATs (650V 710M) top 15% of college class MM ibd analyst in 2007 Not all that motivated to do much of anything anymore, other than sleep
I did not spend much time studying for the test, but am a native english speaker. I scored 96% verbal and 78% math.
Also, I never took a class.
To those who have taken the GMAT... (Originally Posted: 04/22/2008)
Did you study before you took the GMAT?
I'm asking this because my girlfriend is taking the GMAT this morning, and she's only studied for about 2-3 weeks. Her 'studying' consisted of buying the Kaplan GMAT book and the Kaplan GMAT Math section book and leisurely going through each of them.
Do you really need to study for the GMAT, or is it like the SAT where studying isn't really necessary? [but certainly doesn't hurt].
I hope she doesn't bomb it.
I would recommend studying for the following reasons:
1) While the math is based on pretty standard High School topics (arithmetic, geometry, algebra) not everyone remembers this stuff (esp. combinations, permutations, etc.)
2) Data Sufficiency - you have never seen this type of problem and repetition helps to get you into the AD or BCE mode
3) Sentence correction - again easy but some people don’t remember/recognize basic idioms and grammatical structure
4) You are competing against people who are as smart as you and who have been preparing extensively...not to mention you are competing against international IT/engineers maniacs who keep jacking up the quant % score
5) Scholarships are awarded to individuals with high GMATs
6) GMAT is a great predictor of business school success and Adcomms use it as a comparative measure during the application process
You should study before taking the GMAT otherwise you are wasting your time and money...
Studying is probably necessary depending on where you want to go and under what terms. Bear in mind that it's hard to quantify intelligence and that I'm no expert, but I'd expect a truly smart person to walk in and get a 720-730 without studying. That's not going to keep you out of a school, but it's not really high enough to get a red carpet rolled out for you. The reason why someone with a 1600 SAT is probably not going to get an 800 GMAT is that a) the test involves some time pressure, which the SAT does not, b) the test adapts to your intellect, so you get progressively harder questions if you keep answering them right, and c) certain sections of the test are tricky unless you specifically learn how to take them. For instance, some of the verbal problems are judgement calls rather than fixing true violations of grammar. In places, I don't agree with those judgement calls and have to learn to think the way the GMAT wants me to think. So I found the SAT exponentially easier than the GMAT.
Me, I'm paying stupid amounts of money for GMAT training and materials. Rather, my firm is. My practice test results were hovering around 720 before I started, and I'm not going to take the test until I can reasonably expect a 780. I don't think I'd get enough benefit out of an 800 to spend the extra six months and two-three attempts it would take to get me there... but then again, if I don't get a good deal the first time I try applying, I might decide it's worth my time.
I expect the whole thing (getting to 780) to take me 2-3 months of 10-15 hours a week because I'm not a genius, just a hard worker. My fiance, on the other hand, spent 10 hours a week for 3 weeks with a Kaplan book, got a 710, and walked away happy. He didn't get into the school he applied to, but at least he didn't waste any time overstudying. It's all about your priorities. Me, I want either Harvard/Stanford/Wharton or an all-expenses-paid vacation at a lesser school.
Thanks for your great responses.
I spent an hour a day 5x a week for a couple months before I took the test and got a 730. The week before I did a bunch of practice tests (timed). I didn't want to waste several hundred dollars and not do well. I think any reasonably smart person could get a 720-730 without studying if they weren't working under time pressure, but you are and that is where studying helps a lot. The GMAT is more of a game you have to figure out then a good measure of inteligence.
I only studied for a few days before hand, taking the practice tests and getting used to the test format and did very well. I think 2-3 weeks should be more then enough time though it obviously does vary by person.
Doesn't matter how smart you are, you absolutely have to study to do well. Parts of your brain just turn off because most people aren't correcting and evaluating complex sentence structures or doing data sufficiency problems as part of their daily routine. A guy in my fraternity took the GMAT cold and got a 630 - his SAT (little prep) was 1500+ and LSAT (no prep) was 174.
Ideating
Did your buddy go to law school? 174 is an excellent score, along the lines of getting 4-5 wrong out of the 100-101 questions.
Junkbondswap and ideating both make great points.
I studied / practiced ~10-15 hours a week for ~3 weeks before the test. Taken cold, I probably would have been in the high 600's (my first practice test was a 660), but given adequate preparation I ended up with a 770.
