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

Redeem

Writing down answer choices of the verbal section

Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension
This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:47 am
Thanked: 2 times
GMAT Score:560

Writing down answer choices of the verbal section

by Tega1984 » Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:53 am
There is a great technique that lot's of test takers including myself use during the verbal section - write down all the answer choices and cross-out the one's that you think are incorrect. Somewhere on the forum I have read that on the test day, it's better to write all of those 41 verbal question choices(A,B,C,D,E) before the start of the section in order to not waste your time during the section and be fully concentrated on the questions themselves. I wonder how one can manage to do this, because during the breaks you're not allowed to sit before the computer, you should go outside. Should I make this grid before the test starts, like when they give you some time to read the terms of the test(or something like that)? I am curious about your answers.
Top
Source: — Verbal Reasoning |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2193
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:30 pm
Location: Vermont and Boston, MA
Thanked: 1186 times
Followed by:512 members
GMAT Score:770

by David@VeritasPrep » Fri May 06, 2011 6:42 pm
The only time that you have for yourself where you are at the computer, with your notepad and pen and the clock is not running against you is during the 4 minute "tutorial" at the beginning of the test.

Since this tutorial comes before the AWA and then the Quantitative it is better to use this 4 minutes to write down any notes for those sections - particularly Quant. In many cases your notepad will be replaced between the Quant and the Verbal sections (whether you want it to be replaced or not) or you might even raise your hand during the Quant to have it replaced because you are out of space. In any case it is not too likely that you will have the same notepad to begin the verbal that you had at the start of the tutorial.

So you will likely have to devote time from the beginning of the verbal section if you want to make a 41-question A - E elimination grid. I think that it is better to wait and make a new grid at the beginning of each question. That is your time to cleanse your mind of the previous question. We are talking less than 5 seconds to write A - E and in that time you shift your mind from the previous question to the one that is upcoming.

That is my take on it.
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:47 am
Thanked: 2 times
GMAT Score:560

by Tega1984 » Tue May 17, 2011 3:56 am
Thanks. I just called the test center and they told me that I will be given 10 pages for the test. Therefore there will be enough space to write down those 41 verbal answer choices during those 4 minutes and I think I'll go with that option, because it's really frustrating,at least for me,to write down those A B C....'s at the beginning of every question. What kind of notes do you suggest to write down for Quant? I don't write any notes for that one.
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2193
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:30 pm
Location: Vermont and Boston, MA
Thanked: 1186 times
Followed by:512 members
GMAT Score:770

by David@VeritasPrep » Tue May 17, 2011 6:50 am
It's not what I suggest that you write down...it is formulas that you might often forget or things that you want to remind yourself in terms of timing or strategy.

Maybe you have nothing to write down because you never forget the formula for the area of an equilateral triangle or the list of number properties to remember for data sufficiency.

By the way, it takes nearly 4 minutes to write down 41 ABCDEs so you won't have too much time anyway. Just remember not to use up the entire pad for the Quant section -- if you run out and ask for another set of sheets you will lose your ABCDEs.
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:47 am
Thanked: 2 times
GMAT Score:560

by Tega1984 » Tue May 17, 2011 7:30 am
Wow, I didn't even know that there's a special formula for the area of an equilateral triangle. Thanks to you I know it now and I'll try to learn it cold as well as the other formulas.
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1