How to improve timing in GMAT

Expert replies

Omairahmed: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 2; Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:45 am

by Omairahmed » Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:54 am

Hi there,

I wrote the GMAT almost 10 months ago and got a 530. Since then, I have had a tutor to help me monitor progress, but my studying was intermittent at best due to work issues. For the past 8 weeks, I have been consistently studying and have my exam scheduled for in 6 weeks.

I just did my practice test (Manhattan) and got a 590 - however, in my Quant I did not complete the test leaving out 11 questions. That is concerning, furthermore I find myself missing details every now and again. My strategy going forward is to review all concepts in combinatrics, stats, number properties, geometry.... try some questions I already have mentally to try to improve my mental math component. Verbal, I am trying to improve from 35 to higher and find SC to be the most challenging. My aim is to get 700...

However, what else can I do to help improve time allocation? Also, I find myself spending too much time on questions that I get wrong...I guess its a instinct to not give up, is hurting my score. Any suggestions on educated guesses? If you've had such impediments and have been able to overcome it, I would truly appreciate your input.

Thanks!

Source: Beat The GMAT — GMAT Strategy | Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:54 am

FutureWorks: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 311; Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:42 amFollowed by: 18 members; Thanked: 45 times

by FutureWorks » Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:51 pm

Hi Omar,

From what we can gather, it seems there is some anxiety and nervousness in your mind when you're giving exams.

Time allocation and management can pose quite a bit of challenge and if not successfully done can create roadblocks in the success of GMAT exam.

We feel that the best way to allocate time is to create a mind-mapped clock which runs in your head. Don't keep a clock infront of you as it will only create pressue on you to answer questions in a hurried manner.

Don't worry about the fact that you could not answer all questions. Infact it is very rare for everyone to answer all questions in a section. Also it is not end of the road if you don't know the answer of a particular question.

We would suggest taking more practice tests since the more practice GMAT tests you take, the quicker you will be able to identify the time you're taking for specific questions and whether it is more or fine.

Thanks!
Kavita Singh
FutureWorks Consulting

IJR: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 68; Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:52 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 10 times; GMAT Score:770

by IJR » Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:28 am

If you want to get faster and more efficient on the verbal section, there is one test-taking strategy that I think saves a good amount of time. Before you start the verbal section, make a chart on your scratch paper with A-E columns and 1-37 rows with lines in between. When you go through each problem, write an L for "loser" in the space for any answer choices that definitely aren't correct. Write a C for "contender" in the space for answer choices that seem like they might be right. If you do this, then you won't have to go back through bad answer choices and waste time (meaning you won't re-read the "L" answer choices). Doing this saved me probably 15 seconds or so on each problem, so it was definitely worth it for me.

GMAT

Jim@Grockit: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 641; Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pmFollowed by: 45 members; Location: Madison, WI; Thanked: 162 times; GMAT Score:760

by Jim@Grockit » Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:07 pm

Personally, I am a fan of lots of untimed practice and lots of full-length CAT tests (which are obviously timed). Untimed practice gives you the experience of getting questions correct with sufficient time and allows you to get "good" at that, and faster; the CATs give you that mental clock mentioned.

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