It's been said before, but given that you'll be competing for spots at top b-schools alongside equally intelligent people, you'll want to be every bit as prepared as them for the test.
Nope, idiot went to TFA.
you have to prepare for this test... I prepared for my SATs as well though... I took 17 practice SAT tests back in the days and did all right. THe GMAT is a bit different, because they use proper grammar which tends to get lost in the American language; so it does not hurt to learn the rules. The math is just weird, I'd study for that as well. Oh and another note, who the f... uses Kaplan or Princeton for that matter to study for the GMAT? Use the official review books...
Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is. - My ex girlfriend
I used Princeton Review (in part b/c I was at MBB and they paid for the in-office tutor and for books).
Part of the course included official review materials, but the Princeton stuff was quite helpful as well.
I know I've said this before, but for books use the GMAT 800 book and for classes, Manhattan GMAT is probably the best (also most expensive). I think Princeton Review/Kaplan and their respective books in general tend to teach towards the meaty part of the curve.
Agreed.
Our Princeton Review tutor taught the in-office classes for all three MBB firms, so his course was tailored more toward the tail end.
Not to brag, but I did the exact same thing as your girlfriend—bought the Kaplan book, spent maybe 5 hours total studying it (mainly just to see what the questions were like and refresh on the math a little) and got a 750. I've always been a good test-taker though (e.g. 1520 SAT w/no prep whatsoever).
I can't even begin to stress the importance of staying calm while taking the GMAT and actually studying. I know I'm pretty smart (but sometimes lazy), and I can tell you no matter how smart your ass is, if you're stressed by work and other shit and haven't studied, you won't do well. I seriously doubt even a person with a high IQ can take the GMAT blind under standard test conditions and have a high probability of scoring in the 720-730 range. Case in point: I took the GMAT twice - the first time, I didn't really study effectively and I took the GMAT after putting in half a day at the office and had some other personal life issues in the background. Needless to say, I bombed it. I was averaging around 720 on practice tests, but scored a 630 that day because I was distracted. I would suggest letting everyone in your personal life know how important it is that they cut you some slack and abstain for causing any undue stress in your life while you're preparing for the GMAT. Also, if you can, don't even step into the office that day. Second time, I took the Princeton review prep course, and used the GMAC official GMAT guide, and studied about 7 hours a week for about 8 weeks. I took the entire day off from work, and just chilled out. And I got exactly what I wanted: 760.
net worth or nothing - how'd she do?
She didn't do well, but certainly didn't bomb the exam.
She scored a 620. I've already showed her this page, once the pain had worn off which was last night.
Thanks for your comments.
take the prep course. Better use of your time. If you had all the time in the world read the book.
Also, for Kaplan you don't get all the test stategies in the book (most, but not all). The classes offer a more comprehenisve package.
The GMAT is unlike the SAT because it's adaptive. If you're smart, you'll only see the hard questions, the easy questions in the book won't be there.
The Kaplan course does include a in-center practice test. You take it at the testing site, just like a real test. No one else knows that the score doesn't count. (you're taking a real test). Keep in mind that the GMAT is an expensive test, $250 a pop, and you're getting a free dry run in the class.
How long would GMAT prep take me ? (Originally Posted: 03/22/2011)
I'm sure this has been asked before, but every situation is different.
I plan to take a few months off to study for the GMAT, travel and work on another business.
I'm starting from scratch, If i put in 4-6 hours/day, how long would it take me to be prepared enough to score a 700+ on the GMAT ? I scored a 1360 on the old SAT just FYI.
My undergrad GPA was low so I need to score well on the test.
Also, what's the best way to prepare over the 3 month time span ?
I got slightly lower on the ACT (30 ACT~1330 old SAT) and I have since put in 170 hours into GMAT studying. I did the same thing as you, I quit work in January and I have put in about 4-5 hours every single day. Studying this much is probably not necessary, but I don't have anything else to do and my practice scores are now about 730ish.
Get the Manhattan GMAT books and take notes on each chapter. Then, get the Official GMAT Guide 12th edition, and work the problems in there. With your purchase of the Manhattan GMAT books you get access to 6 practice tests. Take a few practice tests to figure out what you need more work in, then go back to the MGMAT books and focus on those areas.
