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Timing Advice

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Timing Advice

by enticing » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:04 pm
Hello

I recently started studying for the GMATS (2 weeks ago). During the two weeks, I managed to finish the 2011 Kaplan Premier book, mainly noting the structure of the exam. Last week, I have also begun an online Prep course with Veritas Prep. I decided to take a Kaplan CAT to gauge my relative starting point. My exam is in a little less than two months, and I hope to get at least 700+.


I received a 650: Q41, V41.

My main issue with my first practice exam is that I ended up with more than 20 minutes left over for both sections. I didn't intentionally speed through the exam, and I felt I worked at a relatively normal pace. I didn't really pay attention to the clock, but I did skip two questions that I didn't even know how to approach for Quant.

My main question is whether I should intentionally slow down a bit more or should I just continue at my natural pace? Also, could this timing issue only be specific to the Kaplan CAT for those that have taken it? If so, should I try another CAT from another source to see if I still naturally finish with extra time? I have access to the Veritas Prep, Princeton Review, Kaplan, and GMATprep exams, though I prefer to leave GMATprep towards the middle of my Veritas Prep course.

Thank you in advance!
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by Geva@EconomistGMAT » Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:15 pm
enticing wrote:Hello

I recently started studying for the GMATS (2 weeks ago). During the two weeks, I managed to finish the 2011 Kaplan Premier book, mainly noting the structure of the exam. Last week, I have also begun an online Prep course with Veritas Prep. I decided to take a Kaplan CAT to gauge my relative starting point. My exam is in a little less than two months, and I hope to get at least 700+.


I received a 650: Q41, V41.

My main issue with my first practice exam is that I ended up with more than 20 minutes left over for both sections. I didn't intentionally speed through the exam, and I felt I worked at a relatively normal pace. I didn't really pay attention to the clock, but I did skip two questions that I didn't even know how to approach for Quant.

My main question is whether I should intentionally slow down a bit more or should I just continue at my natural pace? Also, could this timing issue only be specific to the Kaplan CAT for those that have taken it? If so, should I try another CAT from another source to see if I still naturally finish with extra time? I have access to the Veritas Prep, Princeton Review, Kaplan, and GMATprep exams, though I prefer to leave GMATprep towards the middle of my Veritas Prep course.

Thank you in advance!
I'm not familiar with the specific idiosyncrasies of the Kaplan CAT (and every CAT out there has its own little biases - it cannot really be helped), but twenty minutes to spare in each section is ALOT. I am positive that if you go back and review your errors, you will find that a significant number of those were avoidable with a little more care in reading the question and understanding what you're being asked, and by second guessing your immediate reactions. This is especially true for the quantitative section, where a score of 41 represents a much lower percentile than a 41 in verbal - it means that you have probably made a significantly greater number of errors in quant than in verbal. Slow down to avoid those, and you have a shot at a great score. As a rule of thumb, you want to aim to reach the last question in each section with 2 minutes to spare - no more, no less.

Whether you decide to go for another test right now or not (and if you were my student, i'd advise you to wait with those until you've covered more of the material so that you have a shot at doing all of the questions, including the two you had no idea about), leave the GMATPREPs for last. They are the best predictors of your final score out there (with a 20-30 point margin either way), and you want to attempt those at the peak of your powers.
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by mriiidula » Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:47 am
Firstly, 650 is a lovely starting score, congrats! :)

I took a GMATPrep practice test and also finished 20-22 mins early for each section. Even I didn't feel like I was rushing, especially for verbal. But when I reviewed my errors (don't even ask how many there were), I realised that about 90% of the mistakes were due to carelessness. So if I'd just spent a little more time reading each and every word in the question as well as in the five answer choices, I would've improved my score by a huge amount, maybe even by 100 points.

So yes, unless you're positively sure you have the right answer, I suggest you spend a couple more second per question.
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by FutureWorks » Wed Jun 29, 2011 2:23 am
Hello


We recommend you to keep taking practise tests to gauge your performance. It will help you in identifying your weak areas and you can focus on them accordingly.

There are various ways you can use to practise for your GMAT. It could be combination of online classes, coaching institutes, practise books and even smart phone applications. Having this combination will be giving you access to different styles and it won't be monotonous for you. We would advise you to take multiple tests in different styles as mentioned so you can see if the pattern you are worried about is actual or just a coincidence.

All the best!!
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by David@VeritasPrep » Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:54 am
enticing -

Glad to hear that you are in the Veritas online course!

It is probably better to wait before taking more practice tests so that you can get a bit further in your studies. I like to have students wait until after lesson 8 so that they have at least had the data sufficiency class.

Remember that you have 15 practice tests available as a Veritas student. So you have plenty of tests to take!

I think that as you learn more methodology you will naturally slow down on the Quant section as you spot the traps and no how to avoid them. Your verbal score is good on this "unofficial" practice test and it is not a problem to be 10 minutes early or so on the verbal.

My advice, get some more of the Veritas course under your belt, and then take another practice and see where you are.

Remember that you have the Veritas helpline available as well as lots of other resources if you ever have any specific questions!
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