Tips for Moms Studying for the GRE or the GMAT

Tips for Moms Studying for the GRE or the GMAT

Like any examinations, the harder you prepare for either the GRE or the GMAT, the easier each exam will be for you. However, studying for either examination can be difficult for moms because they have to combine their test preparation with household duties and taking care of children. In this article, we will explore ways to balance your GRE prep or GMAT prep with your preexisting duties as a mom.

Extend your studying over a longer period of time

Since you have the liberty to choose your examination date, you are advised to find a date that is far away. There is nothing wrong with studying for over 6 months. An extended study period will make 2 hours of daily study more feasible. As much as you may prefer to make this process short and sweet, you can’t spend all day studying. You have to create some time for your kids too. So, it is advised to maintain shorter daily study hours over a longer period of study.

Make some sacrifices

You may have to cancel some leisure activities to create more time for studying. During your preparation, you may need to cancel evening walks, parties, and other recreational events. It is also advised to buy in bulk, in order to reduce your shopping frequency. The goal here is to use all the saved time to study. After all, the sacrifice is temporary and it is for a worthy cause.

Create a daily schedule

It is important that you create a daily schedule and that you follow it strictly. When preparing for the GMAT or GRE, you must manage your time smartly. It is important to maximize your time. If you have enough funds to hire a babysitter, don’t hesitate to do so. This is will free up more time for you.

Make use of recommended resources

You can order former GMAT/GRE official questions and study guides. They are available on the respective test administrator websites. However, purchasing the materials is not as important as studying them. It is very important to create time to study the guide and also attempt as many past questions as you can. This is why you should give yourself a longer period to prepare. Remember, each section of the examination requires a different format to answer it. Get familiar with the answering formats.

Take diagnostic tests

Diagnostic tests help to determine where your strengths and weaknesses lay. So, take full length practice tests regularly. Study the questions you didn’t get right. Make sure you find out how and why you got them wrong. Equally, study why you got other questions right. See if you can use that strategy on the questions you got wrong. It is important to remember that GMAT and GRE actually test for both speed and accuracy. So, you should work on your speed. Nothing is more discouraging than not having enough time to answer all the questions. The more diagnostic tests you take, the more you will improve.

Study with others

There’s power in numbers, right? Search for GRE tutoring near you, or GMAT tutoring near you. If you can’t find anything, then form a study group with friends or colleagues.

In conclusion, your level of determination is very important. You will come across several forms of discouragement but it is your determination that will continue to power you on. Drafting a plan is one thing, having the zeal to execute the plan is another. So, you need to be mentally and emotionally ready.