The test is not THAT bad and it is incredibly learnable. You will be fine if you put the time in.
Take a practive test from MBA.com and see where you stand. That's the only way you can even begin to know how much you need to study.
Great advice, not to take away from Stacy Blackman's pointers but not everyone needs to invest so much time into prep. It is after all an aptitude test. If you're suited to the format and material you don't need to take too much time away from other endeavors. I personally spent ~15 hours total preparing and I couldn't be happier with my result. Once you compare a practice test score with the score you're targeting you can substantiate your time investment.
Cheers and good luck,
Hi Aviator,
While everyone has his or her own style and approach for preparing for the GMAT, I recommend a formal class or private tutor of some kind. Beyond the curriculum, a key benefit of a class is the discipline it provides. Between classes, homework, and practice tests, you are likely to make the GMAT a part of your daily routine and gain the practice that you need. Because the test is taken on a computer in a strange environment, practice and familiarity with the test is crucial.
You should allow about two months for prep, and ideally you will not be distracted by essays and other aspects of the process during that time. All in all, two to three months is a fair amount of time to budget for the GMAT, when you consider study, first attempt, and then possible restudy and retake.
I hope this was of help!
Cheers,
Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team
Southernstunna,
Thanks for the detailed response. That's exactly what I was looking for.
txjustin,
I'm going to do that tomorrow.
Stacy,
Thanks for the response. I'm going to have to look into the costs for that and if I could afford it.
Independent,
Point taken. Thanks.
I 2nd using Manhattan GMAT guide books. If you focus on those guides along with the official guide books, you shouldn't need more than 2-3 months. Good luck!
Manhattan guides are good except for the reading comp. guide. Unless you have raging ADHD or can't read English well, its methods are counterproductive time sinks.
Conrad,
Could you direct me to a list of schools that have Spring semester starts ? I know Columbia has a Spring semester start but that's only for people that want to stay within their industry I understand, I will most likely be a career switcher.
Hi Aviator,
Most people take somewhere around 3-6 months preparing for the GMAT. More competitive types can squeeze in somewhere around 1 to 2 months.
The two critical resources we recommend are: 1) GMATPrep software from mba.com 2) Official Guide Questions (11th or 12th edition is fine)
These are the most realistic types of questions you will see on the actual GMAT so we recommend sticking with these rather than picking up a random book with hundreds of practice questions that may not even be realistic ones you'll see on the actual GMAT.
Regardless of which resources you use, take a second to evaluate your learning style. Do you learn well with books, classrooms, or video? If you are the type that falls asleep to books, you might benefit from the recent trend and shift to online video. Some great resources exist, just open your eyes!
You look like you're looking for a Spring semester start. FYI, the typical application cycle begins with Round 1 deadlines in Sept/October for the following year. So budget at least 4-6 months before each application deadline to prepare your applications and gmat test results.
Hope that helps!
I believe INSEAD offers a January start that allows for a summer internship. That's only if you want to go the European route.
Another recommendation for Manhattan GMAT books & practice CATs. I used those plus the GMAT Official guide for practice problems. As a guide for planning out study time and which problems to do, I used Beat the GMAT's 60-day study plan. I definitely skipped some days, though, so total study days was probably closer to 45 days at 1.5-2 hours a day. A couple of extra points - from what I read, it seems like verbal "counts more" in the total score, so really nail it. Also, do a lot of data sufficiency problems as those killed me. Ended up with a 740.
I scored 690 on the diagnostic and it took me about 15 hrs of study time before I scored 740 on another practice test. I put in a total of 35 hrs of study time, over the course of about 2 months and scored 750 on the real thing. I worked full time, not quite I-banking hours, but easily 60 hrs a week, and was also helping to take care of a family member recovering from stroke, so very limited study time. Surprisingly, managed to fit in a couple of get-togethers with friends. Balance is really important. I wouldn't go on a braincell-killing bender, but a couple of drinks in a good company is good for the body and the soul.
