Burning out

Are you studying continuously or taking breaks? You should study no more then 2 hours at a time, with at least 1.5 to 2 hours break. If you are working full time too, then I would say better to do 2 hours a day, and on the weekend, spread it out doing three 2 hours sessions and in between each session, doing something else (non GMAT and relaxing) for 2 hours approx. I find reading ‘easy’ novels like John Grisham’s or Dan Brown’s novels as well as exercising and eating like a champion helps.

And don’t forget to take of at least one day a week – preferably to do something you enjoy …..remember quality not quantity.

By the way, I find it helps to top and tail each session by writing your thoughts at the end of each session, in a log, and reviewing the log at the beginning of each new session.

Hope this helps.

Yes, those are good tips from Has....I generally recommend about 1-2 hours per day, 5-6 days per week, on average. There is definitely such a thing as burning out, so keep it fresh and take decent breaks. Definitely take a day off (at least) per week...you will perform better and be able to absorb more if you are fresh, rested, and not burnt out! Also mix up your math and verbal, computer and book practice, full length tests and shorter practice. And yes, it's quality, not necessarily quantity in the end....

good luck and keep in mind the whole point of what you are aiming for-- that MBA, and whatever your specific career goals are!

Jen Kedro wrote:I generally recommend about 1-2 hours per day, 5-6 days per week, on average.

I'll second this. Aside from practice exams I rarely self-studied more than 2-3 hours a day (in fact I probably didn't). Just don't use this as an excuse to not do AWAs during practice exams.

I'll chime in, as well. When I prepped for the GMAT, I rarely studied for more than an hour at a time. I would usually do two short (45-60 minute) sessions every day, maybe one longer session per week if I was feeling especially energetic. I found that my attention span and focus really deteriorated after about an hour.

Of course, I also did practice tests, which take longer than an hour - but for general studying, an hour at a time for two hours per day, is plenty, and really as much as most people can handle without snapping!