OK, you are starting more or less from scratch, and you want to prepare for the GMAT in three months. You need a strategic plan to organize yourself. I designed four different versions of the Three Month Plan, and I need you to start with a little self-diagnosis. Which sounds most like you?
- 3 Month GMAT Study Schedule for Beginners: Help! Math and verbal both scare the living bejeebers out of me! I need all the help and support I can get! Help!
- 3 Month GMAT Study Schedule (Math Focused): I have a natural affinity with the verbal, but the math is far less intuitive for me. I would like to focus more there.
- 3 Month GMAT Study Schedule (Verbal Focused): Me a math nerd. Me think all math easy. Me have big verbal problems. One day, me will talk good.
- 3 Month GMAT Study Schedule for Advanced Students: I actually feel reasonably comfortable with math & verbal; if I took the test today, I’d get around 600-650. I’m interested in refining my understanding, and getting into the upper 700s region in the next twelve weeks.
3 Month GMAT Study Schedule for Advanced Students
Resources to have:
1) the GMAC Official Guide to the GMAT (OG13). (Don’t write in the book: write everything on separate paper so you can go back and do problems again with a fresh start.)
2) The code in the back of the OG will give you access to GMAC’s IR website with 50 IR practice questions.
3) a Premium subscription to Magoosh
4) the Magoosh mobile app for your iPhone or Android
7) a journal or notebook (yes, a physical hard copy item)
8) the two online forums:
(a) GMAT Club
(b) Beat the GMAT
These are great places to ask questions about anything GMAT related, or simply to check out the discussions and see how others are preparing
10) a good 1-2 hours a day, for five days a week, and then a good 3-4 stint on the weekend (“Day Six”) — with a day off on the weekend as well. If you would rather free up some week nights, and move some of the material into the other weekend day, you are welcome to do that.
Abbreviations:
OG = the GMAC Official Guide
PS = Problem Solving, the multiple-choice math questions
DS = Data Sufficiency math questions
RC = Reading Comprehension verbal question
SC = Sentence Correction verbal question
CR = Critical Reasoning verbal question
IR = Integrated Reasoning question, a separate section unto itself
AWA = the Analytical Writing Assessment, the essay-writing section
CAT = computer adaptive test
MGMAT = Manhattan GMAT
Notes:
Notice, this is a twelve-week plan. Three calendar months are typically closer to 13 weeks, so if you actually have three calendar months to prepare, that’s great. If you have a wedding or a camping trip or something in the middle, you could just skip a few days, and do them later. Alternately, it would leave you more time for the concentrated review I recommend at the end of the twelve weeks.
Also, as much as possible, get enough sleep during this three month period. REM sleep plays an important role in encoding long term memory, and in an eight hour period of sleep, the last hour has the most REM. If you are getting 7 hours/night instead of 8 hours/night, you are depriving your brain of one of its most powerful systems for learning and remembering. Caffeine and energy drinks will keep you feeling awake if you don’t get enough sleep, but they don’t do bupkis to replace the lost opportunity to encode more information into long term memory.
NOTICE: over the course of the summer of 2013, we will be completely revamping and expanding our Sentence Correction Lesson Videos. You can read more about this process in this blog post. This means, between the time you start this plan and the time you end, we may have added more SC Lessons. Periodically, keep your eye on the Lesson Page for newly added lessons. If you think the GMAT SC only tests grammar, you may do well to give this series of lessons a careful look!
Week One, Day One
1) Go to http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/test-structure-and-overview.aspx, and read about the structure of the GMAT. Click on each subsection on that page, to read about the individual sections.
2) Take the Diagnostic Test, found toward the beginning of the OG. Grade it, but you don’t have to read through all the explanations today. If you did not as well as you expected in either math or verbal, you may choose to re-evaluate which version (A, B, C, D) you are following.
Week One, Day Two
1) For the Diagnostic test you took yesterday, go over the explanations. For questions you got right, simply skim the explanation to verify that you go the question right for the right reason. If you got the question wrong, read the explanation carefully, writing in your journal any math/verbal concept you didn’t know or understand, as well as anything about the question type that you didn’t understand.
2) Watch Magoosh lesson videos:
Overview: the two “General Tips” videos
Math: the five “General Math Strategies” videos
NOTE on Magoosh videos: I am assuming that, since you chose Version D, you already have a strong understanding of math & verbal concepts. I am going to assign very few Magoosh lesson videos in this plan, mostly the strategy videos. If what a video is saying seems obvious to you, just click to the end and listen to the summary to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Also, scan the list of Magoosh videos, and if there are math/verbal ideas that you know you don’t understand as well as you could, watch those videos as well. As you work on questions in Magoosh & the OG, you will gain understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and that might be a time to dip into some Magoosh videos to shore up specific areas.