I would recommend taking a practice test and concentrating on reinforcing your weaker areas, rather than studying everything. I would also recommend taking practice tests in a somewhat stressful environment, to get used to dealing with test day anxiety and keeping focus. I took my tests at nearby Starbucks, and it was always super noisy there. One time a really really bizarre interaction took place to my left shoulder, some guy started talking all kinds of shit, some girl started crying, their friends stood around and watched, and it took inhuman willpower to keep my attention on the test instead of looking over and trying to figure out WTF is going on, if these kids are being theatric, or if it's for real. Really, getting in the performance zone is the main thing you are gonna need to learn.
I don't really see why it would be necessary to take time off work; also it would be rough to explain to the adcom; GMAT vs. Work Experience is a rough one and probably depends on school.
PS: i also kept a study hours log, I think it was useful for not feeling guilty about rest when needed or motivation when needed (I.e. I already studied 15 hrs this week so it's ok for me to take Saturday off and do something fun, or I only fit in 3 hours during the week, I need to catch up on the weekend)
Good points Argo, but there is a huge difference on your 1st test score and (probably) most other people who score far lower. He is proof that the 1st thing you need to do is take the diagnosic and see where you stand. He only needed a limited amount of study time. I, on the other hand, need an assload of study time.
Thanks for the explanation Argo and txjustin. So at this point, I'm guessing if I score close to 700, I need a month of moderate prep. Less than 650 and I'm in deep doo-doo.
Definitely don't look at a low initial score as "deep doo-doo". If you do that you are setting yourself up for failure.
Go check out beatthegmat.com and gmatclub.com and start reading away. Good luck.
Hi Aviator, Most people prepare 3-6 months for the GMAT. The more competitive applicants might squeeze it in 1-2 months. We recommend two critical resources: 1) GMAT Prep software from mba.com 2) Official Guide to the GMAT, 11th or 12th edition
We recommend sticking with these sources during your hardcore practice as they provide the most realistic kinds of questions that you will actually see on exam day.
Regardless of what resources you use, take a step back and evaluate how you best learn. Do you learn best with self-study books? Or do you find yourself falling asleep on them? What about classrooms? Identifying how you best learn will help you minimize the amount of wasted study time you'll have. Remember--you're a busy person and you can't spend every minute of your time outside of work just studying!
If you're a visual learner with a good level of self-motivation but just need a little guidance, you might benefit from the trend of online video courses popping up. Great resources exist for GMAT help--just open your eyes!
GMATPill,
Thanks for your response. The 3-6 month timeline you stated, that is done while studying how many hours a day/week on average ?
Aviator,
For the typical 3-6 months, most people spend roughly 10-15 hours per week. Maybe an hour per day on the weekdays and then 4 hours on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday.
If you take 10 hours per week and multiply it with 12 weeks--that's basically 120 hours. This, of course, assumes constant commitment--which oftentimes is unrealistic.
Everybody is different--each person has a different way of counting what counts as "studying" vs what doesn't count---so it's tough to generalize--but hope this gives you a general idea.
Low 600s wants to be high 600s on GMAT - Time required and strategy (Originally Posted: 10/08/2014)
iBACKGROUND: I took 2 practice GMATS cold and got 610 and 640. I have to admit, I was a bit surprised and disappointed. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised because I haven't done this kind of crap in 10+ years and haven't done one iota of preparation.[/i]
GOAL: I would like like to score consistently in the 670-700 range. My first choice B school has a median GMAT of 680 for part-timers. A second choice has a 690 for their fulltime.
QUESTION: For the people their raised their scores from low 600s to 700,
What preparation program, if any, did you use?
How many hours did you put into their classes, readings, and practice exams? If you didn't use a program, how many hours did you spend studying before you topped 700?
How money did it cost?
Did you find that it was easier to improve in Quant or in Verbal?
I thought you didn't want to go to a "Top 10" MBA?
Anyway, to answer your questions,
Your split is going to be crucial here. Math is much easier to bring up than verbal in a shorter time frame.
My math was 41 and 47 (I did much worse the second time). I did really well on Arithmetic but got killed on Algebra.
I'd honestly recommend the Economist GMAT tutor. You can get purely the self-study option (not listed on the website) and just run through what you need work on. I was in the 600s on practice tests, and did about 75% of the Economist work haphazardly for 3 mos and scored 710. I'm fairly certain I could have done much better if I actually put the effort in.
