Education expert
A good rule to study for GMAT is around 2 to 3 focused hours daily. Most students aiming for a strong score study for about 10 to 12 weeks in total, which adds up to around 120–150 hours overall. But honestly, it's less about how many hours and more about how well you use that time.
If you’re working or have classes, even 1.5 to 2 hours a day can be enough if you stay consistent and follow a plan. Some people like to study more on weekends and do lighter revision on weekdays—that works too. Just make sure you’re covering all sections and reviewing your mistakes. That’s where the real improvement happens
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Education Expert
It really depends on your starting point, but many GMAT Focus Edition aspirants aim for 12–15 hours per week overall, adjusting depending on which areas they’re weak in. Instead of fixed daily study, it’s smarter for some people to have lighter days and heavier days based on workload. For example, 1 hour Monday–Friday, and 4–5 hours spread over weekends for mocks and deep reviews.
Closer to the exam (last 6–8 weeks), the number of study hours usually jumps because mock tests take time — a full mock + review alone can eat up 5–6 hours easily. Planning your week flexibly around mocks and weaknesses makes it easier to balance preparation with work or college.
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Studying 2 to 3 hours daily for GMAT is a good target. Most students need around 120 to 150 hours of study time in total. So, if you're aiming to take the test in 2 to 3 months, breaking that time into daily slots helps you stay on track.
Now, some days may be busy or tiring, and that’s okay. What matters more is how focused your study time is. Even if you study for just 1.5 hours on a busy day, make sure it’s without distractions and covers practice or revision.
Weekends are great for longer study blocks. Try doing mock tests or reviewing tough topics then. The key is to stay consistent and adjust your plan based on how confident you feel with each section.
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For GMAT Focus Edition prep, aiming for a steady 2.5 to 3 hours every day works best, especially if you're starting from scratch. Building a daily routine matters way more than the total number of hours. It's better to study a bit each day rather than doing long weekend marathons and forgetting concepts in between.
Students who stick to consistent daily sessions over 4 to 5 months usually see better timing and stamina on test day. Try to split your study time: around 1.5 hours for practice questions and 1 hour for reviewing mistakes or concepts, particularly in Data Insights and Critical Reasoning, where Focus Edition has gotten trickier.