GMAT Exam (Focus Edition) study plan
GMAT Exam (Focus Edition) · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Quantitative Reasoning
Diagnose current Quant accuracy by completing a timed 21-question Problem Solving set and logging error types
Build a one-page arithmetic and number-properties reference sheet (divisibility, primes, remainders, exponents) from scratch
Drill 40 arithmetic and number-properties questions untimed, then rework every miss until solved without notes
Establish a weekly error log template that records question type, mistake category, and the corrected reasoning in one sentence
Your checkpoint
A completed diagnostic score sheet plus a categorized error log of at least 25 logged misses with corrected reasoning.
Quantitative Reasoning
Master algebraic translation by converting 30 word problems into equations before solving any of them
Practice inequality and absolute-value manipulation on 25 questions, verifying each solution by testing boundary values
Solve 20 linear and quadratic equation problems under a 2-minute-per-question cap
Rewrite every algebraic error from the week into a generalized rule in the reference sheet
Your checkpoint
A 30-problem translation set fully worked, with a written rule for each recurring algebra error.
Quantitative Reasoning
Reduce average time per Quant question to 2 minutes 15 seconds across two timed 21-question sets
Cover ratios, rates, mixtures, and work problems with 40 targeted questions, using a single consistent setup method
Apply back-solving and plugging-in-numbers strategies to at least 15 questions where algebra would be slower
Classify remaining weak subtopics and rank them by error frequency
Your checkpoint
Two timed set score reports with per-question timing and a ranked list of the three weakest Quant subtopics.
Quantitative Reasoning
Close the three weakest Quant subtopics by solving 15 questions each and re-testing after 48 hours
Complete a full timed 21-question Quant section simulating test-day conditions with no pauses
Cut careless errors by re-reading the question stem before submitting each answer in two practice sets
Summarize the top five error patterns and the countermeasure for each
Your checkpoint
A timed full-section Quant score with a written error-pattern summary and evidence that at least two weak subtopics improved on retest.
Verbal Reasoning
Diagnose Reading Comprehension accuracy on a timed 4-passage set and record which question types fail most
Build a repeatable passage-mapping routine and apply it to 8 passages, noting main point and structure for each
Practice Inference and Detail questions by locating the exact supporting line before evaluating options
Drill 30 Critical Reasoning assumption and strengthen questions, articulating the gap in one sentence each
Your checkpoint
Eight mapped passages plus a CR log of 30 assumption/strengthen items with the logical gap written out for each.
Verbal Reasoning & Data Insights
Complete 40 Critical Reasoning weaken, flaw, and evaluate questions, pre-phrasing an answer before reading options
Eliminate three wrong-answer patterns in RC (out of scope, too extreme, true-but-irrelevant) across 6 passages
Learn the Data Insights question formats and complete 30 untimed questions spanning Data Sufficiency, Table Analysis, and Graphics Interpretation
Practice Multi-Source Reasoning by extracting and reconciling data from 5 two-source or three-source sets
Your checkpoint
A verbal accuracy report by question type plus a Data Insights format cheat sheet with 30 worked questions.
Data Insights
Achieve 80 percent accuracy on 40 Data Sufficiency questions using a strict sufficiency-check discipline
Complete 20 Two-Part Analysis and Table Analysis questions under a 2-minute cap each
Practice reading charts and graphs quickly by summarizing 15 Graphics Interpretation displays in one sentence apiece
Run one full timed Data Insights section and log every question where data misreading caused the error
Your checkpoint
A timed Data Insights section score with an error breakdown separating reasoning errors from data-reading errors.
Quantitative Reasoning & Verbal Reasoning & Data Insights
Complete two full-length timed practice exams under test-day conditions and record section scores
Review every missed question from both exams and re-solve each without looking at the explanation first
Reinforce the five highest-frequency error patterns with 10 targeted questions each
Finalize a test-day pacing and section-order strategy based on observed timing data
Your checkpoint
Two full practice exam score reports with a final one-page test-day strategy sheet and a closed list of remaining weak areas.
Milestones
Week 2: Quant error log shows at least 40 logged misses with categorized causes, and untimed arithmetic and algebra accuracy is at or above 75 percent.
Week 4: A timed full Quant section is completed at or above target score with average pace at or under 2 minutes 15 seconds per question.
Week 6: Verbal accuracy on RC and CR practice sets is at or above 70 percent, and all Data Insights formats have been attempted at least once.
Week 8: Both full-length practice exams are complete, with total score trending upward and no unreviewed missed questions remaining.