How Much Time Do You Need To Prep For the GMAT? (Originally Posted: 01/21/2016)
I graduated in December and I know I would like to attend business school at some point. I've heard that it's tough to find time to prep for the GMAT once on the job and I would like to take it before I start. I have plans to travel abroad from the beginning of March til the end of April but I have nothing planned in the weeks prior.
Is it feasible for me to get into top form and take the GMAT in about 6 weeks, before I start traveling?
Yes 6 weeks is more than enough time to study up and get at least a 650.
a lot of this depends on your baseline and target score but yes should be doable assuming your goals are reasonable
I think most test takers can get 80-90% of the way to their peak score in the first 50 hours of studying unless their studying methodology was somehow highly inefficient or otherwise ineffective. That might be a lot of studying to cram in to six weeks but that depends on your appetite for GMAT work. Maybe you can reach your target score in less! Main factors are your baseline, your target, and the speed at which your score improves with study, all of which differ from test taker to test taker
When to start studying for the gmat? (Originally Posted: 06/16/2010)
I'm going to Naval Officer Candidate School in the beginning of 2011 but I will be done with my undergrad (in accounting) in July. As you can see, there's about a 6 month gap there that I have no idea what to do with. Should I start studying for an hour or two a day for the gmat? I don't think I will have a ton of time after I am commissioned as an officer to study as most guys I have talked to say that they are working 12-18 hour days while out in the fleet.
I would like to go to a top 7 b-school but Texas wouldn't be bad either because I am a resident and I would rather do banking in Houston (or another city in the South) rather than in NYC.
Thanks for the help guys.
Oh, and just to clarify I will be in the Navy for 4 years, so that's why i'm trying to figure out when the best time to begin studying is. My roommate got a 174 on the lsat, but he said that he "peaked" too early for it, so I was wondering if anything similar has happened to anyone here.
GMAT scores are good for 5 years. So if you take it December 2010, itll be good til December 2015. I'm not sure if you plan on going to the Navy and then coming back and going straight to grad school or working first, but that is something you will want to keep in mind before deciding to take the test.
As for peaking, that isn't really a life even; its more just something that happens when you are studying. Eventually you find yourself in a groove where you are confident in answers and you know your stuff and you can't really get a better score.
yeah i'm planning on going straight from the Navy into business school.
You should have plenty of time while on float since you are either working, lifting weights, or sitting on your ass. The latter gets extreme boring...at least thats how ground deployment were (not navy).
During the first year of your career (after OCS) you are still trying to pull your head out of your ass, but you'll find yourself with enough time once you get the hang of things.
Okay that's what I was thinking too, thanks.
When should you start preparing for the GMAT? (Originally Posted: 10/21/2015)
le.
It really depends on how much time you have. I studied 3 weeks full time, and then roughly 2 month besides work/University and it turned out fine. In General, I would say you should consider studying about two month (+-), if you plan to score 700+.
So how many hours do you think? If I had to guess 80-120 hrs over a 2-3 month span sounds like it would be enough time to do well?
If you actually want to do well on the GMAT, the best answer, instead of shortcuts (which without a lot of math courses, most of the books try to be) is to actually do and study a lot of math in school. You're a sophomore, so you have time to take calculus I, II, and III, as well as DiffEq. It is true the GMAT doesn't have calculus on it, but if you actually know math and know it well, which you will given the rigor of those courses, you'll do well on the math. Also, many of the algebra problems on it are much better understood if you know calculus because you do many of the things in calc classes you'll do on the GMAT, and many problems on the GMAT are much easier with calculus and pre-calc things like logarithms. The books tho will help you a lot if you have those courses.
I studied for 2-3 hours every night (almost) while working full time at a corporate for roughly 1 month. On the weekends I would do a 3-4 hour session and practice test. Scored well above 700 on the first try. It is more about studying for the test than the material
^This. I think a month should be sufficient if you're working full-time. I studied probably three weeknight evenings and then maybe 5-8 hours on the weekends leading up to the test, and put up a decent number. That said, I had just finished taking one of the CFA levels so my study skills were REALLY good at that time in my life. I think if you know how to focus and how your brain learns, you can knock it out pretty quickly. If you are a college student who reads two pages and then takes a nap/plays some Madden with his roommates, and then reads two more pages, good luck.
