How much do I need to study to get 700+

Question

I just took the GMAT practice test from the official website without any preparation beforehand and scored 560 (v34 and q33). In terms of hours/time frame how much do you think I would need to study in order to get 700+?

Thanks!

Thanks!

drisss · Answer

It depends on your background, wether you are a native or not etc... It is very difficult to quantify this, so I will only give you indication based on what friends of mine have been doing, and what I read on the forum. 
However, I would suggest around 3 months of study, with 3 to 4 hours a day of study on average (you can spend more time on week ends)
- the quant part might be the easiest to improve, so you can spend a couple of weeks on it. 
- The verbal is not that bad for you, 33 is a good start. Try to diagnose where you need improvement. It is however the part where it is difficult to improve in my opinion, so try to keep that in mind.

Let me know what your diagnosis is (strength and weaknessed depending on the question type) for both Q and V, and I'll try to give you additional infos.
Cheers

BM · Answer

Drisss makes some good points here. It really does depend on each person's particular situation. Still, a 560 implies that some effort and time will be required in order to reach the 700 mark. Three to four months puts most people in a good position, assuming that they use the correct materials and study appropriately. Try to work somewhere within that timeframe.

In term of hours per day, again, that depends. Some can only handle two or three hours a day, while others feel comfortable with ten. Do what produces the best results for you, but try to study something everyday. If you really need the occasional break, then take one. But make sure that option remains as the rare exception to your study habits.

Hound · Answer

Thanks for your comments. I thought that with a pre-study 560 result, I could get by with a 1 month intensive study to get to the 700+ score; is that highly doubtful?

BM · Answer

It's possible, but it might be better to give yourself more time. Absorbing the material from the guidebooks, completing the OG, and using the practice tests is not a fast and easy process for most people. One month sounds risky.

drisss · Answer

I would suggest that you follow the strategy that I read somewhere in the forum:
just get back to study, do some mock tests from time to time to monitor your progress, and when you think you are close to reach your target (for example, you score above 680 on two consecutive practice tests), then you can schedule your test in 3 to 4 weeks. This way, you won't have any problem. 
However, this could be tricky as far as motivation is concerned: for me, being under time constraints makes me work more efficiently. 
Here again , it depends on how you work...

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How much do I need to study to get 700+

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