The Top 3 GMAT Studying Errors (As Well As How to Fix Them)

GMAT Study Mistake No. 1: Failing to Make and/or Adhere to a Study Plan

"Read books, solve examples, then take the test." Sorry to announce that this is not a study plan. Actually, this is merely a list of facts. An actionable plan (these statements are not). If you make a decent plan, you won't ever have to wonder if you're acting appropriately. You're aware already! You had the correct stuff in your plan.

A study strategy for the GMAT contains the following components:

1. Benchmark. Take your first Computer Adaptive Test (CAT). This is not meant to predict your final score, so don’t set unrealistic goals and then judge yourself for not meeting your (unreasonably) high standards. Instead, use it to understand how much improvement you’d like to make to reach your final goal score. You should research your top school choices to settle on a goal score that works best for you.  

2. Set a consistent schedule. Consider how much you can study each week – be realistic! “Well, I work 40 hours full-time, and I have 12 children, and I volunteer 10 hours a week so I can study…40 hours per week?” No! It’s much better to get ahead in your studying than to fall behind. In total, most students study about 100-150 total hours before taking the official exam. This, along with the number of hours per week you can study, will help you determine when you should take the official exam.

3. Focus on your weaknesses. We all like to study for our strengths and ignore our weaknesses, but in the GMAT this will not yield success. When you take a CAT, pay attention to your section scores (1-51) in Quant and Verbal. Focus your study time on the section in which you achieved the lower score, because you have more opportunity to improve. Many CATs will also list your performance on specific topics in a section. If that’s the case, focus first on topics that had the largest number of questions and that were lower-difficulty problems. Don’t jump into the pool without your floaties!

4. Focus on quality over quantity. You’re creating a masterpiece, not working on an assembly line! Do not exhaustively complete practice problem after practice problem, hoping to “see it all” or “be a hard worker.” Instead, spend at least 30 minutes evaluating each problem you see. When you evaluate:

1. Analyze other approaches you could have used and decide if yours could have been better.

2. Identify patterns you saw in the problem, errors you made, and what you can take away.

3. Physically write down how you can recognize and use what you’ve learned on future problems.

4. Return to past problems every 2 weeks to insure you internalized the lessons.

5. Re-assess and adjust your plan. Every great plan allows for adjustments along the way. Take CATs about every 10 – 14 days, depending on your schedule. Use the results to adjust your focus. Did you improve significantly in number properties, but didn’t see improvement in critical reasoning assumptions? Focus on those problems next! You can’t sit down and “study for the GMAT” in a single session. Your best chance of improving overall is to focus on specific areas, one at a time. Don’t forget to maintain in sections you’ve already covered.

GMAT Study Mistake No. 2: Avoiding Timed Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs)

The GMAT is a test of your management skills, including time management. For the quantitative section, you can spend about 2 minutes per question to reach the end of the section. For verbal questions, you only have about 1 minute 20 seconds per question.  

While you can master content without taking CATs, knowing that you can complete a problem is a far cry from knowing that you can complete a problem in 2 minutes or less.

CATs will help you master timing on the exam, as well as learn the strategies you should use to catch up if you’re falling behind in a section.  

GMAT Study Mistake No. 3: Not Setting an Official Test Date

“I’ll study until I’m ready” is a common adage I hear from students. I always ask, “How will you know when you’re ready?”

It is guaranteed that you will not wake up one sunny morning thinking, “Today is the day that I will ace the GMAT.” Even if that morning does arrive – you won’t get into the testing center without an appointment.  

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is a deadline. This will help you to set daily and weekly study goals and it will increase the likelihood that you hold yourself accountable to those goals. Procrastination is much less appealing with a looming deadline on the calendar than without one.  

When setting your test date, consider your study plan, application deadlines, and personal/professional schedule. Choose a date that allows you to study sufficiently (150+ hours), occurs about 2 months before applications are due so you can re-test if needed, and doesn’t fall in the midst of hectic times for your personal or professional schedule.

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