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

Redeem

2 weeks until test day... Pacing/Quant Issues

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:36 am

2 weeks until test day... Pacing/Quant Issues

by grober » Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:59 pm
Everyone,

First off, thanks to everyone for all of your insight on these forums. I've been reading for a while but never posted.

I'm taking the official test two weeks from today. After my second attempt at the GMAC Practice test today, I was a little disappointed with my results.

Attempt #1 (1 month ago) - 610 Q38 V36
Attempt #2 (today) - 620 Q40 V35

My pacing was much worse this time. Even though my quant score improved, I had less than 2 minutes to answer questions 30-37. I guessed incorrectly on each one of these. Obviously if I paced better, I believe my quant score would be higher than Q40. I wasn't very concerned with verbal and plan to review this week. I am aiming more for 680-700 - might be wishful thinking...

How many more practice tests are recommended in the next two weeks? I clearly spent too much time early-on in quant and likely could have answered more of the last seven problems correctly, my score would be higher - right? Any advice for improving my score, my timing, etc., in my short two weeks would be greatly appreciated.
Top
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:08 pm
Hi grober,

With two weeks to go, you should plan on taking no more than 2 more practice CATs (although you might take just 1). Having to guess on the last 8 questions would definitely affect your score. Since you've identified pacing as one of your big problems, I'm curious if there's any way for you to push back your Official Test date? The extra time could be spent addressing this issue.

Your missing points are not just at the end of the Quant section though. When reviewing your CATs, how often do you find that you're getting questions wrong due to silly mistakes?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sun Mar 16, 2014 6:25 am
I suggest that you use a Milestone Chart to keep you on track. This is covered in our free GMAT time management video at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gener ... es?id=1244

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:36 am

by grober » Mon Mar 17, 2014 2:41 pm
Thank you both for the response.

Brent - I will check out the Time Management video. I currently subscribe to the full GMAT Prep Now course. The website seems to be down right now but I'll check back in a couple of hours.

Rich - moving back the exam date is a potential option but I'd really like to tackle it in the time I've already allotted for myself with application deadlines approaching. I'll consider it.

The first time I took a practice CAT, I didn't have as much of an issue with timing - I had to rush through maybe the last 3 on that attempt. This second attempt, I was rushing through probably questions 28 or 29 through 37 (and only got 1 of those correct). After re-working some of the problems around #6-12, I realized I might have gotten buried in 2 separate DS problems, spending over 5 minutes on each - very stupid mistake on my part. To answer your question, after looking back at my answers, I probably made about 3-4 silly mistakes due to not reading the problem fully or coming up with the right answer but not answering what the question asked.

I'm wondering what kind of approach I should take in the next two weeks.
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:26 pm
grober wrote: Brent - I will check out the Time Management video. I currently subscribe to the full GMAT Prep Now course. The website seems to be down right now but I'll check back in a couple of hours.
Hi grober,

That's odd; our website-monitoring tool (Pingdom) has not indicated any downtime. I'm pretty sure the issue isolated. Please email support, and we'll see what we can do to help.

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:36 am

by grober » Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:32 pm
Brent & Rich - thanks for the response, I was able to view the Time Management videos and checked out some others as well.

I don't think I was focused enough when I took my last CAT on Saturday 3/15 and had a lot of distractions. I took a Veritas CAT last night and completed AWA prior to quant and verbal. This time, I scored a 680 (Q44 V40). This is more in line with what I was hoping for and plan to continue this trend upward for the next week and a half.
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1