3) In The Magoosh GMAT eBook, read
a) from the beginning of the book up to, but not including, the AWA section
b) from the beginning of the Quantitative section up to, but not including, the DS section
c) from the beginning of the Verbal section up to, but not including, the CR section
4) In the OG
Read the introduction to the Problem Solving section, and do 10 PS
Read the introduction to the Reading Comprehension section, do 1 RC passage with all its questions
Whenever you do OG questions, always check your answers right afterwards, and read the explanation of anything you got wrong.
Week One, Day Three
1) In the OG, skim the Math Review, to give yourself a sense of the range of what the GMAT asks on math. If any concepts are rusty or unfamiliar, your next stop should be the relevant Magoosh lesson videos.
2) Watch Magoosh lesson videos:
Math: in the “Data Sufficiency” section, 6 videos: ”Intro to Data Sufficiency”, “DS Strategy – I”, “Useful Contradictions”, “Common DS Myths – Part I”, “Common DS Myths – Part II”, and “DS Strategy – II”
3) In The Magoosh GMAT eBook, read
a) DS to the end of the Quantitative Section
b) CR section to the end of the eBook
4) In the OG
Read the introduction to the Data Sufficiency section, and do 10 DS questions
Read the introduction to the Critical Reasoning section, and do 12 CR questions
Read the introduction to the Sentence Correction section, and do 13 SC questions
Week One, Day Four
1) Watch Magoosh lesson videos:
Verbal: under SC videos, the first five videos and the last video in the section
2) In the OG
Do 11 PS questions
Do 6 DS questions
Do 1 RC passage with all its questions
3) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Whenever you do Magoosh questions, if you get a question wrong, watch the video right then, and take notes in your journal about what concepts tripped you up.
Week One, Day Five
1) Watch Magoosh lesson videos:
Verbal: under RC videos, the first three videos and the last video in the section
3) In Magoosh
Do 20 PS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week One, Day Six
1) Go to http://manhattangmat.com/access.cfm, and register using the code in the back of any of the 10 MGMAT books. This will give you access to the six MGMAT CATs.
2) Take the first full length GMAT CAT on the MGMAT website. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal.
Week Two, Day One
1) Watch Magoosh
Verbal: under CR videos, the first four videos and the last video in the section
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Two, Day Two
1) Watch Magoosh
Math: under “Integer Properties” videos, the last five videos in that section
2) In Magoosh
Do 10 PS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
3) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Two, Day Three
1) Watch Magoosh
AWA: the two introductory videos + the three “Argument Essay” videos
IR: Watch the first four videos
2) In the OG
Read the introduction to the AWA section; skim the question prompts to get a sense of the variety
3) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Two, Day Four
1) Watch Magoosh
IR: Watch the remaining 13 videos
2) In The Magoosh GMAT eBook, read the AWA section
3) In the OG
Read the introduction to the AWA section; skim the question prompts to get a sense of the variety
4) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Two, Day Five
1) Watch Magoosh
Math: in the “Algebra, Equations, and Inequalities” section, watch “The Something Method” video
Math: in the “Word Problems” section, watch “Double Matrix Method” and “Three Criteria Venn Diagrams” videos
Math: in the “Integer Properties” section, watch “Divisibility Rules” video
2) In Magoosh
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
3) In OG
Do 12 CR questions
Week Two, Day Six
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 0 “The GMAT Roadmap”, Ch. 1-5, taking notes in your journal about what you find significant or helpful.
Week Three and on
At this point in the schedule, there are no Magoosh videos assigned. Again, these should be your go-to source for a refresher on any point of math/verbal content on which you need more clarity. Starting this week, I will assign reading from the MGMAT books each day.
Week Three, Day One
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 0 “The GMAT Roadmap”, Ch. 6-7, taking notes in your journal about what you find significant or helpful.
