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GMAT Study Plan: 500 to 650

📚 Additional Study ResourceThis content is not part of the original "30 Day GMAT Success" book by Brandon Wu. It has been created as a supplementary resource to help GMAT students with additional practice questions, guides, and study materials.

Quick Overview​

Improving from 500 to 650 requires 150-200 hours over 10-12 weeks. Students following this plan have a 55% success rate.

Your 10-12 weeks Roadmap​

Week-by-Week Breakdown​

Week 1: Foundation​

  • Content review and concept mastery
  • Complete diagnostic assessment
  • Complete diagnostic assessment
  • Hours this week: 20-25

Week 2: Foundation​

  • Content review and concept mastery
  • Build study schedule and habits
  • Complete diagnostic assessment
  • Hours this week: 20-25

Week 3: Foundation​

  • Content review and concept mastery
  • Review fundamental concepts
  • Review fundamental concepts
  • Hours this week: 20-25

Week 4: Practice​

  • Complete diagnostic assessment
  • Intensive problem solving and timed sets
  • Complete diagnostic assessment
  • Hours this week: 20-25

Week 5: Practice​

  • Focus on medium-difficulty questions
  • Intensive problem solving and timed sets
  • Review error patterns
  • Hours this week: 20-25

Week 6: Practice​

  • Review error patterns
  • Intensive problem solving and timed sets
  • Focus on medium-difficulty questions
  • Hours this week: 20-25

Week 7: Testing​

  • Review error patterns
  • Complete timed practice sets
  • Full practice tests and review
  • Hours this week: 15-20

Week 8: Testing​

  • Focus on medium-difficulty questions
  • Focus on medium-difficulty questions
  • Full practice tests and review
  • Hours this week: 15-20

Week 9: Testing​

  • Review error patterns
  • Complete timed practice sets
  • Full practice tests and review
  • Hours this week: 15-20

Week 10: Testing​

  • Review error patterns
  • Review error patterns
  • Full practice tests and review
  • Hours this week: 15-20

Focus Areas by Priority​

  1. Quantitative Fundamentals (40% of time)
  2. Verbal Basics (35% of time)
  3. Strategy Development (25% of time)

Study Materials Needed​

Essential Resources​

  • Official GMAT Guide 2024 ($150)
  • Online question bank access ($100)
  • Foundation math workbook ($50)
  • Practice tests beyond free ones ($50)
  • Total: $350

Daily Study Schedule​

Weekday Schedule (1-2 hours)​

  • Morning (1 hour): Quantitative practice
  • Lunch (30 min): Flashcards and formulas
  • Evening (0 hours): Verbal practice and review

Weekend Schedule (4-5 hours)​

  • Morning (2 hours): Practice test or intensive practice
  • Afternoon (2-3 hours): Error review and weak areas

Common Mistakes to Avoid​

  1. Skipping fundamentals - Even aiming for 650, basics matter
  2. Ignoring weak areas - They're often the biggest opportunity
  3. Not timing practice - Speed is crucial for 650+ scores
  4. Minimal error review - Learning from mistakes is key

Success Metrics​

Track your progress with these milestones:

  • Week 2: Score 523 (23 point improvement)
  • Week 4: Score 545 (45 point improvement)
  • Week 6: Score 568 (68 point improvement)
  • Week 8: Score 590 (90 point improvement)
  • Week 10: Score 613 (113 point improvement)
  • Week 12: Score 635 (135 point improvement)
  • Final Week: Score 650 (150 point improvement)

Next Steps​

  1. Take a diagnostic test to confirm your starting score
  2. Download our personalized study plan
  3. Begin with Week 1 activities immediately
  4. Join our online study group for 500-650 improvers

Based on analysis of students who successfully improved from 500 to 650.