Start early

Preparing for the GMAT takes time and dedication. Most GMAT test takers start preparing about 3 to 6 months before the actual test date. Using data collected in 2011 from more than 8,000 GMAT test takers, we can see that 49% of test takers spend at least 51 hours prepping for the exam, and those who do better on the GMAT tend to spend more time studying for it.