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Three, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Skim the first half of Volume 1 “Fractions, Decimals, Percents.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Three, Day Three
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 6 “Critical Reasoning”, Ch. 1-2, and do the problem sets at the end of each section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Three, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Skim the rest of Volume 1 “Fractions, Decimals, Percents.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Three, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 6 “Critical Reasoning”, Ch. 3, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
3) In OG
Do 12 CR questions
Week Three, Day Six
1) Take another full length GMAT CAT on the MGMAT website. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal
Week Four, Day One
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 6 “Critical Reasoning”, Ch. 4, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Four, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Skim the first half of Volume 2 “Algebra.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Four, Day Three
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 6 “Critical Reasoning”, Ch. 5, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Four, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Skim the rest of Volume 2 “Algebra.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Four, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 6 “Critical Reasoning”, Ch. 6, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
3) In OG
Do 11 CR questions
Week Four, Day Six
1) Take another full length GMAT CAT on the MGMAT website. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal
Week Five, Day One
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 6 “Critical Reasoning”, Ch. 7-8, and do the problem sets at the end of each section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Five, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Skim the first half of Volume 3 “Word Problems.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Five, Day Three
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 7 “Reading Comprehension”, Ch. 1, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Five, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Skim the rest of Volume 3 “Word Problems.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Five, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 7 “Reading Comprehension”, Ch. 2, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
3) In OG
Do 11 CR questions
Week Five, Day Six
1) Take another full length GMAT CAT on the MGMAT website. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal
Week Six, Day One
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 7 “Reading Comprehension”, Ch. 3, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Six, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Skim the first half of Volume 4 “Geometry.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Six, Day Three
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 7 “Reading Comprehension”, Ch. 4, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Six, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Skim the rest of Volume 4 “Geometry.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Six, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 7 “Reading Comprehension”, Ch. 5-6, and do the problem set at the end of Chapter 6. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 1 RC passage with its associated questions
3) In OG
Do 11 CR questions
Week Six, Day Six
1) Take another full length GMAT CAT on the MGMAT website. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal
Week Seven, Day One
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 7 “Reading Comprehension”, Ch. 7, passages A, B, C, & D. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Seven, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Skim the first half of Volume 5 “Number Properties.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Seven, Day Three
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 7 “Reading Comprehension”, Ch. 7, passages E, F, & G. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Seven, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Skim the rest of Volume 5 “Number Properties.” Skim the chapters, and do the “problem sets” at the ends of each section. If you have any issues on the problem sets, go back and read those sections in more detail, taking notes on anything that’s unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Seven, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 8 “Sentence Correction”, Ch. 1-2, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 1 RC passage with its associated questions
3) In OG
Do 11 CR questions
Week Seven, Day Six
1) Take your last full length GMAT CAT on the MGMAT website. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal
Week Eight, Day One
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 9 “Integrated Reasoning”, Ch. 1. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Eight, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 8 “Sentence Correction”, Ch. 3-4, and do the problem sets at the end of each section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Eight, Day Three
1) GMAC’s IR practice questions
Go to GMAC’s IR practice question website. Your personal hard copy of the OG will contain a code that will give you access to this site.
Go to that site, and do the first 12 questions. Set a 30 minute time limit for yourself. Just do each question, and move on. After the 30 minutes are up, go back, check your answers, and read all the explanations.
2) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Eight, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 9 “Integrated Reasoning”, Ch. 2. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Eight, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 8 “Sentence Correction”, Ch. 5-6, and do the problem sets at the end of each section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 1 RC passage with its associated questions
3) In OG
Do 11 CR questions
Week Eight, Day Six
1) Go to http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/download-free-test-preparation-software.aspx, download the free software.
2) Take one full length GMAT on the GMAC software. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal.
Week Nine, Day One
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 9 “Integrated Reasoning”, Ch. 3. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Nine, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 8 “Sentence Correction”, Ch. 7-8, and do the problem sets at the end of each section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Nine, Day Three
1) GMAC’s IR practice questions
Go back to GMAC’s IR practice question website.
Reset the answers. Do IR questions #13 – 24. Set a 30 minute time limit for yourself. Just do each question, and move on. After the 30 minutes are up, go back, check your answers, and read all the explanations.
2) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Nine, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 9 “Integrated Reasoning”, Ch. 4. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Nine, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 8 “Sentence Correction”, Ch. 9, and do the problem set at the end of the section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
(see Magoosh Idiom List, under the “Idioms” Video in the SC section)
2) In Magoosh
Do 1 RC passage with its associated questions
3) In OG
Do 11 CR questions
Week Nine, Day Six
1) Take another full length GMAT on the GMAC software. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal
Week Ten, Day One
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 9 “Integrated Reasoning”, Ch. 5. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 30 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Ten, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 8 “Sentence Correction”, Ch. 10-11, and do the problem sets at the end of each section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 16 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Ten, Day Three
1) GMAC’s IR practice questions
Go back to GMAC’s IR practice question website.
Reset the answers. Do IR questions #25 – 37. Set a 33 minute time limit for yourself. Just do each question, and move on. After the 33 minutes are up, go back, check your answers, and read all the explanations.
