A Practical Strategy for Managing Time on the GMAT Verbal Section
In Quant, although you know that you’ll spend a little more time on some questions and a little less on others, you can pretty much divide the 45 minutes by the 21 questions and track your pacing at roughly 2 minutes per question. Some test-takers use the laminated notepads they receive at test centers (or the physical whiteboard for the GMAT Online) to track their Quant pacing. It’s a simple yet effective way to stay aware of how you're managing your time.
Verbal pacing, however, is a bit trickier. Unlike Quant, the Verbal section doesn’t lend itself well to a per-question time benchmark because question types vary in complexity and length. So, I don’t recommend drawing up a full pacing grid for Verbal on your notepad. Instead, you can set up simple checkpoints that give you a general idea of where you should be as you move through the section.
During the introductory screens for Verbal, jot down these checkpoints in a small corner of your notepad:
- 7 (33:00)
- 13 (21:00)
- 19 (9:00)
These indicate where you should be on the clock when you reach those questions. When you hit one of those checkpoint questions, glance at the time remaining. If you’re on or close to schedule, you’re in good shape. If you’re significantly behind or ahead, you can decide whether to adjust your pace for the rest of the section.
Of course, the checkpoint strategy is only useful if it’s executed well. That means not only understanding how to use it but also practicing it effectively. And the best time to do that is during full-length practice tests. Don’t try to implement this strategy in the early stages of prep. Until you’re reliably answering Verbal questions correctly untimed, adding a timing layer is only going to get in your way.
GMAC provides 6 official practice tests. Assuming you’ve used one at the start of your prep to establish a baseline, you’ll have five left. These should be spaced out across the final 6 to 8 weeks of your prep. This is the window when you’ve already built your verbal foundation and are ready to layer in time management. Practice using the checkpoints during these exams to fine-tune your pacing.
Just keep in mind, the checkpoints are a guideline, not a rigid rule. You won’t hit those times exactly every time, and that’s okay. The distribution of CR and RC questions is not always even. You might hit two Reading Comprehension passages back-to-back. Or maybe you get a run of short CR questions that feel fast. Use your judgment.
Let’s say you hit question 13 and you’re about two minutes behind your target time. If you’ve already tackled three RC passages, you may be just fine since most of the heavy lifting is done. But if you're only partway through your second RC passage, you’ll need to pick up the pace to stay on track.
Your pacing decisions should also be guided by your strengths and weaknesses. If the remaining questions fall within your strengths, you may be able to catch up without rushing. But if you’re five minutes behind and still have a mix of question types ahead, you need to shift gears and speed up.
The bottom line is this: checkpoints are useful indicators of where you are and how you're doing, but you need to use them with flexibility. Let your progress, the types of questions you've seen, and your comfort level with the remaining content help you decide how to manage your time for the rest of the section.
Reach out to me with any questions about your GMAT prep. Happy studying!
Warmest regards,
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep
