GMAT/GRE Prep: When Should I Start Studying? (2024 Edition)

Studying for the GMAT and GRE takes time. You can’t cram for either exam. And naturally, those who spend more time studying tend to perform better. Ideally, you’ll want to gradually enhance your skills and stamina over time as both tests take more than three hours.

Some business schools require applicants to achieve a certain score on one of these standardized tests in order to be accepted into their program. So, you’ll likely want to get as high of a score as possible.

Here’s a guide on how long you need to study for the GMAT or GRE and tips for how to prepare for these exams.

How Long Do You Need to Prepare?

It depends on the amount of time you have available and what score you’re aiming to get when figuring out how long you need to prepare for the GMAT or GRE.

It’s common for test-takers to spend between one and four months preparing. But it’s recommended to spend at least two to three months and 100 to 120 hours reviewing material and practicing.

According to Kaplan, the top scorers on the GMAT spend 120+ hours on average studying for the test. If you had about 12 hours per week to study, this would take an average of ten weeks of studying.

As a very rough rule of thumb, PrepScholar estimates that for every 40 hours you study for the GRE, you could raise your score for the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections by about 2.5 points (5 points total).

Once you’ve decided how long you need to study, make sure you’ll have enough time to prepare for and take the exam before business schools need to have your scores. And include time for retakes in case you don’t get a high enough score the first time.

7 Tips to Help You Study for the GMAT or GRE

If you’re ready to start preparing for the GMAT or GRE, here are some tips to help you begin studying.

1. Take a diagnostic test and identify your target score and deadlines

Start by taking a diagnostic test to evaluate your current level and identify score requirements by the schools you’re interested in, as well as the application deadlines. This will help you understand how many hours you will need to prepare for the exam and achieve your target score.

2. Map out a study plan.

Once you know how long you’ll need to study and the score you need to achieve, create a study plan. This will help you not only track your progress but also help you reach your goals. It’s helpful to schedule your study times for the same times every day or week if possible.

Set a pace that works for you, and be realistic. Make sure you also map out what you will study and how.

3. Build in breaks.

While you need to schedule in plenty of study time, you need to schedule in breaks as well! It’s often recommended to give yourself a day off during every week of studying. This helps ensure you have a fresh head when reviewing material and taking mock exams.

4. Read up on the different exam sections.

Familiarize yourself with the test structure and what’s included in the different sections of the exam. Understand what your weaknesses are, and make sure you put extra time working on those areas.

Also, be aware that diagnostic sections, which you don’t get scored on but the administrators use to test out potential new questions, are indistinguishable from regular sections.

5. Use a prep book.

There are so many test prep resources available nowadays. A GMAT or GRE prep book can help you stay on track and ensure you study for all of the areas covered in the exams.

6. Set aside time to take practice tests.

It’s important to not only study regularly but to also take practice tests regularly. You’ll want to practice the exam as you would on test day with the given time and only the breaks that will be provided. You can work up to this if you need to.

Additionally, you can’t bring your own calculator when taking the GMAT or GRE. You’ll only have access to a very basic one on-site, and with the GMAT, you aren’t able to use it for the Quantitative section. So, make sure you take practice tests under these conditions as well.

7. Get extra help.

At Unify, we can also help! We work with top-tier exam preparation agencies to help you achieve the best possible scores on admissions exams like the GMAT or GRE.

There are also some really useful online platforms, such as Magoosh and The Princeton Review, which allow you to review topics, take mock exams, attend live online classes, and see useful metrics to assess your performance. Contact us to receive a special discount when you subscribe!