2) In Magoosh
Do 13 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Ten, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 0 “GMAT Roadmap”, Ch. 8-9. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In OG
Do 21 PS questions
Do 13 SC questions
Week Ten, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 8 “Sentence Correction”, Ch. 12-13, and do the problem sets at the end of each section. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar.
2) In Magoosh
Do 1 RC passage with its associated questions
3) In OG
Do 11 CR questions
Week Ten, Day Six
1) Take another full length GMAT on the GMAC software. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal
Week Eleven, Day One
In this week, you will be finishing up all the questions in Magoosh and all the questions in the OG. You will also finish reading the MGMAT books.
1) MGMAT
Read Volume 0 “GMAT Roadmap”, Ch. 10-11. Take notes in your journal about whatever is unfamiliar. (Save Ch. 12 until after the GMAT!)
Frankly, I am a bit critical of MGMAT’s Ch. 10 here, only because I don’t they don’t say enough or give enough helpful suggestions; see the closing sections of the Magoosh GMAT ebook for my views on this important topic.
2) In Magoosh
Do 27 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Eleven, Day Two
1) MGMAT
Review any sections from the MGMAT books or any notes you took on them.
2) In OG
Do 14 DS questions
Do 2 RC passages with all the associated questions
Week Eleven, Day Three
1) GMAC’s IR practice questions
Go back to GMAC’s IR practice question website.
Reset the answers. Do IR questions #38 – 50. Set a 33 minute time limit for yourself. Just do each question, and move on. After the 33 minutes are up, go back, check your answers, and read all the explanations.
2) In Magoosh
Do 10 DS questions
Do 13 CR questions
Week Eleven, Day Four
1) MGMAT
Review any sections from the MGMAT books or any notes you took on them.
2) In OG
Do 20 PS questions
Do 10 SC questions
Week Eleven, Day Five
1) MGMAT
Review any sections from the MGMAT books or any notes you took on them.
2) In Magoosh
Do 1 RC passage with its associated questions
3) In OG
Do 11 CR questions
Week Eleven, Day Six
1) Take another full length GMAT on the GMAC software. Go through the entire solution after you are done, taking notes in your journal on anything you got wrong.
That software does not include an AWA question. To simulate a full GMAT, begin by selecting randomly a prompt from the back of the OG, and then take 30 minutes to write the essay in a word processing program. This essay you will either share with a trusted friend or mentor, or post in the online forums asking for feedback. Then, take the rest of the GMAT using that software.
As much as possible, try to mimic the GMAT conditions. Give yourself relatively short breaks in between sections. Only eat the kinds of snacks that you are planning to bring to the real GMAT. Note how your sleep the night before affects your work. Note how what you had for dinner the previous night and what you had to eat earlier that day affects your energy level and concentration. Write any observations in your journal
Week 12 & After: Concentrated Review
At this point, if you have been following the schedule, you should have done every question in both Magoosh and in the OG at least once. For the days of this week, and remaining days of the test, keep up work on GMAT math and verbal. Some suggestions for what to do:
1) Go back to OG questions you did a while ago, and do them again. (This is why it was important not to write in the book)
2) Through selecting question type & difficulty on the “Dashboard”, do Magoosh problems over again, and see how you do a second time.
3) Continue re-reading two chapters each day in the MGMT books, reinforcing whatever topics you need.
4) Go to the online forums, looking for challenging questions that folks are asking.
5) An online search will always turn up additional batches of questions to practice.
6) If you have a weekend day that is more than a couple days before the real GMAT, then take one final practice GMAT, as on the other Day Six’s.
Day before the test:
1) No GMAT preparation all day
2) Eat a large, healthy, leisurely dinner – no alcohol!
3) Go to bed earlier than usual.
Day of test
1) ABSOLUTELY NO LAST MINUTE GMAT PREPARATION!
2) Eat a large breakfast, full of protein
3) Do relaxing, fun activities to pass time until the test
Bring to the test
1) A liter of water
2) Healthy energy-packed snacks (nuts, protein bar, etc.)
3) On breaks, make sure to get up, move & stretch – moving & stretching the large muscles of the body (legs & torso) will get oxygen flowing throughout, which will help keep you awake and keep you thinking clearly.
For relaxation tips, see this post.
HI Mike,
Came to know about magoosh through a friend who strongly recommended. While going through the 3 month study plan (advanced), i observed that you require MGMAT 10 book set. I got the latest used set from a friend. Now, the issue is I don’t have the 6 online exam which you get on MGMAT purchase. So, is there any other providers of GMAT test available which is can separately buy or should I get a new MGMAT book specifically for the test. I checked on their site too but they don’t sell 6 exams separately. Kindly advice.
