Modifying a GMAT Study Schedule for Advanced Students

As an advanced GMAT exam taker, you’re already familiar with the basics of the test and have likely gone through numerous practice sessions. Now, it’s about fine-tuning your approach to ensure peak performance on test day. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you optimize your study schedule by making the most of your preparation time.

Key GMAT Modifications for Advanced Students

1. Skip Basic Lessons: If you’re already comfortable with the basics, skip the introductory lessons on GMAT format, foundational test-taking strategies, and basic math and verbal concepts.
2. Focus on High-Difficulty Practice Questions: Spend time on the more challenging practice questions. In your Magoosh account, select the Hard and Very Hard practice questions. Of course, that’s only if you’ve mastered the concepts tested in the easy and medium categories.
3. Review Advanced Concepts: Concentrate on advanced topics by digging into the Lessons page on your Magoosh Dashboard. You’ll notice, depending on whether you’re using the three, two, or one month schedule, that not all lessons are included. The lessons that have been left out are the ones that cover the harder, less frequently tested content. Mastering strategies for those high-difficulty, low-frequency topics can significantly boost your score.
4. Utilize Official Guides and High-Quality Resources: While Magoosh offers a great variety of practice questions, its pool is limited. For advanced students looking to push their scores into the top percentiles, supplementing with GMAT Official Guide (OG) questions is crucial. The OG questions are written by the same people who create the GMAT, ensuring that you practice with the most accurate and representative questions. Use the OG question bank to create custom practice sessions and simulate test conditions as closely as possible.
5. Refine Test-Taking Strategies: Fine-tuning your strategies can lead to significant improvements in your performance. Consider the following:
6. Time Management: Develop a strict timing strategy for each section to ensure you complete all questions without rushing. Here are the averages you should aim for:
   • Reading Comprehension: A total of around 6 minutes for a shorter, three-question passage and a total of around 8 minutes for a longer, four-question passage.
   • Critical Reasoning: Around 2 minutes per question.
   • Quantitative Reasoning: Around 2 minutes per question.
   • Data Insights: Around 2.25 minutes per question.
7. Answer Elimination: Enhance your ability to quickly eliminate incorrect answer choices. Practice this with challenging questions to improve speed and accuracy.
8. Adaptive Strategy: Adapt your approach based on the difficulty level of the questions. For harder questions, ensure you don’t spend too much time, which could result in not completing the section.

Hardest GMAT Concepts by Section

Curious about the concepts and topics that are generally associated with the most challenging GMAT questions? We’ve listed them below for all three sections of the GMAT:

Quantitative Reasoning

1. Combinatorics and Probability: Permutations, combinations, and probability scenarios.
2. Advanced Algebra: Complex equations, inequalities, and functions.
3. Number Properties: Prime numbers, least common multiples, greatest common divisors, and advanced factorization.
4. Word Problems: Multi-step, layered word problems that require advanced analytical skills.

Verbal Reasoning

1. Critical Reasoning: Evaluating complex arguments, identifying assumptions, and strengthening or weakening arguments.
2. Reading Comprehension: Analyzing dense and sophisticated passages, understanding nuanced arguments, and answering inference questions.

Data Insights

1. Data Sufficiency: Evaluating statements methodically, particularly those that mix verbal reasoning with quantitative analysis.
2. Integrated Reasoning: Interpreting complex data from graphs, tables, and multi-source reasoning problems.
3. Advanced Calculations: Using logical and analytical skills to solve problems involving multiple variables and data sets.

Sample Modified GMAT Schedule for Advanced Students

As an example, here’s a week-by-week outline of how one could modify the three-month GMAT study plan:

Week 1-2: Diagnostic and Advanced Concept Review

• Day 1: Take a full-length diagnostic test. Review results and identify weak areas.
• Day 2-3: Look through the week’s lessons and quizzes and determine the ones to which you will devote your time and attention.
• Day 4-6: Focus on advanced topics in Quantitative Reasoning (e.g., number properties, advanced algebra) and Critical Reasoning (e.g., argument evaluation and assumption questions).

Week 3-4: Intensive Practice and Error Analysis

• Day 1-3: Look through the week’s lessons and quizzes to determine the ones to which you will devote your time and attention. Check the dashboard for supplemental lessons not included in your chosen study schedule.
• Day 2-3: Practice high-difficulty questions from the OG and Manhattan Prep question banks.
• Day 4-5: Review mistakes and re-attempt incorrect questions. Update your error log.
• Day 6: Take a timed, mixed practice test (Quantitative, Verbal, Data Insights).

Week 5-6: Full-Length Practice Tests and Strategy Refinement

• Day 1: Take a full-length practice test under timed conditions. Analyze results.
• Day 2-3: Focus on timing strategies, pacing, and question prioritization.
• Day 4-5: Look through the week’s lessons and quizzes to determine the ones to which you will devote your time and attention. Check the dashboard for supplemental lessons not included in your chosen study schedule.
• Day 6: Review complex problem types (e.g., combinatorics, probability, inference questions).

Week 7-8: Focus on Weak Areas and Advanced Drills

• Day 1-2: Intensive practice on weak areas identified from previous tests.
• Day 3-4: Look through the week’s lessons and quizzes to determine the ones to which you will devote your time and attention. Check the dashboard for supplemental lessons not included in your chosen study schedule.
• Day 5: Drills on high-frequency and high-difficulty question types.
• Day 6: Mixed practice sessions focusing on speed and accuracy.

Week 9-10: Strategy Sessions and Final Reviews

• Day 1: Take another full-length practice test. Focus on test-taking stamina.
• Day 2-3: Review advanced test-taking strategies, such as eliminating wrong answers and educated guessing.
• Day 4-5: Look through the week’s lessons and quizzes to determine the ones to which you will devote your time and attention. Check the dashboard for supplemental lessons not included in your chosen study schedule.
• Day 6: Rest and light review of, error log, flashcards or notes.

Week 11-12: Simulation and Final Prep

• Day 1: Full-length practice test. Mimic test day conditions.
• Day 2-5: Analyze performance, focus on last-minute weak spots.
• Day 6: Final review of key concepts and test strategies.

Conclusion

Advanced GMAT students should focus on refining their skills and mastering high-difficulty questions. By modifying a Magoosh study schedule and concentrating on advanced practice and strategic review, you can significantly improve your chances of achieving a top score.

Good luck with your preparation!