How to improve math score/ stamina/mental strength

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Hi All, I've just taken my first practice test using the official GMATPrep software.

My score was miraculously 610 (35 Q, 38 V).

I say miraculous because my mind completely blanked out as soon as the first quant question came on screen. It took me about 3 minutes to work out the first question (which I got wrong anyways) ..and about 20 seconds to remember what an isoceles triangle was. I was mentally exhausted less than half-way through the test and I had to read a few questions a few times (thus wasting precious seconds) before fully understanding it as nothing was getting into my head. When I got to RC on verbal, I was so tired I just skimmed through the passages.

I was actually expecting a score in the low 500s at the end of it all so 610 is a nice surprise. My verbal score probably pulled it up but then again, as an English major, I should have done even better on verbal. My reaction was v. disappointing as I'd been psyching myself and preparing myself for taking this practice test the entire week as I know I do not fare well under timed conditions. It just blows that my mind blanked out anyways.

Does anyone have any strategies for working on the following?

1) Stamina/Mental strength - I intend to start doing what people in this forum have recommended, 40 questions at a time under timed conditions. Any other tips?

2)Math - I really need to pull my math score up to about 48-49 to get into my desired schools who are likely to look at my quant scores individually than the entire score as a whole. Math is my weak point but I am able to do the tougher GMAT questions without time constraint..so again, it probably boils down to stamina/mental strength.

Just some background - I've done about 400 practice questions so far. Am aiming for a score in the high 600s with quant score in at least the 80th percentile...85tth-90th would be good. I plan to take the test in early November.

Thank you in advance for your help, I love this forum!
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by beatthegmat » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:55 pm
Hi ssy:

Thanks very much for your thoughtful question. As you correctly pointed out, you need to have stamina in order to get through the GMAT successfully. I have two resources that may help you.

First, one post on stress management:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/viewtopic.php?t=4167

Second, a post on how to go properly go through practice sets:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/viewtopic.php?t=68. This is an important post for you to read because it shows how to analyze the questions you get wrong and systematically master difficult subject areas. If you can apply this analysis after each of your practice sets, you will be able to improve your performance since you won't get hung up on difficult questions as much.

The key advice I have to give you is: PRACTICE! There is not easy way to improve your speed/performance other than going through a lot of questions and learn from each set. Stay diligent with your studies and you will be pleased with the results.

Best of luck!
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by Stacey Koprince » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:50 pm
"Math is my weak point but I am able to do the tougher GMAT questions without time constraint..so again, it probably boils down to stamina/mental strength. "

Just be careful here. The test imposes major time constraints. Whenever a question is placed in front of you, the real question is not "can you do this?" but "can you do this in 2 minutes?" And you will get questions that you could do, but not in 2 minutes. Part of your performance depends on your time management skills when you do hit situations like that - you will find that you sometimes need to pull the plug and move on, even if you "know I can do it if I have more time." The point is - you don't have more time. You've got to do what you can with what you've got.
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