My view: everyone underestimates how much time it takes to study for the GMAT. It's always more than you want, and if you are really serious, take a course. Remember, you are competing against the thousands who have also taken courses, know the tricks/short cuts, and, if in China, are getting live test question to practice on.
The GMAT is not designed to test anything but how to take a gmat test. And admissions officers know that.
The good news: you can cancel your score and no one will see it. So if you try it and hate the outcome, you will only be out the cost of taking the test (unless, as you say, you can get a waiver).
...
I'd go through the course on http://www.gmatquantum.com/. Price is reasonable and course is 20 hours of videos + practice problems. After going through that, take a GMAC and see where you're at. I'd conservatively budget at least 100 hours to study.
The Economist gmat prep thing was good
I think I put in more time then others here but it definitely becomes tougher the further removed you are from school. I used Veritas prep, official guides, and a couple supplementary stuff and studied about 15 hours a week for about ten weeks. About 2 hours each morning before work (would go into my office by 6:30am, study till 8:30, grab food in our cafeteria and then work till whenever) and then about 5 on Saturdays. I was getting anywhere from 740-780 on my practice tests by this time... Got a 700.
That was a real killer because I had put so much time into it and was killing my practice tests. I then did another 5 weeks of the same thing and focused on my problem areas and retook. I was able to raise it to a 740. After that 700 I seriously debated just saying fuck it and targeting a lower level of school because the process is extremely grueling.
Moral of this story is a lot of people spend months and 150-250 hours of studying despite all "i studied for 3 weeks an aced it" posts. It really will just be up to you personally as the GMAT (specifically the quant) is unlike any other test you've likely ever taken.
Thanks for comments and links. I also faced the issue and trying to do my best to be prepared.
^This.
There is definitely a strong selection bias on these types of threads, those that get high scores always comment saying it was easy and you just need a little bit of studying to get into the 700's. Truth is, statistically 90% of test takers get below a 700.
I studied for 5 weeks for 20 hours a week, was scoring around 700, ended up with 660.
An accounting major at my school got a 730. She wants to get in the 2+2 at HBS or Stanford. Probably doubtful but that's a good score to me.
anything worth doing is worth doing right in my opinion. put in the time so you can take the test once and get a 730+. this can be anywhere from 50-300 hours depending on your baseline test score and the speed at which you retain the information.
...
Even if it is unpopular, I think you are right.
And remember, it's not just the overall score but the subscore. You can still get a 740 with a weak quant According to my friends at Magoosh (updated Sept 2015), you could theoretically get a perfect score on the verbal (51) but only get a 40 on the quant -- which would be in the 50% percentile. Not all total scores are alike.
http://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/how-to-calculate-gmat-scores/
Rule number 1: Do not underestimate the G MAT.
The hours and time required vary from student to student and also the initial baseline of where they are starting from. I have seen a range of students, from ones who were scoring 90th percentile taking the first practice test cold, to the ones who took it four times and a year worth of preparation to get to 700+. Find out at which end of the spectrum do you fall on, and then start the preparation and see at what pace your score is improving. Of course stick to official G MAT materials and use the official g mat practice tests to gauge your progress.
The GMAT is a tedious exam, but it's not exactly a difficult exam. We aren't talking about the MCAT.
Study efficiently and you can do well without too much work. One+ year out of UG I took a practice exam (cold) and got a 590, primarily due to not understanding the test itself. Dropped $40 on the Kaplan book and ended up getting a 730, 8-IR, 6.0 AWA with under 100 hours of "real" studying. My UG was engineering, so I struggled with verbal initially. Oddly enough, I did "poorly" on the quant section. Apparently 5 semesters of calculus wasn't as valuable as a basic statistics class would have been...
how much should i study for the gmat? (Originally Posted: 08/15/2007)
i got a 1500 on the sat (770 on math). what gmat score should i shoot for and how much should i study for it?
Take a diagnostic test. The GMAT is quite different from the SAT and requires a different type of thinking. I'd say plan on at least 50 hours of studying (a lot of the test is just practicing over and over). Raw intellect can only take you so far on the test.
Also, shoot for an 800. Settle for anything over a 750. 720+ if you're really struggling.
Don't satisfy for anything less. I honestly believe anyone average person can score over a 700 with enough practice or tutorage.
^^^so its not so much based on raw intellect...its more on how much you actually practice for the exam?
