I’m trying to figure out what a realistic GMAT routine looks like. I keep seeing people talk about studying for 3–5 hours every day, but I’m not sure how practical that is with college or work. For those preparing right now, how many hours are you actually studying on a normal weekday, and how much do you manage on weekends?
I’m trying to narrow down my options for an international MBA, but honestly the number of countries and universities is making it harder rather than easier. How did you guys decide where to apply?
Was it mainly based on career opportunities, tuition fees, post MBA work options, rankings, or just the overall experience of living there?
Some days I can sit down and solve questions for hours, and on other days even opening the laptop feels like a task. I’m trying to figure out whether it’s better to force a small study session or just take the day off and come back fresh.
How are you guys handling those low productivity days during CAT prep?
I can have a completely normal conversation and then randomly replay it hours later, thinking about what I said, how I said it, and whether I came across differently than I intended. The other person has probably forgotten the whole thing, but my brain apparently has decided it needs a full post match analysis.
Does anyone else do this, and why do you think our brain gets stuck on such small interactions?
I’ve started spending almost as much time analysing a mock as writing it, but I’m not sure if I’m analysing it properly. I look at wrong answers and skipped questions, but I’m not really seeing a pattern yet. What exactly do you guys note down after every mock?
I’ve started spending almost as much time analysing a mock as writing it, but I’m not sure if I’m analysing it properly. I look at wrong answers and skipped questions, but I’m not really seeing a pattern yet. What exactly do you guys note down after every mock?
I spent a lot of time trying different strategies before realizing that a few small changes helped me more than any new resource. It made me wonder how many useful habits people discover only after months of preparation.
What's one thing you wish you had started earlier? Could be mock analysis, daily RCs, revision, maintaining an error log, or something completely different.
I'm curious how everyone is managing this because some days it feels impossible to stay consistent.
If you're in college, working full time, or preparing alongside other exams, what's your routine like? How many hours are you actually able to study on weekdays, and what has helped you avoid burnout?
I'm starting my CAT prep and trying to avoid the common traps that waste time or hurt scores. Looking back, what's one mistake you made that you wish someone had warned you about?
It could be anything mock strategy, choosing coaching, ignoring a section, poor time management, burnout, or something completely unexpected.
The state-level MBA counselling in Madhya Pradesh has reportedly been postponed, which means students waiting for admissions may have to wait longer for the process to move ahead.
For those planning to take admission through the state counselling process, are you waiting for the revised schedule or considering other colleges/options in the meantime? Also, does anyone know how much this delay could affect the overall academic session?
Every year we hear the same advice: solve X mocks, follow Y strategy, study for Z hours, don't do this, always do that.
But preparation isn't the same for everyone.
Was there any popular CAT tip that just didn't suit you or even slowed down your progress? And what did you do instead that actually helped?