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This week’s article is adapted from an article about Time Management, originally written in 2006 for the ManhattanGMAT Strategy series. I’ve excerpted some parts of that original article and I’ve also added to the article to reflect more recent insights into the test.

Time management is obviously an essential GMAT skill, and one of the (many!) skills we need for this test is the ability to maintain an appropriate time position. “Time position” refers to the relationship between the test taker’s position on the test (the question number) and the time that has elapsed to get to that point in the section. For example, if I’ve just finished quant question #5 and 15 minutes have elapsed so far, am I ahead, behind, or on time?

In my previous example, I would be behind on time because, on quant, we’re expected to average about 2 minutes per question. After 5 questions then, only 10 minutes should have elapsed – so I am 5 minutes behind, giving me a negative time position.

Ideally, we’d like to remain “neutral” throughout the test, which means that we’re within two to three minutes of the expected time. Sometimes, though, we’re going to get off track. When this happens, is it better to be “positive” or “negative?”

Most people will find themselves in the “negative” position more frequently than the “positive” position – and this is exactly the opposite of what we would want. If we have to be “off” on our timing, it’s better to be ahead than behind (though the ideal scenario is to be “neutral” as much as possible). Why is it better to be “positive” than “negative” if we get off track?

Two test takers’ time positions (using the quantitative section of the GMAT as an example, 37 questions, 75 minutes) are illustrated below:

The dashed gray line represents the benchmark time position for the quantitative section of the GMAT. This benchmark is calculated by taking the total time and dividing it by the total number of questions on the section (75 min / 37 questions = approximately 2 min/question). The green test taker is working at a pace above the benchmark (positive time position) and, as a result, is able to complete the section either early or on time. The red test taker is working at a rate below the benchmark (negative time position). In this case, the red test taker consistently falls behind the benchmark pace and, unless she changes her strategy in the middle of the test in order to catch up, is only able to finish 33 out of the 37 quantitative questions.

For some, maintaining a neutral or positive time position comes naturally. However, for most of us, the time pressure is too tight, and we find ourselves behind at some point. So, how do we develop the skill to maintain a neutral time position?

1. Understand how the scoring works

First, everyone gets a lot of questions wrong, no matter the scoring level; that’s just how the test works.

Second, getting an easier question wrong hurts your score more than getting a harder question wrong. In fact, the easier the question, relative to your overall score at that point, the more damage to your score if you get the question wrong. (Note: it is still very possible to get the score you want even if you make mistakes on a few of the easier questions.)

Third, getting three or four questions wrong in a row hurts your score more, on a per-question basis, than getting the same number of questions wrong but having them interspersed with correct answers. In other words, the effective per-question penalty actually increases as you have more questions wrong in a row. This, of course, is exactly what happens to someone who maintains a negative time position on the test; even if you notice and try to catch up toward the end, you’re likely to end up with a string of wrong answers in a row.

Finally, the largest penalty of all is reserved for not finishing the test – another possible consequence of maintaining a negative time position.

2. Keep a single-problem time log

When practicing GMAT problems, ALWAYS keep track of the time. Try to work within the following time constraints for any individual problem:

Quantitative: 2 minutes; max of 2.5 minutes

Sentence Correction: 1 minute 15 seconds; max of 2 minutes

Critical Reasoning: 2 minutes; max of 2.5 minutes

Reading Comprehension: 2 to 3 minutes to read (depending upon length); 1 minute for general questions; 1.5 to 2 minutes for specific questions

Keep a time log that reflects the time spent on EVERY problem; each individual problem gets its own row in the log. (Note: if you’re taking our course, use the OG Tracker spreadsheet when doing OG problems and the calculations will be done for you.) Entries in the time log might look like a rough version of this:

On the Data Sufficiency question, the test taker had a negative 10 second position; on the Sentence Correction question, the test taker had a positive 15 second position, and so on. Group the question types together in the log (so, instead of mixing types as the above chart does, keep one log for Data Sufficiency questions, a separate log for Sentence Correction questions, and so on).

3. Reflect on the Results

The log will make you aware of your pacing on a single-problem level, and will force you to consider the time as you work through a practice problem. Aggregate the data to determine those question types that are generally costing you time (a significantly negative time position overall) and figure out what you need to do to become more efficient (where you can) and, when necessary, how to tell when you should make an educated guess and move on before you’ve already lost too much time. (And then, of course, learn how to make good educated guesses!)

Also notice those questions that are buying you time (a significantly positive time position overall). First, make sure that you are not making many careless mistakes with these; working quickly is never a positive thing if you sacrifice a question that you were capable of answering correctly. You may actually need to slow down on some of these in order to minimize your careless mistakes.

If you do find areas that are both highly accurate and very efficient, excellent; these are your strengths and you should be very aware of those while taking the test. For instance, if you discover that you’re in a negative time position, you should still take your normal amount of time to answer any “strength” questions; don’t sacrifice the ones you can answer correctly! Instead, make a random guess on the next “weakness” question that you see in order to get yourself back to a neutral position.

4. Transition to Benchmarks

While keeping a single-problem time log will help you become aware of your pacing on all question types, it’s certainly not a practical way to monitor the time during the actual exam. First, checking the clock after each problem on the actual exam is too much of a distraction. Second, to be an effective time manager, you must be flexible. You may be able to complete a slightly easier math problem in fewer than 2 minutes, and you may need slightly more than 2 minutes for the more difficult problems. For these two reasons, it’s much easier to monitor time on the actual exam using these 15 minute benchmarks:

Keeping track of the timing for question blocks, as opposed to individual questions, allows for flexibility: less time on the slightly easier questions, more time on the difficult questions – though within reason (don’t spend more than 30 seconds above the expected average for that question type).

Once you feel comfortable with the single-problem time log, begin to transition to the 15 minute benchmarks. To practice, take a block of 7 or 8 math problems and allot yourself 15 minutes. Are you maintaining a neutral-to-positive time position for an 8 question block? Do the same for a block of verbal questions and monitor your progress.

By the time the actual exam rolls around, you’ll know how to use these 15 minute benchmarks to monitor your time position and maintain a neutral-to-positive position throughout!