Preparing for AST admissions without a plan is the best way to spread yourself too thin and get stressed as the tests approach. With a clear 16-week backward plan, you move forward calmly, you balance the TAGE MAGE, English and your application file, and you arrive ready on test day. Here is a realistic AST prep schedule, designed for a student's pace.
Before you start: set your benchmarks
Three questions to settle from the outset:
Which schools are you targeting? This sets the TAGE MAGE score and the English level you need to reach, and therefore the intensity of your preparation.
What are the key dates? Note the TAGE MAGE sessions, the application deadlines and the interview periods. Your entire backward plan is built by counting back from these deadlines.
How many hours per week can you sustain? Be honest. 8 sustainable hours every week are better than 20 hours abandoned after a month.
The typical weekly routine
Whatever stage of your preparation you are at, keep a stable structure:
4 to 5 TAGE MAGE sessions per week, short and regular, rather than one big block on the weekend.
1 English (TOEIC) session to keep your level up and improve steadily.
1 review slot, where you go over the week's mistakes and note the points to work on again.
Weeks 1 to 4: the foundations
Goal: get to know the test and fill in the gaps in the basics.
Take a diagnostic mock exam in the very first week to gauge your starting level. Then tackle the six sub-tests one by one: understand the format, learn the methods, do untimed sets to build the right reflexes. This is also the time to brush up on your calculation and grammar basics if they are rusty. For English, take a first mock TOEIC to find your starting point.
By the end of this phase, you should master the format of each test and have identified your two or three weak points.
Weeks 5 to 8: ramping up
Goal: turn methods into automatic reflexes.
Bring in the timer. You know the methods; now you need to gain speed. Focus first on the weak points identified in phase 1, without neglecting your strengths. Gradually increase the volume of questions and start doing two or three sub-tests back to back to build your concentration. Keep up English with one session per week.
If your schedule allows, this is often where a first TAGE MAGE attempt fits in, to gauge yourself under real conditions.
Weeks 9 to 12: real conditions
Goal: perform under pressure and prepare your application file.
Time for full, timed mock exams, ideally one per week, each followed by a detailed analysis. This is the phase where your score stabilizes and then climbs. At the same time, start building your application file: CV, letters, career plan. These take time and several rounds of proofreading, so don't leave them until the last minute. Take or retake the TOEIC to lock in your English score.
Weeks 13 to 16: the home stretch
Goal: finalize and aim high.
Keep up the pace of mock exams without overloading yourself: the goal is to arrive fresh, not exhausted. Focus your review on your automatic reflexes and time management. This is the ideal time for a second TAGE MAGE attempt, to aim for your best score (a gain of around thirty points between two attempts is common). Finalize your application files and, if your schools hold interviews, start preparing for them: why this school, your background, your motivations.
Perguntas frequentes
How long does it take to prepare for AST admissions? Four months at a steady pace is a comfortable baseline. What matters most is consistency, not the total duration.
Can you prepare for AST admissions while working? Yes, as long as you aim for a realistic and stable workload. Short daily sessions are more effective than a marathon weekend.
Should you take the TAGE MAGE once or twice? Twice is ideal when the calendar allows: a first attempt to see where you stand, a second to aim higher.
Start your preparation now
A good schedule is only worth something if it is backed by regular practice. On AST Blitz, you get free access to thousands of TAGE MAGE questions with detailed explanations, sorted by test, with progress tracking so you know where you stand every week.
Perguntas frequentes
Quanto tempo leva para se preparar para o concurso AST?
Four months at a steady pace is a comfortable baseline. What matters most is consistency, not the total duration.
Can you prepare for AST admissions while working?
Yes, as long as you aim for a realistic, steady volume. Short daily sessions are more effective than a weekend marathon.
Should you take the TAGE MAGE once or twice?
Twice is ideal when your timeline allows: a first attempt to see where you stand, a second to aim higher.
