By Strictly English TOEFL Tutors

Too often at Strictly English, we work with clients who are trying to study for both the GMAT and the TOEFL at the same time. In brief: this is not an ideal study plan.

Applicants to MBA programs find themselves in this situation usually for one of three reasons:

1. They purposefully decided to study for both TOEFL and GMAT at the same time

2. They thought acing the GMAT (the presumably harder of the two tests) would mean that they would not have to study for the TOEFL (because it would be so much easier than the GMAT), but GMAT was, as one student recently acknowledged, "much harder than they expected."

3. They planned to finish TOEFL first, but either didn't begin studying for it as early as they had intended, or they found it more difficult then they expected.

Almost all of these scenarios are avoidable, except if you began the TOEFL first and find it harder than you expected.

But with the right books and/or the right training, you can pass the TOEFL well in advance of your application deadline.

Remember that TOEFL is good for 2 years, so you should finish your TOEFL study by May of the year you want to apply. Since typical TOEFL study takes between 1-4 months you would want to begin your studies in January.

If you receive the score you want on your April test, then you have all of May, June, July and August to prepare for GMAT. This allows you to focus on your essays and application in September so that you'll be ready with all your materials by October first for Round One Applications.

Reading this in September, though, might have you thinking that hindsight is 20/20. So, what can you do now?

Regardless of when you start the process, remember that you must always take TOEFL FIRST. By preparing for it first, you learn so many of the fundamentals that GMAT builds off of. If you study GMAT first, not only will it take you longer to master the skills you need, but you will then also overwrite the TOEFL essay or over think the Reading's questions.

As one TOEFL student said to us about his writing, "The more simple I make it, the higher my score is." When you're trying to write the TOEFL essay using GMAT strategies, you over complicate the writing, which makes it harder to follow, resulting in a lower score.

Remember, the TOEFL is a test designed for 17 year olds to take when applying for their undergraduate college education. So keep your TOEFL writing direct and simple.

In sum: if you have very strong English, then August is not too late to get started on TOEFL. You can master it in 1 month and then study GMAT in September, which might be tight, but it is possible.

If your English is high-intermediate, and you want over 100 on the TOEFL, then you need to honestly admit to yourself that by now, applying for Round One is not likely. But you can still apply for Round Two.

If you have intermediate English, then Round Two deadlines are most likely going to be tough to meet also.

If you have any questions on how to make your TOEFL study as efficient as possible, please visit our website, where we have a lot of study tips free. You can also follow Strictly English on Twitter or join our Facebook page, TOEFL 101.

GOOD LUCK!