GMAT Strategy

Hey All,

I need some help with CR,RC Timing.
while I practice Critical reasoning and RC problem under timed tests, I consistently run out of time.
When I pressurize myself to complete the question within the set time, the accuracy goes down and I am mostly choose the incorrect answer.
I realize that , I tend to focus more on the time than focus on loop holes /patterns used in the problem..
In situations where I tell myself to ignore time, I eliminate the answer choices rightly and the accuracy is much greater..

The time I set for short RC - 3 mins reading and diagramming, 3 mins for three questions.
But during practice, for diagramming I take close to 4 mins and questions I take close to 5 mins = 9 mins.
In this case, accuracy is much better BUT If i follow the set time, accuracy falls down to 40%

I face the same problem with long RC / CR

I tried balancing the time between diagramming, elimination etc, but nothing worked really well.

I used to experience similar situation with quant,but I feel that practicing more has helped me.. as I have started to predict patterns
/questions what's missing during the first read.

But with Critical Reasoning and Reading comprehension, the pattern seems to be different for each problem, and I am not
foreshadow at all..

Could someone help me and advice me on What would be the right way to practice CR RC problem!!!
Could I go ahead with untimed practice until I grasp or become familiar with patterns and slowly move to timed practice?

I have one month left for the exam !!

Read the RC post in my signature, could be of help for content and Timing.

Don't time yourself in the practice tests for each question instead follow a timing strategy. I was facing the same problem, was checking time too often and wasn't able to concentrate on the problem. Then i started using a timing strategy, this is something which i use.

Q - 55 30 10 - 10 22 32
V - 55 30 10 - 11 25 36

When you are in the 55th minute you should be answering 10/11th question in quant, 30th minute you should be answering 22/23rd question. Same applies to verbal as well with slight deviations considering the RC, which might come in the middle as in 11th/25th/36th question. No matter what you should be there if not make a guess. This makes you to guess questions at 3 intervals, avoid both last minute panic and continuous mistakes at the end. When you get used to this you don need to waste time calculating where you should be right now. Moreover you don't need to look at the time so often and get distracted.

When you are simply solving problems, set your timer to say 30-32 mins for 25 SC questions. Note down the no of questions you finished by that time. Finish the rest. Review the whole lot and make sure you find something an approach, a shortcut or a common trap to remember to save time the next time you answer a similar question. Once you start learning those you will start answering quickly with more practice. Even I faced timing issues and it has improved a lot now Hope this helps.

Hey BBLast, Thanks a ton for sharing the link..Really Great stuff..
Thanks Sam.. This sounds really interesting...Will note down your Strategy and see how I score them during practice..

I would like to try Aristotle RC99... Just that I am little anxious on my gmat deadline and not sure if i can complete them on time..

Also, just on a different note of Timing..Sometimes when I face long sentence correction problems.. all /most of them underlined..
I tend to miss out on it as well..

Do you guyz find any good strategy/patterns for Sentence Correction..

Right now, the moment I dont get anything meaningful or donot identify the pattern in question, I immedialty step down to answer choices
looking for splits/patterns ..I tend to miss out on Clarity or meaning error when I do so..

Thanks again for all your help.. !!!!