An efficient Executive Assessment plan starts with a diagnostic, then pours the most hours into your weakest section - usually quant - and the two unfamiliar formats (Data Sufficiency and Integrated Reasoning), finishing with full-length timed practice.
The typical candidate prepares for around 30 hours over three to six weeks. Because the three sections are weighted equally toward the 100-200 total, your weakest section is where extra hours pay off most.
| Stage | Focus | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Step 0 | Confirm schools accept it; book a date | You have a deadline and confirmed acceptance |
| Step 1 | Full diagnostic, timed | You know your weakest section |
| Step 2 | Rebuild quant fundamentals (no calculator) | Arithmetic and algebra are reliable |
| Step 3 | Drill Data Sufficiency + Integrated Reasoning | The formats feel routine, not strange |
| Step 4 | Sharpen Verbal Reasoning | You can name a conclusion and assumption |
| Step 5 | Full-length timed assessments | You hit your target on fresh material |
How to split your hours
A sensible default for a typical candidate is roughly half the hours on quant and Data Sufficiency, about a quarter on Integrated Reasoning, and about a quarter on Verbal Reasoning. Adjust to your own diagnostic. Resist the urge to practise your strong section because it feels good; equal weighting means the cheapest marks to win are in your weakest area.
Timelines
- 4-week balanced (~7-8 hrs/week): diagnostic and quant first, then formats, then verbal, then timed practice.
- 6-week steady (~4-5 hrs/week): the same sequence stretched, good for a heavy work schedule.
- 2-week intensive (~12-15 hrs/week): only if your diagnostic is already near target and quant is solid.
Tips
Practise under time from the start, since the clock is the real constraint in each 30-minute section. Let a hard question go rather than wrecking the section clock. Review every miss for the reason behind it, and remember you have only four lifetime attempts, so prepare for a strong first sitting.