Thanks
Rishabh
Dear Rishabh-
First of all, each volume should have a separate code, and if they haven’t expired, any one of them would give you access to the online tests. I don’t know when the codes expire — after 6 months or a year or ???— but if the books are older than that, none of the codes will work. There are really no other online tests remotely as good as the MGMAT CATs, so I will say: buy one more volume new, any volume, and this one new volume will give you access to the online tests. I hope this helps.
Mike
Hi Mike…Could you clear something for me. When you say we need Manhattan 10 book series, can we supplement the hard copy version with the soft copies? I mean the whole set is quite expensive and if the objective can be met by a soft copy will that suffice??As for the free tests that come together with the books i could buy just one of the books to avail the 6 tests.
Dear Kumar,
In my understanding, MGMAT only makes hard copies, so any soft copies would be illegal. As such, we at Magoosh cannot recommend illegal copies. Buy as many hard copies as you can afford, concentrating in the areas in which you need the most review — in my understanding, any single volume of set will give you access to the online CATs. Also, notice that the Magoosh GMAT product, in its entirety, is cheaper than the MGMAT book set —-
Mike
Hi Mike
)
(Pardon me for this rigorous investigation 
)
Thnx for the info….Just forget about the Soft Copies as if they never existed
Another query(I m not sure if this the right place to ask it but i will take my chances
I have just subscribed for the 1 week free trial of Magoosh…FYI I have just finished my GRE and Magoosh was my only companion in that….I just love Magoosh’s interface and would have loved to just go entirely with Magoosh for my GMAT prep…However when i looked up on your study schedule I realized that you were prescribing MGMAT books together with Magoosh to complete our prep material. I perceive that since you have just launched your GMAT course you are wary of Magoosh being able to provide a comprehensive prep alone by itself and hence the MGMAT books(and i love this forthrightness your part in that you are not deceiving the students with lofty inflated claims)
To cut to the chase now could you guide me as to how updated is Magoosh regarding the GMAT prep; i saw an issue task video in the lessons. Does GMAT has an issue task like the GRE or is there only an argument task. Then I saw idioms being tested on the Verbal questions and i saw somewhere on the GMATclub blogs that idioms are no longer being tested?
Just curious Mike, since I dearly wish to make Magoosh my primary prepping source just like it was for my GRE
Kumar: Great questions. Magoosh gives you everything you need for a successful GMAT. Our 1 month plan recommends only Magoosh. In this 3 month plan, we already recommend the MGMAT books, which are excellent. Why does a student need them as well, if Magoosh gives you everything you need? Well, sometimes hearing something in a new way can make it “click” on a new level — even if that doesn’t happen, just hearing the same stuff twice, once from Magoosh videos and once from MGMAT books, will deeply reinforce long-term learning.
We had left the AWA Issue task videos up in case folks were curious about them —those will probably come down soon. Notice we have a full IR section of videos. Magoosh will fully prepare you for the *current* GMAT.
On idioms — are they a focus of the GMAT SC? Well, in the OG13, thirty-one of the 140 SC questions list “Idiom” as a topic —- that’s 22% of the SC questions in the OG. Are idioms the single most important topic on GMAT SC? No. But if you are a non-native speaker, you better know your idioms!
I appreciate your probing questions.
Mike
Thnx Mike
…So it is Magoosh now for my GMAT 
Which means I will keep bothering u in times to come
Dipankar
Glad to hear it. Best of luck to you.
Mike
Hi
I have a question regarding your suggested 3 month study plan for advances students,I gave GMAT 4 years back and scored a 640 and I’m planning to give the exam again.I have been preparing for the last 1 -1.5 month and have completed the OG-11 & OG 12 and also I enrolled in the Knewton prep program which I have almost finished.
I recently took the 1 week trial offer for Magoosh and have been really impressed by the course & question content and thus I’m planning to take the Magoosh 1 month prep program.In your suggested study material you have mentioned Manhattan strategy guides, I have frankly always thought them to be for students who are just about to start with their prep but you havning mentioned as a recomended study material has caught my attention.I was frankly planning to enroll in the Magoosh program and end my prep, but would you suggest me going ahead with the Manhattan strategy guides along with the Magoosh prep program cause Im very sure o Magoosh so thats a definite but just confused about the Manhattan guides. Please help
Regards,
Taru
Dear Taru: the MGRE books are very thorough — yes, they can be a good place to start for someone just beginning, but they have something to offer to almost anyone preparing for the GRE. If you learn everything in the MGRE books and everything Magoosh has to offer, you will be unstoppable.
Does that make sense?
Mike