BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

How to increase the focus while reading?

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Source: — GMAT Strategy |
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1223
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 185 times
Followed by:15 members

by VP_Jim » Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:21 am
One tip is to be sure to take the breaks offered between sections. I always take the whole 10 minutes and go outside/run around/splash cold water on my face. I feel a lot better after doing that. Don't just sit in the waiting room of the testing center - that probably doesn't help much. Get some fresh air and get your blood pumping to clear your head for the next section.

For reading comp in particular, I'd advise taking some short notes on each passage if you have trouble concentrating. Giving yourself a task to accomplish while reading will likely help.
Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1018
Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:19 pm
Thanked: 86 times
Followed by:6 members

by mayonnai5e » Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:19 pm
A trick I did was to envision the entire test as many 2 minute tests where after each question I would completely wipe my mind blank with regards to the last question. Why? Because there's nothing you can do about the last question or the question before the last question once you've finalized your answer choice. So each new question was a new 2 minute test and that let me focus/refocus/focus/refocus and I felt that kept my nerves down, which helped me focus even more.
https://www.beatthegmat.com/my-blog-erro ... t4899.html
550 =\ ...560 =\... 650 =) ...570 =( ...540 =*( ...680 =P ... 670 =T ...=T... 650 =T ...700 =) ..690 =) ...710 =D ...GMAT 720 DING!! ;D

Learn more about me
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2228
Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:28 pm
Location: Montreal, Canada
Thanked: 639 times
Followed by:694 members
GMAT Score:780

by Stacey Koprince » Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:43 pm
Totally agree with Jim - good advice. I also want to add: keep your pen moving but remember that the notes you're jotting down are more to keep you focused and to know (especially for longer passages) what each paragraph tells you at a high level. In other words, focus on the organization and structure of the material, not all the little details - you don't need to take extensive notes the way you would during a class lecture. You don't have that kind of time!
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!

Stacey Koprince
GMAT Instructor
Director of Online Community
Manhattan GMAT

Contributor to Beat The GMAT!

Learn more about me
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1