GMAT 4 Month Study Plan: Expert Guide for a 700+ Score

Introduction

Preparing for the GMAT can feel overwhelming, but having a clear 4-month plan makes everything easier and more organised. A GMAT 4 Month Study Plan is a simple schedule that helps you build your basics, improve accuracy, and take mock tests at the right time to reach a strong score. You will understand what to study, how many hours to give, and how to stay consistent throughout the four months.
In this blog, you’ll learn the full step-by-step plan.

Is 4 Months Enough to Score 700+ on the GMAT?

Yes, 4 months is usually enough to reach a 700+ score in GMAT  if you study with a clear plan and stay consistent. Most students need around 12–20 hours a week to cover all topics, build accuracy, and take mock tests. Four months gives you enough time to learn concepts slowly in the first few weeks and then shift to timed practice later.

Here’s a simple look at what 4 months can give you:

Most 700+ scorers follow a similar pattern. They start slow, improve accuracy by Month 2, and hit their peak during full-length mocks in the last month. It’s the consistency, not long hours, that makes the biggest difference.

4 months is right for you if:

• You can study 2–3 hours on weekdays
• You can give 4–5 hours on weekends
• You are comfortable learning steadily instead of rushing
• You can take 6–10 mock tests before exam day

If you follow a steady routine and review your mistakes honestly, a GMAT 4 month study plan is more than enough to reach a strong score.

Understanding the GMAT Focus Structure (2025)

Before you start your preparation, it helps to know the structure of the GMAT Focus Edition. The new format is shorter and more straightforward than the old GMAT. It has three sections, and the total test time is 2 hours and 15 minutes. There is no AWA section in this version.

Here’s a quick look at the updated format:

What’s Different in GMAT Focus vs the Old GMAT

• No AWA: The essay section is gone. This reduces prep pressure and lets you focus only on the sections that affect your score.
• Shorter test: The total test time is a little over 2 hours and 15 minutes. The scoring scale has also changed to 205–805, and a 645+ score is considered the new 700+.
• Choose your section order: You get full control over how you take the test. You can start with Quant, Verbal, or Data Insights based on what feels right for you.
• Question review feature: You can bookmark questions, review them later, and change up to three answers in each section. This is helpful for managing time and fixing small mistakes.

The GMAT Focus is less about memorization and more about how you think. It rewards strategy, time control, and decision-making. That’s why knowing the structure inside-out is the first step,  it shapes how you build your 4-month GMAT study plan from here.

GMAT 4 Month Study Plan: Month-by-Month Guide

A GMAT 4 Month Study Plan works best when each month has a clear purpose. You don’t have to do everything at once. You build your basics first, improve your accuracy next, and add timed practice as you move forward. This section walks you through what to focus on in each month so your prep feels organised, steady, and easy to follow.

Month 1: Build Your Base

Start Month 1 with a full official GMAT Focus mock test. This helps you understand your starting point before you begin studying. The score is not important right now. What matters is knowing your strengths, weak areas, and how the test feels. This month is about learning how GMAT questions work and building strong basics. Keep it slow and steady. Accuracy is more important than speed at this stage.

• Pick one or two solid resources. The GMAT Official Guide, TTP, or Mentr Me’s free prep tools are more than enough to begin with.
• Do short topic-wise sets,  around 10 to 15 questions each, on key areas like number properties, percentages, inequalities in Quant, main idea and inference in RC, and table interpretation in Data Insights. Review each set properly to catch patterns in your mistakes.
• Towards the end of the month, take one full-length mock. Don’t worry about the score, just track where you’re improving.

What to focus on:

• Quant: Arithmetic, algebra basics, number properties
• Verbal: Reading structure, sentence correction rules
• Data Insights: Graphs, tables, and basic interpretation

 Month 2: Build Speed and Control

Now that your basics are in place, you can start increasing your pace. Keep it balanced. You don’t need to study aggressively, but your practice should feel more structured and focused now.

• Start doing timed sets of 10 to 12 questions per section,  aim for around 30 minutes total so you can focus on both accuracy and pacing. Rotate between Quant (e.g., word problems, ratios, algebra), Verbal (especially assumption and strengthen/weaken questions), and Data Insights (multi-source reasoning and sortable tables).
• Add one full-length mock every two weeks. After each, spend at least a couple of hours reviewing, go through every incorrect answer and figure out why you missed it, not just what the right choice was.
• Pay attention to which section is draining your time the most. For a lot of people, it’s Data Insights,  especially when there’s too much information packed into a single question. If you're running out of time there, it’s a sign to slow down and learn how to filter faster.

What to focus on:

• Quant: Word problems, ratios, percentages
• Verbal: Critical reasoning (especially assumptions and inferences)
• Data Insights: Multi-source reasoning, sortable tables, filtering logic

 Month 3: Train Under Pressure

This is the stage where you build the habit of staying focused for the full test time.

