Can One Study Too Hard for the GMAT?

If you’re serious about your GMAT preparation, you spend as much time studying as you can. Quite often, the pre-exam tunnel vision makes students think they exert themselves too much, but in most cases, it’s not a problem. The general rule of thumb is that the more effort you put into preparation, the better results you will get

Practice tests will let you know how well you’re doing

By definition, preparation means getting yourself ready for something. Whether you’re taking a course or studying on your own, this whole process is meant to get you to the point when you’re able to take on the GMAT. Problem is, you can’t know for sure until you’ve tried it. That’s where practice tests come in.

Practice exams perform two very important functions: they show you whether you’re sufficiently prepared and familiarize you with the testing process. It’s generally advisable to take a practice test at the earliest stage of your preparation, just so you know where you stand. Later, you can check how well you’re doing by taking tests at certain intervals. This will help you to evaluate your knowledge and skills, as well as train you to perform tasks within the specified time limit.

By comparing your practice test results, you will see whether your skills have improved. Even though it’s not a real exam, satisfactory results offer a much-needed positive reinforcement. At some point, you will get a feeling you’ve done everything you can and there’s no room left for improvement. Take a practice test to be sure and then go register for the GMAT if the results show you’re quite ready.

Overexertion hampers your performance

Perhaps you’ll be surprised to learn that studying too much can be as bad as not studying enough. The wisest thing would be to dedicate no more than ten or twenty hours a week to GMAT revision and practice. If you feel exhausted, and your mind is unable to focus, it’s much better to give yourself a rest and continue later. Of course, it’s not an option if you start too late, so be sure to leave no less than two months before your actual GMAT exam for studying. Do not give yourself too much time, though: if drawn out for years, your preparation won’t be sufficient.

One more thing is not to give up if your progress slows down after some weeks of revision and practicing. The stronger your ambition, the more effort it takes to reach your desired result. That is, if you want a 780 result with a current 730, you’ll have to work much harder than if your goal is to merely go up from 350 to 400 GMAT points. Consider the necessity of upping an already impressive result: most business schools will accept you with a 730, and it will cost you much less effort.

To conclude, the answer is that it is totally possible to over-study when preparing for a standardized test. Before you cut back on preparation time, though, make sure you are not studying too little instead.