Absolutely. I know total idiots that have broken 720 just because they know how to take the test.
Make sure you get the right books to study from. I got three different ones, and I was quite disappointed with how they prepared me for the math section. And I'm no math dummy! I got a perfect 800 on the math portion of the SAT, and I got several perfect scores on quantitative GMAT practice tests. When I took the real thing, though, they were throwing stuff at me that I had never seen before.
jsmerrill - any recommendations?
I will be also taking the GMAT, do you think it's worth spending any time on preparing for the essay questions?
I wouldn't do more than 1 or 2 practices. I believe I got a 5.5 and I only did 1. Look over what a good answer looks like and try to mimic it. There really isn't that much to it.
I don't agree with you about not taking the Mgmat test. I think some quant exercices take definitely too long to complete compare to the real test, but I is a great exercice. Personally I scored 46 in Mgamt and 48 in the real test.
When to start prepping for GMAT? (Originally Posted: 06/11/2013)
Is sophomore summer too early to start studying for the GMAT? I want to get a top score around a 750, which is why I'm considering starting early. I'm also interested in getting a large/full scholarship from a good masters degree program, like Duke MMS, Villanova MSF or UVA MS Comm, and so I'll have to really stand out apart from my grades and internships.
Read up on how long a GMAT score is good for and factor that into your timeframe of when to take / study for it.
This wouldn't be for an MBA. I don't even plan on getting an MBA actually, but this would be for entry level jobs and a masters degree. Also, if I get a great score like a 750 earlier on, I doubt that it would be that difficult to repeat a good performance in the future (ie above 720) if I decide to eventually get the MBA
Better start sooner than later.
Instead of taking the GMAT, why not try to transfer to a target?
Because I'm a rising junior, and it would cost me extra to transfer into a target. Also, I'm not sure if I could get in, because my hs stats/SAT aren't great, because my curriculum has been business focused as opposed to economics focused, and because the vast majority of good business schools are virtually impossible to transfer into. Virtually all of the target b schools like haas, ross, stern, wharton, AEM have impossibly low acceptance rates. I would be looking at schools like Emory Goizueta or Boston College at best..
Do I need to start preparing for the GMAT now? (Originally Posted: 08/16/2017)
Hello!
I will be studying Math at one of the target schools in the UK from this September( I am not British tho). I never thought I will be interested in doing investment banking or working in any other financial fields, but now I can literally sell my soul for the Goldman intern. I had a gap year in Asia, and interned at the Standard Chartered PB and recently secured a place at the Lloyds Bank IB division in London. I am also planning to study Financial Economics at the Oxford cause I think its brand and network could bring me further.
I am just not sure what I need to do to increase my chances of getting into BB in London. As far as I know, I heard that IB favours standardised test results such as SAT or GMAT. So I am thinking about taking GMAT asap if I can get 700 ish. Do you think it's a good idea to start working on the GMAT now?
In addition to that, would taking the Coursera- financial modelling open course at the Wharton from this August be helpful? I was lucky that I could change my course from Biological Science to Math, and I don't want to waste this chance.
I am not sure if it's all right to just ask a bunch of questions, but could you guys also recommend me books to read?
Thank you so much in advance!
Au revoir!
It’s never too early to take the gmat. Took me 5 month, 3-4hours/day to get to 710. It varies depending on people.
That said, if your background is in Math, you will already be categorized in the « exceptional quantitative skills ».
My 2cts: in your specific case, the ROI isn’t interesting if you sit the gmat only to get into IB. Definitely worth it for long term investment for b-school.
you studied ~600 hours? damn. how much time you need really depends on your goal score and baseline (score with no studying). I went from a 620 cold to a 740 actual with around 200-250 hrs study time fwiw
No you shouldn't. You're about to start your first year, which means there is a 0% chance you'll actually use this score to go to b-school within 5 years, which means that taking the test right now will be by definition a waste of time and money, which any employer will know. Just get good grades, that's what they want, taking the GMAT will not give you an advantage it will just confuse your potential employer
Take the GMAT the end of your senior year of college. I'm an idiot and put it off until the last minute so effectively have 3 months to get it done along with all my apps for school. The earlier you can get it done, while still having it in the useful 5 year window, you should do. Never hurts to have a backup plan for down the road when you start to hate your finance gig haha
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