GMAT 750 Study Plan

I went from a 640 (Q50 V26) in my first attempt to a 750 (Q49 V44) in my second attempt, which landed me an ISB admit.

Instead of telling you directly what you should do to get a high score, I want to break down the factors that will prevent you from scoring well and what you can do to avoid them. I made my fair share of mistakes along the way, and having gone through both experiences, here is what I learned.

The GMAT Is a Decision-Making Test

The GMAT is more about correct decision making than about getting everything right. It tests your ability to make the right decisions in a pressurized environment -- which is exactly what prepares you for the life of a manager.

The three key obstacles to a high score, in order of importance:

1. Decision Paralysis -- Spending too much time deciding how to approach a question.
2. Not Having Enough Time -- Running out of time because you got stuck on earlier questions.
3. Not Being Able to Answer -- Simply not knowing the concept being tested.

Most people focus on #3, but #1 and #2 are what actually determine your score. Every small decision depletes your finite store of willpower. The GMAT requires about 100 of these small decisions. Rest and glucose help restore this level.

Study Plan Overview

This prep is designed to last for 2 months with 4-5 hours of daily effort.

Start with a Diagnostic

Take the diagnostic test from the latest Official Guide to see where you stand. This gives you a baseline and helps you make a plan targeting your weaknesses, as that would give you the biggest boost to your score.

Quant Prep

Reference Material

To grasp the foundations of GMAT quant, the Manhattan Quant Series (5 books) is a good place to start. However, the 5 books are quite comprehensive and require a good amount of time.

Practice

While studying from Manhattan, begin solving questions from the Official Guides (OG), preferably in batches of 20 PS and 20 DS to get used to solving 37+ questions at a stretch.

Only solve questions from the Official Guides. Questions from other publishers do not come close to matching the pattern and standard of the questions you will face in the final exam. Use the latest OGs (19, 18, 17, 16, 15) and the Verbal Review.

Error Log

The key is to solve a decent quantity of official questions and review the ones you got wrong and the ones you got correct but took too much time on. Read the explanation of each incorrect question, keeping a note of the reason for the mistake in your Error Log along with the topic.

Solve enough DS questions -- the Data Sufficiency questions are more likely to trip you up than Problem Solving.

Verbal Prep

Verbal was my biggest area of improvement (V26 to V44). Here is what worked:

Reference Material

• Sentence Correction -- Manhattan SC. Complete the first read-through of all chapters before attempting OG questions.
• Critical Reasoning -- PowerScore CR Bible. Learn the concepts and strategies first.
• Reading Comprehension -- Manhattan RC for a few important strategies. RC is key to your verbal section performance.

Practice Strategy

Start with Manhattan SC rules and PowerScore CR concepts and strategies. Once you have a solid foundation, move to solving OG questions exclusively.

Integrated Reasoning

IR is scored separately and does not affect your 200-800 score. Do not spend too much prep time on it. Familiarize yourself with the question types through a few practice sets and move on.

AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment)

I got 5.5 the first time and 6.0 the second time. You should ideally spend the least amount of mental cycles on this section. Learn the basic template, practice 2-3 essays, and do this section last in your prep.

Practice Tests

Take full-length practice tests to build stamina and get used to the adaptive format:

• Official GMAT Practice Exams -- These are the most representative. Use them wisely.
• Manhattan Practice Tests -- Good for additional practice, though slightly harder than the real thing.

Final Days Strategy

7-14 Days Before the Exam

• Take tests daily including all four sections in the same order as the final exam.
• Make sure you have listed the schools for the free score send.
• Review your Error Log daily.

2 Days Before the Exam

• Stop taking tests and stop worrying.
• Continue revising concepts from your Error Log if needed.

1 Day Before the Exam

• Relax. Spend time with family.
• Pick out comfortable clothing, accounting for the AC at the test center.
• Get a good night's sleep.

Exam Day Tips

• Meditate in the morning if time permits. It helps calm your nerves.

• Eat a balanced breakfast. The GMAT is a stamina test.

• Consume glucose during breaks to stave off Decision Fatigue.

• Do not rush. Pace yourself. If you are stuck on a question for more than 2 minutes, make your best guess and move on.

• Remember: It is better to answer all questions and guess on a few than to run out of time and leave questions unanswered.

Resources Summary

Final Thought

The GMAT is conquerable. A 100+ point improvement is absolutely possible if you identify your weaknesses, study with the right materials, and treat the exam as a decision-making marathon rather than a knowledge test. Good luck.