• Take one timed full-length mock every 7 to 10 days. Don’t just check your score ,  after the mock, use the next day to review every single question, even the ones you got right.even the ones you got right. Note down whether the mistake was a concept gap, a careless error, or a timing issue.
• When reviewing, focus on why you got the question wrong , did you misread a DS prompt in Quant, fall for a trap answer in CR, or run out of time on a dense table in Data Insights? That’s the kind of detail that actually helps you improve.
• Start practicing in-test decisions too. For example, if a table-based Data Insights question is taking more than 3 minutes, mark and move. If a tough algebra problem is draining your mental energy early on, take an educated guess and come back only if there’s time.

Staying calm matters just as much as getting the right answer,  and this is the month to build that muscle.

What to focus on:

• Sharpening weak zones
• Building stamina for back-to-back sections
• Repeating tough question types until they feel familiar

Month 4: Final Review

This month is about steady revision and keeping your approach simple. You’re not learning new topics now—just strengthening what you already know and getting fully comfortable with the test.

• Take two full-length mocks each week during this month. Try to take them at the same time of day as your actual GMAT slot,m if your test is scheduled for 10 AM, practice at 10 AM. This helps your brain get used to focusing at that exact time.
• Use the GMAT Focus Edition tools during your mocks,  bookmark tricky questions, and practice changing up to three answers per section. This way, you’re not figuring it out for the first time on test day.
• Stop learning new topics now. Focus more on revising your error log, re-solving old mistakes, and doing light practice sets to stay sharp. This is about maintenance, not overloading your brain.
• In the last 2 to 3 days before your exam, avoid mock tests. Instead, sleep well, review only high-yield notes or flashcards, and keep your phone away from last-minute Reddit spirals. You don’t need more content , you need a calm mind and clear focus.

What to focus on:

• Reviewing what still feels shaky
• Practicing test-day routines (mocks + break strategy)
• Adjusting section order if one burns you out early

You don’t have to follow this plan perfectly. Some days you’ll miss a study session or score lower on a mock. That’s normal. What matters is staying consistent and making small adjustments when needed. If you keep reviewing your mistakes and stick to the routine, a GMAT 4 month study plan will work well for you. Four months is enough as long as you keep moving forward.

Best Resources for Your GMAT 4 Month Study Plan

No study plan works without the right resources. You don’t need many tools for the GMAT Focus Edition, just a few reliable ones that you use consistently. The materials you choose should support your GMAT 4 month study plan by helping you build strategy, timing, and clear thinking in a steady way.

Here’s a quick look at the most helpful GMAT preparation resources,  what to use them for, and when they’re actually useful:

How to Fit This 4-Month GMAT Plan Into Your Routine

You won’t follow this plan perfectly, and that’s normal. Some days you’ll miss a study session, and that’s fine. It doesn’t mean you’re behind. This GMAT 4 Month Study Plan is flexible. You don’t need to follow every part exactly—just adjust it to your routine and keep moving consistently.

Here’s how to make it work for you:

• Give more time to the areas that need it: If Quant feels tougher than Verbal, shift more study time there. The goal is progress, not keeping everything perfectly balanced.
• Set clear daily targets: “2 hours of GMAT” is too broad. Try something simple like “3 CR questions and one DI set with review.” It helps you start faster and finish without overthinking.
• Adjust weekly, not daily: Some weeks you’ll hit your plan, and some weeks you won’t. That’s okay. Don’t rewrite the whole plan because of one slow week. Just reset and continue.

This plan doesn’t require perfection. It works best when you stay consistent and make small changes when needed. Even at 60–70% consistency, four months is enough if you keep going.

Here’s a simple overview of how your daily study time might look across the 4 months. Adjust it based on your routine and how each phase feels.

Mistakes That Can Mess Up Your Prep

Even with a clear GMAT 4 month study plan, it’s easy to lose direction. Most students don’t fall behind because they’re not studying enough. They fall behind because they focus on the wrong areas or try to do too many things at once.

Here are some mistakes to avoid:

• Switching resources too often: Moving from one book or platform to another slows your learning. Use one or two reliable resources and stay with them.
• Not reviewing mistakes properly: Getting a question wrong is fine. Not understanding the reason is the real issue. A quick look at the correct answer isn’t enough. Take time to see what caused the error.
• Skipping full-length mocks: Mocks show your timing, habits, and weak areas. Treating them like optional practice makes it harder to improve.
• Starting new topics late in the plan: The last few weeks are for steady practice and revision. Beginning new topics or new question banks at this stage only adds pressure.
• Trying to master everything: You don’t need perfection on every topic. Spending too much time on one difficult question does not help. Aim for good accuracy and keep moving.

Everyone makes mistakes during prep. What matters is noticing them early and making small adjustments. Staying consistent and focusing on what improves your score will help this plan work well for you.

Related Blogs:

• GMAT Study Plan
• GMAT 3 Month Study Plan
• GMAT 5 Month Study Plan
• GMAT 6 Month Study Plan

Conclusion

A GMAT 4 month study plan works when you stay consistent, review your mistakes, and follow a steady routine. With the right resources, timed practice, and clear monthly goals, most students see strong improvement. Keep your approach simple, track your progress, and adjust when needed. Four months is enough if you stay focused and keep moving forward.