GMAT Preparation: Time, Books, Strategy, & Guide (2025)

Highlights:

  • Prepare for at least 3-6 months to achieve a good score on GMAT.
  • The GMAT exam format has 3 sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights.
  • Spend a maximum of 2.5 minutes on each question in GMAT.
  • Follow GMAT books like the GMAT Official Guide and Manhattan Prep to practice questions.
Anisha Agarwal logo
Updated on, Oct 3, 2025

byAnisha Agarwal

The GMAT is a crucial step for aspiring MBA students looking to get into top business schools worldwide. Preparing for the GMAT requires a well-structured study plan, effective strategies, and consistent practice. Whether you're aiming for a high score in the quantitative section, enhancing your verbal reasoning skills, or mastering time management, every aspect of GMAT preparation plays a key role in achieving your target score.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through proven tips, study schedules, and expert advice to help you prepare efficiently and increase your chances of acing the GMAT exam. Let's dive into the essential components of GMAT preparation and how you can build a strategy tailored to your strengths and weaknesses.

GMAT_Preparation


GMAT Exam Pattern 2025

As a GMAT aspirant, you must set a goal score before starting preparation. You must get acquainted with the GMAT exam pattern and understand each section of the exam. The time duration of the GMAT exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes, where you have to answer 64 questions in total. Here, given below the exam pattern for GMAT:

Exam Section Time Limit Number of Questions
Quantitative Reasoning 45 minutes 21 questions
Verbal Reasoning 45 minutes 23 questions
Data Insights 45 minutes 20 questions

GMAT Study Plan 2025

Making a study plan is possibly the most important aspect of GMAT preparation. You must spend 20-25 hours every week to prepare for each section of GMAT. You must spend half of this time solving the questions, and the remaining half to analyze the exercises. You must divide your study sessions into 3-4 hours and pay attention to different sections. Given below is a 12-week GMAT study plan:

Week Study Plan
Week 1 Focus on the GMAT exam pattern
Week 2-3 Practice questions to identify your strengths and weaknesses and create a study plan
Week 4-5 Create your practice sets based onquestion type and difficulty level
Week 6 Practice questions using a timer
Week 7-8 Start practicing from timed practice tests and focus on specific areas
Week 9 Review the mistakes you have made inpractice tests
Week 10-11 You must assess readiness and focus on pace by taking more practice tests.
Week 12 Prepare for test day

GMAT Preparation Books 2025

You can follow the Official GMAT Prep Materials like GMAT Official Guide, GMAT Official Practice GMAT Question, and GMATPrep software. You can purchase the official GMAT exam practice test from the mba.com website. Below are the GMAT books for the free GMAT test prep.

  • Manhattan Prep GMAT – All the Verbal – Check PDF
  • Beyond the MBA Hype – Check PDF
  • GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review – Check PDF
  • McGraw-Hill’s GMAT Practice Test – Check PDF
  • GMAT Official Guide – Check PDF
  • Kaplan GMAT Prep Plus – Check PDF
  • Manhattan Prep GMAT Foundation for Maths – Check PDF
  • Power Score GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible – Check PDF
  • The Official Guide for GMAT Review – Check PDF
  • The Complete GMAT Sentence Correction Guide – Check PDF

GMAT Preparation Tips 2025

If you are a GMAT aspirant, you can take GMAT prep classes online. GMAT classes online are free and can be customized as per your requirements. This GMAT Self Preparation is the most flexible and cheapest mode of study. You must begin your GMAT Preparation 3–6 months in advance of the exam. Check the top GMAT prep tips below in detail:

Time Management

You should not get stuck in one question. You must remember that there is a penalty if you do not answer every question in the section. This will reduce your score for each unanswered question. It is recommended to use time management GMAT strategies by not spending more than two and a half minutes on any one question. If you face difficulty in answering questions, make a strategic guess.

Work on Your Weak Areas

You must identify your weaknesses first to improve your performance level. You can use the GMAT Official Guide Series to mark your weak portions. You should analyze your results and then create a customized GMAT study planner to ace the exam.

Apply the Elimination Technique Effectively

You must not waste your time when you are in doubt with the answers to the questions. Do not become preoccupied with providing correct replies. When you get stuck on a tough question, just mark the one that is closest to the correct answer and move on to the next one.

Enroll in GMAT Coaching

For learning strategies and tips for GMAT, you can take GMAT preparation coaching. The best GMAT coaching offering guidance are Jamboree, Manya Group and Career Launcher. You can get the GMAT exam preparation materials, personal interaction sessions with experts, and mock tests from these coaching centers. You can also get GMAT online coaching and classroom training from these coaching institutes. Below mentioned are the best GMAT prep classes:

Take GMAT Practice Tests

For GMAT preparation, you can follow various websites like GMATPrepNow, Magoosh, e-GMAT, Veritas, Jamboree, Manhattan, and Crack Verbal. Here you will find target test prep GMAT to practice more questions. Here are some GMAT practice papers for your reference:

Given below are GMAT practice questions for your reference:

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For students aspiring to seek a management degree, developing a proper study plan must be your priority. You must take GMAT mock tests and practice questions from other sources to enhance your skills. It is suggested that students not spend too much time on a question that they can’t solve. You must first answer the question you’re confident of, and then at the end, you must try to solve the unsolved question.


FAQs

Ques: How long does it take to prepare for GMAT?

Ans: You must dedicate 3-6 months to prepare for the GMAT. You must make a proper study plan and practice rigorously from mock tests and practice papers to ace the GMAT exam.

Ques: Is getting 750 on the GMAT tough?

Ans: Yes, it is quite difficult to score 750 on GMAT. GMAT total score ranges between 205 to 805. To secure 750 marks, you must make a well-structured study plan and focus on your weaker areas.

Ques: Is a 700 GMAT score easy?

Ans: No, scoring 700 is quite difficult for students. You should practice questions vigorously and take online coaching to secure good marks in GMAT.

Ques: How much does the GMAT cost in India?

Ans: If you take the GMAT exam at the test center, you will be charged $275 (₹24,413). For taking the online GMAT exam, you have to pay a fee of $300 (₹26,633).

Ques: What is the syllabus of the GMAT?

Ans: GMAT exam pattern is based on three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights. In the GMAT exam, you will get 64 questions to be answered within 2 hours and 15 minutes.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

Comments


Found 2 Comments

A
ashish singh
Jun 2, 2022 16:44
How can I ace the GMAT Quant section?
R
rubab
Jun 5, 2022 16:50

To ace the GMAT Quant section, you need to master the basics and know the two types of questions. You should read questions carefully and use logic and only use what you know. Hone your skills with practice tests as hard questions indeed need extra care.

For more details, you can refer to this link: Best Strategies and Preparation Tips for GMAT Quant

N
nafisa khatoon
Jun 2, 2022 16:44
Where can I check the available GMAT exam dates?
R
rubab
Jun 5, 2022 16:46

GMAT exam dates availability is not fixed and depends on your choice of exam centers. There are 39 GMAT exam centers in 34 cities in India. The GMAT exam is held throughout the year. You can check the available dates of GMAT 2022 exam dates and exam centers through the link provided below.

Here is the link for the dates - GMAT Exam Dates 2022 India: Center-wise GMAT Exam Dates


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