The Ultimate 3-Month GMAT Study Schedule (Focus Edition)
The “Focus” Plan
The GMAT Focus Edition requires a different approach than the old GMAT. You can’t just drill math and grammar. You need to build data literacy.
This 12-week plan assumes you are working full-time and can study 15-20 hours per week.
Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1-4)
Goal: Master the concepts. No timing pressure yet.
- Quant: Focus on Arithmetic and Algebra. (Skip Geometry!).
- Resource: Target Test Prep (Chapters 1-10) or Manhattan Prep “All the Quant”.
- Verbal: Learn the logic of Critical Reasoning.
- Resource: PowerScore Bible or e-GMAT.
- Data Insights: Start getting familiar with the 5 question types (Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, etc.).
- Action: Do 5 DI questions every day to get used to the interface.
Weekly Routine:
- Mon-Thu: 2 hours of concept learning (read chapter + practice questions).
- Fri: Rest.
- Sat: 4 hours of deep dive (hard topics).
- Sun: Review error log.
Phase 2: Application & Data Insights (Weeks 5-8)
Goal: Speed and accuracy.
- Quant: Move to “Word Problems” and “Advanced Algebra.” Start timing yourself.
- Verbal: Add Reading Comprehension. Practice active reading.
- Data Insights: This is the focus month.
- Strategy: Learn when to use the calculator and when to estimate.
- Drill: Do sets of 20 mixed DI questions.
Milestone: Take your first Official Practice Exam at the end of Week 6.
- Target: You should be within 50 points (Focus scale) of your goal.
Phase 3: Mastery & Stamina (Weeks 9-12)
Goal: Test day simulation.
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The “Mock” Cycle:
- Saturday: Take a full-length official practice exam (2h 15m). Simulate real conditions (no phone, one 10-min break).
- Sunday: Review every single question. Why did you miss it? (Concept gap? Silly mistake? Time pressure?).
- Tue-Thu: Drill your weak areas based on the mock results.
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The “Final Polish”:
- Review your “Error Log” (the list of questions you missed repeatedly).
- Stop learning new things 3 days before the exam.
Sample Weekly Schedule (Phase 2)
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 10 DI Questions | 10 DI Questions | 10 DI Questions | 10 DI Questions | Rest | Practice Exam | Exam Review |
| Evening | Quant (Algebra) | Verbal (CR) | Quant (Word Probs) | Verbal (RC) | Rest | (2.5 Hours) | Exam Review |
| Focus | Accuracy | Logic | Speed | Focus | Rest | Simulation | Analysis |
Top Tips for the Focus Edition
- Don’t Ignore Data Insights: It counts just as much as Quant. It is the “tie-breaker” for many schools.
- Use the Bookmark Feature: You can review 3 questions per section. Learn to “mark and move” if you get stuck.
- Calculator Strategy: You have a calculator for Data Insights. Use it for big multiplication, but use estimation for everything else to save time.