How do you study for the GMAT?
Take an official practice exam first, then study by section: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights. Each section has 45 minutes, and you pick the order. Drill your weakest section with official questions, keep an error log, and take timed full exams as test day gets close. Many people plan two to three months, depending on the target score.
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In more detail
The current GMAT, called the Focus Edition, has three sections and takes 2 hours 15 minutes. Quant covers arithmetic and algebra, with no geometry. Verbal covers reading comprehension and critical reasoning. Data Insights is the newest part, with tables, graphs and data sufficiency questions. Scores run from 205 to 805, and there is no essay.
The test is adaptive by question, so accuracy early on matters. Official practice material is the best match, and the GMAT Official Starter Kit includes free practice exams, though you should check mba.com for what is included now. Your target score should come from the schools you want, so look at the typical scores in each program's class profile before you set a number.
GMAT Focus Edition at a glance
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 | 45 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 | 45 minutes |
| Data Insights | 20 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 64 | 2 hours 15 minutes |
Step by step
- 1
Take an official practice exam to get a baseline score and see which section is weakest.
- 2
Set a target score from the programs you want, pick a test date and plan the weeks backward from it.
- 3
For Quant, refresh arithmetic and algebra and build speed on word problems.
- 4
For Verbal, summarize each reading passage in one sentence, and on critical reasoning find the conclusion and the premises first.
- 5
For Data Insights, practice tables, graphs and data sufficiency until the formats feel familiar.
- 6
Keep an error log, take a full timed exam every one to two weeks, and practice choosing your section order and using your answer edits.
How StudyPDF helps
Upload your GMAT prep book pages, class notes or your error log as PDFs. StudyPDF builds flashcards for formulas and reasoning patterns, quizzes and a sectioned, optionally timed practice exam from your own material, and tracks the topics you keep missing. Set your test date in the Plan tab for a schedule that starts with your weakest areas. A free account is needed, no card.
Sources
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More questions
How long should I study for the GMAT?
Many people plan two to three months. The right length depends on your first practice score and your target. A small gap may need less time, a big one needs more.
What is a good GMAT score?
It depends on the programs you apply to. Check the typical scores in each school's class profile, and aim for the middle of that range or higher.
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