Great question!
Let me say that 10+ CATS in 26 days is too many. I have a schedule below that includes 7. This is probably the most you should do. You use practice tests to see where you are in your studies - kind of like a track meet is how people see how fast they are. You do not become a better runner at a track meet. You improve before and after. CAT's are the same way.
You can test your knowledge of subjects, your techniques, your timing strategy and your ability to perform under pressure. Then you analyze that test and see what you need to do in order to improve.
You will need several days to take the tests, see what you did wrong, study those areas and take another test.
As far as CATs go -- I say take one now to see where you are. Then study for a good 10 days to really learn a few things and then begin your CATs. I have a little example below that gives you 2 or 3 days between CATS and has you take 6 of them (in addition to the 1 now). I assume you have access to the M-GMAT Tests so I include 2 of those and the FREE Veritas Prep Test in addition to 4 GMATPrep.
SO CAT 1 = now (GMATPrep 1)
CAT 2 = 10 days (GMATPrep 2)
CAT 3 = 13 days (M-GMAT 1)
CAT 4 = 16 days (GMATPrep 3 - from the Exam Pack add-on)
CAT 5 = 18 days (Veritas Free Test)
CAT 6 = 21 days (GMATPrep 4 - from the Exam Pack add-on)
CAT 7 = 23 days (Re-take GMATPrep 1 - you will not see many repeats and will likely have forgotten them).
TEST DAY = 26 days
(DO NOT take a test the day before the GMAT.)
Some of what you need to do might not be so intense. So maybe you can do more than five hours. For example, if you plan to read all of those study guides and do all of those official GMAT questions perhaps you can structure it this way:
(1) A 3 hour session that involves basically reading a book, or strategy articles. Not so intense.
(2) An intense 2 hour and 30 minute session of challenging problems. Your cell phone should be off and no other windows open on your computer during this session (or your computer closed if you are working from a book). This is a great time to do official questions and build stamina by really trying. You should pretend every day that this is the exam and only take an 8-minute break halfway through.
This is session is the length of an exam and this is the session to take the practice test in. In fact, this session should be at the same time of day as your exam. This session will expand to 4 hours when you take the entire exam including IR and AWA. You should take these sections on as many practice tests as possible so that you are prepared for the nearly 4 hours of the actual exam.
(3) A moderately intense 2 hour session that involves analyzing your practice exam from earlier in the day or that involves problem sets on subjects that are not as taxing for you or that simply involves working through a lesson.
That is 4.5 hours of what I would call intense studying and another 3 hours of reading articles or books for a total of 7.5 hours per day.
Your brain needs sleep in between learning things - in fact sleep IS how you learn. So 7.5 hours per day is better than than trying to study for 10+ hours on any particular day.
In addition do not forget to get the right amount for sleep - this is generally from 6 to 8.5 hours (depending on the person) - and exercise frequently. You will be under some stress and only sleep and exercise are proven to lessen stress and reduce stress hormones.
You should also try to do something that you enjoy -- every day. 26 days is a long time to not have any fun!
Finally, remember to try to focus on studying when you are studying and to not be distracted. Distracted thinking is a score-killer. Please see the attached articles on so-called "multi-tasking." (You can take a few minutes out of your 3 hour reading block to read the articles below!)
26 days is tight but if you develop a schedule and stick to it, you might just make it!
https://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2014/02 ... mat-score/
https://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2014/02 ... e-part-ii/
https://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2014/02 ... mat-score/
